Temporary Liquid Containment Wall With Retractable Feet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containment systems for toxic substances like oil and gasoline are not easily transportable or easily installed in various weather and terrain conditions, as they require complex assembly and are not designed for remote locations.
Innovation Solution
A temporary rectangular liquid containment system comprising lightweight, easily transportable panels with retractable foot apparatus and a containment sealing membrane, allowing for quick assembly and stability without the need for external fastening, using overlapping rib members and corner panels with pin hinges for structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional containment systems are used, then containment effectiveness is achieved, but transportability and installation ease deteriorate due to heavy weight and complex assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system is divided into multiple modular panels that can be independently transported and assembled. Each panel is a self-contained unit with standardized dimensions and features, allowing the overall structure to be built from smaller, more manageable components that are easier to transport and install.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels incorporate movable or adjustable components such as retractable feet that can be deployed during installation and retracted for storage or transport. This dynamic feature allows the same structure to adapt between installation mode (with extended support) and transport mode (with retracted components), improving both installation ease and transportability.
2Productivity
If traditional containment systems are used, then structural stability is achieved, but installation time increases due to complex assembly procedures
Solution Approach 1:
Critical assembly features such as rib members, engagement protrusions, and connection points are pre-positioned and pre-configured on each panel during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex field assembly operations, allowing panels to be quickly connected together through simple alignment and engagement actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are designed with self-aligning and self-securing features where the structure itself facilitates its own assembly. For example, rib members on one panel automatically engage with corresponding features on adjacent panels, and the overlapping configuration with integrated sealing creates self-supporting connections that do not require external fastening or complex alignment procedures.
3Reliability
If traditional containment systems are used, then containment integrity is achieved, but transportation cost increases due to heavy panel weight
Solution Approach 1:
The panels utilize composite construction combining materials with different properties to achieve optimal performance. This includes using materials that provide both structural strength for containment integrity and reduced weight for improved transportability, such as composite panel constructions that maintain structural requirements while minimizing material quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment system employs thin film or shell structures that provide the necessary containment barrier function with minimal material thickness. The flexible membrane or thin panel design achieves effective containment while dramatically reducing the quantity of material required compared to traditional rigid, thick-walled containment structures.
4Stability of the object's composition
If traditional containment systems are used, then structural support is achieved, but installation time increases due to separate foundation preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is merged directly into the panel structure itself through integrated features such as built-in feet, base flanges, or ground-engaging elements. This eliminates the need for separate foundation preparation or external support structures, as the panels are designed to create their own stable support system through features like overlapping configurations that distribute loads and provide self-leveling capability.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of a temporary wall for a rectangular liquid containment system comprises linear and corner panels. The linear panels comprise a rectangular body including a supporting foot apparatus that deploys from the outside surface of the body. A horizontal panel extends from the bottom of the panel inwardly for stability. The linear panels are joined in an overlapping configuration. The corner panels are pinned together at a hinge. An impermeable membrane is laid over a ground surface to be protected against spills and draped over the tops of the linear and corner panels. A metallic cap is placed over the top of the panels to secure the membrane.