Abstract:
A method and system for inducing a planned or controlled avalanche is disclosed. The system includes one or more sources of vibration mounted within a mass which is mounted within an aperture in the ground in the area where an avalanche has been determined to be likely to occur. The source of vibration is a drive system from a vehicle (such as a golf cart), preferably modified to increase the vibration and mounted in a vibrating mass (such as a concrete culvert). The vibrating mass may be mounted within an aperture in the ground and secured in place using concrete to increase the vibration-transmitting characteristics of the vibrating mass. An electrical system including a source of electricity and a storage device, as well as controls, is mounted separate from the source of vibration and the vibrating mass (e.g., the concrete culvert) to isolate portions of the electrical system (including the storage device) from some of the effects of the vibration.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT 
       [0001]    The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending patent application Ser. No. 14/069,341 filed Oct. 31, 2013 and entitled “METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR INDUCING A PLANNED AVALANCHE”. The specification and drawings of that patent application, which is sometimes referred to as the “Tuning Patent”, are specifically incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0002]    The Tuning Patent referenced above is a continuation-in-part patent application of my then co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 13/176,723 filed Jul. 5, 2011, entitled “AVALANCHE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD”, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 8,596,929 on Dec. 3, 2013. The specification and drawings of that patent, which is sometimes referred to as the “Avalanche Patent”, are specifically incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Field of Invention: 
         [0004]    The present invention is an improved method and system of inducing a planned (or controlled) avalanche in a region in which an uncontrolled avalanche of snow might occur. That is, a controlled avalanche may be induced at a time which is most convenient and as frequently as desired to avoid a large avalanche at an undesirable time. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0005]    Ski slopes, roadways, housing and railways through canyons are at risk of an uncontrolled avalanche in some areas. An avalanche can occur spontaneously when a snow pack is unstable and there is enough vertical angle. Areas where the instability is the greatest are known as avalanche “birthing” areas 
         [0006]    Naturally occurring avalanches are somewhat predictable, yet uncontrollable. It is well known that earthquakes have caused several of history&#39;s great avalanches. Snowmobiles are risky to ride in avalanche-prone areas due to their propensity to initiate an avalanche. 
         [0007]    Avalanches are also hazardous—every year a number of people are killed as a result of an avalanche, and more are injured as a result of an avalanche. While some of the injuries may be minor, other injuries are significant, making an uncontrolled avalanche something which should be avoided, to the extent possible. 
         [0008]    Various approaches have been suggested to mitigate avalanche events. One approach has been to use a concussive event to trigger a controlled avalanche, for example, artillery ordinance, dynamite or a mortar shell. More recently, gas explosions in one of a variety of types have become popular. For example, a fixed concussive device using explosive gases is one such system for using a gas explosion to initiate an avalanche, while a “Daisy Bell” concussive device carried by a helicopter is another such device. 
         [0009]    The use of ordinance requires special handling skills and is the subject of increased regulation due to safety concerns. 
         [0010]    Some avalanche control systems do not work well during times of snowfall or other adverse weather situations, such as fog, such as those avalanche control systems which require a helicopter. 
         [0011]    Some of the avalanche control systems are costly to use—for example, the Daisy Bell system requiring a helicopter and pilot. 
         [0012]    Additionally, some of these prior art systems for creating an avalanche employ chemical compounds which are harmful (adverse) to the environment, including the water supply. Some of the chemicals which are released during use of those prior art avalanche control system release chemicals which are harmful to humans or animals when those chemicals become part f the water supply. 
         [0013]    My previously-filed Avalanche Patent describes a system and method for causing a controlled avalanche. My Tuning Patent describes a method and system for setting up an avalanche-generating system and operating it at a desirable frequency based on the local environment of an installation, particularly the characteristics of ground in the area of mounting. However, neither patent describes a convenient source of available vibrating parts for use in assembling such an avalanche control system, nor does either patent (or the known prior art) address the effects of vibration on some of the components of the system described in the Avalanche Patent. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the prior art system for inducing an avalanche have undesirable disadvantages and limitations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention overcomes some of the disadvantages and limitation of the prior art systems for inducing a planned or controlled avalanche of snow in those areas which have been identified as prone to avalanche activity. 
         [0016]    The present invention allows for creating many smaller and/or controlled avalanches to reduce the risk of a large, uncontrolled and unpredictable avalanche. 
         [0017]    The present invention is “friendlier” to the environment in avoiding undesirable chemicals and inconveniently-timed avalanches which may jeopardize lives. Further, since an avalanche may close roadways and other accesses, it would be desirable to “schedule” such avalanches at a time which is convenient (like the middle of the night), rather than at a time of peak activity. 
         [0018]    The present invention includes a method of setting up a vibrational system to induce a controlled avalanche at a desired time. 
