U.S. patent application number 13/410272 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-14 for self-deploying floodwall.
Invention is credited to Shahriar Eftekharzadeh.
Application Number | 20120148346 13/410272 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46199551 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120148346 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eftekharzadeh; Shahriar |
June 14, 2012 |
SELF-DEPLOYING FLOODWALL
Abstract
A self-deploying apparatus that is constructed onshore as a
permanent structure that can protect against intruding seawater and
floodwaters without creating a physical and visual obstruction to
and from the waterfront during normal times.
Inventors: |
Eftekharzadeh; Shahriar;
(Torrance, CA) |
Family ID: |
46199551 |
Appl. No.: |
13/410272 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/92 ; 405/100;
405/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B 3/104 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/92 ; 405/107;
405/100 |
International
Class: |
E02B 7/40 20060101
E02B007/40; E02B 3/04 20060101 E02B003/04; E02B 3/10 20060101
E02B003/10 |
Claims
1. A self-deploying floodwall apparatus comprising: a foundation
disposed proximate flood prone water; a shaft and bearings
arrangement which is ultimately fixed to the foundation; and at
least one stem segment which is pivotally supported on the shaft
and bearings arrangement so as to be able to move between a stowed
position which is generally parallel to the flood prone water and a
deployed position which is generally vertical, wherein the stem
segment provides a barrier having a water facing side when the stem
segment is in the deployed position and an opposed side; wherein
the stem segment is buoyant and devoid of structure which projects
towards the water and devoid of structure which projects from the
opposed side.
2. The self-deploying floodwall apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising a counterweight disposed to generally counteract a
moment which would otherwise act about the shaft and bearings
arrangement as the stem segment rises due to buoyancy responsive to
rising flood waters.
3. The self-deploying floodwall apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising a dampener which damps otherwise unopposed pivot of the
stem segment about the shaft and bearings arrangement.
4. The self-deploying floodwall apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising elastic sheeting disposed to seal against penetration of
the flood prone water between the foundation and the stem segment
along the length of the stem segment when the stem segment is in
the deployed position.
5. A self-deploying floodwall apparatus comprising: a foundation
disposed proximate flood prone water; a housing having an open
interior and an external wall disposed to exclude the flood prone
water, which is fixed to the foundation; a shaft and bearings
arrangement which is contained within the housing; and at least one
stem segment which is pivotally supported on the shaft and bearings
arrangement so as to be able to move between a stowed position
which is generally parallel to the flood prone water and a deployed
position which is generally vertical, wherein the stem segment
provides a barrier having a water facing side when the stem segment
is in the deployed position and an opposed side.
6. The self-deploying floodwall apparatus of claim 5, further
comprising a counterweight disposed to generally counteract a
moment which would otherwise act about the shaft and bearings
arrangement as the stem segment rises due to buoyancy responsive to
rising flood waters.
7. The self-deploying floodwall apparatus of claim 5, further
comprising dampener which damps otherwise unopposed pivot of the
stem segment about the shaft and bearings arrangement.
8. The self-deploying floodwall apparatus of claim 5, further
comprising elastic sheeting disposed to seal against penetration of
the flood prone water between the foundation and the stem segment
along the length of the stem segment when the stem segment is in
the deployed position.
9. A self-deploying floodwall apparatus comprising: a foundation
disposed proximate flood prone water; a shaft and bearings
arrangement which is ultimately fixed to the foundation; and at
least one stem segment which is pivotally supported on the shaft
and bearings arrangement so as to be able to move between a stowed
position which is generally parallel to the flood prone water and a
deployed position which is generally vertical, wherein the stem
segment further comprises a counterweight disposed opposite the
shaft from the stem segment, and wherein the stem segment provides
a barrier having a water facing side when the stem segment is in
the deployed position and an opposed side.
10. The self-deploying floodwall apparatus of claim 9, further
comprising dampener which damps otherwise unopposed pivot of the
stem segment about the shaft and bearings arrangement.
