GB2352186A

GB2352186A - An indoor domed construction for winter sports

Info

Publication number: GB2352186A
Application number: GB0017817A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew David Tomlinson; Martin James Tomlinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-20
Filing date: 2000-07-20
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-20
Also published as: GB0017817D0; AU6005200A; WO2001005472A1; GB2352186B; GB9916874D0

Abstract

A construction comprises a generally domed formation 22 at least part of the inclined surface 2 of which is arranged to permit one or more downhill winter sports, a covering roof 28 erected over the dome 22 and a temperature control system for the space between the dome and the roof. Preferably the surface comprises landscaping features such as rocks, trees, a stream, a waterfall, a hot spring or a geyser. Optionally the dome may comprise an interior space for sports or leisure activities such as an ice rink 32 or swimming pool, retailing or car parking. The waste heat from the temperature control system can be used in the interior space which may be thermally insulated from the surface 2. Light may be provided to the interior surface by a vertical shaft. Preferably the dome comprises a series of radiating concrete beams which may rest on a perimeter wall 23. The roof may be used to support ski lifts and might be clad with insulating material. The domed formation may also be substantially conical in shape.

Description

2352186 CONSTRUCTION FOR DOWNHILL WINTER SPORTS The present invention

relates to a construction which provides an indoors environment for downhill winter sports.

Traditional indoor facilities for winter sports consist of a twodimensional, unlandscaped ramp covered with artificial snow or other material to allow downhill skiing. Ski runs are generally limited to two or three short runs, owing to the limitations of available width and start and finish elevations and users lose interest all too quickly. occasionally long runs have been provided, but only at very substantial cost, or in the forms which give the users a tunnel-like and therefore unduly enclosed feeling. Moreover, present facilities do not generally allow both skiing and snowboarding at the same time.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a construction which provides an indoors environment for downhill winter sports, the construction comprising a generally domed formation at least part of the inclined surface of which is arranged to permit one or more downhill winter sports, a covering roof erected over the domed formation and a temperature control system for the space between the domed formation and the roof.

The domed formation simulates a hill or mound and for convenience will be referred to herein as a -hill-.

The hill provides an elevated apex or apex area and a surface, preferably profiled, which inclines downwardly from the apex in substantially all directions around 3GO'. The hill is preferably generally circular in plan and preferably generally conical in shape. Preferably the covering roof is generally complementary in shape to the shape of the hill, so providing a space of generally uniform height between the surface of the hill and the underside of the roof. Preferably a floor area runs around the perimeter of the hill at its base.

The construction in accordance with the present 2 invention enables a realistic outdoor facility to be replicated in a temperature -controlled indoors environment. Ski runs may be arranged to curve round the hill and exhibit changes in slope and/or width and/or direction: moreover, landscaping features such as rocks, trees, streams and waterfalls may be provided. The landscape features enhance the users, enjoyment of the facility and help to maintain their interest, also the ski runs can be changed regularly and runs of different lengths and difficulty can be provided at the same time.

The construction makes economic use of land because it can accommodate larger numbers of people in a more relaxed atmosphere, and without bottlenecks, than presently-available facilities. Snowboarding and skiing can take place simultaneously on separate runs, profiled and arranged specifically for their respective purposes. The runs may be made narrower than in existing linear facilities and so utilise a smaller area for the same length of run.

The construction may include an elevated ski lift, suspended from the covering roof and passing over the downhill runs, to simulate an alpine feel in a realistic manner.

The hill may be covered in snow or artificial snow, the temperature control system being arranged to provide an appropriate low temperature in the space for downhill activities.

The hill may comprise a solid structure formed for example from soil, rock, waste material, polystyrene blocks or rock-filled wire baskets (gabions).

The hill may be formed with an interior space, which may be used for further sports activities or for other leisure pursuits or for retailing or for car parking. In this case, the hill may comprise an inner dome, providing the interior space, which may be formed of concrete or metal (e.g. steel or aluminium), The inner dome may be covered with a layer of 3 material (e.g. soil or stone), partially covered with snow or artificial snow, to form the hill. A thermally insulating layer may be placed over the inner dome and under the snow or artificial snow, to enable the interior space of the inner dome to be maintained at a different temperature to the space for downhill activities. For example, blocks of polystyrene may be positioned over the inner dome, to serve as lightweight fill and also thermal insulation.

