Avalanche protection device with anti-icing agent

Abstract

Device (10) for avalanche protection against snow avalanches or the like, comprising a protective surface (1) extending in a plane, which is spanned or held by at least two supports (2) coupled to one another, and comprising an anchor rod (3) extending substantially perpendicular to the protective surface (1) for supporting and fastening the device (10) in the ground or a slope of a mountain, wherein a central coupling element (4) is provided for connecting and holding the anchor rod (3) with a first end (31) to the supports (2) or the protective surface (1), and the anchor rod (3) is provided with a ground fastening element (8) at its second end (32), characterized in that the anchor rod (3) has, on its outer surface (33), at least in regions between the first and second ends (31, 32), a means (20) for anti-icing to prevent and / or remove adhesion of ice, snow,an ice / snow mixture or the like on the anchor rod (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an avalanche protection device, i.e., protection against snow avalanches or the like in the mountains, comprising a protective surface extending in a plane, usually in the form of a metal mesh net, which is spanned and held by interconnected supports. The protective surface is provided with an anchor rod for fastening in the ground, which extends rearwardly substantially perpendicular to the plane of the protective surface. A central coupling element on the supports serves for the attachment of the anchor rod, in particular in an articulated manner, to the protective surface.

[0002] The anchor rod or tension rod is usually coupled via tensioning elements such as wire ropes between the fastening end on the ground and the free ends of the supports of a spanned support square, to which the protective surface is then attached, for example in the form of a metal wire mesh.

[0003] Such avalanche protection devices are permanently installed at critical points on slopes in the mountains and serve to prevent the release of avalanches in critical areas on steep slopes or in the vicinity of roads, railways or even ski slopes. Such avalanche protection devices can also be provided in several rows of protective elements that are directly linked to one another or fixed in the ground at intervals. The purpose of the avalanche protection devices is to prevent the release of snow avalanches as reliably as possible, even in heavy snowfall and high snow loads. When manufacturing and installing such avalanche protection devices, it is essential that they are as easy to transport as possible and, once erected and fixed in the ground in place, offer secure, stable support against the stresses caused by snow and ice over the long term.Such avalanche protection devices are known in various forms in the state of the art.

[0004] For example, EP 1 921 210 B1 describes and discloses an avalanche protection element which is provided with tensile-loadable connecting elements in the form of wire ropes between the first end of the fastening in the ground of an anchor rod and the free ends of the support structure serving as a carrier for the metal net. On the side of the protective surface opposite the anchor rod, this avalanche protection element also has a second rod protruding in the extension of the anchor rod, which is also connected to the structure of the support struts via tensile-loadable connecting elements in the form of wire ropes. This prevents adjustment and movement of the movably mounted anchor rod when heavy snow loads are applied to the protective surface of the metal net from both the front and rear, and ensures that the protective surface maintains the desired position and inclination.The avalanche protection device is thus reasonably stable and can withstand even relatively high snow loads that are applied to it during continuous snowfall.

[0005] This type of snow avalanche protection device has proven effective in practice. However, in certain cases, namely during very heavy snowfall and increasingly wet snow, excessive loads have occurred, particularly on the anchor rods of the devices. The wet snow and ice, which increasingly settle on the outer surface of the anchor rod, which is usually a metal tube, and adhere there due to icing, lead to increasing amounts of snow and ice pressing down on the anchor rod and the device as a whole. In such cases of heavy loads, the protection devices are no longer sufficiently stable, and the ice and snow adhering to the anchor rod leads to damage and, in particular, excessive bending of the anchor rods, which ultimately destroys the protective function of these avalanche protection devices.

[0006] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for avalanche protection against snow avalanches or the like, comprising a protective surface extending in a plane, in particular made of metal wire mesh, which is spanned and held on interconnected supports, and a rear anchor rod, which ensures high stability over a longer period than previously possible, even under high snow loads and ice adhesion to the anchor rod and the elements of the device. In particular, the avalanche protection device according to the invention is intended to offer reliable protection against icing with regard to possible deflection and damage to the anchor rod in such extreme weather situations. This object is achieved with an avalanche protection device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, a device for avalanche protection against snow avalanches or the like is proposed, comprising a protective surface extending in a plane, which is spanned or held by at least two supports coupled to one another, and comprising an anchor rod which extends substantially perpendicular to the protective surface for supporting and fastening the device in the ground or on a slope of a mountain, wherein a central coupling element is provided for connecting and holding the anchor rod with a first end to the supports or the protective surface and the anchor rod is provided with a ground fastening element at its second end, characterized in that the anchor rod has on its outer surface at least in regions between the first and second ends a means for anti-icing to prevent and / or remove adhesion of ice, snow,an ice / snow mixture or the like on the anchor rod. The device thus comprises interconnected supports, for example, two or four supports connected in a cross-like manner, which serve to span and secure the retaining means in the form of a protective surface, for example, a wire mesh. The supports are further coupled to a central coupling element, to which a rear anchor rod or tension rod is attached, which serves to mount and secure the device in the ground. The anchor rod can be fixed to the coupling element or can be movably attached via a joint, such as a ball joint, in order to adjust the desired inclination of the device. The anchor rod is provided at a first end with a ground fastening element, which can be, for example, a ground fixation, a ground anchor, a ground foundation, or the like.

