Pivot Panels for Underground Ventilation Flood Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for preventing flooding in underground ventilation systems, such as raising subway ventilation grates or using temporary covers like sandbags and plywood, are either costly, labor-intensive, or insufficient in addressing storm surge and heavy rain-induced flooding, especially in low-lying cities like New York.
Innovation Solution
A manually operable apparatus that fits within ventilation shafts, featuring pivot-mounted panels that rotate from an upright position to a lower sealing position to block water entry, allowing for ventilation during normal conditions and sealing during flooding threats, adaptable to various shapes and orientations of ventilation openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ventilation grates are raised above sidewalk level, then flooding protection is improved, but sidewalk area for pedestrians is reduced and implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation grate is designed with a movable panel that can dynamically change its position between an upright configuration (allowing ventilation) and a lowered configuration (blocking water entry). This dynamic structure allows the same opening to serve both ventilation and flood protection functions without permanently reducing sidewalk area.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation grate is divided into multiple segments including a fixed frame and movable panels. This segmentation allows the panels to be independently positioned to either allow airflow or block water, providing flexible control over the opening's function without affecting the overall grate structure or sidewalk space.
2Reliability
If temporary covers like sandbags and plywood are used, then flooding protection is provided, but labor intensity and material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable panel system is designed to be manually operated by personnel within the ventilation shaft, eliminating the need for external materials like sandbags and plywood. The system uses its own integrated structure to provide flood protection, reducing both material requirements and labor complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable panels serve as an intermediary mechanism between the ventilation requirement and flood protection requirement. Instead of using separate temporary covers, the panels mediate between these two functions by providing a built-in, reusable barrier that eliminates the need for external materials.
3Reliability
If plywood covers are fastened over ventilation grates, then flooding protection is achieved, but the process is labor-intensive and may be too slow for severe storms
Solution Approach 1:
The movable panels are pre-installed within the ventilation shaft structure, positioned and ready for immediate deployment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for on-site assembly or material delivery during storm events, allowing rapid activation by simply moving the panels to the blocking position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own built-in movable panels rather than requiring external materials to be brought in and installed. Personnel can quickly activate flood protection by manually repositioning the panels, significantly reducing activation time compared to fastening plywood covers.
4Ease of operation
If ventilation shafts remain open to atmosphere, then ventilation function is maintained, but surface water can enter underground tunnels during flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation shaft opening is equipped with movable panels that can dynamically adjust between an upright position (allowing ventilation) and a lowered position (blocking water entry). This dynamic control allows the same opening to safely switch between ventilation and flood protection modes based on weather conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable panels provide localized flood protection at the ventilation shaft opening without affecting the overall ventilation system design. The panels create a water barrier precisely where needed (at the shaft opening) while maintaining the ventilation function when in the upright position.
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
Provides a simpler, faster, and more effective method to prevent flooding by allowing human intervention to manually activate the sealing mechanism, effectively blocking surface water from entering underground tunnels and chambers during severe weather events without obstructing airflow or requiring extensive infrastructure changes.
Implementation Method 1
one or more panels mounted on pivots in the support for rotation of the panels from an upright home position to a lower passage sealing position
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus for allowing ventilation for underground tunnels through a ventilation shaft opening to atmosphere yet preventing underground flooding from surface waters pouring through the grate comprises an assembly that fits within the ventilation shaft and includes one or more panels mounted on a pivot axis and rotatable upwardly by human action raising the panel past a center point of the pivot axis to an upright inwardly leaning home position that allows ventilation as usual but by manual push or pull of the panels past the center point of the pivot axis lets the panels rotationally fall under gravitational impetus to a lower sealing position closing a passage between the ventilation shaft and atmosphere to prevent water from entering the underground tunnels.