RU2284389C2 - Avalanching initiation method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: devices affording protection against snowslides, avalanches or falling rocks, namely avalanche preventing structures.

SUBSTANCE: method involves laying perforated hose and electric cable in territory characterized by high avalanche risk on rock surface before snowfall period starting, wherein the hose is adapted to supply explosive gas; leading out hose and electric cable ends into safe zone; supplying gaseous mixture in avalanching territory by pumping thereof under snow blanket from hose through perforated orifices so that gas-saturated zones are created; blasting gaseous mixture with the use of electric cable. Device for above method realization involves flexible hose to be connected to gas source, for instance with gas generator, and provided with perforated orifices punched in hose wall. Device also has electric cable fastened to outer hose surface and comprising electric igniters located in perforated zone of the hose.

EFFECT: increased reliability, safety and efficiency of avalanching initiation, provision of repeated device usage, decreased costs, increased manufacturability and decreased time of works performing.

5 cl, 2 ex, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to avalanche control and can be used to artificially call avalanches at a given time.

Artificial initiation of avalanches is widely used to prevent the uncontrolled descent of the latter, however, deliberate initiation of avalanches is associated with significant costs, often not safe for personnel involved in avalanche activities, as a rule, involves the use of military equipment, which forces them to take special organizational measures, including those related with anti-terrorism measures, and leads to a decrease in the efficiency of actions. The development of easily feasible and non-capital-intensive measures would reduce the risk of unexpected avalanche formation in mountainous areas. A known method of performing operations on the avalanche descent, implemented using a device for calling the avalanche, including the use of a helicopter as a towing mode of transport for the cutting element, the latter being moved by helicopter at a height of 20-60 m across the slope along the avalanche separation line before the avalanche SU AC No. 1474207, 1989, bull. No. 15 /.

The known solution is ineffective in difficult weather conditions, difficult and unsafe in difficult mountainous terrain, ineffective in ice crust and relatively expensive.

A device for causing avalanche descent is known, including a cable with a cutting element attached to it, which is made of a triangular-shaped plate, consisting of two articulated parts, one of which is made with hollow cones placed on both its planes at an angle of 50-60 ° to him, and the other is connected to the cable / SU AC No. 1474207, 1989, bull. No. 15 /.

The known device is not very energetic, as a result of which it is ineffective when exposed to snow cover, it involves the use of a helicopter for towing, which is expensive and not always feasible, limitedly applicable for complex terrain in the avalanche exit zone.

A known method of dealing with avalanches is that the snow layer is treated with chemical reagents, while to reduce the strength of the snow cover, the layer is treated with a dispersed liquid refrigerant to the stage of constructive metamorphism / SU A.C. No. 1252425, 1985, bull. No. 31 /.

The known solution is ineffective with large avalanches, not technologically advanced and unsafe, relatively expensive inefficient with ice crust, difficult to accomplish with a difficult mountainous terrain, and does not provide an avalanche at a given time. A penetrating-explosive device is known comprising a sub-caliber element located in the guide, including a housing, a drop-down stabilizer with a base, blades fixed to the eyes, and a folded position lock and a detachable pallet placed on the stern of the sub-caliber element body, while the stabilizer base is made in in the form of a conical skirt with inner flanging, and an annular protrusion is made in the aft part of the body of the sub-caliber element, while it is equipped with a split a spring-loaded ring placed between the ends of the flanging and the annular protrusion with emphasis on the outer cylindrical surface in the inner cylindrical surface of the base connected to the housing by means of a pallet / RU Patent No. 2032137, 1995 /.

The known device has limited explosive potential and effective action distance, requires special organizational measures to permit the use of military equipment, which forces and leads to a decrease in operational efficiency, is limitedly applicable for poor visibility and at shallow angles of the direction of the shot to the surface of the snow crust.

The closest is a method of initiating a snow avalanche, including the installation of an explosive charge on a slope in an avalanche-hazardous zone before the snowfall begins, with detonating cords being removed outside the zone for remote detonation, and the explosion is carried out under a layer of snow / A. Dyunin. and others. "Protection of roads from avalanches" M., Transport, 1987, S. 45-47 /.