[0008] According to the invention, an anti-icing agent is provided on the anchor rod at least in some areas between a first, ground-side end and a second end located on the coupling element of the supports or beams of the device. This anti-icing agent serves to prevent and / or remove the adhesion of ice, snow, or an ice / snow mixture to the anchor rod. Such an anti-icing agent can take different forms according to the invention, as long as it is designed to relieve the anchor rod of the additional load caused by the ice adhesion in the event of excessive loading by snow or ice, or to prevent ice formation in advance. The anti-icing agent is provided on the anchor rod so as to protrude from the surface or so as to protrude in such a way that it can create a type of predetermined breaking point in ice adhesions.If, for example, after heavy snowfall or rainfall, a layer of ice forms on the top side of an anchor rod and this ice then continues to grow due to snow, especially wet snow, a significant chunk of ice can adhere to the usually tubular anchor rod, ultimately leading to bending and damage to the device as a whole. According to the invention, a projecting anti-icing device is therefore provided along at least part of the longitudinal extension of the anchor rod. The purpose of such an anti-icing device is that, should ice or icy snow adhere, it is removed as quickly as possible by this device, or its formation is prevented in advance.

[0009] Any means that allows the formation or removal of ice chunks on the outer surface of anchor rods of such avalanche protection devices by creating predetermined breaking points in the ice buildup can serve as an anti-icing means according to the invention for preventing ice adhesion to the anchor rod. For example, web-shaped elements that are attached protrudingly to the anchor rod can serve to prevent the formation of ice. The protruding elements can be attached to the anchor rods of such avalanche protection devices, for example, in the form of ribs, crenellations, bevels, or similar. If excessive loads are applied due to snow and the formation of these ice chunks, such elements will inevitably lead to the deflection of the anchor rod and the resulting predetermined breaking points in the ice / snow chunk, causing it to break away.In particular, the invention provides anti-icing devices that function solely through the mechanics of the anchor rod deflecting in the terrain, even without electrical energy or targeted heating. A combination of such anti-icing devices with heating elements is also possible.

[0010] Alternatively, anti-icing means may be provided as a combination of such mechanically operating projections, webs or formations on the anchor rod and a coating of the surface of the anchor rod.

