Jun 17, 2025

US12332039 - Avalanche triggering apparatus

An avalanche triggering apparatus having a tower, a detonation chamber, and gas supply lines that are configured to deliver fuel gas and oxidizer to the detonation chamber. The flow is gas is controlled remotely, and a spark plug is configured to ignite gases within the detonation chamber based on the flow of fuel gas through a flow switch that acts as a sensor. The detonation chamber has a closed, rounded top and an open bottom end that is configured to face a snow surface. The detonation chamber is connected to the tower via mounting brackets and two pairs of isolator springs. Each isolator spring is comprised of a helical cable isolator that is inserted through a plurality of holes in two aluminum members in a helical configuration. The tower is comprised of at least two sections that are secured together via flanges.

Inventors: Eric Bressler, Grant Henarie
Filing date: 2024-02-17

The avalanche triggering apparatus features a tower connected to a detonation chamber, which is designed to deliver fuel gas and oxidizer for combustion initiated by a spark plug. This system allows for remote control of gas flow, with the detonation chamber oriented to face a snow surface for effective avalanche triggering.

Claim 1

An avalanche triggering apparatus comprising: (a) a tower having a first end, a second end, and a top part, the first end of the tower being connected to a base, and the top part of the tower being connected to a detonation chamber; (b) two gas supply lines that are configured to deliver fuel gas and an oxidizer to the detonation chamber; (c) a spark plug that is configured to initiate combustion of gases within the detonation chamber when activated by a flow switch; (d) a battery that is configured to provide electricity to the spark plug; and (e) means for controlling remotely a flow of gas through the gas supply lines; wherein the detonation chamber is connected to the tower via mounting brackets and a plurality of isolator springs; wherein the detonation chamber comprises a closed top end and an open bottom end; and wherein the open bottom end of the detonation chamber is configured to face a snow surface. (a) a tower having a first end, a second end, and a top part, the first end of the tower being connected to a base, and the top part of the tower being connected to a detonation chamber; (b) two gas supply lines that are configured to deliver fuel gas and an oxidizer to the detonation chamber; (c) a spark plug that is configured to initiate combustion of gases within the detonation chamber when activated by a flow switch; (d) a battery that is configured to provide electricity to the spark plug; and (e) means for controlling remotely a flow of gas through the gas supply lines; wherein the detonation chamber is connected to the tower via mounting brackets and a plurality of isolator springs; wherein the detonation chamber comprises a closed top end and an open bottom end; and wherein the open bottom end of the detonation chamber is configured to face a snow surface.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12332039

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12332039