Snow generating apparatus

Abstract

A snow generating apparatus is provided with a snow generator to cover with snow a run for winter sports, with a housing chamber which is designed to be laid underground in the run, and with a lifting system to move the snow generator in a moving direction between a lifted position and a lowered position; the lifting system being provided with a guide device and a slide, which has an elongated shape, extends in the moving direction, is coupled to the guide device in a sliding manner and, furthermore, at least partly extends into the housing chamber when it is arranged in its lowered position.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A snow generating apparatus comprising:
 a snow generator configured to cover a run with snow;   a housing chamber configured to be laid underground in the run; and   a lifting system configured to move the snow generator in a moving direction from a lowered position to a lifted position, the lifting system comprising:
 a guide device, and 
 a slide slidably coupled to the guide device to move between the lowered position and the lifted position, wherein the slide defines an elongated shape, the slide extends in the moving direction and, when in the lowered position, the slide at least partly extends into the housing chamber. 
   
     
     
         12 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the guide device has a length measured parallel to the moving direction which is smaller than a length of the slide measured parallel to the moving direction. 
     
     
         13 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein when in the lifted position, the slide extends outside of the housing chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the guide device is fixed to the housing chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the guide device comprises a train of guide rollers slidably engageable by the slide. 
     
     
         16 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a power supply device at least partly mounted in the housing chamber and connected to the snow generator to supply the snow generator with power. 
     
     
         17 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a hydraulic supply device at least partly mounted in the housing chamber connected to the snow generator to hydraulically supply the snow groomer. 
     
     
         18 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an operating device configured to move the slide between the lowered position and the lifted position, the operating device comprising a screw mounted along the slide parallel to the moving direction and a nut screw coupled to the screw and mounted to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the screw to move the screw in the moving direction. 
     
     
         19 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein an assembly defined by the snow generator and the slide is entirely located inside of the housing chamber when arranged in the lowered position. 
     
     
         20 . The snow generating apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the housing chamber defines a trapdoor configured to move between a closed position and an open position in association with the assembly being moved between the lowered position and the lifted position.