[0011] The anti-icing means according to the invention, which is provided on a surface at least in a section of the rod's longitudinal extension between the ground attachment and the protective surface of the supports, prevents the devices from being damaged under excessive loads due to snow and ice adhering to the anchor rod. The devices can thus be advantageously used even under high snow loads in high mountains, without the need for replacement or repair of the devices in difficult terrain. The anchor rods can also be provided with a smaller diameter, which saves weight, material, and costs. With comparatively simple means, the invention can provide a surprisingly high level of effectiveness in preventing the icing of such devices.The device according to the invention also has further technical advantages, since no complex electrical heating devices or similar are required to prevent icing on the devices that are usually mounted in remote terrain.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the anti-icing means is at least one rib, crenellation, or web-like projection protruding from the anchor rod, in particular at least on an upper side of the anchor rod. The anchor rod is therefore not smooth on the surface on its upper side, or at least on the upper side and possibly on the side regions, but has a protruding rib or deformation or web. The rib can be a continuous single rib, which, for example, is firmly connected to the anchor rod on the upper side as a type of sheet metal, for example by welding. Alternatively, several crenellation-like webs or ribs can also be present. If an increased load due to ice and a high snow load of, for example, several meters is applied to the avalanche protection device, the anchor rod will be slightly bent downwards due to this snow load.The rib(s) firmly attached to the top side of the anchor rod according to the invention is then bent together with the anchor rod and, due to penetration into the ice block, creates a type of predetermined breaking point, which causes or at least facilitates the breaking away of the ice block from the generally round, tubular anchor rod. In this way, a quasi-automatic de-icing process is provided using purely mechanical means when the snow / ice load on such devices is too high. The formation of targeted predetermined breaking points in the ice blocks and snow / ice formations on the anchor rod can be remedied by means of surprisingly simple technical measures, namely a rib or a plurality of individual crenellations or ribs in the form of protruding elements on the top side of the anchor rod.The device is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet is very effective even under excessive loads caused by ice formation in high mountains during severe snowy weather conditions with heavy, wet snowfall.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the anchor rod is a round rod or a round tube, for example a metal tube or rod, and one or more ribs are firmly attached to the round tube as anti-icing protection. The protruding ribs of the anti-icing protection are attached, for example, as plate parts by welding to the outer surface of the anchor rod. The anchor rod can also have individual, elongated webs or ribs provided at a distance from one another in the form of a kind of row of crenellations, each of which creates corresponding predetermined breaking points in any adhering ice blocks. Here, too, if the device is subjected to excessive mechanical stress, the ice is essentially broken off and removed at the predetermined breaking points simply due to the bending of the anchor rod.Other shapes of anchor rods can also be used, for example anchor rods made of solid material or with a non-circular cross-section, in which the same effects and actions are achieved by attaching ribs or longitudinal fins projecting outwards, in particular towards the top, as described, at least on part of the longitudinal extent of the anchor rods.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the anti-icing means is formed from the same material as the anchor rod as a protruding element or edge on the upper side and extending in the longitudinal direction of the anchor rod. The protruding anti-icing means in the form of ribs or webs or fins can thus also be implemented during the manufacture of the anchor rod itself by means of material edges. During the manufacture of tubular anchor rods or rod-shaped anchor rods, the protruding longitudinal rib or edge-like projection is essentially implemented, for example, in a drawing process or during production by forming the device. Welding on ribs or protruding webs made of the same material can also preferably be considered. The anchor rod thus has an overall fixed shape together with the anti-icing means made of the same material.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, one or more ribs with a substantially rectangular cross-section are provided as anti-icing means. A simple elongated metal part or plate part can be welded to the top of the anchor rod. This can be achieved either by a continuous elongated single rib or in the form of several individual rib elements provided at a distance from one another with a certain distance between them. A predetermined breaking point desired according to the invention for ice prevention and removal will in any case be created within a block of ice adhering there. If the anchor rod bends downward due to the load, the ice is broken up and removed. The rectangular cross-sectional shape has the advantage that simple pieces of sheet metal or metal webs can be welded to the top of the anchor rod.The rectangular shape can also be varied in an alternative embodiment of the invention, for example, with a tapered wedge shape in cross-section. Such wedge-shaped or tapered webs, ribs, or fins on the upper surface of the anchor rod are even more effective in creating targeted, desired breaking points in ice blocks that can form on the anchor rod in such extreme weather conditions.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, several ribs are provided as anti-icing means in the longitudinal direction and at a distance from one another in a crenellated manner on at least the upper side of the anchor rod. The protruding elements of the anti-icing means according to the invention are then no longer a continuous web, but individual crenellations, webs, or projections, which, due to their interstices, also promote the breaking through of the ice block in the event of excessive loads. The anti-icing means can be provided as protruding elements only individually in one direction on the upper side of the anchor rod. According to an alternative embodiment, these protruding elements, webs, or ribs can also protrude laterally upwards on several side areas, so that a type of star-shaped configuration of the protruding elements is created to prevent icing and excessive loading due to ice and snow loads.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the anchor rod is attached to the coupling element and / or the ground fastening element in an articulated manner. This further increases the effectiveness of the automatic anti-icing device: Due to the joints, the deflection of the anchor rod is further amplified when excessive snow loads on the protective surface and the device as a whole are applied. Due to the faster deflection of the anchor rod, adhering ice formations are released early due to the predetermined breaking points formed in the ice material and the physically acting mechanical forces of the protruding elements or anti-icing devices.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the protruding anti-icing device comprises a heating element, which is attached to it or the anchor rod or integrated therein. The effect of removing ice deposits by means of predetermined breaking points can thus be further enhanced. The combined breaking and heating is thus very effective in preventing damage to such devices.

[0019] Further advantageous embodiments, developments, features, and advantages of the invention will be described in more detail below using several exemplary embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment of an avalanche protection device according to the invention with anti-icing means on the upper side of the anchor rod; Fig. 2 a side view of the embodiment of the Fig. 1 of an avalanche protection device according to the invention; Fig. 3 a detailed view in the area of ​​the anti-icing means on the anchor rod of the embodiment of an avalanche protection device according to the invention according to Fig. 1, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a detailed view in the area of ​​the anti-icing means of a further embodiment of an avalanche protection device according to the invention in the area of ​​the anchor rod; Fig. 5a, Fig. 5b and 5c cross-sectional views of various possible embodiments of anti-icing means according to the invention on the anchor rod with variants with regard to possible webs, projections or ribs on the surface of the anchor rod.

