Permeable Block System with Gap for Rainwater Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sidewalk-roadway combined block systems face challenges with rainwater permeability, as the permeability decreases over time due to clogging, and the supporting force between blocks is low, leading to weed growth and maintenance issues.
Innovation Solution
A sidewalk-roadway combined block system with a gap that improves rainwater permeability by structurally forming a gap for rainwater and granule/powder discharge, allowing for efficient water management and sustainability, while also preventing weed growth and enhancing structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If porous permeable blocks are used to allow rainwater permeation, then rainwater permeability is improved, but the permeability function decreases within six months due to pore clogging with dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The block is divided into an upper block with pores for rainwater permeation and a lower block without pores for support. The gap between blocks serves as a discharge channel, separating the permeation function from the discharge function to prevent clogging of the discharge path
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge function is extracted from the block pores and relocated to the gap between blocks. This separates the permeation pathway (through upper block pores) from the discharge pathway (through gaps), preventing dirt from clogging the discharge channels
2Strength
If masonry joints are filled with sand to increase supporting force between blocks, then supporting force is improved, but sand fills the pores of blocks causing rapid permeability decrease and weed growth
Solution Approach 1:
The block structure is segmented into upper and lower blocks with a defined gap between them. This segmentation creates separate zones: the upper block handles permeation, the gap handles discharge and joint filling, and the lower block provides support, preventing sand from entering and clogging permeation pores
Solution Approach 2:
The gap between blocks serves as an intermediary zone that receives the sand filling material. This intermediary space allows sand to fulfill the supporting function between blocks while being isolated from the permeation pores, preventing sand from blocking water flow paths
3Reliability
If a complex S-shaped fitting connection portion is used to improve rainwater permeation sustainability, then permeation sustainability is improved, but the structure becomes complicated making massive construction and replacement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The block system is segmented into simple geometric shapes (upper block with pores, lower block without pores) connected by a straightforward gap interface. This segmentation achieves the complex function of sustainable permeation through a simple, modular structure that is easy to construct and replace in large quantities
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the connection portion complex (S-shaped) to achieve sustainability, the patent inverts the approach by making the blocks themselves simple and the gap structure regular. The sustainability is achieved through the repeated simple units forming a collective complex system, not through complex individual connection elements
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 system achieves improved rainwater permeability and sustainability, prevents weed growth, and ensures structural integrity, making it suitable for applications requiring a biotope area ratio and efficient water management.
Implementation Method 1
rainwater flows to sidewalks and causes inundation when it locally rains very heavily
Implementation Method 2
Porous permeable blocks for roads have been proposed in the related art to solve these problems
Data Source
AI summary
A sidewalk-roadway combined block system with a gap, where side connection portions to which left and right sides of unit assembly blocks are physically inserted and coupled are formed, a gap portion is formed between a front surface and a rear surface of the unit assembly block, a groove portion composed of many grooves is formed on a top, and a hollow portion in which rainwater or a mixture dropping down from the gap portion is collected is formed at a lower portion.