EP0331628A2 - Device and procedure for treating the sliding surfaces of winter sport devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The device allows a method to be carried out to treat the sliding surfaces of winter sports devices. The latter are retained with their sliding surface towards the top. Their treatment takes place by means of a heatable plate with a porous insert which can be placed resiliently against the sliding surface and is displaceable relative to the latter in the longitudinal direction. From a trough, the insert can receive a material which can be heated at least to a pasty state. A storage device for porous sheet material dispenses said material, when required, between the sole and the sliding surface. The treatment can comprise: the removal of remains of used agent from the sliding surface, which agent is absorbed by the sheet material, and/or the pre-heating of the sliding surface, the sole sliding over the sliding surface without sheet material, and/or the application of new agent from the trough, the sheet material allowing fine distribution. In this case, the agent penetrates into microcavities of the covering and any cracks in the sliding surfaces and forms a smooth, even and elastic layer on the sliding surface. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and to a method according to the preamble of patent claims 11 and 12.

In order to optimally use winter sports equipment such as downhill, cross-country and jump skis, ski bobs, monoskis, snowboards and sled-like devices with runners, it is necessary to adapt the properties of their gliding surfaces, ie their gliding ability, to the respective needs of the user and the snow conditions. Most of the time, the aim will be to increase the gliding ability, especially when the devices are used for competitions. In individual cases However, it may also be desirable to reduce their gliding ability, for example when using skis when climbing the mountain or when using the equipment by beginners or to stick on skins.

The lubricity is adjusted by applying a layer that adheres firmly to the sliding surface of the device, which is referred to as wax, usually contains predominantly olefins and is produced and sold in many variations.

Another purpose of treating the sliding surfaces is to maintain the value of the pads applied by the manufacturer. In winter sports equipment of higher quality, these coverings consist of high-molecular sintered plastics, which, however, are subject to aging and embrittlement without care. This can be prevented at least in part by filling the microcavities of these plastics with care products. In addition to the nourishing effect, this creates a small reservoir that can be emptied again when sliding and improves the adhesion of the agent.

This wax layer must be applied to the sliding surface of the device in such a way that it first adheres firmly to it secondly, a completely flat and elastic tread results.

The growth, especially of skis, has been known for at least 100 years. Originally, wax was applied to the wooden or painted sliding surfaces by rubbing a solid wax block on these sliding surfaces. This system is still used by touring skiers today. However, the wax layers produced in this way are not very smooth and do not adhere particularly well. An improvement can be achieved by applying heated or melted wax, which penetrates better into micro cavities and scratches on the sliding surfaces and is also easier to distribute into a flat and smooth layer. All possible devices with a smooth sole are used for this purpose, which are generally referred to as ski irons and which can be heated by fuel, meta, gas or electricity. They are used either only to smooth an already applied wax layer, or to apply solid, but heated or liquid wax, which is smoothed at the same time. Although all these irons are not very handy and partly dangerous to use because of the fuel, they also do not provide enough smooth surfaces and are cleaned after each use you have to rely on them for winter sports away from mass tourism. In winter sports in the area of mountain railways and frequently used cross-country trails as well as in competitive winter sports, however, a search was made for a way to solve the problem of ski waxing using stationary devices that quickly and safely apply a wax layer that penetrates the surface, adheres well and one completely flat and smooth tread results.

It is known, for example, to apply liquid wax from a heated wax pan on skis by means of an endless belt or roller, in that the lower strand of the belt or the lower half of the roller passes through a wax pan, while the upper strand of the belt or the upper half of the roller releases the absorbed wax to the skis. This method is used in ski workshops, but has the great advantage that the skier can also move his skis on his feet over a wax tray and thus comfortably grow his skis. However, their disadvantage is that the wax application is not sufficiently smooth and that the ski tips generally do not receive any wax application. In addition, the temperature of the applied wax is too low, since it cools down too much on the belt or on the roll, so that the wax layer adheres insufficiently to the surface, but does not penetrate the covering.