[0020] A first embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1 using an avalanche protection device 10 in a perspective view and correspondingly in Fig. 2 in a side view, where the Fig. 3 shows a detailed view illustrating the anti-icing means 20 of the avalanche protection device 10 according to the invention. The avalanche protection device 10 is intended for installation on sloping mountain terrain, in particular to prevent snow avalanches or similar avalanches at critical points on slopes. Such avalanche protection devices 10 are basically constructed as shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, whereby the basic form of the avalanche protection device with the protective surface 1, which is usually formed by a wire mesh, and the type of supports 2 used for the support and the anchor rod 3 used for setting up and fixing can vary. In the embodiment shown, the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, the device 10 is formed from supports 2 coupled in a center, which are connected in an articulated manner to an anchor rod 3 by a coupling element 4 (cf. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). The device 10 has a protective surface 1, which here is formed as a wire mesh. In alternative embodiments, such avalanche protection devices 10 sometimes also have other forms of protective surfaces for retaining snow avalanches, for example in the form of parallel cross braces, wooden beams, or the like. The two cross-shaped supports 2 can also be provided as four individual supports and are firmly connected to one another in the middle at a central coupling element 4 consisting of two plates and screw connections to span the protective surface 1.

[0021] For the installation and fixation of the avalanche protection device 10 in the ground, an anchor rod 3 or tension rod is used, which is connected at a first end 31 to the central coupling element 4. In this embodiment of the invention in Fig. 1, the connection is articulated, for example via a ball joint connection on the coupling element 4, but it can also alternatively be implemented as a fixed connection between the anchor rod 3 and the coupling element 4. At the free, rear end 32 of the anchor rod 3, a ground fastening element 8 is provided, which, together with further elements not shown, serves to fix the device in the ground. These can be various types of ground fixings, for example ground anchors, anchoring cables, fixing rods, concrete foundations or the like. In this exemplary embodiment, the device 10 is also provided with a second front rod 6 on the opposite side of the protective surface 1, which is an extension of the anchor rod 3. Both the anchor rod 3 and the rod 6 projecting forward are fastened to the supports orSupports 2 of the avalanche protection device 10 are fixed, as shown in particular in . Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In this way, the protective surface 1 is held firmly in its desired position and inclination, even when higher snow loads impact the protective surface 1, as indicated by the arrows S in the figures of the drawings.

[0022] According to the invention, in the first embodiment of the device 10, which is shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in various views, an anti-icing means 20 is provided for preventing and / or removing the adhesion of ice, snow, an ice / snow mixture, or the like between the first end 31 and the second end 32 of the anchor rod, as will be explained in more detail below. The tension rod or anchor rod 3 of the device 10 is provided on its outer surface in the area between the first end 31 and the second end 32 with a special shape as an anti-icing means 20, namely in this example with projecting ribs 21, which project at least towards the upper side from the outer surface of the anchor rod 3. This is particularly evident in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 and the cross-sectional view in Fig. 5a. The anti-icing agent 20 serves to ensure that, in the event of ice adhering to the anchor rod 3, this is automatically removed again when the anchor rod 3 bends, or to prevent the formation of snow and ice adhesions from the outset. For this purpose, the anti-icing agent 20 comprises, for example, as shown in the first embodiment of the Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, a plurality of projections, webs or ribs 21 provided at a distance from one another on the surface of the anchor rod 3, which project upwards like a crenellation and form a targeted projection element on the upper side of the surface of the anchor rod 3 (see also Fig. 5a to Fig. 5c). If, under heavy snow loads or increasingly moist snow, a layer of ice 11 or snow / ice adhesion forms on the anchor rod 3 of the avalanche protection device 10, as illustrated by the arrows S in the figures and in the Fig. 5a with the dashed line of an ice adhesion 11 is schematically illustrated, the projecting sections of the ribs 21 of the anti-icing means form an element which leads to targeted predetermined breaking points of the ice adhesion 11.

[0023] If, due to high snow loads (see arrows S), the anchor rod 3, which is firmly anchored in the ground at the rear at the second end 32, bends slightly, this inevitably leads to the formation of targeted predetermined breaking points in the ice adhesion with the ribs 21, 22, which then automatically lead to the detachment of the ice adhesion 11 due to the bending. This effect thus provides a technically advantageous automatic anti-icing protection 20, which prevents the avalanche protection devices 10 from being damaged or even destroyed in such extreme situations. The anti-icing means 20 on the anchor rod 4 can have various forms of protruding sections 21, 22, as shown, for example, in the cross-sectional views of the Fig. 5a, Fig. 5b and Fig. 5c is illustrated using variants.