11. The self-deploying floodwall apparatus of claim 9, further
comprising elastic sheeting disposed to seal against penetration of
the flood prone water between the foundation and the stem segment
along the length of the stem segment when the stem segment is in
the deployed position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to floodwalls and more
specifically to improvements thereto for making a floodwall system
that is activated and deployed at the onset of flooding upon
contact with floodwaters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many coastal areas require protection from flooding by the
sea during storms and hurricanes or in the case of a Tsunami. Sea
level rise due to global warming is increasing the frequency of
coastal flooding, particularly in low lying and flat beach areas.
Similarly, many developed areas in river floodplains require
protection from flooding during high flows. Various types of
barricades are used to protect coastal areas and floodplains from
flooding. These are either permanent structures in the form of
floodwalls, seawalls, dikes, and levees, or are temporary
barricades such as sand bags or other portable barriers in various
shapes, forms, and materials.
[0003] Permanent flood protection structures create a physical and
visual obstruction to and from the waterfront, which makes them
infeasible in populated low lying and flat beach areas where flood
protection is most needed. Temporary flood protection structures
have limited application, long response time, and entail
significant effort and cost for deployment.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a practical and cost
effective means of flood protection that does not create a
permanent physical and visual obstruction to and from the
waterfront, has wide ranging application in flood protection, and
does not entail significant effort and cost for deployment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides an answer to the above stated
need with a new type of cantilever floodwall, which improves the
design and functionality of conventional cantilever floodwalls
while fully complying with their engineering principles as
described in the US Army Corp of Engineers Engineering Manual EM
1110-2-2502 dated 29 Sep. 1989. The differentiating feature of the
present invention is that it replaces the fixed stem of
conventional cantilever floodwalls with a stem that lays down flat
at or belowground during normal non-flood times such that it does
not create any physical and visual obstructions above ground. This
makes the present invention feasible in areas where a permanent
aboveground floodwall would be infeasible and unacceptable for a
whole host of reasons. The stem of the present invention
self-deploys to the vertical upright position, solely by the action
of the floodwaters by gradually rotating and rising up in the
direction of the intruding floodwaters towards the vertical
position, while simultaneously providing flood protection as it
rises to its maximum design height in the full vertical
position.
[0006] The above-described feature of the present invention is
realized by the stem of the present invention being constructed to
be buoyant such that it floats in water, and pivoted at ground
level having freedom of rotation from the horizontal ground level
on the water side up to the vertical position and back down. The
stem is comprised of individual segments longitudinally, with each
segment counterbalanced about a cylindrical pivot at ground level
in a seesaw configuration. Individual concrete compartments
belowground house the counterbalancing portion of each stem
segment. The cylindrical pivots of each stem segment are mounted on
a watertight seat on the upper waterside corner of each
compartment, with the aboveground portion of the stem segment
extending out above ground. Adjacent stem segments are separated by
a small gap, and are attached to one another with elastic sheet
material, which gives the stem longitudinal flexibility and seals
the gap between the segments.
[0007] The stem normally resides in the rotated down position
within a porous pre-excavated shallow trench, with a small depth of
native soil or other cover over it. During flood, water enters the
trench at a certain design elevation imposing uplift and momentum
force on the stem. This forces the stem to rotate up towards the
vertical deployed position, while simultaneously providing flood
protection as it rises. Spring-loaded dampeners inside each
concrete compartment, in-between the counterbalancing portion of
each segment and the waterside wall of the concrete compartment,
transfer the forces upon the stem to the concrete compartment,
restrict the rotational speed of the stem, dampen stem
oscillations, and prevent slamming The waterside wall of the
concrete compartments provides the reaction for the forces imposed
by floodwaters on the aboveground portion of the stem via the
spring-loaded dampeners when the stem is in partially raised
position, and by direct contact when the stem is in the fully
deployed vertical position. The stem body is constructed from
structural materials to safely withstand the maximum bending moment
and shear forces, which occur at the pivot. The stem may be
designed to automatically rotate back to the down position with
receding water or remain locked in place as it rises for
maintenance after a flood event before manually being brought
down.
[0008] The above-described functionality of the present invention,
in which the stem resides belowground during normal times and
self-deploys upon start of flooding, removes the physical and
visual obstruction of conventional floodwalls, making the present
invention feasible in flat coastal regions and flood-prone areas
along and in river floodplains.
