Plastic Sewage Pumping Station Tank with Frustoconical Base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lifting station tanks, particularly those made of plastic, face deformation and uplift due to external pressures and Archimedes' thrust during submersion, leading to potential damage to the pump and installation complications.

Innovation Solution

A prefabricated plastic tank design with a frustoconical base and diametrically opposed notches, each with a partition extending towards the peripheral wall, and reinforced with central stiffening ribs and longitudinal protrusions, which diffuse stresses and improve structural strength, allowing the tank to withstand submersion pressures and remain buried.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a prefabricated plastic tank is used for the lifting station, then the tank is easier to move and install, but the tank is prone to deformation and uplift due to external pressure and Archimedes' thrust

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidresistance to deformation and uplift

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tank bottom is designed with a frustoconical shape (curved surface) instead of a flat bottom. This curved geometry distributes external hydrostatic pressure more evenly across the tank structure, reducing stress concentration and improving resistance to deformation and uplift forces while maintaining the lightweight plastic construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The tank incorporates a composite structure combining plastic material with an integrated reinforcement base. This composite design enhances the mechanical strength and stiffness of the plastic tank, enabling it to withstand external pressures and Archimedes' thrust without requiring concrete construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the tank bottom deforms under external pressure, then the tank structure is compromised, but the pump and connected piping are damaged due to pump movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of tankVSAvoidstability of pump position

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frustoconical bottom shape provides structural rigidity that resists external pressure, preventing bottom deformation that would otherwise cause pump displacement and damage to connected piping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforced base structure is built into the tank design beforehand to cushion and absorb external hydrostatic pressures before they can transmit deformation forces to the pump and piping system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If concrete belts and slabs are poured to secure the tank in the pit, then the tank is held in position, but the installation process becomes complicated and slower

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of tank position in pitVSAvoidcomplexity of installation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tank's frustoconical bottom shape provides self-stabilizing properties that allow the tank to remain securely positioned in the pit through its own geometry, eliminating the need for additional concrete belts and slabs to secure it in place

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enhances the tank's ability to resist deformation and remain securely buried, reducing the need for additional concrete supports during installation and improving the structural integrity against external forces.

Implementation Method 1

the submersion water exerts pressure on the tank which may deform it or even lift it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrostatic pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

when the pit receiving a reservoir is submerged, a rise in the reservoir can be observed due to Archimedes' thrust

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectArchimedes' thrust: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

thanks to the notches which extend into partitions towards the peripheral wall, widening out in relation to the central axis, the stresses are diffused from the bottom towards the peripheral wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress diffusion:

Implementation Method 4

the filling materials used to fill the pit in which the tank has been positioned exert a force against the wall of the base, towards the bottom, and reinforce the maintenance of the tank in the pit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4079983B1Pumping station for sewage with reinforced bottom

Publication Date: 2024.11.27 INNOCLAIR

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AI summary

The invention relates to a sewage network pumping station (1), the station (1) comprising: - a tank (2) intended to be buried, the tank (2) being made of plastic material and having a bottom (21) and a peripheral wall (23) extending along a central axis (C) to an opening (24); - a pump (3) intended to be placed in the tank (2) on a central location of the bottom (21); characterized in that the tank (2) has a base (22) integrating the bottom (21) of the tank (2), the base (22) having a frustoconical shape whose cross-section decreases from the bottom (21) of the tank (2) to the peripheral wall (23), the bottom (21) having two notches (211) diametrically opposed with respect to the central axis (C), each notch (211) delimiting a hollow open to the outside of the tank (2).