Device for locating avalanche victims

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for locating avalanche victims, comprising a tube (2) as a locating aid and an advancing device for advancing the tube (2) in an advancing direction oriented towards the avalanche surface (0). A portable container (1) is proposed, having at least one ejection channel (A) for the tube (2), which is stored coiled inside the container (1) and is designed to be resistant to bending, and the advancing device comprises a drive (3), which is provided in the container (1), for a pushing advancement of the tube (2) and a control head (6) provided at the tube (2) end that can be pushed out, said control head (6) comprising an advancing tip (7) designed asymmetrically about the tube longitudinal axis, an actuating motor (12) for rotating the advancing tip (7) about the tube longitudinal axis, an angle sensor (14), and an inclination sensor (15). By virtue of a control unit, the advancing tip (7) can be controlled in such a way that the control head (6) moves upwards in the direction of a vertical in the course of the pushing advancement.

Description

[0001] Device for locating avalanche victims

[0002] The invention relates to a device for locating avalanche victims with a hose as a locating aid and a propulsion device for propelling the hose in a propulsion direction directed towards the avalanche surface, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Avalanches pose one of the greatest dangers in the mountains for winter sports enthusiasts and ski tourers in open terrain. Even with great caution, a residual risk is almost impossible to eliminate, so fatal avalanches occur repeatedly. If a person is buried by an avalanche, their chance of survival depends heavily on the speed of rescuers. Approximately 90% of those buried are still alive after 15 minutes; after that, the chances of survival decrease sharply. After 35 minutes, the probability of survival is only about 30%. Therefore, rapid location and rescue are crucial for the rescue of avalanche victims.

[0004] To improve the chances of survival in an avalanche, technical aids have been developed to facilitate the location and rescue of avalanche victims. For example, avalanche transceivers (beacons) have been developed for the rapid location of avalanche victims. They are worn directly on the body and emit a signal that can be located by other avalanche transceivers. For this to work, the other transceivers must be switched from transmit mode to receive mode. In this way, for example, unharmed members of a ski touring group can quickly begin locating avalanche victims within their group. However, the correct use of avalanche transceivers requires some practice, and at greater depths, locating the buried person with the accuracy required for a rapid rescue is no longer possible. So-called avalanche backpacks with inflatable air cushions ("avalanche airbags") also contribute to a rapid rescue.The airbag inflates within fractions of a second after activation and is designed to ensure that a person swept away by an avalanche floats on top of it and is not buried beneath it. At depths greater than two meters, it becomes difficult to rescue a buried person alive, even with rapid location, because digging them out takes too long. Even avalanche backpacks cannot always prevent people from being completely buried at greater depths.

[0005] In the generic publication GB 2484553 A, a device for supplying oxygen to avalanche victims was proposed, consisting of a hose and a propulsion system for advancing the hose in a direction towards the avalanche surface. The device is worn on the body and includes a propulsion unit at the free end of the hose, which drives the hose through the snow towards the avalanche surface in a pulling motion. The propulsion unit comprises three caterpillar-like drives, each arranged laterally around its circumference. Depending on the inclination of the propulsion unit to an imaginary vertical, one or two of the caterpillar-like drives are subjected to a greater load than the third drive due to the weight of the propulsion unit itself, thus causing the propulsion unit to self-align in a vertical direction.Once the avalanche surface is reached, the hose ensures an oxygen supply and also provides a means of locating avalanche victims more quickly. However, a disadvantage of this device is that it only functions reliably in sufficiently compacted snow, because otherwise the caterpillar-like drives of the propulsion unit do not grip adequately. Furthermore, with increasingly compacted snow, the self-adjustment towards a vertical direction becomes less effective, because the differential load on the three caterpillar-like drives due to their own weight when the propulsion unit is tilted is relatively small compared to the other forces acting on it.

[0006] The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a device that enables reliable and rapid location of avalanche victims in order to increase the probability of a live rescue.

