U.S. patent application number 14/412889 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-18 for crosswind deflection element for preventing sedimentation.
The applicant listed for this patent is Christian GARTNER. Invention is credited to Christian Gartner.
Application Number | 20150167262 14/412889 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48783189 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150167262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gartner; Christian |
June 18, 2015 |
CROSSWIND DEFLECTION ELEMENT FOR PREVENTING SEDIMENTATION
Abstract
The invention relates to a crosswind deflection element (10) for
assembly on open ground for the specific reduction or prevention of
a deposit of snow, air-borne sand or the like, with a baseplate (1)
at the bottom, for anchoring into the ground, with a central post
(2) rising up from the baseplate (1) and with a plurality of guide
plates (3) mounted on the post (2), wherein the guide plates (3)
are provided projecting in vertical orientation in cruciform manner
on the post (2) and the length of the guide plates (3) increases
from the baseplate (1) upward.
Inventors: |
Gartner; Christian; (Gais,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GARTNER; Christian |
|
|
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48783189 |
Appl. No.: |
14/412889 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
July 11, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/002066 |
371 Date: |
January 5, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
256/12.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F 7/02 20130101; E01F
7/025 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E01F 7/02 20060101
E01F007/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 13, 2012 |
DE |
10 2012 013 962.4 |
Claims
1. A crosswind deflection element for erection on open ground for
the specific reduction or prevention of a deposit of snow,
wind-borne sand or the like, with the element comprising: a
baseplate at the bottom for anchoring into the ground, a central
post rising up from the baseplate, and with a plurality of guide
plates mounted on the post and projecting in vertical orientation
in a cruciform manner on the post, the length of the guide plates
increasing from the baseplate upward.
2. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, wherein
the guide plates are arranged at predetermined spacings from each
other for the formation of permeable clearances.
3. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, wherein
the guide plates are at least at their free ends coupled to each
other such that they form four sail-like wind guide elements that
project in a cruciform manner from the post.
4. The crosswind deflection element according to, further
comprising: upper and lower cross members, which project from the
post in a cruciform manner, for retaining the guide plates.
5. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, wherein
the baseplate is realized in a two-piece form, and is provided with
an installation aid that is a plug-in system of the type
pipe-in-pipe.
6. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, wherein
the guide plates or the wind guide elements formed of the guide
plates are additionally secured to upper and/or lower strut members
at upper and/or lower ends of the post.
7. The crosswind deflection element according to claims 1, wherein
the guide plates consist of sheets of a metal material that are
longitudinally profiled or corrugated.
8. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, wherein
the guide plates are rigidly mounted in a circumferential frame
that itself is attached to the post.
9. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, wherein
the guide plates are connected to each other and secured in their
position by coupling ropes between upper and lower cross
members.
10. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, further
comprising: an anti-rotation device for securing the element
against rotation.
11. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, further
comprising: means for avoiding a rotation of the element during to
the transport through the air by a helicopter or the like in the
form of a detachably mountable wind cone that perpendicularly
projects laterally from the post by a rod.
12. The crosswind deflection element according to claim 1, wherein
the length of the guide plates increases from the bottom upward up
to approximately the double.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a crosswind deflection element with
the features of the preamble of claim 1 that is intended for being
set up in the open country, in particular at critical places
exposed to strong winds, such as crests or the like. The occurrence
of strong crosswinds at such places in the country often results in
a deposit of solid material carried along by the air, such as
wind-borne sand or snow. In the winter, at crests, for example,
such snow deposits can become dangerous, because they may lead to
the formation of snow avalanches if the deposits are not
systematically removed, for example by repeated blasting
operations. However, routine blasting operations carried out in
order to remove dangerous snow overhangs in the mountains are
costly and time-consuming and not always sufficient in order to
effectively prevent the formation of avalanches.
[0002] In the prior art, so-called snow fences have among others
been used to influence the undesired accumulation of snow caused by
the wind. The fences set up at critical places in the country
systematically cause an accumulation of snow in order to prevent
snow or wind-borne sand, for example, from being blown onto a
street or the like. However, such fences are not appropriate to
effectively prevent an accumulation of solid material present in
the air and carried along by strong crosswinds, a so-called
sedimentation, under all circumstances. The other conventional
avalanche protection elements proposed in the prior art, which are
intended for being set up at critical places in the mountains,
either involve the deviation or the breaking of snow or debris
avalanches that have been set off. That means, they are not
appropriate for systematically preventing the formation of such
debris or snow avalanches.