[0024] Fig. 5a shows the first embodiment according to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 with ribs 21 arranged centrally on the upper side of the surface of the anchor rod 3, which ribs can be provided at a distance from each other or as a continuous single longitudinal rib 21, as shown in Fig. 4 in an alternative second embodiment of the invention.

[0025] At the Fig. 5b, three ribs 21 are provided at different angles on the surface upwards and are arranged as anti-icing means 20 on the tube of the anchor rod 3. Fig. 5c shows an alternative form of a rib 22 as an anti-icing means 20 for forming predetermined breaking points in ice build-ups 11, wherein the rib 22 here has a kind of wedge shape or a shape tapered towards the top, so that the predetermined breaking point leads even more strongly to the removal of undesirable build-ups of ice blocks or the like upon deflection of the anchor rod 3.

[0026] According to the detailed views of the Fig. 3, Fig.4 of a first and second embodiment with alternative shapes of ribs 21 as anti-icing means 20, the anchor rod 3 is provided with an articulated connection both at the central coupling element 4 and at the ground fastening element 8. A type of ball joint 41 is provided on the central coupling element 4 for attachment to the supports 2 of the protection device 10, which is coupled to plates 42 of the ball element attached to both sides of the supports 2. This allows for angular adjustment of the protective surface 1 of the device 10 depending on the slope and inclination of the mountain, as is often desired with such avalanche protection devices 10.In these exemplary embodiments, the attachment at the second end 32 of the anchor rod 3 to the ground fastening element 8 is also an articulated attachment with a flange having a mounting hole for the attachment of ground anchors, fixings in the ground or foundations, and the like. Other shapes of anchor rods 3 can also be provided with such protruding elements of an anti-icing device 20 within the scope of the invention, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0027] According to an alternative embodiment, the anti-icing agent 20 is combined with a heating element, which further enhances the effect of creating the predetermined breaking point. This heating element can, for example, be an electrical heating wire, which is mounted externally or integrated. List of reference symbols 1 protective surface, especially metal mesh 2 carriers 3 anchor rods 31 first end anchor rod 32 second end anchor rod 33 Exterior surface 4 coupling element 41 ball joint on coupling element 42 plates of coupling element 5 Pull rope 6 Rod (front extension anchor rod) 7 Pull rope 8 Floor fixing element 9 Network 10 Avalanche protection device 11 Ice adhesion to anchor rod 3 20 anti-icing products 21 Rib or web / projection part / fin 22 alternative rib or web S Arrow load application of snow / ice load QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 1 921 210 B1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Device (10) for avalanche protection against snow avalanches or the like, comprising a protective surface (1) extending in a plane, which is spanned or held by at least two mutually coupled supports (2), and comprising an anchor rod (3) extending substantially perpendicular to the protective surface (1) for supporting and securing the device (10) in the ground or a slope of a mountain, wherein a central coupling element (4) is provided for connecting and securing the anchor rod (3) with a first end (31) to the supports (2) or the protective surface (1), and the anchor rod (3) is provided with a ground fastening element (8) at its second end (32), characterized bythat the anchor rod (3) has on its outer surface (33) at least in regions between the first and second ends (31, 32) a means (20) for anti-icing to prevent and / or remove adhesion of ice, snow, an ice / snow mixture or the like to the anchor rod (3). [2] Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the anti-icing means (20) has at least one rib (21) or crenellation protruding from the anchor rod (3), in particular at least on an upper side of the anchor rod (3). [3] Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the anchor rod (3) is a round rod or a round tube to which the one or more ribs (21) are firmly attached. [4] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the anti-icing means (20) is formed from the material of the anchor rod (3) as an element (21, 22) or edge projecting from the upper side with an extension in the longitudinal direction of the anchor rod (3). [5] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that one or more ribs (21, 22) with a rectangular cross-section are provided as anti-icing means (20). [6] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a plurality of ribs (21, 22) are provided as anti-icing means (20) in the longitudinal direction at a distance from one another in a crenellated manner on at least the upper side of the anchor rod (3). [7] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the anchor rod (3) is articulated to the coupling element (4) and / or the ground fastening element (8). [8] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the anti-icing means (20) projecting from the anchor rod (3) comprises a heating element which is attached to it or integrated in the anchor rod (3).

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