Ice resurfacer
The first ice resurfacer was developed by American inventor and engineer Frank Zamboni in 1949 in Paramount, California.
[5] In 1967, an Elmira, Ontario-based welder named Andrew Schlupp founded the Resurfice Corporation and began producing competing models of resurfacers, including their popular Olympia line.
An internal combustion engine or electric motor of the vehicle is responsible both for propelling the resurfacer and also powering the hydraulics that control the various functions, such as lowering the conditioner or raising the snow dump.
[citation needed] Most of the actual resurfacing components are contained in a heavy device at the rear of the machine, known as the "conditioner".
This is useful for keeping the ice sheet level, improving the quality of the cut, and preventing the snow container from overflowing.
[8] Wash water can be used to further improve the quality of the ice by removing debris and snow from deep skate-blade cuts.
Located directly in front of the blade, nozzles forcefully spray water into the ice surface, loosening deep debris.
The ice-making water is released through a sprinkler pipe at the rear of the conditioner, which wets the cloth towel that is dragged behind the resurfacer.
[citation needed] Traditionally, hot water has been used because it slightly melts the layer of ice below it, leading some operators to believe it forms a stronger bond during the freezing process because heating the water releases dissolved gases thus allowing the ice to freeze in a clearer state.
These impurities can otherwise make the ice brittle, soft, give it undesirable odors, or change the color and clarity.
[citation needed] Smaller, cheaper machines have also been designed to provide a smooth ice surface in a manner similar to a traditional resurfacer.
Self-propelled vehicles typically incorporate the main components of full-size ice resurfacer, including a blade and water tank, but on a smaller scale.
Jurisdictions differ over whether operating an ice resurfacer while drunk counts as illegal driving under the influence.