[0007] This objective is achieved by a device according to claim 1. Claim 1 relates to a device for locating avalanche victims with a hose as a locating aid and a propulsion device for advancing the hose in a direction towards the avalanche surface, wherein, according to the invention, it is proposed that a portable container with at least one extension channel for the hose, which is wound up inside the container and is kink-resistant, is provided, and the propulsion device comprises a drive arranged in the container for a pushing propulsion of the hose and a control head arranged at an extendable end of the hose, wherein the control head comprises a propulsion tip designed asymmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the hose, an actuator for rotating the propulsion tip about the longitudinal axis of the hose, as well as an angle sensor and an inclination sensor.and a control unit is provided which, based on the inclination of the control head along the longitudinal axis of the hose relative to an imaginary vertical, measured by the tilt sensor, and the angular position of the control head around the longitudinal axis of the hose, controls a positioning movement of the control head to different angular positions around the longitudinal axis of the hose during the pushing propulsion. In contrast to the known prior art, according to the invention, a pushing propulsion of the hose is carried out. The hose is wound up and stored in a portable container, which is designed, for example, as a backpack or the like, and can be extended from the container via an extension channel. This extension movement is accomplished by means of a drive arranged in the container.as will be explained in more detail below. A control head is located at the extended end of the hose, which controls the direction of advance of the extended end. For this purpose, a thrust tip is provided, designed asymmetrically around the longitudinal axis of the hose, which can be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the hose by means of a servo motor. The thrust tip can, for example, be laterally flattened or slightly bent. By rotating the thrust tip around the longitudinal axis of the hose, the angular position of the lateral flattening or bend of the thrust tip can be adjusted in order to control the direction of advance in this way. With the thrust tip rotating, straight-ahead advance in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the hose is possible. If the rotation of the thrust tip is stopped,Thus, by flattening or bending the propulsion tip laterally, a deviation from the straight-ahead orientation along the hose's longitudinal axis can be achieved, thereby bending the hose. This bending movement can be achieved, for example, by a pendulum motion of the propulsion tip through a rotation angle in the range of + / - 5° to + / - 20° around the...

[0008] The hose's longitudinal axis must be supported.

[0009] To determine the respective angular positions, the control head is equipped with an angle sensor. To determine the deviation of the thrust from the desired upward movement along a vertical direction, the control head is equipped with a tilt sensor. The tilt sensor can, for example, be implemented as a G-sensor and determines the tilt of the control head along the hose's longitudinal axis relative to an imaginary vertical. The measured values ​​from the angle sensor and the tilt sensor are transmitted to a control unit, which, in the event of a deviation from a vertically upward movement, performs an adjustment movement of the thrust tip around the hose's longitudinal axis, so that the thrust tip is pushed back towards the vertical direction during the pushing thrust, and the hose describes an arc.

[0010] To enable this pushing motion through the snow, the hose must be designed to be kink-resistant according to the invention. A kink-resistant design, according to the invention, means that the hose is sufficiently rigid to prevent kinking during propulsion through the snow. The hose can, for example, be made of polyamide and have an outer diameter of 8 mm and an inner diameter of 6 mm. Polyamide hoses are used, for example, as compressed air, hydraulic, or fuel lines. To estimate sufficient kink resistance within the scope of the invention, reference can be made to the first case of Euler's buckling theory for the rod clamped at one end, for which the buckling load F K calculated as follows:

[0011] F K = buckling load [N]

[0012] E = Modulus of elasticity [N / mm²] 2 ]

[0013] Imin = smallest moment of inertia [mm 4 ]

[0014] L = Extension length [mm]

