Rotating Weir Water Control Device for Impoundment Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional flashboard risers for water control in impoundment areas require manual labor for adjustment and maintenance, suffer from leakage issues, and are not economically feasible for widespread use due to the need for custom-cut boards and manual operation, which limits their effectiveness and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An automated or manually controlled water control device featuring a falling gate or rotating weir design with incremental positioning capabilities, utilizing a hinged gate or rotatable housing to control water levels, allowing for precise adjustment without manual entry into the water, and incorporating features like pie-shaped panel guides, seals, and actuator systems for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional flashboard risers with manual board adjustment are used, then simple construction and ease of manufacture are achieved, but operational complexity and manual labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of cutting and positioning individual boards with an automated gate mechanism. The gate is lowered into position by a cable and pulley system operated from the shore, eliminating the need for manual entry into water to adjust boards. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with an automated mechanical system resolves the contradiction by maintaining construction simplicity while dramatically reducing operational manual labor.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate mechanism is designed to be self-positioning through its cable and pulley system. When the cable is released, the gate automatically lowers into its operational position under gravity and water pressure, without requiring manual adjustment. This self-service characteristic eliminates the need for continuous manual intervention while maintaining the simplicity of the overall system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flashboard risers requiring custom-cut boards are used, then adaptability to different water levels is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gate assembly is segmented into modular components: a standardized gate body, separate cable sections, and adjustable pulley positions. This segmentation allows the gate to be adapted to different water levels by adjusting the cable length and pulley positioning rather than custom-cutting the gate itself. The modular design maintains versatility while simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static custom-cut boards to a dynamic adjustable gate mechanism. The cable and pulley system allows the gate position to be dynamically adjusted for different water levels without requiring custom manufacturing for each configuration. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by enabling versatility through adjustment rather than custom fabrication.
3Measurement precision
If boards are manually added or removed from flashboard risers, then incremental water level control is achieved, but operator time and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the manual mechanical process of adding or removing individual boards with an automated cable-release mechanism. The gate can be positioned at different water levels by releasing the cable at predetermined points, eliminating the need for operators to physically enter the water and manually adjust boards. This substitution maintains precise water level control while dramatically reducing operator time and safety risks.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional flashboard risers are used in agricultural applications with numerous units, then water management coverage is improved, but total cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal gate mechanism that can be used across multiple agricultural applications and impoundment sizes. The standardized cable and pulley system provides the same ease of operation whether used in a small farm pond or a large agricultural reservoir. This universality allows the same basic design to be replicated throughout agricultural applications without increasing per-unit complexity, resolving the contradiction between application coverage and system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated water control device comprises a rotatable housing that can be incrementally positioned to control flow of water over an upper or weir edge of the housing. The device is installed at a control point in an impoundment area, such as a settling pond. The housing is selectively rotated to raise and lower the height of the weir edge to a target gate height. Automatic control is provided for operation of the device by a controller communicating with an actuator. A system of the invention includes one or more water control devices and the controller. A method of the invention includes controlling flow of water from an impounded water source by use of the automated water control device. Manual or semi-automated embodiments are also disclosed.