[0003] Starting from this prior art, it is the object of the
present invention to provide a crosswind deflection element for an
assembly in the open country, by means of which a deposit of solid
material from the air can systematically be prevented. Furthermore,
the crosswind deflection element according to the invention should
be as easy to manufacture and assemble in the country as
possible.
[0004] This problem is solved by a crosswind deflection element
with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further
developments of the invention are subject matter of the dependent
claims.
[0005] The crosswind deflection element according to the invention,
which is provided for being set up in the open country in order to
systematically prevent a deposit of snow, wind-borne sand or the
like, comprises a baseplate at the bottom for anchoring into the
ground, a central post rising up from the baseplate, as well as a
plurality of guide plates mounted on the post for deflecting the
wind, and is characterized in that the guide plates are provided
projecting in vertical orientation in a cruciform manner on the
post, and that the length of the guide plates increases from the
baseplate upward. Thus, the guide plates of the crosswind
deflection elements, which systematically catch and deflect the
wind, are provided such that they project in vertical orientation
from the post so that they provide a contact surface for occurring
crosswinds, which is as large as possible. The length of the guide
plates is shorter in the lower region and increases from the lower
region upward, so that a trapezoid shape is formed, the width of
which is larger at the upper end than at the lower end of the
crosswind deflection element. All guide plates are mounted on a
central post rising up from the baseplate such that the crosswind
deflection element can be mounted in a self-supporting and
freestanding manner without the need of additional stay ropes or
the like. For mounting and setting up the crosswind deflection
element according to the invention, a baseplate is provided at the
bottom, on which the central post is firmly mounted. The baseplate
serves for setting up and anchoring the element in the ground at
places in the country where it is desired to systematically prevent
a deposit of solid material carried along by the air. Due to the
fact that the guide plates become longer toward the upper side, the
surface of the crosswind deflection element, which opposes the
striking wind, increases toward the upper side. As a result of this
inventive measure, the crosswinds are caught in a systematic and
enhanced manner and are in a kind of nozzle effect guided downward
by forming intensified swirls. These intensified swirls in the area
of the crosswind deflection element effectively prevent the deposit
of solid material from the air, such as sand or snow. When the
crosswind deflection element according to the invention is set up
at critical places in the mountains, such as at crests or hilltops,
the formation of avalanches due to undesired local deposits can be
prevented with comparatively simple means, as the solid material
carried along by the wind does not accumulate at places where the
crosswind deflection elements are set up, but are swept away by the
systematically deflected wind. The crosswind deflection element
according to the invention thus prevents with a construction
comparatively simple in design the formation of undesired deposits
(sedimentation) in the open country, no matter whether these
deposits are deposits of wind-borne sand or snow deposits. The
crosswind deflection element according to the invention can
preferably be set up in groups of several crosswind deflection
elements of this kind at respective places in the country, which
are problematic in view of strong winds. Due to the central post,
each of the elements as such is extremely robust and can be set up
in a freestanding manner. Consequently, the installation and the
assembly of the crosswind deflection elements are comparatively
simple, as only the central post requires a preinstalled foundation
or a counter plate in the ground.
[0006] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,
the guide plates for the deflection of the crosswinds are arranged
at predetermined spacings from each other at the post such that a
row of permeable clearances is formed between the guide plates. The
wind guide elements of the crosswind deflection element, which are
formed by the guide plates, are thus provided over a comparatively
large area, but provide a certain kind of permeability due to the
clearances. On the one hand, this is advantageous in that the
elements do not form a solid barrier over the whole surface and are
interrupted by clearances that allow a person to see through the
elements. The intervention into nature is thus comparatively small.
On the other hand, due to the clearances between the guide plates,
the elements are less susceptible to damage as a result of very
strong winds that often occur particularly in the mountains.
Consequently, a long-term assembly and stability of the elements is
guaranteed. According to an advantageous aspect in this regard, the
width of the clearances can in particular be half the width of the
guide plates such that still a sufficiently large deflection area
for striking winds is guaranteed, which leads to the formation of
swirls on the ground due to the nozzle effect and guarantees a
secure prevention of a local sedimentation.
[0007] According to another advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the guide plates are at least at their free ends coupled
to each other such that they form four sail-like wind guide
elements that project in a cruciform manner from the post. Thus,
the guide plates, which consist of single elements, are securely
connected and coupled with each other such that they form in spite
of their permeability a common and stable component for the purpose
of a systematic deflection of winds. The single guide plates may,
for example, be coupled by a rigid connection, such as a welding
with rods or profiled elements. Alternatively, the coupling may be
carried out by flexible elements, such as wire ropes or the like.
