METHOD FOR PREVENTING A FORMATION OF, AND/OR FOR DISPERSING, A TROPICAL CYCLONE, AND ARRANGEMENT THEREFOR

Abstract

A method and an arrangement for preventing a formation of a hurricane storm and/or dispersing a tropical cyclone storm defining an eye are disclosed. The arrangement is dropped from an aircraft into water in the eye of the storm and includes at least first and second vessels filled with a refrigerant. The first and second vessels are pressure resistant, spherical and sinkable with the first vessel having a first sinking velocity and the second vessel having a second sinking velocity. The first sinking velocity is greater than the second. The first and second vessels have respective first and second opening mechanisms for releasing the refrigerant at pregiven respective depths. The first opening mechanism is configured to open at a first depth and the second opening mechanism is configured to open at a second depth. The first depth is greater than the second depth.

Claims

1. A method for preventing a formation of a hurricane storm and/or dispersing a tropical cyclone storm, the storm defining an eye and the method comprising the steps of: providing at least first and second vessels configured to be pressure resistant, spherical and sinkable with said first vessel having a first sinking velocity V1 and said second vessel having a second sinking velocity V2 lower than said first sinking velocity V1; filling said first and second vessels with a refrigerant; loading said first and second vessels into at least one aircraft; positioning said at least one aircraft over the eye of the storm and/or in direct proximity of said storm; dropping said first and second vessels loaded with said refrigerant directly whereat the eye of said storm is located and/or in direct proximity of said storm so as to permit said first vessel and said second vessel to plunge into water lying under said storm and/or so as to permit said first vessel and said second vessel to plunge into water in direct proximity of said storm; and, opening said first and second vessels and releasing said refrigerant at a predefined depth in the water wherein a depth of opening of said first vessel is greater than a depth of opening of said second vessel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second vessels are slowed by a parachute while descending to prevent a destruction of said first and second vessels when plunging into the water.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second vessels are connected via a connector to each other and disconnected from each other upon impact with the water.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second vessels have respective pressure switches configured to respectively open said first and second vessels to release said refrigerant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a loading of said aircraft is conducted while considering the opening depth.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second vessels are dimensioned in accordance with Stokes equation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein several drops per flight of said aircraft are conducted.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein several aircraft are used in order to drop off said first and second vessels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a wireless transmission of measured values to an evaluation unit is conducted; and, said evaluation unit is accommodated on said first and second vessels and/or on a connector mutually connecting said first and second vessels.

10. An arrangement for preventing a formation of a hurricane storm and/or dispersing a tropical cyclone storm defining an eye, the arrangement being configured to be dropped from an aircraft into water in the eye of the storm and/or in direct proximity of said storm, said arrangement comprising: at least first and second vessels; a refrigerant; said first and second vessels being filled with said refrigerant; said first and second vessels being configured to be pressure resistant, spherical and sinkable with said first vessel having a first sinking velocity V1 and said second vessel having a second sinking velocity V2 and said first sinking velocity V1 being greater than said second sinking velocity V2; said first and second vessels having respective first and second opening mechanisms for releasing said refrigerant at pregiven respective depths; said first opening mechanism of said first vessel being configured to open at a first depth and said second opening mechanism of said second vessel being configured to open at a second depth; and, said first depth being greater than said second depth.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, further comprising a parachute configured to slow a free fall of said arrangement to prevent destruction of said first and second vessels when plunging into the water.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising a connector connecting said first and second vessels to each other; and, said connector being configured to be releasable so as to permit said first and second vessels to mutually separate upon plunging into the water.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein said connector is made of flexible and/or light material.

14. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said first and second vessels have respective pressure switches configured to respectively open said first and second vessels to release said refrigerant.

15. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said first and second vessels are configured differently from each other so as to cause said first and second vessels to have first and second sink velocities different from each other and/or respective plunge depths different from each other; and, wherein said first sink velocity and/or a first plunge depth of said first vessel is greater than said second sink velocity and/or a second plunge depth of said second vessel.

16. The arrangement of claim 12, further comprising a sensor unit for recording measured values directly on said first and second vessels and/or on said connector.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, further comprising a wireless transmitter unit and/or a communications unit for transmitting said measured values to an evaluation unit and/or for communication between said first and second vessels.

18. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said refrigerant is dry ice.

19. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said first and second vessels are made of steel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1 schematically shows a construction of the arrangement according to the disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 2 schematically shows a construction of a vessel B; and,

[0049] FIG. 3 schematically shows a configuration of the dropping strategy in the case of multiple aircraft being used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0050] The description refers to the appended drawings in which, for illustrative purposes, specific embodiments are shown in which the arrangement according to the disclosure can be implemented. In this regard, directional terminology such as for example “up”, “down”, et cetera, are used with regard to the orientation of the described drawings. The directional terminology serves for illustrative purposes and is in no way limiting.

