Flap Gate with Segmented Ancillary Part for Rapid Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floating body type flap gates face challenges in simplifying their structure while maintaining effective water-blocking capabilities and efficient tilt-up and tilt-down mechanisms, particularly when subjected to varying water levels and potential vehicle traffic, which can increase the weight and complexity of the door body.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a flap ancillary part with tilt-up and tilt-down elastic members and limit members, including coil springs and elastomeric resin members, which are strategically positioned and adjustable, to provide moments that assist in the tilt-up and tilt-down motions of the door body, simplifying the structure and reducing the need for counterweights and complex mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If counterweights are mounted on the door body to accelerate tilt-up and tilt-down motions, then the response speed improves, but the weight and complexity of the door body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door body is divided into two separate components: the door body itself and the ancillary part (including counterweights). This segmentation allows the counterweights to be detached from the door body, reducing its weight while maintaining the acceleration function through the flexible connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible connection (such as a hinge or pivot mechanism) is introduced as an intermediary between the door body and the ancillary part. This intermediary allows the counterweights to exert their accelerating effect while being mechanically decoupled from the door body structure.
2Strength
If the door body strength is increased to support vehicle traffic, then the load-bearing capacity improves, but the weight of the door body increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the door body from the ancillary part (counterweights), the door body can be optimized purely for strength and vehicle load-bearing without the added weight of counterweight structures. The ancillary part handles the acceleration function independently.
3Ease of operation
If counterweights are added to accelerate door motion, then the operational performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweights and ancillary components are merged into a single integrated ancillary part that is flexibly connected to the door body. This consolidation simplifies the overall structure compared to having separate counterweight mechanisms directly attached to the door body.
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 configuration allows for a more streamlined and cost-effective flap gate design that can quickly tilt up during water inflow and efficiently tilt down during water level drops, reducing the force on components and enabling a longer span length while maintaining effective water blocking without the need for extensive counterweights or complex installations.
Implementation Method 1
the tilt-up elastic member is contracted in an up-down direction when the door body is located in a position between the down position and the first position
Implementation Method 2
The coil spring includes a plurality of spring elements that are connected in series and that overlap in a direction perpendicular to the central axis when the coil spring is not expanded
Implementation Method 3
the tilt-down elastic member is expanded when the door body is located in a position between the second position and the maximum up position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A flap gate (1) includes a door body (2) and a flap ancillary part (3). When the door body (2) is in its down position, a movable end portion (24) of the door body (2) is located forward of a supported end portion (23). The door body (2) changes its position between the down position and a maximum up position by turning on the supported end portion (23) serving as a support. The flap ancillary part (3) applies tilt-up moment to the door body (2) only when the door body (2) is located in a position between the down position and a first position (i.e., position between the down position and the maximum up position). The flap ancillary part (3) also applies tilt-down moment to the door body (2) only when the door body (2) is located in a position between the maximum up position and a second position (i.e., position between the first position and the maximum up position). This simplifies the structure of the flap gate (1) that can speedily start to tilt up when water flows in and that can early start to tilt down when the water level has started to drop.