In other methods, the skis are attached with their sliding surface upwards in a holding device, and the wax is applied, for example with the help of brushes. Thanks to sufficiently high temperatures, the wax adheres sufficiently well, but the smoothness of the surface is not satisfactory. Even with a semi-automatic device that eliminates the irregularity of manual work, there is always the risk that too little or too much wax is applied, especially in the end areas, when moving the application tool back and forth, and it is also difficult to overgrow the ski tips.

Attempts have also been made to apply a layer of wax on an adhesive tape, which can then be glued to the underside of the ski and pulled off again. These tapes are very handy because the wax heating procedure is no longer necessary. However, there is always a risk that they will become detached from the ski, for example if they are damaged by stones, and this can lead to serious accidents.

An attempt was therefore made to provide a carrier tape with a wax layer, to place the wax side on a sliding surface of a ski, and to heat this carrier tape with a kind of iron, which causes the wax to adhere to the ski brought and at the same time the carrier tape could be removed. This does not avoid the dangerous handling of fuels because the iron has to be heated, but its sole does not come into contact with the wax, so it stays clean and can be used immediately for other skis and other wax qualities. Unfortunately, even with this method there is a risk that the entire wax layer will come off because it is heated on the outside but much less on the ski side, so that it does not adhere too well to the ski.

To get both good adhesion and a smooth surface, try to wax through plates with a variety of tiny holes, e.g. close-meshed grids or sieves to be ironed through onto the sliding surface. Due to the fine distribution of the wax, you get really well adhering and sufficiently smooth surfaces, but even with this method the sole of the iron is contaminated by the wax and must always be cleaned again, which means an interruption in the waxing process.

Attempts have also been made to iron wax-impregnated tapes, for example made of fabric or paper, onto the sliding surface and then removing the fabric or paper; in this way you also get good results regarding Ober surface smoothness and adhesion, but even in this case the soleplate of the iron becomes dirty and the iron must always be cleaned again.

Attempts have recently been made to spray the skis with powdered wax or with liquid wax from a type of spray gun. It is advantageous that rapid drying occurs so that a smooth surface is obtained even if the skis are treated in an oblique, almost vertical position. In this way, the device for holding the skis requires much less floor space. The disadvantage here, however, is that an extraction system must be installed to avoid harmful effects.

Another problem with waxing is that wet or cold exercise equipment often needs to be treated. Low temperatures make it impossible to apply a sufficiently smooth layer. The skis must therefore warm up so that they have to remain in the service station for a longer period of time, so that there are undesirable waiting periods for the user.

Not just applying layers of wax for that As can be seen from the preceding explanations, no satisfactory method is known, but also the removal of old wax layers or old wax residues is associated with difficulties. Purely mechanical scraping is time-consuming and involves the risk of damaging the ski base. Heating the wax, which could make it easier to remove, for example by wiping or wiping, is problematic. Firstly, this can cause the ski to overheat and suffer damage, secondly, depending on the method, the heating is not harmless due to the use of fuels, and thirdly, harmful vapors or gases are generated when the wax decomposes under the influence of heat.

Since neither the problem of applying wax layers nor that of removing wax layers or residues has been satisfactorily solved, the object of the invention is seen in creating a device of the type mentioned at the outset which is suitable for the rapid and safe application of well-adhering microcavities of the base penetrating, even and smooth tread waxes of changing qualities, is suitable for drying and preheating skis immediately after use and before waxing again, as well as for the gentle and environmentally friendly removal of wax layers or residues.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods for waxing or waxing skis using this device.

The device according to the invention is characterized according to claim 1, and the methods according to the invention are characterized according to the claims.

With the new device and the new method it is possible to dry, preheat, wax and dewax sliding surfaces of winter sports equipment, in particular skis.

The adhesion of the layer to the sliding surface is very good, since the medium remains liquid thanks to the high temperatures of the sole and only solidifies again on the sliding surface, penetrating into the covering and filling the micro cavities and damaged areas in the sliding surface without problems. The resulting surface of the agent, which is the actual usable surface of the sports equipment, becomes flat, smooth and non-porous. The layer follows the sliding surface shape and has no tendency to fill any central groove that may be present. Due to the tight fit of the spring and articulated sole, even on inclined parts of the sliding surface, it is possible to provide the ski tip with a sufficient layer.