The hill may be formed by depositing a quantity of loose fill material, for example formed at the angle of repose of such material (typically a slope of 1 in 2): the material may be subsequently compacted. The material may be delivered on a conveyor which discharges the material to fall onto the hill at its top or at intermediate points. The covering roof of the construction comprise a skeleton formed with an opening at its apex, through which the material may be discharged from the conveyor, before the skeleton is clad to complete the roof.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a construction in accordance with the present invention, the domed formation or hill of the construction being shown in elevation and the covering roof in section; FIGURE 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, with both the hill and covering roof being shown in section; FIGURE 3 is a schematic perspective view of the skeleton structure of the covering roof of the construction of Figures 1 and 2; FIGURE 4 is a section through a second embodiment of construction in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 5 is a view of the hill of the construction of Figure 4, the hill being profiled to provide a spiral downhill 4 ski run; and FIGURE 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the conical structure of the hill and the skeleton structure of the covering roof of the construction of Figure 4. 5 Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, there is shown a construction which provides an indoors environment for downhill winter sports. The construction comprises a formation or hill 1 having an inclined surface which is at least partially covered in snow or artificial snow to facilitate downhill skiing: a number of ski runs e.g. 2 are shown in Figure 1. The construction further comprises a covering roof 3,4 which encloses the hill 1. An indoors space is thus created under the roof 3,4 and over the hill 1: a system 14 (Figure 2) is provided for maintaining the air within the space at an appropriate low temperature.

In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the roof comprises a multilegged skeleton framework 3 (see also Figure 3) which supports thermallyinsulating cladding 4. The inclined surface of the hill 1 is profiled and provided with various features to add interest and a natural appearance, including rocks 5, trees 6, a stream 7 and waterfall 8, hot springs 9 and a geyser 10.

As shown in Figure 2, the hill 1 may comprise a domed shell structure 18 formed of concrete, covered by lightweight polystyrene blocks 16 or by a mound of earth 17. The surface of the hill 1 is covered, at least partially, with snow or artificial snow to provide for downhill skiing. The interior of the domed structure 18 provides an underground cavern 11 and a vertical shaft 12 allows light into the cavern 11 from above:

a section 21 of the roof, at its apex, is transparent and the central section 21 of the domed structure 18 is also transparent, whilst the shaft 12 has a reflective lining 20; the cavern 11 is accordingly illuminated partly by daylight via the shaft 12. The cavern 11 houses a swimming pool 13 which is heated by waste heat from the temperature control system 14.

Figures 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of construction in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the hill 1 comprises a conical structure composed of precast concrete sections 22 supported at their radially outer ends on a perimeter wall 23 of concrete cast in-situ. The covering roof comprises a skeleton 24 formed of precast concrete beams, supported at their radially outer ends on concrete columns 25 cast in-situ. Steel trusses are positioned between adjacent beams of the skeleton 24, (one such truss being shown at 26 in Figure 6). The roof skeleton is covered by metal sheeting 30 applied over thermal insulation 28 and supported on purlins (some of which are shown at 29 in Figure 6). The roof includes transparent or translucent panels, to allow daylight to enter. The surfaces of the hill are covered by polystyrene blocks, soil or other material 16 to provide a desired surface relief, including a spiral ski run 2: at least the ski run area is covered with snow or artificial snow; in the example shown in Figures 4 and 5, rock walls 5 and trees 6 are also provided. Also, an elevated ski lift 33 is provided, suspended from the roof skeleton 24. The conical hill structure supports an interior concrete floor 31, which spans an ice rink 32.

6

Claims

1 A construction which provides an indoors environment for downhill winter sports, the construction comprising a generally domed formation at least part of the inclined surface of which is arranged to permit one or more downhill winter sports, a covering roof erected over the domed formation, and a temperature control system for the space between the domed formation and the roof.

2) A construction as claimed in claim 1, in which the inclined surface of the domed formation is formed with at least one ski run which curves round the domed formation.

3) A construction as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the inclined surface of the domed formation is provided with one or more landscaping features.

4) A construction as claimed in claim 3, in which said landscaping features comprise one or more features selected from rocks, trees, a stream, a waterfall, a hot spring or a geyser.

5) A construction as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the domed formation comprises an interior space for further sports activities, other leisure activities, retailing or for car parking.

6) A construction as claimed in claim 5, in which said interior space houses an ice rink and/or a swimming pool.

7) A construction as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which 7 waste heat from the temperature control system is used in said interior space.

8) A construction as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, in which said interior space is thermally insulated from the 5 surface of the domed formation.

9) A construction as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, in which a vertical shaft is formed through the domed formation to said interior space, for the provision of light.

10) A construction as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the domed formation comprises a series of radiating concrete beams.

11) A construction as claimed in claim 10, in which said beams rest, at their radially outer ends, on a perimeter wall.

12) A construction as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said covering roof comprises a skeleton framework covered with cladding.

13) A construction as claimed in claim 12, in which said roof cladding comprises thermally insulating material.

14) A construction as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a ski lift suspended from the covering roof.

15) A method of building a construction as claimed in claim 1, in which the building of the generally domed formation includes the step of discharging a quantity of loose material from a conveyor.