Resilient Drainage Control Member for Storm Water Pipe Debris Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storm water drainage systems face challenges in preventing silt and debris from entering underground pipes during construction, as traditional methods like silt fences and plywood are ineffective against heavy machinery and weather conditions, while completely sealing pipes blocks rainwater drainage, posing safety risks and environmental hazards.
Innovation Solution
A temporary drainage control member made from resilient materials, such as plastic or synthetic materials, is designed to be mounted over or within the open end of storm water pipes, featuring flow control openings and a filtering material to allow water drainage while preventing debris entry, without the need for additional fasteners or bracing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silt fence material or plywood sheets are used to block dirt and debris from entering storm water pipes, then debris prevention is improved, but the structures are easily collapsed, torn, or blown over by weather and machinery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible plastic sheet material that can be draped over the storm water pipe to form a protective cover. This flexible film approach replaces rigid plywood and fabric silt fences, allowing the structure to conform to the pipe shape while maintaining durability against weather and machinery forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite protective structure by combining the flexible plastic sheet material with a supporting frame or rigging system. This composite construction provides both the flexibility needed to conform to the pipe and the structural strength to resist external forces from weather and construction equipment.
2Reliability
If the storm water pipe is completely sealed to prevent debris entry, then debris prevention is improved, but rainwater drainage is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a porous or permeable plastic sheet material that allows water molecules to pass through while blocking larger debris particles. This porous structure enables rainwater drainage to continue functioning while providing effective debris prevention, resolving the contradiction between sealing and drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of completely sealing the pipe or leaving it completely open, the invention applies partial protection by using a permeable barrier that blocks debris to a certain extent while still allowing water passage. This partial action approach achieves sufficient debris prevention without fully blocking drainage.
3Productivity
If laborers manually clean dirt and debris from the pipes, then debris removal is achieved, but safety risks from cave-ins and pipe collapse increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary protective action by covering the storm water pipe with the flexible plastic barrier before debris can accumulate to dangerous levels. This preventive measure eliminates the need for later manual cleaning operations that would require laborers to enter confined, potentially hazardous pipe spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible plastic sheet material serves as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the pipe interior, preventing direct contact between debris and the pipe contents. This intermediary structure protects both the pipe system and eliminates the need for human intervention in hazardous cleaning operations.
4Reliability
If plywood sheets are used around open pipes, then debris prevention is improved, but additional debris from degraded plywood can wash into the pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable or easily replaceable flexible plastic sheet covering that can be installed and removed as needed. This short-living protective element is designed to be replaced rather than reused extensively, preventing the accumulation and degradation issues that plague reusable materials like plywood.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from traditional plywood to flexible plastic sheet material, which has superior resistance to weather degradation and does not generate additional debris. This parameter change in material composition eliminates the harmful effect of degraded material washing into the pipes.
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
The solution effectively filters out silt and debris from storm water runoff, ensuring safe and efficient drainage during construction, reducing manual cleaning risks, and allowing for the reuse of the control member across multiple sites, thus enhancing construction efficiency and environmental protection.
Implementation Method 1
The drainage control member is made from resilient materials, such as plastic or synthetic materials
Implementation Method 2
featuring flow control openings and a filtering material to allow water drainage while preventing debris entry
Implementation Method 3
allow water drainage while preventing debris entry
Data Source
AI summary
A temporary storm water drainage control member having a first portion including a series of flow control openings formed therein, and a second portion defining a side wall, is releasably mountable over or within the open end of a storm water pipe system. The side wall of the second portion of the drainage control member engages the storm water pipe in a frictionally engaging fit to mount the drainage control member over or within the opening of the storm water pipe.