Inflatable Flood Barrier Panel for Rigid, Uniform Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-flood devices are either complex and costly, difficult to install, or ineffective in severe flood situations due to lack of uniformity and rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A simple, inexpensive, and quick-to-install anti-flood device featuring a rigid, inflatable panel with two flat main faces maintained at a controlled spacing, connected by holding threads and sealed with elastic deformable seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If rigid panels with elastic bands are used to seal openings, then the sealing structure is simple, but the sealing effectiveness is insufficient under water pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the sealing element from a static elastic band to an inflatable cushion that can change volume and pressure. By injecting gas into the cushion, the internal pressure increases to match or exceed external water pressure, ensuring reliable sealing without complex mechanical adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure (gas inflation) to create a self-regulating sealing mechanism. The inflatable cushion responds automatically to water pressure changes by equalizing internal and external pressures, providing reliable sealing while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If inflatable cushions are used to seal openings, then sealing effectiveness improves, but the cushion deforms and loses rigidity under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the inflatable cushion into multiple sealed chambers or compartments. This segmentation allows each section to maintain its shape and provide localized support while the overall structure remains inflatable. The partition walls prevent deformation propagation and maintain rigidity where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines flexible inflatable material with rigid support elements or partition walls to create a composite structure. This hybrid approach allows the cushion to inflate for sealing while maintaining structural integrity and rigidity through the embedded rigid components.
3Reliability
If complex sealing systems with supporting structures are used, then sealing reliability improves, but installation complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a self-contained inflatable sealing system that requires minimal external support structures. The cushion itself generates the necessary sealing force through internal gas pressure, eliminating the need for complex mechanical supporting structures and reducing installation complexity while maintaining high sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
By using gas inflation to dynamically adjust the sealing force, the system replaces complex mechanical supporting structures with a simple pneumatic mechanism. This parameter change approach maintains sealing reliability while dramatically reducing structural complexity and installation difficulty.
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 device provides effective sealing against floodwaters, maintaining rigidity and uniformity even under pressure, and is reusable and easy to store.
Implementation Method 1
which can be inflated by injecting a gas
Implementation Method 2
an elastic deformable seal which is intended to be respectively compressed against the lateral walls of the opening and the base of the opening when the panel is inflated and installed in this opening
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-flood device intended to seal an opening, in particular of a building, including at least one parallelepiped panel forming a chamber which can be inflated by injecting a gas, comprising two rectangular main walls joined by a lower edge, an upper edge and two lateral edges. The inner faces of the main walls of the panel are connected to each other by connecting elements formed of threads of equal length, the ends of which are respectively secured to the main walls and which ensure that they are kept parallel when the panel is inflated. The lateral and lower edges of the panel are provided, at least partially, with an elastic deformable seal which is intended to be respectively compressed against the lateral walls of the opening and the base thereof, when the panel is inflated and installed in this opening.