Flood Vent Trigger Mechanism for Hydrostatic Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flood water control devices for enclosed areas, such as crawl spaces, struggle to automatically open to allow floodwaters to enter and exit while maintaining ventilation requirements for both warm and cold weather conditions, and ensuring the removal of screening and louvers when faced with free-flowing flood fluids.
Innovation Solution
A flood vent mechanism featuring a pivotable door with a fluid trigger system, including a retainer and a fluid modifiable material that dissolves upon contact with floodwaters, allowing the door to automatically open when triggered by fluid pressure, and a trigger regulator to control the fluid level for effective operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If screening and louvers are installed in flood vents to enable ventilation, then ventilation function is improved, but the vent cannot automatically open during flooding events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the screening and louvers that were previously installed in flood vents, extracting the obstruction that prevented automatic opening during flooding. This allows the vent to freely open when needed while ventilation can be achieved through alternative means or during non-flood conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic door mechanism that can transition between closed and open positions based on flood conditions. The door is designed to pivot automatically from a closed position (blocking floodwater) to an open position (allowing floodwater entry) in response to fluid pressure changes, enabling adaptive response to varying flood conditions.
2Reliability
If a door is made pivotable to allow automatic opening, then automatic opening during flooding is improved, but control over when opening occurs becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a trigger mechanism as an intermediary between the flood conditions and the door opening action. The trigger, positioned to respond to specific fluid pressure thresholds or floodwater contact, mediates the transition from closed to open state, providing controlled automatic opening only when flood conditions are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual control mechanisms with a fluid-responsive trigger system. Instead of requiring manual operation or complex mechanical controls, the system uses the physical presence and pressure of floodwater itself to trigger the door opening, substituting human control with automatic fluid-mechanical response.
3Ease of operation
If screening and louvers are retained in the vent, then ventilation during warm months is improved, but the vent cannot freely open during flooding events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the screening and louver components from the flood vent structure. This elimination of obstructions allows maximum flow rate during flooding events, as floodwater can enter and exit the enclosed space without restriction from screens or louvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the vent structure itself can change state between closed (blocking floodwater) and fully open (allowing maximum floodwater flow). This dynamic capability enables the vent to achieve high productivity during flooding by completely opening the door, while ventilation during warm months can be managed through controlled operation or alternative ventilation paths.
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 flood vent effectively automates the opening of the door during flooding events, ensuring equalization of hydrostatic forces while maintaining ventilation and preventing cold air circulation, thus reducing damage from flooding and enhancing moisture escape.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid modifiable material may comprise a water soluble composition configured to dissolve when contacted with flood waters
Data Source
AI summary
A flood vent includes a door pivotable within a frame between a closed position and an open position. A fluid trigger that is triggerable by a fluid to allow the door to pivot from the closed position to the open position includes a retainer and a fluid modifiable material. The fluid modifiable material is positioned between the door and the retainer thereby obstructing the door from pivoting from the closed position to the open position until the fluid modifiable material is modified by contact with the fluid.