The known solution is relatively expensive, has certain limitations associated with anti-terrorism requirements, is not reliable enough when triggered after a long exposure on a slope under snow.

Closest to the claimed device is an explosive device, representing explosive charges predominantly of 2 kg with a total mass of 25-30 kg, connected to a single breaking network and installed under a layer of snow and connected with detonating cords to the initiator of the explosion / A. Dyunin. and others. "Protection of roads from avalanches" M., Transport, 1987, S. 45-47 /.

The known single-use device, relatively expensive, has certain limitations associated with anti-terrorism requirements, is not reliable enough when triggered after a long exposure on a slope under the snow.

The objective of the invention is to increase the reliability, safety and efficiency of initiating avalanches, providing reusable use while reducing costs, improving the manufacturability of the work.

The problem is solved in that in a method for initiating an avalanche, including laying in an avalanche zone on a rocky surface of a slope prior to snowfall, a perforated hose for supplying an explosive gas mixture and an electric cable with a hose and electric cable to a safe place, supplying a gas mixture in the avalanche by pumping through a perforation of a hose under a snow crust with the formation of gas-saturated zones, and distantly detonating it from an electric cable, the hose is laid with a partial filling breaking and subsequent fixing with anchors.

The task when implementing the method is also solved by a device including a flexible hose, made with the possibility of connection with a gas source, for example, a gas generator, while the perforations of the hose are made in the walls in the form of punctures, and an electric cable with electric ignitors located in the perforation zone is fixed on the outer surface made in the form of electrodes separated by an air gap with the possibility of breakdown of the latter by an electric discharge and shielded on the surface of the hose Moisture-proof skirt fixed from one end to a hose clamp.

Distinctive features are:

- laying in an avalanche-hazardous area on the rocky surface of the slope before the snowfall begins, a perforated hose for supplying the explosive gas mixture and electric cable with the outlet of the hose and electric cable to a safe place (which reduces the cost of preparatory work, increases the safety and adaptability of work);

- supplying a gas mixture to the avalanche descent zone by pumping through a perforation hose under a snow table with the formation of gas-saturated zones, and distantly detaching it from the electric cable (which increases the efficiency, reliability and manufacturability of work, reduces costs);

- the hose is laid with a partial deepening and subsequent fixing with anchors (which ensures the safety of the device after the avalanche and the possibility of reuse, which in turn increases the reliability and manufacturability of the work);

- a flexible hose made with the possibility of connection with a gas source, for example, a gas generator (which ensures the safety of the supply of an explosive agent under a snow crust);

- perforations in the form of punctures are made in the walls of the hose (which ensures the tightness of the hose at normal pressure and prevents the penetration of water through the perforations and the subsequent formation of ice plugs, thereby increasing the reliability of the device);

- an electric cable with electric igniters located in the perforation zone is fixed on the outer surface of the hose (which ensures the manufacturability, reliability, and multiple actuation of the ignition system of the explosive gas mixture);

- electric igniters are shielded on the surface of the hose with an elastic, moisture-proof skirt fixed on one end with a hose clamp (which helps to ensure the safety of the terminals, to increase the reliability of the process of ignition of gas-saturated zones);

- electric igniters are made in the form of electrodes separated by an air gap with the possibility of breakdown by the last electric discharge (which eliminates the use of expensive disposable squibs, while ensuring reusable use, which reduces the cost and complexity of initiating avalanches);

Thus, the claimed solution meets the criterion of "novelty." Comparison of the proposed solutions with analogues did not allow them to identify signs that distinguish the claimed solution from the prototype, which allows us to conclude that its criterion of "inventive step".

The method of initiating avalanche descent is illustrated by diagrams, where Fig. 1 shows a section of snow flake transverse with respect to the direction of avalanche descent, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of snow flake. The drawings depict a hose 1 with an electric cable 2, gas-saturated zones 3 in a snow flake 4 on a mountainside 5, a gas generator 6.

