Avalanche protection system

Abstract

Apparatus is described for arresting or at least retarding an avalanche. In the described embodiment the apparatus comprises a plurality of elongate substantially cylindrical bodies ( 1 ) which are positioned on a mountainside in a likely avalanche path, for deployment into an avalanche. Each body is provided with a multiplicity of bristles ( 10 ) for engaging with one or more of the other cylindrical bodies ( 1 ) with which it may come into contact when the bodies are deployed. The bristles may be provided with locking mechanisms such as hook and loop mechanisms ( 14,16 ) for locking one cylindrical body to another when the bristles ( 10 ) of each come into contact. Each body may further be provided with anchor cables ( 26 ) to brake and arrest the body when deployed into an avalanche. The apparatus includes one or more stands ( 2 ) for deploying the cylindrical bodies into an avalanche. In use the stand(s) are fixed to the mountainside in strategic positions in the predicted avalanche path.

1 . Avalanche impeding apparatus comprising a plurality of elongate bodies ( 1 ) and deployment means ( 2 ) for deploying said bodies into an avalanche, each body being provided with engaging means ( 10 ) for engaging with at least one other said body with which it may come into contact when the bodies are deployed.  
   
   
       2 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each said elongate body ( 1 ) is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       3 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each said elongate body ( 1 ) comprises a central tubular portion and a multiplicity of bristles ( 10 ) extending outwardly from the central tubular portion.  
   
   
       4 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bristles ( 10 ) are mounted in spaced apart relationship along substantially the whole length and circumference of the central tubular portion.  
   
   
       5 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement means further includes automatic locking means for locking automatically each body to any other said body with which it comes into contact.  
   
   
       6 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means comprises at least one hook and loop mechanism ( 14 , 16 ) provided on at least some of the bristles ( 10 ).  
   
   
       7 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each bristle ( 10 ) is provided with a plurality of hooks ( 14 ) and a series of loops ( 16 ) configured for engaging with the hooks on other ones of said bristles.  
   
   
       8 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the hooks ( 14 ) are arranged in spaced apart relationship in lines extending generally parallel to the axis of the bristle ( 10 ) with each hook extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the bristle.  
   
   
       9 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said elongate bodies ( 1 ) further comprises at least one anchor cable ( 26 ) attached at one end to the said elongate body, said anchor cable, in use, being secured to the ground by fixing means at or near the other end of said anchor cable.  
   
   
       10 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , when more than one anchor cable ( 26 ) is used, wherein the said anchor cables are attached to said elongate body ( 1 ) in a spaced apart relationship along the length of said body.  
   
   
       11 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said elongate bodies ( 1 ) further comprises a plurality of anchor cables ( 26 ) each attached at one end to said elongate body, said anchor cables being interconnected by at least one bracing element ( 28 , 30 ) and said anchor cables, in use, being secured to the ground by fixing means at or near the other end of said anchor cable.  
   
   
       12 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of anchor cables ( 26 ) are interconnected by a plurality of bracing elements ( 28 , 30 ) formed and arranged, in use, to form a lattice structure of said anchor cables and bracing elements.  
   
   
       13 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one panel of cloth or sheet metal is fitted between anchor cables ( 26 ) or between anchor cables and bracing elements ( 28 , 30 ) to act as a braking device in use of the apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the deployment means comprises at least one stand ( 2 ) for holding one or more of said elongate bodies ( 1 ) prior to deployment.  
   
   
       15 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the stand ( 2 ) is formed and arranged to hold several of said elongate bodies ( 1 ).  
   
   
       16 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein all of the elongate bodies held in a stand have a plurality of anchor cables ( 26 ) attached.  
   
   
       17 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each elongate body ( 1 ) held in a stand ( 2 ) has a plurality of anchor cables ( 26 ) attached which are interconnected with bracing elements ( 28 , 30 ) formed and arranged to form a lattice structure of said anchor cables and bracing elements.  
   
   
       18 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bodies ( 1 ) are held generally horizontally and one above another between two generally vertical end supports ( 4 , 6 ) of the stand.  
   
   
       19 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the end supports ( 4 , 6 ) are formed and arranged so that the bodies ( 1 ) rest on the stand but are free to move out of the stand under the force of an avalanche hitting the stand.  
   
   
       20 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the deployment means further includes at least one sensor for sensing an avalanche, and activation means in communication with the sensor and configured to deploy said elongate bodies upon receiving a signal from the sensor that an avalanche has been detected.  
   
   
       21 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a motion and/or acoustic sensor capable of detecting an avalanche approaching the stand.  
   
   
       22 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the deployment means comprises several stands ( 2 ) holding said elongate bodies ( 1 ).  
   
   
       23 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of each elongate body ( 1 ) is in the range of ten to fifteen metres.  
   
   
       24 . Avalanche impeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the bristles ( 10 ) is between one and two metres.  
   
   
       25 . A method of impeding an avalanche, comprising placing the avalanche impeding apparatus of  claim 1  on a mountainside in the predicted path of an avalanche and fixing the stand ( 2 ) of said apparatus to the mountainside in said predicted path.  
   
   
       26 . A method of impeding an avalanche, comprising positioning the avalanche impeding apparatus of  claim 1  on a mountainside in the predicted path of avalanche and so that the plurality of stands ( 2 ) are strategically positioned at different positions on the mountainside.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the stands ( 2 ) are positioned and fixed to the mountainside such that the cylinders ( 1 ) in all the stands are substantially parallel.