Supporting Runner for the Plane on Ice Preparation Equipment

Description

The blade of the aforementioned planing device for preparation of the ice edge on the band cuts ahead of the sled runner of the ice preparation machine.

For normal, regular use, the blade engagement depth is adjusted precisely like the lower edge of the runner. In the case of regular use with a sharp blade, ice accretion is effectively prevented even with this minimal setting.

However, there are possible circumstances in connection with which a deeper blade setting is desirable:

• • 1. Severe ice accretion at the band edge before the first use of the aforementioned planing device.
  • 2. Ice accretion at the band edge caused by a blunt planing blade, incorrect blade setting, or excessive water application.
  • 3. Ice accretion on the entire ice surface caused by excessive water application, too little blade use, or rain, in the case of outdoor rinks.

If the blade of the edge plane is set deeper than the sled runner, this runner follows the cutting surface of the edge plane. The latter then planes even deeper, because the sled runner is its reference base. The sled runner follows the blade of the ice preparation machine, and the entire plane works unintentionally deep on one side.

• • The minimal setting of the cutting depth to runner height is usually sufficient, because this effectively prevents ice accretion in regular use.
  • The ice accretion that has occurred according to 1 and 2. can amount to several millimeters, and can reach into the surface a machine width (2 m), descending from the band, because the entire sled, with the blade, is raised on one side because of the accretion.
  • A deep setting of the edge plane would result in the problem described above. Working off the surface that has accreted on the side must therefore be started with a minimal plane setting in the level region, and take place strip by strip, from the inside to the outside.

The problem described is effectively prevented by means of a small supporting runner in the inner region of the planing sled, next to the cutting surface of the edge plane. This runner is adjustable and is normally set to a level with the sled runner. If the blade of the edge plane is unintentionally set too deep, the sled is securely held by means of the supporting runner, in connection with the right sled runner, and the left runner does not follow the cutting surface of the edge plane. The edge plane draws a clean strip having a uniform depth.

The supporting runner therefore prevents accidentally uncontrolled deep planing.

However, one-sided deep planing can be performed with excellent control. If, for example, the supporting runner is set 3 mm (=1.5 revolutions) above the sled runner, the blade of the edge plane is set slightly (−0.5 mm=0.25 revolutions) below the sled runner, and the main blade of the ice machine is set flush with the sled runner, the sled runner will follow the cutting surface of the edge plane until the supporting runner supports the left plane side (3 mm).

Since the main blade of the ice preparation machine is set flush with the sled runner, uniform planing from 3 to 0 mm takes place from the left (band edge) to the right, over a width of approximately 2 m.

An ice accretion that has grown into the surface from the band can therefore be uniformly planed off, up to the band edge, by several millimeters, in one pass.