Half-barrel intake screen without concrete body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water intake screens often require a concrete body with an outlet, which adds weight, expense, and obstructs flow, limiting their efficiency and applicability in water diversion systems.
Innovation Solution
A half-barrel intake screen design featuring a contiguous screen segment between two ends, mounted on a base, without a concrete body, allowing water to flow through and out of the bottom, and optionally incorporating a flow modifier and airburst system for debris removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a concrete body with an outlet is used in conventional water intake screens, then structural support and outlet function are provided, but weight increases, cost increases, and flow is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the concrete body component from the traditional intake screen design. The screen is now supported directly by a base structure, extracting the unnecessary concrete body that added weight and complexity while providing no additional functional benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The intake screen is divided into separate functional components: a support base and a screen assembly. This segmentation allows the screen to be installed on various base types (vaulted or standard) without requiring a monolithic concrete body, reducing overall structural complexity and weight.
2Ease of manufacture
If a concrete body with outlet is used, then structural support is provided, but expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, anchors the screen assembly, and eliminates the need for a separate concrete body. This multi-functional base reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining necessary structural strength.
3Productivity
If a concrete body is used, then outlet function is provided, but flow is obstructed and surface area for filtration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The concrete body that obstructed flow is removed entirely. Water flows directly through the screen assembly and base structure, eliminating flow obstructions and maximizing the effective screen surface area available for filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet function is redistributed across the base structure rather than being concentrated in a single concrete body outlet. This dimensional redistribution allows water to flow through multiple pathways, reducing obstruction and increasing effective filtration surface area.
Data Source
AI summary
A half-barrel intake screen is disclosed. The half-barrel intake screen comprises a frame including a first end, a second end, and a bottom coupled between the first end and the second end. Further, a contiguous screen segment couples between the first end and the second end of the frame. However, the screen segment couples to the frame independently of a concrete body having an outlet. In other words, the intake screen does not include a concrete body having an outlet.