The guide plates, which are coupled with each other, respectively
project in a cruciform manner from the central post and form some
kind of a trapezoid sail having a larger width at the upper end of
the element than on the bottom side.
[0008] According to another advantageous embodiment of the
invention, upper and lower cross members, which project from the
post in a cruciform manner, are provided for retaining and
additionally securing the guide plates. When such upper and lower
cross members, which project from the post in a cruciform manner,
are given, the laterally protruding guide plates can be mounted in
a safe and fixed manner, without the weight of the whole element
being strongly increased. For the guide plates may be provided in
the form of very thin sheet metal, for example, which itself does
not have a high inherent stability, but which has in connection
with the cross members, which may, for example, be provided in the
form of profiled tubes, the necessary rigidity in view of impinging
winds, even in the case of strong winds. The mounting and the
assembly of the guide plates between the cross members can be
carried out in different ways: by a fixed welding to longitudinal
bars, by inserting the guide plates into recesses, by a mounting by
ropes stretching between the cross members, or the like.
[0009] According to another advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the baseplate, on which the post is mounted so as to
rise vertically upward, is realized in a two-piece form and is
provided with an installation aid, preferably a plug-in system of
the type pipe-in-pipe. The baseplate can, for example, consist of a
first member plate and a second bottom plate, the member plate
being firmly connected to the post and the bottom plate being
provided for being installed in the ground. The bottom plate can be
made of a metal material and/or a combination of a metal and a
concrete material such that a secure foundation for the crosswind
deflection element to be set up is provided. According to the
invention, an installation aid, for example in the form of a
plug-in system of the type pipe-in-pipe, is provided for the
mounting: to this end, the bottom plate comprises, for example, a
pipe of a smaller diameter, onto which the pipe of a somewhat
larger diameter of the post of the crosswind deflection element can
simply be slipped on from above. Thus, already upon the first
installation of the crosswind deflection element, the position is
securely fixed, and for the assembly the two plate elements of the
baseplate must only be screwed together, for example. This enhances
in particular a mounting in rough terrain through the air by a
helicopter. Only one single worker is required on the ground.
Furthermore, the necessary intervention into nature is minimal.
[0010] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the guide plates or the four wind guide elements formed
of the guide plates are respectively additionally secured to upper
and/or lower strut members at upper and/or lower ends of the post.
The strut members can, for example, be realized by ropes or rods
extending diagonally from a free end or a center portion of the
guide plates or the cross members to the central post. By means of
such strut members, the stability and the resistance to striking
winds is further increased. Thus, without a strong increase in the
weight of the element, a very robust construction for the purpose
of a deflection of winds can be obtained. For example, the strut
members can be made up of stretched wire ropes that are attached to
connecting flanges. However, in the present case, the strut members
may also be realized in a fixed manner, for example by welded rods.
It is a further advantage of the compact and comparatively simple
construction of the crosswind deflection element that the crosswind
deflection element may be mounted in the country in a free-standing
manner, i.e. no disturbing lateral anchorage by wire ropes or the
like is required that would require several anchorage points and
concrete foundations or the like, respectively.
[0011] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the guide plates, which catch and deflect the wind,
consist of sheets of a metal material that are in the longitudinal
direction profiled or corrugated. In this manner, the guide plates
may be manufactured from a comparatively thin sheet material and
are thus very lightweight. All in all, this leads to a lightweight
structure of the entire crosswind deflection element, which is an
advantage, in particular when it needs to be transported by a
helicopter in order to be set up in rough terrain. Furthermore, the
guide plates with profiles or reinforcing ribs in the longitudinal
direction are sufficiently stable so that a deformation due to
strong winds can be prevented.
[0012] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the guide plates are rigidly mounted in a respective
circumferential frame that itself is attached to the post. The four
guide plates protruding laterally in a cruciform manner given by
way of example are thus fixedly assembled within a frame,
respectively, and form a compact unit. The frame may consist of
welded profiled tubes and increases the stability and the rigidity
of the element. The guide plates themselves are securely fixed in
their respective frames at the desired position. The mounting of
the frame itself on the central post can be realized in a
detachable manner by screw connections with respective flanges or
the like, for example.
