Avalanche Snow-Cutting Release System for Reliable Remote Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing avalanche release devices often concentrate the impact on the snowpack in a single location, leading to localized densification and potential misjudgment of avalanche risk, as they fail to trigger avalanches effectively due to uneven snow compaction.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising avalanche release devices with a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated lifting device and a control unit, utilizing a pressure tank to supply a working medium for rapid snow cutting, and integrated energy storage systems for autonomous operation, allowing simultaneous triggering of multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If stationary avalanche release devices concentrate impact in a single location, then the device structure is simple, but the snowpack becomes locally densified and avalanche triggering becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting plate is divided into multiple independent lifting elements (first lifting element, second lifting element, etc.) that can be actuated separately or simultaneously. This segmentation allows the impact to be distributed across multiple locations on the snowpack rather than concentrated at a single point, preventing localized densification while maintaining device structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Different lifting elements are positioned at different locations on the lifting plate to create varied impact zones on the snowpack. Each lifting element can be independently controlled to address specific local snowpack conditions, ensuring effective avalanche triggering without uniform densification across the entire impact area
2Area of stationary object
If multiple avalanche release devices are triggered simultaneously, then avalanche coverage area increases, but the energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple lifting elements are integrated into a single lifting plate structure that shares common components including the housing, control unit, and power supply. This merging approach enables simultaneous actuation of multiple lifting elements to cover a broader avalanche area while avoiding the need for separate complete device assemblies, thus reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting plate with multiple lifting elements serves multiple functions: it can trigger avalanches in different locations simultaneously, adjust individual element activation based on snowpack conditions, and provide versatile avalanche release patterns. This multi-functionality increases coverage area without proportionally increasing system complexity
3Speed
If hydraulic or pneumatic lifting devices are used for rapid snow cutting, then the snow cutting speed increases, but the energy storage requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device uses a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder to rapidly lift the lifting plate and cutting elements through the snowpack. This pneumatic/hydraulic actuation provides high-speed snow cutting capability while integrating into a compact device structure with shared housing and control systems, managing the complexity through efficient space utilization
4Reliability
If pressure tanks are used to supply working medium for rapid lifting, then the lifting speed and reliability improve, but the device weight and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure tank is pre-filled with hydraulic fluid or compressed gas before deployment to the avalanche site. This preliminary preparation ensures that the lifting device has immediate access to the working medium needed for rapid, reliable lifting without requiring on-site refilling or complex fluid delivery systems, thereby minimizing additional weight and volume requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures reliable and safe avalanche triggering by cutting through the snowpack efficiently, reducing maintenance needs and operating costs, and enabling remote or automatic control, while being independent of human intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinder/piston unit (9)
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinder/piston unit (9)
Implementation Method 3
The working medium is supplied to the cylinder/piston unit to abruptly raise the snow cutting element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an avalanche release device (2) and an avalanche release system (1) comprising several such avalanche release devices (2), their mounting on a slope, and the method for actuating such devices. The avalanche release device (2) is provided with a lifting device for vertically moving a snow cutting element to cut through a snowpack over a predetermined length. A control unit is provided for actuating the lifting device. The lifting device has a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinder/piston unit (9). An avalanche release system (1) can comprise one or more such avalanche release devices (2) and an operating station (3) which supplies the avalanche release devices (2) with a pressurized working medium (19).The operating station (3) has a pressure tank (12) for keeping the working medium (19) under pressure, so that the lifting device can be operated quickly at any time.