The agent to be applied, generally a wax, can be continuously fed to the use of the latter while the sliding surface is being covered by the sole. However, it is more advantageous to provide the underside of the body with a porous insert which is flush with the sole and which receives the medium which has been heated to at least a pasty state, for example from a tub in which the sole is completely or partially immersed.

The wax in this tub can be cold, i.e. to be in a frozen state; the hot sole liquefies part of the wax when it is immersed, so that the porous insert of the sole can absorb a sufficiently large wax supply. However, it is also possible to provide the trough with a heating device in order to heat the wax at least to a pasty state, in which state it is then also taken up by the insert.

The agent to be applied, generally a wax, can be continuously fed to the use of the latter while the sliding surface is being covered by the sole. The agent can also be supplied using sheet material impregnated with it, which is brought between the sliding surface and the sole and from which it is melted out by the heat emitted by the sole and brought onto the sliding surface. The porous insert then mainly serves to absorb excess agent.

The insert preferably consists essentially of a sintered material. It extends over the entire width of the sole and over part of its length. After immersion, the sole is advantageously freed from excess agent, for example by means of a stripping device arranged at the edge of the trough, so that only a sufficient amount of the agent is present in use. So ver one prevents the agent from burning or solidifying on the sole, which thereby pollutes and adversely affects its smoothness, which would have a negative effect on the quality of the layer then to be applied at the latest when the agent is applied without intermediate cleaning.

The tub can be designed and arranged in such a way that it can easily be replaced by another tub with a different quality of the agent. it is also possible to arrange several trays one behind the other with different means.

Instead of taking the agent out of a stationary trough by means of the porous insert and feeding it to the sliding surface, it can also be fed to the insert from a movable, generally heated and also heated storage container. Here, too, several storage containers with different qualities of the agent can be mounted side by side or one behind the other and used alternatively.

The same or different types of sheet material can be used to apply and remove the agent. Paper sheets are advantageously used, but nonwovens, woven or knitted fabrics can also be used.

It is essential that porous sheet material is used when applying the agent. When removing the agent, it would be more favorable if only the side of the blade facing the sliding surface took up the agent, but the side of the blade facing the sole would be impermeable, since this would prevent contamination of the sole. On the other hand, the procedure is simplified if only one type of leaf is used. Depending on the width of the sliding surfaces to be coated, sheets of different widths can be selected. However, you should protrude slightly from the side of the sliding surfaces so that they are covered securely everywhere so that no agent runs down the side of the sliding surfaces. It is best to use sheet material whose internal cohesion is so great that practically no parts of this material, e.g. Separate fibers, as this would contaminate the wax and it would no longer be possible to produce a smooth layer.

You can cover the entire gliding surface with a strip of the sheet material and wipe it with the sole of the body, or you can only use a section of the sheet material that is roughly the same size as the sole surface and that moves under the sole and simultaneously with it over the sliding surface .

The use of a strip is particularly useful when removing the layer, as this allows a larger amount of the agent to be absorbed. The use of a section is particularly recommended when applying the agent, since you want to achieve the fine distribution of the agent. The sheet material is sufficient for this, and the use of a strip would unnecessarily result in an additional consumption of means, since the entire strip would ultimately be saturated with the medium. When using a section under the sole, however, care must be taken to ensure that no sheet material is pulled behind the sole, as this would suck in at least part of the agent just applied. In addition, the usable area would be smeared and would no longer be sufficiently smooth.

If strip-shaped sheet material is used, which is placed over the entire sliding surface, it is advisable to unroll this material from a roller attached to the movable part of the displacement device. Such a roll can also be used if only sections of the sheet material are used, but the sections can also be removed from a storage cassette. This would also be possible if strip-shaped sheet material was used, but it would be unwieldy.

Although one generally wants to keep the sliding surface as smooth as possible, there are certain types of snow on which higher speeds can be achieved if the sliding surface is slightly structured. This can be achieved by treating them with an appropriate device after applying the wax, for example with a brush device or a textured roller.

