Multi-Part Reusable Levee Bag with Biodegradable Base
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing levee and retaining wall bag systems are labor-intensive, non-reusable, and require destruction after a single use, lacking efficient mechanization for filling and reuse.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part reusable levee bag system comprising a top and bottom bag portion, securely attachable to form an enclosed space for filling with flowable materials, allowing disassembly and reconditioning for multiple uses, with features like receiving cells for end-to-end connection and use of biodegradable materials for environmental sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional one-time use sand bags are used, then the levee system can be quickly deployed, but the bags must be destroyed after a single use and are labor-intensive to fill
Solution Approach 1:
The bag is divided into multiple segments or panels that can be collapsed into a compact configuration for transport and then expanded at the deployment site. This segmentation allows the bag to be easily transported and deployed while maintaining the ability to reuse the entire structure multiple times, eliminating the need to destroy and replace bags after each use.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables recovery and reuse of the bag structure after use. Instead of destroying the bag after a single use as with traditional sand bags, the collapsible design allows the bag to be emptied, collapsed back to its compact form, and reused for subsequent flood control or retaining wall applications, significantly reducing material waste.
2Loss of substance
If refillable retaining structures are used, then material waste is reduced, but the filling operation becomes labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The bag incorporates dynamic expansion and collapse capabilities. The bag can be rapidly expanded from a compact state to its full operational size using mechanical assistance such as air pressure or hydraulic systems, and then collapsed back for reuse. This dynamic behavior eliminates manual filling labor while maintaining the ability to refill and reuse the bag multiple times.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of filling bags by hand is replaced with automated mechanical systems. The collapsible bag design works in conjunction with mechanical expansion devices (such as air blowers or hydraulic rams) that automatically inflate and position the bag, eliminating the need for labor-intensive manual filling operations while enabling rapid deployment.
3Productivity
If large volume bags are used for mechanized filling, then filling efficiency is improved, but the bags cannot be reused and must be destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The large volume bag is segmented into multiple panels or sections that can be collapsed together into a compact form. This segmentation allows the bag to maintain its large volume capacity for efficient mechanized filling while enabling the entire structure to be collapsed and reused multiple times, eliminating the need to destroy the bag after a single use.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag incorporates dynamic expansion and collapse functionality that allows it to transition between a large operational volume for efficient mechanized filling and a compact collapsed state for reuse. This dynamic behavior enables the bag to maintain high filling efficiency while being reusable, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and reusability.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-part reusable retaining wall and levee bag. The reusable levee bag includes a top bag section and a bottom bag portion removably affixed to the top bag portion. The combined top bag section and bottom bag portion define an interior space within which fillable material may be received to form a levee bag for use in flooding and other installations. The bottom bag section includes a receiving cell for receiving an end of another levee bag to connect multiple levee bags end to end to form a retaining wall with minimal gaps between levee bags. The bottom bag section is made of a biodegradable material while the top bag section is made of an alternative material. The reusable levee bag, once filled, may be disassembled and the top bag section reused while the bottom bag section may remain in place to biodegrade.