Wedge Fluid Diversion System for Non-Slip Surface Edge Pooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water and other liquids tend to pool at edges of building surfaces due to surface tension, leading to mold, mildew, and safety hazards, especially on non-slip treated areas where water clings more easily.
Innovation Solution
A wedge system with a sloped face and flush lower edge is installed to divert fluids away from edges, made from waterproof or water-resistant materials like urethane or polyurethane, which can be aligned with joints and corners to direct liquids off the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-slip material is applied to the surface, then safety is improved, but water pooling is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The surface is segmented into multiple drainage channels or grooves that divide the water flow into separate paths, preventing water from pooling in one location while maintaining the non-slip texture across the entire surface
Solution Approach 2:
A hydrophobic coating or intermediary layer is applied to the non-slip surface that repels water and directs it along the drainage channels, allowing the surface to maintain both slip resistance and water shedding properties
2Stability of the object's composition
If water is allowed to pool at edges, then surface tension is maintained, but mold and mildew growth is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system extracts water from the surface edges and directs it away from the building structure, removing the standing water that would otherwise support mold and mildew growth while preserving the surface tension properties of the material
Solution Approach 2:
The surface tension that causes water to cling to the surface is converted into a benefit by directing that clinging water along the drainage channels away from vulnerable areas, transforming what was previously a harmful pooling effect into a controlled drainage mechanism
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a wedge system is installed to divert fluids, then water pooling is prevented, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge drainage system is merged with the existing surface material or integrated into the deck/balcony structure during construction, combining the structural support and drainage functions into a single unified element rather than adding a separate complex system
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding complex drainage infrastructure to manage water, the solution inverts the approach by creating simple wedge-shaped elevations that passively direct water away through gravity, simplifying the overall system while effectively preventing pooling
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 pooling of water and other fluids, reducing the risk of mold, mildew, and safety hazards by ensuring liquids slide off the surface, maintaining a seamless and safe environment.
Implementation Method 1
A wedge system with a sloped face and flush lower edge is installed to divert fluids away from edges
Implementation Method 2
Due to surface tension, water tends to pool at points where an edge meets a wall
Data Source
AI summary
A system for diverting fluids consisting essentially of a wedge installed on a surface. The wedge is preferably triangular in area, but may be in the form of other shapes as required by the application. When viewed from the side, the wedge will often have a triangular shape because the front edge of the wedge is substantially lower than the rear edge, corner, or other shape to induce fluids and other materials to run off the sloped surface of the wedge. The system may include an adhesive to join the wedge and the surface. It may also include a sealing material disposed over the wedge and the surface to prevent incursion of fluids and other materials between the wedge and the surface.