Ammunition and explosives – Blasting – Terrain clearance
Patent
1989-11-02
1992-04-28
Hunt, Brooks H.
Ammunition and explosives
Blasting
Terrain clearance
102301, 89 11, 89 14, 37197, 37201, F42D 300
Patent
active
051077655
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a method for launching an avalanche, in which one or several explosions of an explosive material are generated in a predetermined zone from which the avalanche is to be launched.
A device is also described for the use of this method to launch an avalanche, including means of generating at least one explosion of an explosive material in a predetermined zone from which the avalanche is to be launched.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
There is a well known commercialised system known as C.A.T.E.X. which is provided with cables transporting explosives for the preventative launching of avalanches. This system transports charges of dynamite by cable which, led up above the corridor of the avalanche to be dealt with, explode causing a rush of snow. A shot given after each heavy snow fall prevents an accumulation which may be dangerous. This system consists mainly of a collection of pylons which support a closed loop of a transporting cable which pass above one or several avalanche corridors. This device consists of a machine lowering a charge which may be of the lowering crane type with slow fuse, or with time switch, or with microprocessor or radio-controlled crane.
In each case, the explosive charge is brought to a roughly constant distance above the upper surface of the layer of snow which is to be made to move, and is exploded causing a shock wave which travels in all directions. In general, the part of this shock wave which travels to the snow layer starts its movement and launches the avalanche. Even through the system has demonstrated its efficiency through the numerous installations erected during the last fifteen years, it does however have certain drawbacks. The installation of the cable circuit which necessitates the erection of numerous pylons supporting the cable is a difficult and very costly operation, which strongly limits the possibilities of implantation of this system. Also during the explosion, only a relatively limited part of the energy released by the charge acts on the snow layer, given that the blast and shock wave travel in spherical waves in all directions of space. From this the efficiency of the system is relatively modest and the explosive charges must be important with respect to the results to be obtained.
Also the manipulation of the explosive charges is always a dangerous operation no matter what precautions are taken by the operators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention presents a solution to the above mentioned disadvantages and describes a simple and effective method to launch an avalanche in all the sites to be protected.
This aim is achieved by the method according to the invention in which at least one explosion is caused of a mixture of carburant and a gaseous oxidant material within an explosion tank at least partially open at one end and situated in said predetermined zone.
According to the one embodiment of the method a combustible gas is used as gaseous carburant. This combustible gas is preferably chosen from a group of substances comprising hydrogen, petrol residues (such as tetraine commercialized by the french company Air Liquide), acetylene, propane, methane or a mixture of these substances, and as gaseous oxidizing agent oxygen or ozone may be used. Air or air enriched with oxygen or ozone may also be used as oxidising agent.
In the method according to the invention, a gaseous mixture composed of at least approximately 1/6 by volume of carburant and of 5/6 by volume of oxygen is used. This mixture is best done at atmospheric pressure.
Preferably, the gaseous carburant and the gaseous oxidising agent are introduced simultaneously into the rigid explosion tank by means of a mixing device designed to produce a homogeneous mixture. The explosion of the mixture is best caused by means of a spark produced in the interior of the rigid explosion tank, in a zone situated near one of the inner walls opposite its open end.
The explosion tank is best situated near the ground and with the opening directed a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3048816 (1962-08-01), Lubnow
patent: 3600116 (1971-08-01), Clark, Jr. et al.
patent: 3924897 (1975-09-01), Colburn, Jr. et al.
patent: 3963275 (1976-06-01), Godfrey et al.
patent: 4817529 (1989-04-01), Schippers
Carroll Chrisman D.
Hunt Brooks H.
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