Contain and Drain Sill Systems for Fenestration Water Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fenestration unit sill systems struggle to effectively manage large volumes of water during extreme weather events, such as tropical storms and hurricanes, due to inadequate separation of interior and exterior drainage and limited water column height, which can lead to slowed or limited drainage.
Innovation Solution
The contain and drain sill system separates drainage into distinct interior and exterior paths with increased volume containment tanks extending along the sill length, enhanced water column height, and air management features to improve drainage efficiency, including separate trough drains and vents aligned along a horizontal axis to facilitate air movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fenestration unit sill systems are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the drainage capability is insufficient during high-volume water events
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is divided into separate interior and exterior drainage paths within the sill. The exterior drainage zone has its own containment tank and drainage path that is completely separate from the interior drainage zone, allowing independent management of water volumes from each side and significantly improving drainage capability during high-volume water events.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment tanks extend along the entire length of the sill rather than occupying only a portion, utilizing the longitudinal dimension to increase water storage volume. This dimensional extension allows the system to handle larger volumes of water without increasing the vertical height of the sill.
2Quantity of substance
If containment tanks occupy only a portion of the sill length, then the structure is simpler, but the water containment volume is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The containment tank is segmented to extend along the entire length of the sill, creating multiple storage zones that collectively provide increased water containment volume. This full-length containment approach ensures that water from any portion of the sill can be effectively managed.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment tank serves multiple functions: it stores water from both interior and exterior drainage zones, provides a pathway for water to exit the sill, and works in conjunction with the drainage system to manage high-volume water events. This multi-functionality increases containment volume without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Speed
If water column height is increased to improve drainage, then the drainage performance improves, but the sill height becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the vertical height of the sill to create water column height, the system extends the containment tank along the longitudinal axis of the sill. This dimensional shift allows water to accumulate and drain effectively without requiring excessive vertical space, maintaining a compact sill profile while achieving adequate drainage speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage path is segmented into distinct zones with controlled water flow paths. The separation of interior and exterior drainage zones creates efficient water column heights in each zone without requiring the entire sill to be excessively tall, optimizing drainage speed within compact dimensions.
4Reliability
If interior and exterior drainage are combined in a single path, then the system is simpler, but the drainage efficiency during high-volume events is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is divided into completely separate interior and exterior drainage paths. Each path has its own containment capacity and drainage route, allowing water from both sides to be managed independently. This segmentation prevents one side from overwhelming the other and maintains high drainage efficiency during high-volume water events.
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior drainage zone essentially copies the functional structure of the interior drainage zone, with its own containment tank and drainage path. This replicated structure ensures that both interior and exterior waters have equivalent drainage capabilities, improving overall system efficiency without adding excessive complexity.
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
This solution enhances water performance by ensuring efficient drainage during high-volume water events, reducing percolation and bubbling, and maintaining effective water management with a relatively short sill height, while being easy to fabricate and manufacture using conventional tooling.
Implementation Method 1
drainage from, for example, the interior drainage zone of a contain and drain sill as described herein may be further enhanced by an increased water column height available in one or more embodiments
Implementation Method 2
One or more embodiments of the contain and drain sill systems described herein may also include various features configured to improve air management within the sills to, for example, reduce percolation, bubbling, etc. and/or improve drainage
Data Source
AI summary
Contain and drain sill systems and fenestration unit incorporating the sills along with related methods are described herein. The contain and drain sill systems and fenestration units incorporating them provide enhanced water performance by separating drainage from interior and exterior sides of the fenestration unit and sill system.