[0015] D = Outer diameter of the hose [mm] d = Inner diameter of the hose [mm] The material properties and geometry of the hose used are reflected in the bending stiffness E ' I min shown, where the modulus of elasticity for polyamide, for example, is on the order of about 1000 N / mm². 2 The smallest moment of inertia, with an outer diameter of the hose of, for example, 8 mm and an inner diameter of 6 mm, is approximately 140 mm. 4For the inventive kink resistance of the hose, the calculated kink load for a hose of a specific material and geometry must be greater than the penetration resistance, which can be experimentally determined for avalanche snow using ramming methods and is generally in the range of 0.1–0.3 N. The polyamide hoses mentioned above, which are primarily used in hydraulics, meet this requirement and are therefore suitable for a device according to the invention. These hoses nevertheless have minimal bending radii of a few centimeters, making them suitable for coiled storage in portable containers. In practice, hose lengths of 2.5–3 m are sufficient. Practical tests conducted by the applicants have shown that the control head with its propulsion tip of a device according to the invention covers a distance of 2.5 m in less than four minutes under snow load.The drive tip can be marked with a signal color for easier recognition and location, or it can be equipped with an active signal transmitter of any kind that facilitates location.

[0016] With regard to the control unit, it is preferably proposed that it be implemented using a processor arranged in the container, which is connected to the control head via a data line running inside the tube. In particular, it can be provided that the data line 9 is designed as a data cable, the end of which, facing away from the control head 6, lies outside the tube 2 and is received in a reservoir 10 arranged in the winding center of the tube 2, which is connected to the processor 8 of the control unit. Furthermore, it can also be provided that a power source is provided in the container, which is connected to the control head via a power line running inside the tube. In this respect, the use of a tube facilitates the routing of data and power lines between the container and the control head.The power lines connect the power source located in the container with the electrical consumers in the control head, in particular with the actuator, the angle sensor and the tilt sensor.

[0017] The deployment movement can be triggered either manually or automatically via a trigger sensor, such as a G-sensor, which detects the acceleration of an avalanche and its standstill. Once a standstill is detected, the deployment movement for the hose is activated. The hose is then deployed through the deployment channel as described above. The propulsion system may, in particular, include two feed clamps for the hose, which can be alternately moved by the drive towards an outlet of at least one deployment channel, to ensure continuous hose advancement.

[0018] In cases where the buried person is in a very unfavorable position, they may be lying almost headfirst in the avalanche. In such cases, the thrust tip might need to be rotated approximately 180° before it can be advanced towards the avalanche surface. Therefore, it is also proposed that two extension channels with oppositely oriented thrust directions be provided for the hose, each selectable via a flap adjustable by the control unit. The activation of the thrust movement itself remains unchanged; only the selection of a suitable extension channel is made using an adjustable flap, which guides the extended hose accordingly. In this way, the vertical advance of the thrust tip can be achieved earlier.

[0019] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures. These figures show the

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a representation of the basic function of the device according to the invention in the application case of locating a person buried in an avalanche,

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention with an ejection channel.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment for the control head and the propulsion tip of a device according to the invention.

[0023] Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a device according to the invention with two extension channels and a passive flap, and the

[0024] Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a flap for an embodiment of a device according to the invention with two extension channels and an active flap.

[0025] Reference is first made to Fig. 1, which illustrates the basic function of the device according to the invention in the application of locating a person buried in an avalanche. As already explained, the speed at which a buried person can be located and subsequently rescued is crucial for a successful live rescue. The proposed device offers advantages with regard to both location and rescue and includes a portable container 1, which can, for example, be designed as a backpack. The device comprises a hose 2 as a locating aid, which is driven towards the avalanche surface 0 to be detected there by the rescuers. The hose 2, driven towards the avalanche surface 0, serves as a marker of the exact position of the buried person and also as a rescue aid, because it can guide the excavation.In addition, hose 2 can also be equipped with depth markings to enable helpers to estimate the depth of the buried person.