[0013] According to a respective alternative embodiment of the
invention, the respective guide plates of a group of guide plates,
which form a common wind guide element, are connected to each other
and secured in their position by coupling ropes between upper and
lower cross members. For example, a first coupling rope may be
stretched between an upper and a lower cross member at the free end
of the guide plates, and in the center portion there may be one
coupling rope or several coupling ropes, which respectively hold
the guide plates in the four directions and in the desired vertical
orientation.
[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, an anti-rotation device is provided for an installation
of the element that is secure against rotation. An anti-rotation
device may, for example, be realized by a pin or a stud at the
bottom plate that engages into a respective borehole. Other
anti-rotation devices are also possible. The anti-rotation device
is advantageous in that the crosswind deflection element cannot
rotate in view of its position depending on the impact of the
crosswinds, so that a strong swirl of the crosswinds and a
systematic deflection toward the bottom side is guaranteed at all
times.
[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, means for avoiding a rotation of the element during the
transport through the air by a helicopter or the like are provided.
The crosswind deflection element can thus simply be lifted with a
hook of a helicopter and securely be transported through the air to
the installation site. Also in case the element is lifted with a
crane, the rotation of the element is prevented. Means for
preventing the rotation of the element during the transport through
the air may, for example, be realized in the form of a protruding
rod with a wind cone at its free end. The rod projects laterally
from the crosswind deflection element and comprises at its end the
wind cone so that the element remains in its respective position
and cannot rotate in the air. Other means for preventing the
rotation of the element during a transport through the air may also
be provided.
[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the length of the guide plates increases from the bottom
upward up to approximately the double. That means, the length of
the lowermost guide plate is approximately half the length of the
uppermost guide plate. The surface for the systematic deflection of
the impinging winds thus increases relatively strongly from the
bottom upward, the crosswind deflection element according to the
invention thus leading to an improved deflection, deviation and
creation of swirls due to the above-mentioned nozzle effect. As a
result, an even better prevention of deposits of solid material in
the area and the vicinity of the crosswind deflection elements is
guaranteed.
[0017] Further advantages, features and objects of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description of
embodiments. In the following, the invention will be described in
more detail on the basis of embodiments and with reference to the
attached drawings. In the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crosswind deflection
element of the invention according to a first embodiment of the
invention;
[0019] FIGS. 2a, 2b are a side view and a plan view from above of
the crosswind deflection element according to the first embodiment
of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side view of an inventive crosswind deflection
element according to a second embodiment; and
[0021] FIG. 4 is a side view of an inventive crosswind deflection
element according to the second embodiment at the moment of the
installation of the element.
[0022] A first embodiment of a crosswind deflection element 10
according to the invention as shown in different views in FIGS. 1,
2a and 2b will be explained in the following. The crosswind
deflection element 10 is intended for an installation in the open
country, a baseplate 1 at the bottom being provided at the lower
end of the element 10 to this end. The baseplate 1 is here shown
with four threaded pins that are screwed into respective holes with
an internal screw thread and are screwed down for a fixation at a
foundation (not shown) at the installation site or a counterplate.
The crosswind deflection element 10 consists substantially of a
central post 2, on which guide plates 3 protruding laterally and in
a cruciform manner are mounted that serve for a systematic
deflection and for the formation of swirls of winds impinging on
the element 10. In this embodiment, the guide plates 3 are provided
such that they project in a cruciform manner in four directions
from the central post 2, while being mounted between upper cross
members 4 and lower cross members 5. The length of the guide plates
3 is shorter in the lower area and increases continuously toward
the upper side. Thus, the guide plates 3 form together four
trapezoidal wind guide elements 30, respectively, as can in
particular be taken from the side view of FIG. 2a. These wind guide
elements 30 are intended for systematically catching, swirling and
deflecting the impinging crosswind downward into the area
surrounding the crosswind deflection element 10 so that a deposit
of solid material from the air, such as wind-borne sand or snow,
can be prevented systematically. To this end, the length of the
guide plates 3 of the wind guide elements 30 increases toward the
upper side, thus creating some kind of nozzle effect in view of
impinging winds, which swirls and routes the wind together with the
solid material contained in the air toward the bottom without
leading to an increased deposit around the crosswind deflection
element 10. Thus, when a plurality of such crosswind deflection
elements 10 is installed in the country at places susceptible to
deposits (at crests or at mountain overhangs, for example), the
generation of snow deposits, for example, can be prevented
systematically. As a result, the formation of snow avalanches can
effectively be prevented, as they are securely prevented with the
invention even prior to the formation of undesired snow
accumulations due to wind- and terrain-related conditions. Another
field of application of such crosswind deflection elements is the
prevention of sedimentation, i.e. a deposit of wind-borne sand in
desert regions or coastal areas, for example. Also in this case,
the crosswind deflection element serves for a systematic and
effective prevention of deposits around the element 10 by catching
and deflecting the crosswind by the four wind guide elements 30
protruding in a cruciform manner from the post 2, which are made up
of a plurality of single guide plates 3. Other than in the case of
conventional fences or barriers, no snow or sand deposits are
formed on the lee side.