[0009] It is an object of this invention to provide a
water-activated and self-deploying permanent floodwall system that
can protect against intruding seawater and floodwaters without
creating a physical and visual obstruction to and from the
waterfront during normal times.
[0010] It is an object of this invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements by apparatus for the purposes described
thereof, which is comparable in cost with existing systems,
dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended
purposes.
[0011] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional diagram of the preferred
embodiment of the invention with the stem in the down position.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a plan view diagram of the preferred embodiment of
the invention showing the foundation and the concrete compartments
where the counterbalancing portion of the stem segments reside.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a plan view diagram of the preferred embodiment of
the invention showing the arrangement of the individual stem
segments on the foundation and concrete compartments with the stem
in the down position.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a plan view diagram of the preferred embodiment of
the invention with the stem in the down position showing elastic
sheeting material that covers the gap between the stem segments and
seals the concrete compartments.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional diagram of the preferred
embodiment of the invention as it self-deploys with rising
floodwater.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional diagram of the preferred
embodiment of the invention with the stem in the fully deployed
vertical position.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a plan view diagram of the preferred embodiment of
the invention with the stem in the fully deployed vertical
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown the preferred
embodiment of the invention in the form of self-deploying floodwall
apparatus 100 that is constructed onshore as a permanent structure
at a predetermined distance away from flood prone waters 141. The
apparatus comprised of longitudinally connected stem segments 111
that are buoyant and normally reside in the down position inside
the porous pre-excavated shallow trench 121, with a small depth of
cover from native soil 122 over it. It will be appreciated that
this inconspicuous arrangement arises from the fact that each stem
segment 111 is buoyant due to internal voids for example, and
therefore may be devoid of structure which if present would project
either towards the water or which would project away from the water
from the opposed side of the stem segment 111.
[0020] The stem segments 111, of which any number may be provided
depending upon the length of the floodwall apparatus 100,
collectively or individually when only one is provided, provide a
barrier to rising flood waters 141. Each stem segment has a
counterbalancing portion 112 with counterweights 113 that reduce
the weight of the stem down to the desired level for satisfactory
deployment, or alternatively stated, generally counteracts a moment
which would otherwise act about the shaft and bearings arrangement
114 as the stem segment 111 rises due to buoyancy responsive to
rising flood waters. The counterbalancing portion of the stem
segments 111 may be housed below ground inside individual concrete
compartments 131 connected to the foundation 132, which is of
course disposed proximate the flood prone waters 141.
[0021] The stem segments 111 may be independently supported on a
shaft and bearings arrangement 114 that form the center of the
cylindrical pivot 115 mounted on the upper waterside corner
concrete compartment 131. The concrete compartment 131 serves as a
housing having an open interior and an external wall disposed to
exclude the flood prone water from the shaft and bearings
arrangement 114 which is contained in and thus sheltered by the
housing. The housing, regardless of whether it takes the exemplary
form of the concrete compartment 131, may be fixed to and even
integral with the foundation 132. The stem segments 111 are
pivotally supported on the shaft and bearings arrangement 114 so as
to be able to move between a stowed position shown in FIG. 1 which
is generally parallel to the flood prone water and a deployed
position shown in FIG. 6, in which the stem segments 111 are
generally vertical. Each stem segment 111 has a water facing side
when the stem segment is in the deployed position and an opposed
side. It is acknowledged that a floodwall apparatus 100 could be
erected on a structure such as a dike or berm (not shown) which
abuts or separates two bodies of water. Therefore, it will be
understood that as employed herein, the "water facing side" will
refer to that side which faces that body of water which is subject
to rising water levels and from which protection is desired.
[0022] It will be recognized that when housed within the concrete
compartment 131, the shaft and bearings arrangement 114 is
ultimately fixed to or supported by the foundation 132. This
signifies that the shaft and bearings arrangement 114 may be
directly mounted to the foundation 132 or alternatively, there may
be one or more intervening elements between the shaft and bearings
arrangement 114 and the foundation 132.
[0023] Elastic sheeting 151 seals the cylindrical pivot 115 against
water and particle penetration or entry between the foundation 132
and each stem segment 111, when the stem segment 111 is in the
deployed position, and more specifically in the embodiment of FIG.
