Pivoting Shutter Vermin Barrier for Sewage Blockage Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vermin barriers in sewage systems are prone to being blocked by substances in the sewage water, which can disrupt the flow and require manual intervention to clear blockages, leading to inefficiencies and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A vermin barrier with a shutter mechanism that can pivot in response to sewage water flow, equipped with an opening mechanism triggered by a float or motor, allowing blockages to pass through and re-establishing flow without manual intervention, and featuring a mounting mechanism for easy installation and removal in standard circular pipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the barrier is designed to allow vermin to pass in downstream direction by opening to a certain degree, then vermin can escape to desired location, but the barrier becomes prone to being blocked by substances in sewage water
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is made dynamically controllable with two distinct states: a closed position for blocking vermin and an open position for clearing blockages. The control mechanism allows the shutter to transition between these states based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between maintaining vermin barrier function and preventing flow blockage
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter's angular position parameter is changed between two extreme states: fully closed (substantially perpendicular to flow direction) for vermin prevention and fully open (substantially parallel to flow direction) for blockage clearance. This binary parameter change approach allows the system to switch between conflicting functional requirements
2Reliability
If the barrier is designed to block vermin effectively in closed position, then vermin passage is prevented, but sewage water flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is designed with dimensions that provide complete vermin blocking when closed, but its positioning and orientation allow it to be opened completely when needed. The shutter's size is sufficient for total vermin exclusion in closed state, while its ability to rotate 90 degrees allows it to become flow-aligned for minimal resistance during blockage clearance operations
3Ease of repair
If manual intervention is required to clear blockages, then blockage removal is possible, but maintenance time and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism enables the shutter to be opened remotely or automatically in response to blockage detection, allowing the system to clear blockages without requiring manual physical intervention. The shutter can be actuated through the sealed barrier structure, enabling self-service blockage clearance that reduces maintenance time and operational disruption
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 barrier effectively reduces flow resistance and allows blockages to pass, maintaining regular sewage flow with reduced need for inspection and cleaning, and can be remotely activated or triggered by rising water levels, enhancing operational efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one shutter pivotable about a hinge from a substantially vertical position to an angular position away from vertical, when subject to influence by a flow direction of the sewage water
Implementation Method 2
a float arranged to trigger an opening mechanism by an increased buoyancy of the float, when subjected to a raise in a level of the sewage water
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention concerns a barrier (1) adapted for preventing backflow of sewage or for preventing vermin from passing a sewage pipe, where the barrier (1) is configured for being mounted at least partly within a sewage pipe (7), and where the barrier (1) comprises - at least one shutter (2), - a support structure adapted for having at least one shutter (2) pivot about a hinge (17) provided in the support structure, where the shutter (2) may pivot from a substantially vertical position to an angular position away from the substantially vertical position, when subject to influence by a flow of the sewage water, and where the barrier(1) is adapted to prevent the shutter (2) from pivoting in one direction, in order to prevent backlfow of sewage or to prevent vermin from passing the barrier (1) in said one direction, and wherein the barrier (1) comprises - an opening mechanism (4) arranged for opening the at least one shutter (2), a trigger (3, 21,33) configured for triggering the opening mechanism (4). A barrier (1) as described may in case of a blockage in the sewage pipe (7) open the shutter (2) based on the trigger (3, 21, 33), which triggers the opening mechanism (4). It is hereby obtained, that an element blocking the barrier (1) may be released in order to re-establish regular flow in the sewage pipe (7).