The best results can be achieved with certain types of snow if you only fill the microcavities of the surface of the sliding surface with wax, but otherwise do not apply an actual covering layer. For this purpose, the sliding surfaces are treated as usual, but then the covering layer is removed, for example with brushes.

The lateral boundaries of the sliding surface are generally formed by so-called edges, which consist of a harder material, generally of metal. These edges are mounted in such a way that the entire sliding surface, ie the covering and the bottom surfaces of the edges, form an at least continuous surface. When using the winter sports equipment on icy snow or when there is little snow and the stones and roots are excellent, these edges are naturally worn out, so that they occasionally become worn have to be subjected to post-treatment.

For this purpose, the new device can be supplemented by an edge treatment device. This can be designed as part of the treatment device and can act either simultaneously with the application of the layer or subsequently. In general, it is a milling, filing or grinding device.

Wet and cold sliding surfaces are advantageously dried and preheated before the agent is applied. Although you do not need the insert in the sole and you could use a body with a sole without an insert, for operational reasons it is easier to use the body with the sole with the porous insert for drying and preheating. This saves you having to reassemble the different bodies. The use of sheet-like material as an intermediate layer can be dispensed with when treating new skis, since no residues of previously applied agent have to be absorbed there. When used winter sports equipment are on the sliding surface residues from previously applied agents are probably always present and the use of sheet material is therefore recommended to protect the sole, even if the sliding surface only needs to be dried or warmed up.

In general, the winter sports device is held by a stationary holding device, while the treatment device, ie the body with the sole, is designed to be movable in such a way that it can move longitudinally and perpendicularly to the sliding surface. The stationary holding device is firmly connected to the stationary part of the displacement device, generally to a guide rail. The movable treatment device is attached to the movable part of the displacement device. This movable part has rollers that run on the guide rail. The drive for the mutual longitudinal displacement of the sole and sliding surface is done manually or mechanically. The speed of this shift affects the amount of agent applied and the quality of the adhesion. The device can be improved by a temperature sensor moving over the sliding surface, which controls the speed of the movement via a mechanical drive.

The adjusting device makes it possible to change the distance between the body with the sole and the sliding surface in the direction perpendicular to the latter, in such a way that the sole fits snugly against the sliding surface when the agent is applied, while it is subsequently lifted off for the backward movement. The body with the sole must also be lowered to immerse it in the wax tub.

The device is generally designed so that the winter sports equipment is held in both longitudinal and vertical directions while the body can be moved vertically and longitudinally with the sole. However, there are numerous other possibilities for designing the device. For example, the winter sports device can be moved longitudinally, but can be arranged at a fixed height, while the body with the sole can only be adjusted in height. Furthermore, it would also be conceivable to hold the body with the sole and only to store the winter sports device in a longitudinally and vertically displaceable manner.

The adjusting device can be designed differently, but must be designed so that the sole can be brought resiliently against the sliding surface in order to adapt to the inaccurate position of the winter sports equipment in the Holding device or on inclined surfaces of the winter sports equipment. This is achieved by means of a mechanical or fluid spring device.

It is also essential that the body that carries the sole is articulated on all sides of the adjusting device, for example by means of a ball joint. As a result, the sole easily follows the sliding surface, even if it is crooked or has inclined parts such as ski tips.

An exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawing and exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention.

• Fig. 1 eine Vorrichtung nach der Erfindung, zum Entwach­sen, Trocknen, Vorwärmen und Wachsen von Skiern, in vereinfachter Darstellung, von der Seite; und
• Fig. 2 die Vorrichtung der Fig. 1 von vorne (d.h. von der Skispitze aus) gesehen.

The drawing shows:

• Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention, for dewaxing, drying, preheating and waxing of skis, in a simplified representation, from the side. and
• Fig. 2 seen the device of Fig. 1 from the front (ie from the ski tip).

The new device and the new method are explained using the example of the treatment of a pair of skis.

