Self-Actuating Sewer Gate for Blockage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sewer systems face blockages due to the accumulation of deposits like fats, oils, and greases, leading to potential flooding and pollution, with existing cleaning methods being costly, damaging, and requiring human intervention or air pollution.
Innovation Solution
A self-sufficient sewer flushing device with a pivotally mounted gate that accumulates sewage to a predetermined level, using gravitational forces to open and flush debris downstream, minimizing moving parts and water usage, and incorporating seals and deflectors to prevent damage and pollution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressurised water jetting systems are used to clean sewer pipes, then the pipes can be cleaned effectively, but the pipes are damaged and ambient air is polluted
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the sewage flow itself as the cleaning medium, allowing the system to clean itself without external intervention. The accumulated sewage is redirected back through the pipes to flush deposits, eliminating the need for external water jetting systems that cause damage and pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
A gate mechanism acts as an intermediary to control and redirect the sewage flow. The gate temporarily blocks flow to accumulate sewage, then opens to create a controlled flushing pulse that cleans pipes without the harmful effects of pressurised external water jets.
2Ease of operation
If manual cleaning procedures are used, then inspection chamber covers can be opened for access, but the surrounding air is polluted
Solution Approach 1:
The device operates autonomously using the existing sewage flow to trigger cleaning cycles, eliminating the need for human operators to open inspection chamber covers. The automatic gate mechanism responds to flow conditions and initiates flushing without human intervention, keeping chambers closed and preventing air pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate mechanism incorporates automatic feedback based on sewage flow conditions. When flow rate or level indicates deposit accumulation, the gate automatically opens to flush, creating a closed-loop system that responds to actual pipe conditions without requiring manual inspection or opening of chambers.
3Reliability
If frequent flushing is performed to prevent blockages, then deposits are removed effectively, but water is wasted and becomes entrained in sewage requiring treatment
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous or frequent flushing, the device implements periodic flushing only when needed. The gate monitors sewage flow conditions and triggers flushing pulses only when deposit accumulation is detected, minimizing unnecessary water usage while maintaining effective blockage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing sewage flow itself as the flushing medium rather than introducing additional clean water. By redirecting accumulated sewage back through the pipes during flushing cycles, the device prevents blockages without wasting potable water that would require treatment.
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
Effectively prevents blockages without damaging the sewer system or polluting the air, reducing water waste, and ensuring the device operates autonomously, thus addressing the challenges of deposit accumulation and cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The gate may be mounted in the housing and arranged to pivot about a generally horizontal axis. This allows the gate to make full use of gravitational forces acting thereon, when moving between closed and open positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A sewer flushing device 20 for location in a sewage system. The device comprises a housing 21 adapted for location in a sewage flow path 14 and a gate 22 pivotally supported on the housing 21 and movable between open and closed positions. The gate is biased towards its closed position so as to inhibit the flow of sewage and thereby cause a build up of sewage. In this way, when the sewage upstream of the gate 22 reaches a predetermined level the gate is urged to its open position such that a flushing pulse of sewage flows downstream.There may also be provided a locating device 23 for holding the housing 21 in the required position within the sewage system. The locating device may comprise a sewer engaging portion 51,52 adapted to locate in a sewer channel 12,14, and a housing connector 54 adapted to connect to the housing 21.