[0026] The portable container 1, with the kink-resistant hose 2 wound inside the container 1 and the propulsion device for pushing the hose 2, will be explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 2. The container 1 includes an extension channel A in which a propulsion device acts on the hose 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the propulsion device comprises a drive 3 and two propulsion clamps 4.1 and 4.2, which are moved alternately by the drive 3 towards the outlet of the extension channel A. During this movement, a return spring 5.1 and 5.2 associated with the propulsion clamps 4.1 and 4.2 is compressed. The hose 2 is extended by alternately wedging a propulsion clamp 4.1 and 4.2 with the hose 2 and guiding it towards the outlet of the extension channel A during the movement mediated by the drive 3. As soon as the feed clamp 4.1, 4.2 engages its respective return spring 5.1, 5.When the hose 2 is maximally compressed, it is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hose, which causes it to be returned by the respective return springs 5.1, 5.2 in the direction opposite to the outlet of the extension channel A. This process is carried out alternately by the two feed clamps 4.1, 4.2, resulting in a continuous feed for the hose 2. Of course, other embodiments for the propulsion device are also conceivable. A control head 6 with a propulsion tip 7 is arranged at the extended end of the hose 2, which will be explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 3. At this point, it should be mentioned that the control head 6 is controlled by a control unit that includes a processor 8 arranged in the container 1. The processor 8 is connected to the control head 6 via a data line 9 running inside the hose 2, the connection between the processor 8 and the data line being shown in Fig.Figure 2 is indicated by a dashed line. The wired data line 9 is stored in a reservoir 10, which also includes a power source 11. For this purpose, the data line 9 is designed as a data cable, with its end facing away from the control head 6 located outside the hose 2. This end is received by the reservoir 10, which is located in the winding center of the hose 2 and is connected to the processor 8 of the control unit. The power source 11 is connected to the control head 6 via a power line, not shown in Figure 2, which also runs inside the hose 2.

[0027] The control head 6 with the propulsion tip 7 is explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 3. The control head 6 is attached to the hose 2 via a seal 16 and comprises an actuator 12, which is connected to the propulsion tip 7 via a gearbox 13 and a shaft 17 for rotation of the propulsion tip 7 about the longitudinal axis of the hose, as well as an angle sensor 14 and a tilt sensor 15. The angle sensor 14 measures the angular position of the propulsion tip 7 about the longitudinal axis of the hose, and the tilt sensor 15 measures the inclination of the control head 6 along the longitudinal axis of the hose to an imaginary vertical. The tilt sensor 15 is designed approximately as an acceleration sensor (“G-sensor”). The data measured by the angle sensor 14 and the tilt sensor 15 are transmitted to the processor 8 of the control unit via the data line 9.The processor 8 of the control unit detects a deviation from a vertically upward movement of the control head 6, resulting in an adjustment movement of the drive tip 7 around the longitudinal axis of the hose, and sends a corresponding control signal via the data line 9 to the actuator 12 of the control head 6, so that the drive tip 7 is pushed back towards the vertical during the pushing drive and the hose 2 describes an arc.

[0028] For this purpose, the thrust tip 7 is designed asymmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the hose. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, for example, the thrust tip 7 is laterally flattened. By rotating the thrust tip 7 about the longitudinal axis of the hose, the angular position of the lateral flattening of the thrust tip 7 can be adjusted in order to control the direction of the thrust. With the thrust tip 7 rotating, straight-ahead thrust in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the hose is possible. If the rotation of the thrust tip 7 is stopped, the lateral flattening of the thrust tip 7 can cause a deviation from the straight-ahead direction along the longitudinal axis of the hose due to the forces acting laterally on the thrust tip 7, thus bending the hose 2. By resuming rotation of the thrust tip 7, a straight-ahead movement along the new direction of movement can be initiated again.The advancement of hose 2 continues until the entire hose 2 has been unwound. For repeated use of the device, hose 2 must either be rewound in container 1, or a new device must be used.