Fig. 1 shows a ski 2, which is located with its sliding surface 4 up in a conventional holding device, not shown. Such holding devices can be designed as a single or double vice, but it is also possible to use a fluid-operated holding device. The ski tip is advantageously directed to the left, as is also possible when mounting bindings, so that a ski only has to be turned around its longitudinal axis after mounting the binding if its sliding surface is then to be treated.

A displacement device has as a fixed part a guide rail 6, along which at least four rollers 8 move. The longitudinal axis of the clamped ski 2 and the guide rail 4 run parallel.

A carrier 12 is arranged on a cover 10 of the rollers 8, the cross section of which is essentially L-shaped according to FIG. 2. A body 16 with a sole 18 is vertically adjustable on its horizontally extending leg 14 per ski. The body 16 and the sole 18 are plate-shaped and essentially consist of a heat-conducting copper alloy or of another material with good heat conduction.

To adjust the body and the sole, vertical rods 20 are mounted in the leg 14 so as to be longitudinally displaceable or vertically displaceable. At the lower ends of these rods 20, the bodies 16 are suspended on all sides by means of ball joints 22. The horizontal leg 14 has an extension 24 on which a lever 26 is rotatably mounted. A free end of the lever is connected to the upper parts of the rods 20 via joints 28, its other free end has a handle 30. A first spring 32 is provided between the horizontal leg 14 and a plate 34 arranged on the rod 20, a second spring 36 is provided between the body 16 and the plate 34. The rods 20, the lever 26 and the springs 32 and 36 essentially form the adjusting device for the body 16 with the sole 18.

The latter perform the function of a treatment device for the sliding surface. For this purpose, each of the bodies 16 can be heated by means of an electrical heating device 38 in such a way that the entire sole 18 can be heated to a temperature which can be selected but is the same over its surface. The heater has a device, not shown, to limit its maximum temperature. The edge 40 of the sole 18 on the left in FIG. 1 is rounded and / or beveled.

The sole 18 has an insert 42 which extends over its entire width and consists of a porous, usually sintered material.

A roller 44 is arranged on the support 12 so as to be rotatable and easily exchangeable, from which strip-shaped sheet material 46 can be unwound. The roller 44 forms the storage and feed device for the porous sheet material.

At the right end of the guide rail 6 in FIG. 1, a trough 48, which contains a means 50 for treating the sliding surface 4, is arranged. This tub 48 is easily interchangeable, so that the quality of the agent can be changed without any problems. The left edge of the tub 48 has a flexible stripping device 52, but this can also be attached to the holder 54 of the tub 48.

The carrier 12 can be folded down so that the skis can be clamped in without any problems, namely that it is folded to the left in FIG. 2 and to the rear in FIG. 1.

The mode of operation of the parts described above is explained in more detail below, namely by means of a complete treatment which comprises removing old agent, simultaneously drying the sliding surface, preheating the sliding surface and applying new agent to the sliding surface.

Before the treatment, the carrier 12 and the parts fastened to it are pivoted backwards (seen in FIG. 1), so that the skis 2 can be easily inserted into the holding device can be brought. The sole 18 and the tub 48 are heated. Now you pivot the carrier 12 and the parts attached to it back into their operative position and pull so much sheet material 46 from the roller 44 that the entire sole 18 can be underlaid. By actuating the lever 26, the sole 18 is lowered onto the sliding surface 4 and brought to full contact under light pressure. Thanks to the ball joint 22 and spring, the sole 18 is always snug against the sliding surface 4, even if these or parts of it are not arranged completely horizontally. The heat which passes from the sole 18 to the sliding surface 4 now heats the layer of the agent or residues thereof still adhering to the sliding surface 4, at least to a pasty state, and the sheet material 46 absorbs these residues. In this process, the sliding surface 4 is also dried. The sole 18 is raised again and the entire apparatus is pushed to the right. The used sheet material 46 is removed and the sliding surface 4 is then covered with the sole 18 one or more times in order to preheat it for coating with the agent, if necessary. This process can also be omitted. By pivoting the lever 26 on the handle 30 upwards, the sole 18 is lowered into the tub 48 with the agent 50 which has already been warmed up. The insert 42 takes a certain supply of agent 50 on. The sole 18 is lifted just above the edge of the trough 48 and pushed horizontally to the left, the stripping device 52 removing excess agent from the sole 18. A section of the sheet material 46 corresponding to the sole surface is now unrolled from the roller 44. The sole 18 is brought into contact with the sliding surface 4 and pushed over it as when the agent is removed. In the area of the ski tip it has to be lowered a little more so that a sufficient amount of the agent can get there. This completes the treatment of the sliding surface.

