Road Gutter Dust Collection via Rotatable Cover Plug

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing urban road drainage systems are inefficient in automatically cleaning roads using natural wind, traffic whirlwind, and rainwater, and lack features such as improved firmness, simple construction, and low maintenance costs, which affect driving safety and increase mechanical or manual cleaning needs.

Innovation Solution

A road dust collection and drainage canal system comprising a U-shaped drainage ditch and a T-shaped cover plug with an inverted U-front surface, where the cover plug is embedded in the ditch and supported by platforms, forming a dust absorption channel that collects dust and debris under natural forces, and is designed to withstand vehicle impacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a traditional drainage ditch system is used, then the construction is simple, but the road cleaning function is poor and dust accumulates on the road

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction simplicityVSAvoidroad cleaning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the drainage ditch with a dust collection function by adding a cover plug that creates a dust absorption channel. The drainage ditch structure is merged with the dust collection system, allowing it to perform both drainage and road cleaning functions simultaneously without requiring separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage ditch is transformed into a multi-functional structure that serves both as a drainage system and a dust collection system. The cover plug with its specific geometry enables the structure to collect dust through natural forces while maintaining its drainage capability, making it a universal solution for both purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the cover plug is designed to withstand vehicle impacts, then the driving safety is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover plug is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to rotate around a force bearing point when subjected to vehicle impacts. This rotational movement absorbs impact energy and allows the cover plug to withstand braking forces and rolling forces without requiring overly complex reinforcement structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover plug is pre-designed with specific geometric features including the inverted U-shape front surface and T-shape side surface, which are configured in advance to withstand various vehicle forces. The embedded portion and supported portions are predetermined to provide the necessary structural integrity against impacts before they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If the cover plug uses additional fixing with cement mortar, then the firmness is improved, but the construction time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefirmnessVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cover plug is designed as a segmented structure with an embedded portion that fits into the drainage ditch and supported portions that rest on the ditch walls. This segmentation allows the cover plug to be installed as a separate component without requiring additional cement mortar fixing, reducing construction time and complexity while maintaining firmness through the embedded design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If the dust absorption channel is fully enclosed, then the dust collection efficiency is improved, but the maintenance access becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover plug is designed to be rotatable around a force bearing point, which allows the dust absorption channel to be dynamically accessible for maintenance. When maintenance is needed, the cover plug can be rotated or removed to provide access to the drainage ditch interior, while during normal operation it remains in position to maintain dust collection efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 effectively reduces road dust and water accumulation, enhances impact resistance, and simplifies construction and maintenance, reducing the need for mechanical cleaning and ensuring driving safety.

Implementation Method 1

automatically cleaning a road using natural wind, traffic stream whirlwind and rainwater

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWind: Wind

Implementation Method 2

traffic stream whirlwind

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex Ring: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 3

dust and debris on a road get into and fall into a bottom of the drainage ditch

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3786376B1Road gutter having dust collection function
Publication Date: 2022.06.01 SHANGHAI SANGKANG ENVIROMENT TECH CO LTD
  • EP3786376B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3786376B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3786376B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention discloses a road dust collection and drainage canal, wherein a road edge of a road surface is provided with a dust collection and drainage canal which is composed of a U-shaped drainage ditch adjacent to the road edge and a cover cap that covers the drainage ditch, a left end of the cover cap forms a dust absorption cavity with a platform on a left wall of the U-shaped drainage ditch in a suspended manner, a right end of the cover cap is sealed with a platform on a right wall of the U-shaped drainage ditch and one of step facades, and dust and debris on a road get into and fall into a bottom of the U-shaped drainage ditch from the dust absorption cavity under driving of an external force. The road dust collection and drainage canal can effectively reduce a dust load of the road, and guarantees a driving safety and a pedestrian safety.