         [0019]    The present invention may also allow for the avalanche-inducing system to be “tuned” to a desired frequency to compensate for differences in the ground surrounding an avalanche birthing area. The tuning can also compensate for variations in the attachment of a vibration-inducing source with the surrounding ground. 
         [0020]    The present system is also relatively inexpensive to use (and reuse) and provides a minimal environmental impact compared with alternate systems. It also has the advantage that it can be operated in almost any kind of weather, not being dependent on moving people or equipment to the site of the desired avalanche. 
         [0021]    The present system also can use “recycled” parts from devices which have served other functions in the past—therefore it is not necessary to make or buy additional (new) parts. Some recreation areas use transportation products such as golf carts and then dispose of those products when they look “used” or “worn”, but while the operating structures remain reliable and in good working condition. 
         [0022]    The present system and method also addresses the undesirable effects of vibration in an avalanche control apparatus and isolates some of the components (particularly some of the electrical components such as batteries and solar panels) from undesirable effects of vibration created by the avalanche causing structure. By mounting those electrical components separate from components having greatest vibration, those electrical components will enjoy a longer useful life and/or be more efficient. 
         [0023]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following description of the invention, taken in combination with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of an area of an avalanche-prone area, showing one arrangement of avalanche-triggering apparatuses and sensors; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 1 , an avalanche-prone area of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of components (including a drive system) of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 4-6  are views of the drive system shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are views of an electrical equipment mast useful in practicing the present invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating an illustrative method of practicing the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a pictorial representation of a mountainous area  10  in which avalanches can be expected. The mountainous area  10  includes a plurality of peaks  12 ,  14  and  16 , with an avalanche origin region  20  defined between the lines  14   a  and  14   b  delineating an avalanche-prone area. The avalanche origin region  20  (sometimes alternatively called an “avalanche-birthing” or “avalanche-prone” area) often has a substantial terrain slope, perhaps averaging approximately 40 degrees, and is located within a terrain area in which the slope of the terrain is generally more gentle. A plurality of vibration sources  30  are mounted within the avalanche prone area  20  in accordance with the present invention. These vibration sources  30  may be generally of the type described in the Avalanche Patent referred to above and incorporated herein by reference or use other similar systems for prucing a vibration. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows an enlarged version of the avalanche prone region  20  between the lines  14   a  and  14   b  of  FIG. 1 . A plurality of vibration sources  30  are indicated by the reference numerals  30   a  through  30   j . Surrounding one of the vibration sources  30   a  are a plurality of vibration sensors  40   a,    40   b,    40   c  and  40   d . Each of these vibration sensors is an instrument which measures the movement of the ground nearby the sensor and may be an accelerometer or a seismic sensor of the type used to detect, measure and locate earthquakes. Such accelerometers or seismic detectors are commercially available devices which are readily available and provide a time-varying electric signal representative of the displacement (or vibration) of the earth in the area. Also shown in this view (and more fully described later in connection with  FIGS. 7-8 ) are components of mast mounting electrical components including a base  152  and an upright member  154 . A separate mast with its electrical components may be provided for each vibration assembly, or, if the vibration assemblies are close together, a single mast with common electrical components may be provided to serve (provide electrical power for) multiple vibration devices. In this case, the base  152  and upright member  154  (along with their electrical components, not explicitly shown) are located among four different vibration devices,  30   a,    30   b,    30   c  and  30   d,  and the single arrangement of electrical components and mounting structure provides the electrical power for these vibration devices, connected by wiring not shown and provided with any distribution connections which might be desirable. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows a view of one vibration-inducing assembly which is useful in practicing the present invention. A drive assembly  100  from a golf cart has been removed from that environment and mounted to a mass member  200  such as a concrete culvert which is large enough to accommodate the drive assembly. The drive assembly  100  includes a pair of drive wheels  110  coupled through an axle  120  to a motor  130 . The motor  130  in such a system may be a direct current motor operating at 24 volts, and one such golf cart might include four (4) twelve volt direct current batteries. The wheels  110  are typically mounted with weights to balance the wheels to avoid vibration, but in this case, vibration is desired, so if the wheels  110  do not already have an inherent vibration (or if the vibration is not at the desired frequency or intensity), then additional weights are added to the wheels to provide additional vibration when the wheels are rotated. 