The apparatus is now shifted to the right again and pivoted into its rest position, and the finished skis are removed from the holding device.

Other holding devices and other bodies and plates are required to treat other winter sports equipment. These are therefore advantageously designed to be interchangeable.

When the new method was carried out with the aid of the new device, good results were obtained with a wax material which essentially consisted of a mixture of hydrocarbons and which can be glided if necessary promoting substances such as Gaphit or other pigments added. The sole was brought to a temperature of approx. 130 ° C; on the one hand, this temperature is high enough to ensure the hot application of the wax, which was sufficient for its penetration into the microcavities of the covering and for the production of a well-adhering and smooth layer. On the other hand, the temperature was so low that damage to the coating, decomposition or oxidation of the wax or scaling of the edges was avoided.

Claims (13)

1. Device for treating sliding surfaces of winter sports equipment, with a treatment device for the sliding surface, with a first holding device to hold the winter sports device with the sliding surface facing upwards, with a second holding device for the treatment device, with a displacement device that has a fixed and one Movable part to move the treatment device and the winter sports device in the longitudinal direction of the sliding surface relative to each other, and with a storage and feed device for a means to be fed to the treatment device, characterized in that the treatment device has a body with a heatable, arranged parallel to the sliding surface sole has, in which there is an insert which extends over the width of the sole and consists of a porous material for receiving the agent from the storage device, that the treatment device can be displaced vertically to the sliding surface by an adjusting device and can be brought to bear against the sliding surface under the action of force, and that a device for storing and dispensing absorbent sheet material is provided between the sliding surface and the sole. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device and the fixed part of the displacement device are firmly connected to each other, and that the treatment device and the actuating device are arranged on the movable part of the displacement device. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stationary part of the displacement device has a rail directed parallel to the sliding surface, and the movable part of the displacement device has rollers running on this rail. 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting device has a resilient arrangement in order to bring the sole and the sliding surface resiliently into contact with one another. 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting device has a lever device which is articulated at a fixed distance from the sliding surface, one end of which is articulated to a suspension device for the body and the other end of which can be actuated manually. 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body is articulated by means of a ball joint-like suspension on the actuating device. 7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage device is designed as a stationary, arranged in the extension of the sliding surface shell, in which at least the porous insert of the sole of the body can be immersed by means of the adjusting device, so as to supply the means for the agent form. 8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for storing and dispensing the sheet material has a roll with wound material and a separating device for the material. 9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for storing the sheet material is attached to the treatment device. 10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an edge treatment device for the treatment of edges which laterally delimit the sliding surface. 11. A method for removing an at least pasty state heatable complete or fragmentary layer of an agent from a sliding surface of a winter sports device by means of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the winter sports device is fastened in the holding device, that at least sliding surface porous sheet material between the sole and the sliding surface places that the sole and the sliding surface resiliently bear against one another and that a relative longitudinal movement is carried out between the sole and the sliding surface. 12. A method for applying a layer of an agent which is heated to at least a pasty state on the sliding surface of a winter sports device by means of the device according to claim 1, characterized in that the winter sports device is fastened in the holding device by placing porous sheet material between the sole and the sliding surface, that the porous insert of the sole is fed with a medium that is heated to at least a pasty state, that the spring is brought to bear against the sliding surface, and that a relative longitudinal movement is carried out between the sole and the sliding surface. 13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that after the fastening of the winter sports device in the holding device, the heated sole resiliently rests on the sliding surface and carries out a relative longitudinal movement between the sole and the sliding surface in order to dry the sliding surface and for the application to preheat the agent.

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