Angular Inflatable Flood Barrier With Reinforced Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable containers for flood control are prone to movement and puncture, lack structural integrity, and are not effective in containing severe flooding, making them less reliable and efficient compared to sandbags.
Innovation Solution
The development of an inflatable container with liquid-impermeable material walls, reinforced edges, and angular lateral sides that can be stacked to form a cohesive flood barrier, providing resistance to movement and puncture, and integrating with other containers for enhanced structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If inflatable containers are made lightweight for easy deployment, then ease of operation is improved, but resistance to floodwater force and stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable container is divided into multiple compartments that can be independently inflated. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain stability while being filled with lighter materials like air or foam, resolving the contradiction between lightweight construction and floodwater resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The container uses composite construction combining lightweight inflatable elements with heavier anchoring components and reinforcement materials at critical stress points. This composite approach enables easy deployment of the main structure while providing localized strength where needed
2Ease of manufacture
If inflatable containers use simple plastic material for ease of manufacture, then ease of manufacture is improved, but resistance to puncture and tear deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the container have different material properties - critical areas like corners, seams, and regions subject to debris impact use reinforced puncture-resistant materials, while less critical surfaces use simpler plastic for ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The container incorporates protective layers and reinforcement structures before the actual flooding event occurs, such as pre-installed protective coatings and strengthened seams that prevent punctures and tears during use
3Ease of operation
If inflatable containers are made non-permanent for easy removal, then ease of operation is improved, but structural integrity and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container uses dynamic anchoring systems that can be quickly deployed and removed, such as removable weights, detachable stakes, or adjustable mooring lines that provide strong holding power during use but allow rapid deployment and removal when needed
4Device complexity
If inflatable containers lack anchoring mechanisms for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but stability and resistance to movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable container incorporates self-anchoring features such as built-in weights, self-burying tips, or expansion mechanisms that automatically provide stabilization upon deployment, reducing the need for complex external anchoring systems while maintaining stability
Data Source
AI summary
A reliable leakage resistant inflatable container is disclosed having outer construction container shape of a vertical extrusion formed from a non-rectangular closed polygon base such that an inflatable container lateral side surface is conformably angular to an adjacent container lateral surface such that an external applied pressure to a liquid filled inflatable container wall will transfer the external pressure to an adjacent lateral surface aligned container wall. A plurality of inflatable containers placed conformably with lateral angular sides in parallel build a structurally fluid filled container wall for a load transferring flood barrier.