Flexible Container Overflow Orifice for Precise Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elongate flexible containers, such as Geotube or Geocontainer, face difficulties in being filled exactly to their capacity due to challenges in managing pressure and overflow during the filling process.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an overflow orifice with a movable closing member and an elastic biasing element that automatically closes the orifice at steady state but opens when internal pressure exceeds a predetermined value, allowing filler material to escape and maintaining pressure control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a filling orifice is used to fill the container with filler material, then the container can be filled, but it is not easy to fill the container exactly to its capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow orifice with closing member enables the container to automatically regulate its own filling process. When the filler material level reaches the maximum capacity, the pressure automatically opens the overflow orifice to discharge excess material, eliminating the need for external monitoring or control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic feedback control where the closing member responds to pressure changes inside the container. When pressure exceeds the predetermined value (indicating maximum fill level), the closing member opens to discharge material, and when pressure drops, it automatically closes again, creating a self-regulating feedback loop.
2Quantity of substance
If the container is filled to maximum capacity, then the container utilization is optimized, but the pressure control and overflow management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure control function is achieved through the self-actuating closing member that automatically responds to pressure changes. The system uses the pressure itself as the actuating force to open the overflow orifice, eliminating the need for external pressure sensors, control valves, or complex regulation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the filler material pressure and the overflow orifice. It translates the pressure condition into mechanical action (opening or closing the orifice), providing a simple mechanical mediation that avoids complex control systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If an overflow orifice is added to control filling capacity, then the filling precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow orifice structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it defines the maximum fill level, provides automatic pressure relief, enables excess material discharge, and incorporates the closing member for automatic control. This multi-functionality in a single integrated structure minimizes the addition of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing member is made deformable and can be deformed by the filler material pressure to open the overflow orifice. This use of deformable materials simplifies the mechanism by eliminating the need for complex actuators, motors, or mechanical linkages, relying instead on the natural deformability of the closing member under pressure.
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
Enables easy and precise filling of the container to its maximum capacity by automatically relieving pressure and ensuring the container is filled to capacity without overfilling.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member comprises at least one elastic biasing element arranged to cooperate with said closing member
Implementation Method 2
Only when the pressure inside the container, which acts on the closing member, overcomes the biasing force, will the closing member be moved to its pressure relief position
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an elongate flexible container for use as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway. The container comprises a filling orifice for filling the container with a filler material. The filler material may for example comprise loose or little coherent solid material, such as sand or other ground material, or any other granular material. The elongate flexible container comprises an overflow orifice which is normally closed and which is arranged to be opened when a pressure of the filler material in the container exceeds a predetermined value. The invention further relates to the use of such a container, to a structure comprising such a container, and to a method for installing such a container.