Rollable Deck Membrane Gutter for Water Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gutter membranes for balconies fail to effectively collect and divert water infiltrating between boards and between the wall and its covering, as they are not designed to cover transverse joists and create a continuous gutter system, and most are not rollable for easy installation and customization.
Innovation Solution
A rollable gutter membrane with three zones - a flat zone, a foldable gutter zone, and another flat zone - that forms a gutter system above joists, allowing water to flow into the foldable zone for drainage, and can be inserted under wall membranes to collect infiltrating water, with a configuration that expands to create a gutter depression for efficient water evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane is designed to cover transverse joists and create a continuous gutter system, then water collection and diversion effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is divided into three distinct zones: a first flat zone for covering transverse joists, a foldable gutter zone for water collection, and a second flat zone for continuation. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity in installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gutter zone is designed to be foldable and dynamically configurable between a first configuration (when flattened) and a second configuration (when folded). This dynamic capability allows the same membrane to adapt to different installation requirements without increasing complexity, as the membrane transforms rather than requiring multiple components.
2Ease of operation
If a membrane is made rollable for easy installation and customization, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is designed to be rollable and configurable between different states (rolled for transport, unfolded for installation, folded for water diversion). This dynamic design allows a single standardized component to adapt to various installation scenarios, reducing the need for custom-manufactured parts and lowering precision requirements during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's physical state parameters (rolled vs. unfolded, folded depth) can be changed during installation to match different joist spacings and project requirements. This parameter flexibility allows standard manufacturing dimensions to accommodate various installation conditions without requiring high manufacturing precision for each specific application.
3Productivity
If the gutter zone is made foldable to create gutter depression, then water diversion capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter zone utilizes the dynamic folding of a single membrane layer to create the gutter depression structure. By folding the membrane back on itself, the same material serves both as the gutter wall and the bottom surface, eliminating the need for separate structural components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining water diversion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The gutter zone merges the functions of multiple components (gutter walls, bottom surface, and structural support) into a single folded membrane structure. This consolidation reduces the number of separate elements needed and simplifies installation while creating an effective water diversion system.
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 membrane effectively prevents structure decomposition by collecting and diverting water between boards and wall coverings, creating a dry space under the deck, and is customizable in length and width for various joist spacings, reducing installation costs by eliminating the need for additional junctions and funnel equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The flat zone is then sloped thus creating a necessary space between the membrane and the boards to allow a better flow of the water along the sloped zone towards the center where is located the gutter zone which drains water downstream
Implementation Method 2
The flat zone is then sloped thus creating a necessary space between the membrane and the boards to allow a better flow of the water along the sloped zone towards the center
Data Source
AI summary
In a balcony comprising parallel transverse boards forming a floor, transverse joists and longitudinal parallel joists supporting the transverse boards, the installation of a watertight underdeck membrane above each pair of longitudinal joists protects the structure from decomposing by recuperating water infiltrating between boards. The membrane comprises flat sloped zones and a foldable gutter shaped zone between two flat zones. The gutter zone becomes progressively deeper from upstream till downstream by stretching it with fingers. At the most upstream point of the balcony, above the first transverse joist attached against a wall of a construction, the gutter zone is completely flattened to bend the membrane and put it against the wall, thus acting as a flashing which collects water flowing along the wall before infiltrating into joists. The membrane is rollable for facilitating transportation and also to cut at a desired length according to balcony length for avoiding unnecessary junction.