Storm Drain Retractable Screen With Magnetic Breakaway Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Automatic Retractable Screen (ARS) devices for storm drains face issues such as increased upstream water pressure due to spring-activated mechanisms, require significant installation space, and are unreliable, while counterbalance designs are cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An ARS device with a pivotable screen using a magnetic release mechanism, comprising a mounting assembly, pivotable screen sections, and a magnetic mechanism that adjusts the breakaway force, allowing the screen to pivot freely and close automatically under its own weight when stormwater subsides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring-activated ARS devices are used to provide screen protection at curb inlet openings, then debris filtration is achieved, but increasing spring force creates higher upstream water pressure head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the spring-activated mechanical system with a magnetic release mechanism. The screen is held closed by magnetic force and releases automatically when water pressure overcomes the magnetic attraction, eliminating the need for springs that create excessive upstream pressure while maintaining reliable debris filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the activation mechanism from spring force to magnetic force, allowing precise control of the breakaway force parameter. The magnetic release mechanism provides a predetermined breakaway force that can be adjusted by changing the magnetic field strength or distance, enabling optimization of both filtration reliability and upstream pressure conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If counterbalance ARS devices are used to provide screen protection, then screen stability is improved, but installation space requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the counterbalance mechanism entirely and replaces it with a magnetic release system mounted on the vault wall. This eliminates the need for significant installation space while maintaining screen stability through the magnetic holding force and proper pivot mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the stabilization mechanism from a spatial counterbalance system requiring lateral space to a magnetic field-based system that operates in the vertical dimension only. The magnetic force acts vertically to hold the screen closed, eliminating the need for horizontal installation space.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional ARS devices are used with fixed breakaway force, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to various curbside opening configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adjustability into the magnetic release mechanism, allowing the breakaway force to be dynamically adjusted by changing the magnetic field parameters or mounting distance. This enables the same basic device design to adapt to various curbside opening configurations while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the magnetic release mechanism to be universally applicable to different curbside opening sizes and configurations. By adjusting the magnetic field strength or distance, the same device can serve multiple functions and adapt to various installation scenarios without requiring custom manufacturing.
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 magnetic release mechanism ensures efficient debris filtration without excessive upstream water pressure, provides adjustable installation to fit various curbside openings, and maintains reliable operation with minimal mechanical restrictions.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic release mechanism which holds the screen in a closed position to block debris carried by stormwater from entering the vault opening until the force of the stormwater exceeds a predetermined value at which point the screen is released to pivot to an open position
Implementation Method 2
the screen is released to pivot to an open position, and vice versa
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic retractable screen device is mountable within the interior cavity of a storm vault and adjacent to a vault opening formed in the side wall through which stormwater flows and into the interior cavity. The automatic retractable screen device includes a mounting assembly for mounting the automatic retractable screen device to the side wall of the storm vault, a pivotable screen positionable to be in alignment with the vault opening of the storm vault, structure affixed to the mounting assembly and the screen and configured to allow the screen to pivot on the mounting assembly between a closed position and an open position, and a magnetic release mechanism operatively coupled to the screen. The magnetic release mechanism holds the screen in the closed position to block debris carried by the stormwater from entering the vault opening until the force of the stormwater exerted on the screen exceeds a predetermined value at which point the screen is released to pivot to the open position.