Hinged Drain Gate Preventing Animal Entry and Debris Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drain pipes and other structures with openings attract small animals, leading to obstruction, flooding, and pest-related issues such as property damage, disease transmission, and economic losses due to nesting and roosting.
Innovation Solution
A gate system mounted on a hinge to prevent animals from entering while allowing fluid and debris to exit, using various materials and mounting configurations to accommodate different structures and prevent debris accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a gate is installed in a drain pipe to prevent animal entry, then pest protection is improved, but debris accumulation and flooding risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gate is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically respond to water flow conditions. The gate opens automatically when water flow exceeds a certain threshold, preventing debris accumulation and flooding, while remaining closed during normal conditions to block animal entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate system is self-regulating through the interaction between water pressure and the gate's mechanical components. The float rises with water level to trigger gate opening, and the gate closes automatically when water level drops, requiring no external control or manual intervention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed gate is used to block drain pipes, then animal entry is prevented, but water flow and debris passage are obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The gate transitions from a static barrier to a dynamic component that automatically adjusts its position based on water flow conditions, maintaining pest exclusion while enabling efficient water and debris passage during flooding events.
Solution Approach 2:
The float mechanism provides continuous feedback on water level conditions, automatically triggering gate opening when the water level rises sufficiently, thus maintaining both pest protection and water flow efficiency through responsive control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a gate mechanism is added to drain pipes, then animal entry is blocked, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gate mechanism is completely self-actuating, using the natural water flow and float displacement to automatically open and close the gate without requiring motors, sensors, or external power sources, thereby minimizing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The float acts as an intermediary between the water level condition and the gate mechanism, converting water level changes into mechanical motion that directly operates the gate, simplifying the control system by eliminating the need for complex actuators or control electronics.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides examples of apparatus and methods for gating off openings of drain pipes and other structures with openings using a gate that is mounted on a hinge so as to avoid catching debris exiting the pipe or other structure. Variations of the types of gate design, mounting, and shape of the pipe or other structure that is gated are provided to demonstrate some of the various embodiments of the present subject matter.