Flexible Bladder Drain Element and Dome Top for Material Evacuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Containment vessels with internal bladders face challenges in evacuating the final amount of material from the bottom and top exposure leading to puddling or pooling of rainwater and snow, especially when not completely filled, due to the absence of a rigid lid and uneven surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A flexible containment vessel bladder with a secondary bladder that expands to direct material towards a central location for easier evacuation and a ceiling shape retaining element to prevent precipitation accumulation, both of which are foldable for storage and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the bladder is made without a rigid lid to reduce capital cost and minimize assembly/disassembly efforts, then ease of manufacture and ease of operation are improved, but the exposed upper surface creates low spots that lead to puddling or pooling of rainwater or snow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible enclosed top made of bladder material that forms a dome-shaped structure. This flexible shell replaces the traditional rigid lid, maintaining the advantages of ease of manufacture and assembly while creating a curved surface that prevents water pooling. The flexible nature of the material allows it to conform to the dome shape and effectively shed precipitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an enclosed top that forms a dome-shaped structure with a predetermined curvature radius. This curved geometry eliminates flat surfaces where water could accumulate, causing precipitation to naturally shed off the rounded surface. The spherical/dome shape ensures no low spots exist for puddling while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the top of the bladder is exposed to the environment without a rigid lid, then assembly and disassembly efforts are minimized, but the ability for rain and snow to drain or be directed from the top of the vessel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosed top is constructed from flexible bladder material that can be easily assembled and disassembled, maintaining operational ease. The flexible nature allows for simple deployment and removal while the formed dome shape provides effective drainage capabilities, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and drainage ability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dome-shaped configuration of the enclosed top creates a curved surface that naturally directs rain and snow to shed and drain away from the vessel. This geometric solution maintains ease of assembly and disassembly while significantly improving drainage capability compared to a flat or exposed surface.
3Ease of operation
If material is stored in the bladder with an open top configuration, then ease of filling is improved, but complete evacuation of material particularly from the bladder floor and corners becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosed top forms a dome shape that tapers downward toward the bladder floor, creating a funnel-like effect. This curved geometry naturally directs material toward the discharge opening during evacuation, preventing material from becoming trapped in corners or on flat surfaces, thereby improving complete evacuation capability while maintaining ease of filling.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid lid is used to prevent precipitation accumulation, then protection from harmful factors is improved, but capital cost and assembly/disassembly efforts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid lid with a flexible enclosed top made of bladder material. This flexible shell provides adequate protection against precipitation accumulation while being simpler and less expensive to manufacture and assemble. The flexible material can be easily formed into the protective dome shape without requiring complex rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The dome-shaped enclosed top provides effective protection against precipitation by creating a curved surface that sheds water and snow. This simple geometric form achieves the protective function of a rigid lid without the associated complexity, cost, and assembly requirements, effectively preventing harmful factors while maintaining device simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates complete material removal from the bladder and prevents puddling or pooling by directing material to a central location and maintaining an enclosed top, enhancing drainage and reducing assembly and disassembly efforts.
Implementation Method 1
a drain facilitating element positioned on said floor portion within said sealed interior of said flexible enclosure, said drain facilitating element expandable from a deflated or contracted position to an expanded position
Implementation Method 2
the exposed upper surface of the bladder may have 'low spots' which can lead to puddling or pooling of rainwater or snow
Data Source
AI summary
A containment vessel bladder for retaining material to be stored within a containment vessel. The bladder comprises a flexible enclosure and a drain facilitating element. The enclosure has a sealed interior, a floor portion connected to an enclosed top by one or more wall portions, and an opening for the delivery of material to the sealed interior. The drain facilitating element is positioned on the floor portion the enclosure and is expandable from a deflated position to an expanded position. When deflated the drain facilitating element is foldable with the enclosure to facilitate storage and transport of the containment vessel bladder. When expanded the drain facilitating element has one or more sloped surfaces aiding in the direction of material stored within the sealed interior toward a pre-determined location within the sealed interior to help facilitate the removal of material from the containment vessel bladder.