Floating Liquid Covering Disk with Buoyancy Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid covering solutions are costly, inflexible, and ineffective in preventing evaporation, plant growth, and wildlife entry, while also being susceptible to wind and having high shipping costs.
Innovation Solution
A liquid covering disk design featuring a top member, bottom member, and sidewall that collectively define a cavity with a chamber to maintain buoyancy, allowing liquid entry and reducing wind resistance, composed of ultraviolet-stabilized high-density polyethylene for durability and adaptability to various liquid body sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large sheet covers the entire surface of a liquid body, then evaporation and plant growth are prevented, but deployment cost increases and adaptability to different liquid bodies is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid covering system is divided into multiple individual disks rather than using a single large sheet. Each disk operates independently and can be deployed in various configurations to cover different liquid body sizes and shapes, maintaining effectiveness while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized disk design serves multiple functions: it can be used individually or in groups, adapted to different liquid body configurations, and deployed in various patterns (nested, packed, or scattered arrangements) to address different coverage requirements.
2Weight of moving object
If lightweight liquid coverings are used, then shipping costs are reduced, but wind resistance decreases causing the cover to be blown away
Solution Approach 1:
The disk design incorporates adjustable parameters including wall thickness, material density, and internal chamber configurations that allow optimization of the weight-to-wind-resistance ratio. These parameters can be modified based on specific deployment conditions to achieve both light shipping weight and adequate wind resistance.
3Reliability
If heavier liquid coverings are used, then wind resistance improves, but shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disk employs composite construction combining materials with different densities and strengths. The structure integrates lighter materials for the main body with strategic use of heavier materials in critical areas, achieving optimal wind resistance without proportionally increasing overall weight.
4Area of stationary object
If a single large sheet is used to cover the liquid body, then coverage is comprehensive, but deployment cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The covering system is segmented into multiple simple, identical disks rather than one complex large sheet. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing, storage, and deployment while achieving comprehensive coverage through modular assembly in various patterns.
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 design effectively reduces evaporation, suppresses plant growth, prevents wildlife entry, and enhances wind resistance, while being cost-effective and adaptable, with adjustable buoyancy for different deployment depths and liquid densities.
Implementation Method 1
the predetermined volume of gas enclosed in the chamber is selected to impart a buoyancy force sufficient to maintain the disk afloat on the body of liquid with the bottom member a predetermined depth below the member of the body of liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Disks configured to float on the surface of a body of liquid, including a top member configured to float substantially above the surface of the body of liquid, a bottom member spaced from the top member and configured to float substantially below the surface of the body of liquid, a sidewall extending between the top member and the bottom member along the periphery of the top member and along the periphery of the bottom member, wherein the top member, the bottom member, and the sidewall collectively define a cavity, a chamber mounted within the cavity, the chamber enclosing a predetermined volume of a gas, and a port defined in the sidewall to allow liquid from the body of liquid to enter the cavity, wherein the predetermined volume of gas enclosed in the chamber is selected to impart a buoyancy force sufficient to maintain the disk afloat on the body of liquid with the bottom member a predetermined depth below the member of the body of liquid.