Buoyancy-Actuated Backflow Door for Sewage Outlet Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional back-flow prevention apparatuses are ineffective in managing sewage back-flow during heavy rainfall, leading to facility damage, and often require power to operate, which can result in incomplete door opening or closing and contamination entry issues.
Innovation Solution
A powerless back-flow prevention apparatus utilizing floating members to open and close the outlet, with a contaminant storage system and length variable members to facilitate easy operation and prevent contamination, suitable for larger diameter pipes and high sewage volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a door is used to open or close the outlet in conventional back-flow prevention apparatus, then the outlet can be controlled, but the door may not open or close completely when sewage flow rate is small, and contaminants may enter between the door and connection pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The door is divided into multiple floating members that can move independently. Each floating member has a door body that can pivot to open or close the communication port, ensuring complete sealing even when sewage flow is small. This segmentation allows each member to respond independently to water pressure, improving reliability and completeness of door operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide structure is introduced as an intermediary between the floating members and the connection pipe. The guide includes side blocking portions that prevent contaminants from entering between the door and connection pipe, while allowing the door to pivot freely. This intermediary component solves the problem of contaminant intrusion without interfering with door operation.
2Extent of automation
If power or water pressure is used to open or close the door in conventional apparatus, then the door can be actuated, but the apparatus requires power supply and may fail when power is unavailable or water pressure is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The floating members utilize the natural buoyancy force generated by sewage water to automatically open or close the door. When sewage flows, the floating members rise and pivot the door to close the outlet. When sewage recedes, gravity causes the floating members to descend and open the door. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external power supply while maintaining automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses gravity as a counterweight force against the buoyancy of the floating members. The door and floating members are designed so that gravity naturally opens the door when water pressure is absent, while buoyancy closes it when water is present. This balance of opposing forces enables automatic operation without power consumption.
3Strength
If the connection pipe is not of completely-open type in conventional apparatus, then structural integrity is maintained, but contaminants with large length or volume cannot be discharged out of the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The connection pipe is designed with a dynamic completely-open structure that allows the door to pivot freely to any position needed for contaminant discharge. When the door pivots open, it creates a fully open passage that can accommodate contaminants of any size or shape. The structural integrity is maintained through proper hinge design and support structures that allow full rotation without compromising pipe strength.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the apparatus is designed for small diameter pipes, then it fits smaller facilities, but it cannot handle large amount of sewage discharge required for larger facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The floating member structure is designed to be scalable and adaptable to different pipe diameters. The same basic principle of multiple floating members working together can be applied to pipes of various sizes. By adjusting the number, size, and arrangement of floating members, the apparatus can handle sewage volumes ranging from small residential facilities to large industrial facilities, making it a universal solution for back-flow prevention across different scales.
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
Effectively prevents sewage back-flow and contaminant entry, allowing for easy maintenance and operation, even during high sewage volumes, while preventing facility damage from back-flow and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a number of floating members arranged spacedly with each other, each floating member being configured to generate a floating force using a back-flow of sewage toward the outlet
Implementation Method 2
a guide disposed on the floating members to pivot upwards via the floating force to close the outlet, and to pivot downwards via a gravity in an absence of the sewage back-flow to open the outlet
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2a
Figure 2b~3a
AI summary
There is provided a powerless back-flow prevention apparatus comprising: a body having a sewage inlet at a front thereof, a sewage outlet at a rear thereof, and a length-wise sewage channel there between; a door pivotally coupled to the body at the rear thereof to open or close the outlet, wherein the door comprises: a number of floating members arranged spacedly with each other; and a guide disposed on the floating members to pivot upwards via the floating force to close the outlet, and to pivot downwards via a gravity in an absence of the sewage back-flow to open the outlet, and, then to guide the sewage from the outlet.