[0023] In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, the
guide plates 3 are mounted between upper and lower cross members 4,
5 in the form of square profiles by coupling ropes 9. The coupling
ropes 9 are fixed at mounting flanges on the profiled tubes of the
cross members 4, 5 and hold the respective guide plates 3 in their
desired position and place. The guide plates 3, which can, for
example, be made of a thin sheet metal, are respectively mounted at
a distance to each other such that clearances of approximately half
the width of the guide plates 3 are formed. Thus, the crosswind
deflection element 10 is not completely solid, but is provided with
clearances that allow a person to see through the elements.
Furthermore, the clearances between the guide plates 3 are
advantageous in that in case of very strong winds the elements 10
do not run the risk of being swept away or being damaged by the
wind. In the first embodiment, the central post 2 projects somewhat
over the upper cross members 4 that form the upper end of the wind
guide elements 30. At the upper and lower cross members 4, 5,
respective strut members 6, 7 are provided between the lower and
the upper end of the post and approximately in the center of the
cross members 4, 5. The strut members 6, 7, which can, for example,
be realized in the form of tensible wire ropes or iron rods,
increase the stability of the crosswind deflection element 10
without excessively increasing the overall weight. The strut
members 6, 7 also serve for taking up the tensile stress applied by
the coupling ropes 9, so that the wind guide elements 30 in the
form of a kind of a sail can be stretched, the width increasing
toward the upper side. In this embodiment, the four cross members
4, 5 protruding in a cruciform manner from the post 2 are also
respectively mounted by mounting flanges and respective screw
connections. However, the cross members can alternatively also be
fixedly connected with the post 2, by a welding of metal pipes, for
example. The detachable mounting by mounting flanges and screw
connections is however advantageous in that the transport of the
crosswind deflection elements 10 is facilitated and that less
volume is necessary to this end. The crosswind deflection element
10 according to the invention is provided with comparatively large
surfaces for deflecting and systematically routing the impinging
winds. The guide plates 3 protruding in a cruciform manner into
four directions guarantee a deposit of solid material from the air
also in the case of changing wind directions. The wind can hit the
crosswind deflection element 10 from all directions, without
deposits of snow or sand, for example, being formed on the back
side (lee side), as is the case with conventional fences or the
like that are in the winter set up at the roadside of rural roads,
for example, in order to prevent snowdrifts.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows in a side view a second embodiment of the
crosswind deflection element 10 according to the invention.
Contrary to the first embodiment described above, the guide plates
3 are here mounted by a circumferential frame 8, the frame 8 of the
four wind guide elements 30 protruding in a cruciform manner being
in this case mounted altogether on the central post 2 by respective
mounting flanges and screw connections. The guide plates 3 are, for
example, welded into the frame 8. Also here, respective upper and
lower cross members 4, 5 are provided that form together with a
somewhat thinner rod or profile the frames 8 at the ends of the
guide plates 3. This form of the wind guide elements 30 is
advantageous in that the single guide plates 3 are securely held
together and fixed in their positions. FIG. 3 shows on the
left-hand side and on the right-hand side, respectively, an
alternative of this embodiment. While on the left-hand side of FIG.
3 a strut member 6 is only provided at the upper cross member 4
between the free end of the cross member 4 and the upper end of the
post 2 and no lower strut member is provided, in the
right-hand-side example an upper strut member 6 and a lower strut
member 7 are--as in the first embodiment--provided that are fixed
between the post 2 and approximately the center of the respective
cross members 4, 5 and provide for additional stability.