[0029] As previously explained, in very unfavorable positions of the buried person, it can happen that they are lying almost headfirst in the avalanche. To avoid having to turn the thrust tip 7 by approximately 180° before it can be advanced towards the avalanche surface 0, the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is proposed, in which two extension channels Al, A.2 with oppositely oriented extension directions for the hose 2 are provided, each of which can be selected via a flap 18 adjustable by the control unit. The activation of the extension movement itself remains unchanged; only a suitable extension channel Al, A.2 is selected using the adjustable flap 18, which guides the extended hose 2 accordingly. In this way, the vertical advance of the thrust tip 7 can be achieved earlier. In the embodiment of Fig.In this version, only a feed clamp 4 and an associated return spring 5 are used. This design of a propulsion device is more space-saving; however, it only allows for discontinuous propulsion of the hose 2.

[0030] The flap 18 can be configured as a passive flap 18 according to Fig. 4 or as an active flap 18 according to Fig. 5. In the passive flap 18 configuration, the position of the flap 18 remains unchanged. The selection of an extension channel Al, A.2 is achieved by selectively controlling the thrust tip 7 and subsequently wiping the thrust tip 7 against the flap 18 into the respective extension channel Al, A.2. In the position of the thrust tip 7 shown in Fig. 4, the hose 2 would, for example, be extended through extension channel A.2. By initially rotating the thrust tip 7 by 180° around the longitudinal axis of the hose, the hose 2 can be extended through extension channel Al.

[0031] In the active flap 18 configuration, the position of the flap 18 can be changed, as explained in Fig. 5. By appropriately controlling the flap 18, the respective extension channel A1, A2 can be selected. Fig. 5 shows one possible embodiment in which, by activating an electromagnet 19, the extension channel A2 is opened by moving the flap 18 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5. This compresses a spring 20 in the direction of the arrow, which is also shown. When the electromagnet 19 is deactivated, the spring 20 ensures that the flap 18 returns to its original position and the extension channel A1 opens.

[0032] The invention thus provides a device that enables the reliable and rapid location of avalanche victims in order to increase the probability of a live rescue. The device according to the invention is by no means intended to replace an avalanche airbag or similar device, but at best to be used as a supplement to an avalanche airbag.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Device for locating avalanche victims with a hose (2) as a locating aid and a propulsion device for advancing the hose (2) in a direction towards the avalanche surface (0), characterized in that a portable container (1) with at least one extension channel (A) for the kink-resistant hose (2) is provided, and the propulsion device comprises a drive (3) arranged in the container (1) for pushing the hose (2) and a control head (6) arranged at an extendable end of the hose (2), wherein the control head (6) comprises a propulsion tip (7) asymmetrically designed about the longitudinal axis of the hose, an actuator (12) for rotating the propulsion tip (7) about the longitudinal axis of the hose, an angle sensor (14) and an inclination sensor (15), and a control unit is provided.which is designed to control, from the inclination of the steering head (6) along the longitudinal axis of the hose to an imaginary vertical as measured by the inclination sensor (15) and the angular position of the steering head (6) about the longitudinal axis of the hose as measured by the angle sensor (14), a positioning movement of the steering head (6) that changes the inclination of the steering head (6) in the direction of the vertical during the pushing propulsion into different angular positions of the steering head (6) about the longitudinal axis of the hose.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit is designed using a processor (8) arranged in the container (1), which is connected to the control head (6) via a data line (9) running inside the tube (2).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the data line (9) is designed as a data cable, the end of which faces away from the control head (6) is outside the hose. (2) is located and is received in a depot (10) arranged in the winding center of the hose (2), which is connected to the processor (8) of the control unit.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a power source (11) is provided in the container (1) which is connected to the control head (6) via a power line running inside the hose (2).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hose (2) is designed as a polyamide hose.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the propulsion device for a continuous advance of the hose (2) has two drives (3) comprises alternately movable feed clamps (4.1, 4.2) for the hose (2) in the direction of an outlet of the at least one extension channel (A).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that two extension channels (Al, A.2) with oppositely oriented extension directions for the hose (2) are provided, each of which can be selected via a flap (18) adjustable by the control unit.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the container (1) is designed as a backpack.

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