         [0033]    Using components from a golf cart or similar device also allows for the use of control mechanism (a throttle assembly, not shown) to be used to tune the device by selecting a desirable frequency at which to operate the vibration device. Such a tuning of the vibration system may be accomplished as taught in the Tuning Patent referenced above. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the drive system  100  useful in the present invention (without mounting into the mass such as a concrete culvert). The drive system  100  includes the wheels  110 , the axle  120  and the motor  130  as well as conventional mounting hardware. The wheels may be filled with epoxy to reduce the maintenance issues (air has a tendency to leak out of some tires, and these assemblies may be mounted in locations which are difficult to service, so it would not be convenient to have air-filled tires checked periodically to make sure that the tires are inflated to the desired air pressure. Alternatively, solid rubber tires could be used to advantage in the present design, if desired, to avoid the necessity to refill the tires with pressured air periodically or to check the pressure of the air in the tires. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is an end view of one of the wheels  110  (looking in the direction of the arrows from the line V-V in  FIG. 4 ), showing the addition of additional weights  112  to provide imbalance and allow the wheels and the drive assembly  100  to vibrate as the wheels  110  are turned by the motor  130 . The additional weights are mounted in an asymetric arrangement to provide the desired amplitude and frequency of vibration, vibration which may be measured and tuned as described in the Tuning Patent referenced above. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is another view of the drive assembly of  FIGS. 4-5 , showing the wheels  110 , the axle  120  and the motor  130  along with mounting hardware. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show a mounting mast suitable for use in the present invention. The mast  150  includes a base  152  and an upright member  154  with solar or photoelectric cells  156  for generating electric power when the sun is shining. A plurality of batteries  158  are also mounted in a battery box  159  to the upright member  154 . In this way the solar cells and the batteries are mounted up from the ground and away from some of the snow and other moisture which might be on the ground. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  shows a flow chart for the steps of the method involved with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In a first step  210 , a drive system is removed from a transportation device, such as a golf cart (other transportation products, such as automobiles or trucks, could also be used, but have the disadvantage of being larger and heavier). That is, a motor and driven wheels are removed from the transportation device. The second step  220  involves modifying the drive system to increase the vibration of the wheels when rotated about the axle, for example, by mounting weights on the wheels in an asymmetric arrangement. It will be appreciated that a normal mounting for the wheels on a transportation vehicle attempts to make the wheels as symmetric as possible by mounting weights by “balancing” the tires to the extent possible. In this case, however, it is desirable to have the wheels substantially out of balance to create substantial vibration as the wheels turn and that can be accomplished by mounting weights in an asymmetric fashion around the periphery of the wheels to increase any vibration from being out of balance. Then, at step  230 , the drive assembly is mounted to a member of significant mass, such as a concrete culvert which is larger than the drive system being used. That significant-mass member is then advantageously secured to the ground, as by forming at step  240  an aperture in the ground somewhat larger than the outside cross-section of the member of great mass and inserting the mass member and drive system within the aperture at step  250 . If desired, then the member of great mass may then be secured within the aperature in a suitable manner, such as by using cement or concrete, to provide a better connection between the member of great mass and the ground, allowing for improved transmission of the vibration from the asymmetric wheels through the mass member and the ground. The source of vibration then ay be tuned as described in the Tuning Patent referenced above, or other suitable means may be used to select an operating frequency for the drive assembly. The mast and power supply are mounted, preferably away from the opening, at step  260  and power from the power supply are used at the desired time at step  270  to energize the drive system to provide a vibration to trigger a controlled avalanche. 
         [0039]    As will be appreciated by those handling systems which impart a significant vibration, the mounting of some of the electrical components on a vibrating member may decrease the useful life of selected electrical components as well as reduce the effectiveness of the assembly. For example, mounting of batteries to a significantly-vibrating member should be avoided, if possible. Also, since the solar panels are oriented toward the sun to produce the greatest power, vibrating those panels can reduce their effectiveness, since those panels will be moved away from the desired position as the panel is vibrated. Thus, it is desirable to mount the battery and the solar panels separate from the vibrating mass to reduce the effect of the vibration and to allow for greater efficiency. 
         [0040]    Of course, many modifications are possible to the present invention without departing from its spirit and some of the features described can be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. For example, the drive system from a golf cart might easily be replaced with a drive system from another similar device, including as a land vehicle such as a car or truck or tractor. Further, those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the present invention can be operable without being at its greatest effectiveness. Various devices to provide the desirable mass can also be substituted for the concrete culvert described herein. Further, various other shapes of masses, either single pieces or assemblies of multiple pieces, can be used other than cylindrical mass of a concrete culvert, especially if the ground has a complementary recess to receive the mass. The devices and methods of the preferred embodiment which has been described in some detail in the foregoing material may also include things which are desirable, but not essential, to the practicing of the present invention. For example, tuning of operating frequency of the present invention as described in the Tuning Patent may be desirable in many situations, but is not believed to be essential to practicing the present invention, especially if the soil in the area is known and similar devices have been operated in such soil. It is also suggested that the system be re-tuned at periodic intervals, such as annually, to compensate for changes in the soil and/or attachment or changes in the operating characteristics of the vibrational source. It may also be possible to predict the changes over time or in connection with different soils and adjust for the suspected changes in the operational characteristics without redoing the testing. Various other techniques to tune the vibration system may be employed, such as using the tuning information from historical records or similar devices in other locations, if desired, or tuning may be determined to be unnecessary in some situations. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the description of the preferred embodiment is for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof.