Inflatable Surface Cover with Pressurized Dome and Sealing Flap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface-covering devices with movable drums face challenges in forming a dome shape to prevent rainwater accumulation and ensure thermal insulation, while maintaining efficient operation and minimizing wear and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A surface-covering device with a movable drum and airtight cover, featuring a blower system to pressurize the volume under the cover, forming a dome shape and ensuring airtight sealing through a flap and rail system, which reduces friction and wear, and allows for adjustable thermal insulation based on environmental needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable drum is used to deploy and retract the cover, then the cover does not slip on the surface and wear is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the need for translation mechanism and sealing systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a water-tight flap as an intermediary element between the cover and the surface. This flap creates a sealed chamber that allows the drum to move freely without transmitting lateral forces to the cover, thereby simplifying the translation mechanism while maintaining cover stability and preventing slippage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the cover system into distinct functional segments: the cover itself, the water-tight flap forming a sealed chamber, and the drum with translation mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing the overall complexity by isolating the sealing function from the movement mechanism.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the volume under the cover is pressurized to form a dome, then rainwater accumulation is prevented and thermal insulation is improved, but energy consumption increases due to the blower system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic operation of the blower system, activating it only when needed to maintain dome formation and deactivate it when the cover is not in use or when pressure is sufficient. This periodic action significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous operation, while still preventing rainwater accumulation and maintaining thermal insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in air pressure as a control parameter for dome formation. By regulating the pressure differential between the sealed chamber and the external environment, the system can form and maintain the dome shape without requiring continuous high energy input, as the pressure differential itself provides the structural support.
3Temperature
If a sealed chamber is created under the cover, then thermal insulation is enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible water-tight flap made of appropriate material that can form an effective seal between the cover and the surface. This flexible sealing element creates a reliable sealed chamber for thermal insulation while maintaining simplicity, as the flap can conform to the surface and cover geometry without requiring complex rigid sealing mechanisms.
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 effectively prevents rainwater accumulation, maintains thermal insulation, reduces wear and energy consumption, and provides an aesthetically superior dome shape, while allowing for flexible thermal management of surfaces like swimming pools.
Implementation Method 1
a blower system (51) capable of blowing air (51a) between the surface and an internal surface (10i) of the cover facing the surface when the movable end of the cover is in covering position and thus create an overpressure in this volume causing the cover to dish and form a dome
Implementation Method 2
the flap (41) forms an airtight seal between the cover and the surface along its second transverse side, allowing a substantially airtight volume to be defined between the surface and the internal surface of the cover
Implementation Method 3
said trolley (21) comprising, at each of its ends, at least two rollers (33) resting on the first and second rails (6) allowing the longitudinal translation of the trolley (21)
Data Source
AI summary
A device for covering a rectangular surface is provided that includes a cover (10) rotatably mounted on a drum (2), the device being capable of winding and unwinding the cover between an uncovered position and a covering position, rails (6) attached along the longitudinal sides of the surface, each of the rails includes an opening (6o) allowing the longitudinal edges (10L) of the cover to be locked in an air-tight manner, a blower system (51) suitable for blowing air (51a) into a volume under the cover and a flap (41) having an end (41s) which is sealed over a whole length of the second transverse side of the surface, a free end (41L) opposing the sealed end, such that the free end of the flap is in contact with the surface, the flap forming an air-tight seal between the cover and the surface along the second transverse side thereof.