Alternatively, the strut members can be omitted--both in this
embodiment and in the first embodiment. Also in this embodiment
(FIG. 3), the guide plates 3 of the crosswind deflection element 10
are made of a comparatively thin sheet material. The sheet material
can be provided with profiles or reinforcement ribs running in the
longitudinal direction, so that the guide plates 3 are in spite of
the comparatively thin material sufficiently stable to withstand
varyingly strong wind conditions and provide the desired effect by
swirling and deviating the wind downward in order to prevent
sedimentation. Also in this case, the other members of the
crosswind deflection element 10 can preferably be made of a metal
material. In the embodiments shown, the central post 2 is realized
as a round pipe. Alternatively, it may, however, also be realized
as a rectangular pipe, as are the upper and lower cross members 4,
5 in these embodiments. Also here, the lower end of the post 2 is
provided with a baseplate 1 that is reinforced by triangular
reinforcement struts. The baseplate 1 has holes for a mounting via
screw connections. The mounting situation of the crosswind
deflection element 10 according to an embodiment of the invention
on site is shown in a schematic side view of FIG. 4.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a situation in which the crosswind deflection
element 10 is carried through the air by a helicopter or a crane
(not shown) shortly before it is put down at the desired position
in the terrain. To this end, the upper end of the element 10 is
fixed at a helicopter cargo hook 14. During the transport, the
crosswind deflection element 10 is provided with a means 11 for
preventing a rotation of the element 10 in the air, which is here
shown in the form of a wind cone or a wind sleeve 11 that is
mounted by a rod protruding laterally from the lower cross member
5. By providing such an anti-rotation means 11, the crosswind
deflection element 10 is securely carried through the air and put
down at the desired site in the terrain by a simple descent of the
helicopter. For this purpose, a foundation plate 16 made of
concrete was installed on the ground, on which a bottom plate 13 is
mounted, onto which the member plate 12 of the baseplate 1 is
placed. In order to facilitate the release and the installation of
the crosswind deflection element 10, the bottom plate 13 is
provided with a centrally arranged pipe socket 15, the diameter of
which is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the central
post 2. Thus, the two plates 12, 13 of the baseplate 1 can be
placed on top of each other in the form of a plug-in system of the
type pipe-in-pipe, so that the crosswind deflection element is
directly upon release in the right position and secured from the
beginning. Then, only a screw connection or another connection of
the two plates 12, 13 of the baseplate 1 is required in order to
guarantee a secure fixation of the free-standing crosswind
deflection element 10. In this manner, no lateral anchoring means,
such as anchor ropes, are required, as they are required with
conventional snow fences or the like in order to guarantee an
upright position also in the case of strong winds. The
anti-rotation means 11 in the form of a wind cone guarantees that
the element 10 is always aligned with the wind during transport, as
illustrated by arrow W in FIG. 4. After the release and the
fixation of the crosswind deflection element 10, the wind cone 11
is removed along with its fixation rod and can be reused for a
further transport of another crosswind deflection element 10 of the
same kind that is to be set up.
[0026] The invention provides an effective crosswind deflection
element 10, which, over a large area, securely avoids a deposit of
solid material from the air on this place as a result of the
creation of swirls and the systematic redirection of the wind. The
crosswind deflection element 10 according to the invention is, due
to its construction with a plurality of comparatively thin guide
plates 3, which project in a cruciform manner from a central post
2, very light in weight so that a transport via helicopter is
rendered possible. The total weight of the crosswind deflection
element 10 is preferably less than 550 kg. Furthermore, the
crosswind deflection element 10 according to the invention requires
only a comparatively small-scale intervention in natural
environments, because the elements must only be set up at certain
places in groups, respectively, and no large-scale building
operations for the prevention of snow avalanches, debris avalanches
or deposits of wind-borne sand are necessary. The invention is not
limited to the embodiments illustrated above and can be modified in
is various ways. In particular, the form of the guide plates may
vary. In the embodiments illustrated above, the length of the
lowermost guide plate 3 is approximately half the length of the
uppermost guide plate 3, so that a comparatively strong enlargement
of the wind guide elements 30 toward the upper side is given.
Alternatively, the enlargement toward the upper side can also be
less or more.
[0027] The guide plates 3 can be made of flat or profiled sheet
metal, i.e. of relatively thin sheet metal, with reinforcing
deformations in the longitudinal direction. However, the guide
plates 3 may also be provided with reinforcing ribs, so that the
high stability is guaranteed despite the lightweight construction.
Also, the guide plates 3 may be fixed at the central post 2 by
other means than by coupling ropes 9 or a circumferential frame 8
as shown in the illustrated embodiments. For example, the guide
plates 3 may be mounted by retainer slots provided in the post 2
and by a fixed welding. Also, the distance of the guide plates 3
toward each other may be varied, for example to deliberately cause
a higher permeability in certain areas: for example, the upper
guide plates 3 may be mounted at larger spacings from each other
than the lower guide plates 3 close to the ground, taking into
account the stronger winds in the upper area.
* * * * *