[0051] It is self-evident that other embodiments may be used, and structural or logical changes made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is self-evident that the features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with one another unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is therefore not to be regarded in a limiting sense.

[0052] In the context of this description, the expressions “connected”, “attached” and “coupled” are used to describe both a direct and an indirect connection (for example ohmic and/or electrically conductive, for example in an electrically conductive connection), a direct or indirect attachment, and a direct or indirect coupling.

[0053] In the figures, identical or similar elements are denoted by identical reference designations where expedient.

[0054] According to various embodiments, the expression “coupled” or “coupling” may be understood in the sense of a mechanical, hydrostatic, thermal and/or electrical connection. According to various embodiments, “linked” may be understood in the sense of a mechanical (physical) coupling. A link may be configured to transmit a mechanical interaction (for example force, torque).

[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement according to the disclosure for preventing a formation of a hurricane and/or for dispersing a tropical cyclone with an eye. The device is configured to be dropped from an aircraft 1 into water 2 into the eye 3 of a tropical cyclone (not illustrated here) and/or into water 2 in the immediate vicinity of the tropical cyclone. The arrangement has the following components: at least two vessels B, with a first vessel B1 and a second vessel B2, and a refrigerant K (FIG. 1 illustrates a device with four vessels). The at least two vessels B are filled with the refrigerant K. The vessels are configured so as to be of pressure-resistant, spherical, cold-resistant and sinkable form, wherein a first sinking speed V1 of the first vessel B1 is greater than a second sinking speed V2 of the second vessel B2. Furthermore, in the case of the at least two vessels B, there is arranged in each case one opening mechanism 8 for the release of the refrigerant K at a predefined depth, wherein a first opening depth O1 of the first vessel B1 is greater than a second opening depth O2 of the second vessel B2.

[0056] The arrangement according to the disclosure may furthermore have a parachute F which is configured to slow the device during freefall in order to prevent destruction of the at least two vessels B upon impact against the water.

[0057] According to various embodiments, the at least two vessels B are connected to one another by a connecting means 4. The connecting means 4 is of releasable configured such that the at least two vessels B are separated from one another (not illustrated here) upon impact against the water 2.

[0058] The connecting means 4 may be configured in the form of a chain or of multiple chains (not illustrated here).

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 2, according to various embodiments, the at least two vessels B are each equipped with at least one opening mechanism 8, for example in the form of pressure switches, which are configured to open the vessels B1 or B2, in order to release the refrigerant K, at a predefined depth and/or in the presence of a predefined ambient pressure. Furthermore, FIG. 2 illustrates a construction of a vessel B according to various embodiments. Other variants of the configuration of the vessels are however conceivable. According to various embodiments, a vessel B has a casing which is preferably manufactured from steel. The casing of the vessel B encompasses a cavity which accommodates the refrigerant K. The vessels B are dimensioned so as to be of different size and/or weight depending on the selected immersion depth T. In order to achieve correct dimensioning, the vessel B may have a core 6 which is manufactured for example from graphite.

[0060] Preferably, the at least two vessels B are dimensioned differently than one another such that they have mutually different sinking speeds V and/or immersion depths T, wherein a first sinking speed V1 and/or a first immersion depth T1 of the first vessel B1 is greater than a second sinking speed V2 and/or a second immersion depth T2 of the second vessel B2.

[0061] Furthermore, the arrangement has a sensor unit for recording measured values, which are recorded directly at the at least two vessels B and/or at the connecting means 4.

[0062] Furthermore, the arrangement has a wireless transmission unit and/or a communication unit for transmitting the measured values to an evaluation unit and/or for communication between the at least two vessels B.

[0063] The refrigerant K is preferably dry ice. It may for example be in the form of cubes or circular disks stacked one on top of the other in the vessels B.

[0064] The material of the at least two vessels B is preferably steel.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a possible dropping plan with possible dropping points 7 of the device over the eye 3 of a developing hurricane. Here, multiple aircraft 1, for example in the form of a fleet of airplanes, as illustrated here, may be used, wherein the airplanes fly adjacent to one another in parallel, with a certain spacing to one another, over the eye 3 and, in so doing, drop the devices at various dropping points 7. This assumes that the aircraft 1 are large enough to be able to accommodate and transport multiple, for example five, devices in their interior.

[0066] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0067] 1 Aircraft [0068] 2 Water [0069] 3 Eye [0070] 4 Connecting means [0071] 6 Core [0072] 7 Dropping point [0073] 8 Opening mechanism/pressure switch [0074] B Vessel [0075] B1 First vessel [0076] B2 Second vessel [0077] K Refrigerant [0078] F Parachute [0079] V Sinking speed [0080] V1 Sinking speed of the first vessel B1 [0081] V2 Sinking speed of the second vessel B2 [0082] T Immersion depth [0083] T1 Immersion depth of the first vessel B1 [0084] T2 Immersion depth of the second vessel B2 [0085] O Opening depth [0086] O1 Opening depth of the first vessel B1