Examples of the method.

Example 1

On an avalanche slope, before the start of snowfalls, lay a perforated hose with an electric cable in a pre-drilled hole or under the base of natural ledges and cracks on the slope and strengthen it with anchors if necessary. One of the sides of the hose and electric cable is led to an avalanche-safe and accessible place, for example, to any overlying platform or ledge and fixed. After snowfalls and if there is a risk of uncontrolled avalanche coming into the hose from a gas generator or gas cylinder installed in an avalanche-safe place, an explosive gas mixture of oxygen and acetylene combustible gas is pumped into the hose for 2-3 minutes. Gas under pressure escapes through perforations of the hose, forming gas saturated zones of irregular shape under a snowy infusion. After creating the necessary concentration and volume of the explosive gas mixture under the snow cover, remotely initiate the explosion by electric blasting through the cable from the pulse device. A blast wave from a linear explosion along the length of the corresponding hose length creates a shock effect on the snow massif with a separation from the lower layer and initiates an avalanche.

Example 2

A perforated hose with an electric cable is laid on an avalanche slope before the start of snowfall, as in Example 1. An explosive gas mixture of oxygen and propane-butane is fed into the hose and overpressure is maintained for a short time for 5-8 seconds, followed by the explosion of small gas-saturated zones from the electric cable. A low-power explosion allows you to expand the space under the snow floor, increase the fracturing and the possibility of a larger volume filling with a gas mixture. Re-pump the gas mixture for 2-3 minutes and after creating the necessary concentration and volume of the explosive gas mixture under the snow floor, the latter is blown up through the cable from the pulse device. The blast wave, acting on the snow massif, initiates an avalanche.

The device for initiating an avalanche is illustrated by drawings, where Fig. 3 shows a device with a section, and Fig. 4 shows perforations on a hose.

The device comprises a flexible hose 1, an electric cable 2 with electric igniters in the form of electrodes 7, separated by an air gap 8, an elastic waterproof skirt 9, a clamp 10, perforations 11 in the hose.

The device initiating avalanche descent works as follows. Previously, the hose 1 is laid on the slope of the proposed avalanche before the snowfall and fixed with anchors (not shown in the drawings). In the working position, each skirt 9 protects the electrodes 7 from contamination and is fixed together with the electric cable 2 by the collar 10. After accumulation of snow on the mountainside, explosive gas mixture is pumped into the hose. The latter under pressure passes through the perforations 11 under each skirt and forms a large number of gas-saturated and contacting zones under the snowy crust. When applying an electric pulse through an electric cable 2, a discharge occurs between each pair of electrodes, with the initiation of the explosion of each gas-saturated zone. After an avalanche, the device can be reused, because does not lose its functionality.

The method of initiating avalanche descent and a device for its implementation provide increased reliability, safety and efficiency of initiating avalanche descent, ensuring reusable use of the device while reducing costs, increasing the manufacturability of ongoing work.

Claims (5)

1. A method of initiating an avalanche descent, including laying in an avalanche hazardous area on a rocky surface of a slope prior to snowfall, a perforated hose for supplying an explosive gas mixture and an electric cable, with a hose and electric cable leading to a safe place, feeding a gas mixture into the avalanche exit zone by pumping it through perforations of the hose under the snow cover with the formation of gas-saturated zones and its remote detonation from the electric cable. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the laying of the hose is carried out with a partial deepening and subsequent fixing with anchors. 3. An avalanche descent initiation device, including a flexible hose, configured to be connected to a gas source, for example, a gas generator, while the perforations of the hose are made in the walls in the form of punctures, and an electric cable with electric igniters located in the perforation zone is fixed on the outer surface. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the electric igniters are shielded on the surface of the hose with an elastic, moisture-proof skirt fixed on one end with a hose clamp. 5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the electric igniters are made in the form of electrodes separated by an air gap with the possibility of breakdown of the last by an electric discharge.

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