1, into the concrete compartment on both sides thereof along the
length of the stem segments 111. The ends (not shown) of the stem
segments 111 may be rendered resistant to entry of water in any
suitable way, and may use but need not be limited to use of elastic
sheeting 151. Spring-loaded dampeners 116 damp otherwise unopposed
pivot of the stem segments 111 about the shaft and bearings
arrangement 114, thereby restricting the rotational speed of the
stem segments 111 during rise and fall, dampen stem segment
oscillations, and prevent slamming The waterside wall of the
concrete compartment 131 ultimately counters the forces imposed by
floodwaters on the aboveground portion of the stem segment 111, via
the spring-loaded dampeners 116 when the stem is in partially
raised position, and by direct contact when the stem segment 111 is
in the fully deployed vertical position (e.g., as seen in FIG.
6).
[0024] FIG. 2 is the plan view section marked on FIG. 1 showing the
foundation 132 and the concrete compartments 131 where the
counterbalancing portion of the stem segments reside. FIG. 3 is the
plan view section marked on FIG. 1 showing the arrangement of the
individual stem segments 111 on the foundation 132 and concrete
compartments 131 with the stem segments 111 in the down position
inside the porous pre-excavated shallow trench 121. The stem
segments are independently supported on a shaft and bearings 114
that form the center of the cylindrical pivot 115 mounted on the
upper waterside corner concrete compartment 131. Each stem segment
has a counterbalancing portion 112 with counterweights 113 that
reduce the weight of the stem down to the desired level for
satisfactory deployment. Spring-loaded dampeners 116 restrict the
rotational speed of the stem during rise and fall, dampen stem
oscillations, and prevent slamming FIG. 4 is the plan view section
marked on FIG. 1 showing the stem segments 111 in the down position
inside the porous pre-excavated shallow trench 121 and the elastic
sheeting material 151 that covers the gap between the stem segments
and seals the stem segments against the concrete compartments
131.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional diagram of the preferred
embodiment of the invention as it self-deploys with rising
floodwater. The longitudinally connected stem segments 111 that are
buoyant and normally reside in the down position inside the porous
pre-excavated shallow trench 121, rise up by floatation as flood
water 141 enters and tops the trench 121. The counterbalancing
portion of each stem 112 and counterweights 113 reduce the weight
of the stem down to the desired level to ensure satisfactory
deployment at the design floodwater elevation. The counterbalancing
portion of the stem segments are housed below ground inside
individual concrete compartments 131 connected to the foundation
132. The stem segments are independently supported on a shaft and
bearings arrangement 114 that form the center of the cylindrical
pivot 115 mounted on the upper waterside corner concrete
compartment 131. Elastic sheeting 151 seals the cylindrical pivot
115 against water and particle entry into the concrete compartment
on both sides. Spring-loaded dampeners 116 restrict the rotational
speed of the stem during rise and fall, dampen stem oscillations,
and prevent slamming The waterside wall of the concrete compartment
131 counters the forces imposed by floodwaters on the aboveground
portion of the stem, via the spring-loaded dampeners 116 when the
stem is in partially raised position.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional diagram of the preferred
embodiment of the invention in the fully deployed vertical
position. The longitudinally connected stem segments 111 that are
buoyant and normally reside in the down position inside the porous
pre-excavated shallow trench 121, have risen up by floatation as a
result of flood water 141 entering and toping the trench 121. The
counterbalancing portion of each stem 112 and counterweights 113
rest against the waterside wall of concrete compartments 131, which
is connected to the foundation 132. Shaft and bearings 114 form the
center of the cylindrical pivot 115 mounted on the upper waterside
corner concrete compartment 131. Elastic sheeting 151 seals the
cylindrical pivot 115 against water and particle entry into the
concrete compartment 131 on both sides. Spring-loaded dampeners 116
are in the fully contracted position. The waterside wall of the
concrete compartment 131 counters the forces imposed by floodwaters
on the aboveground portion of the stem by direct contact with the
counterbalancing portion of each stem 112.
[0027] FIG. 5 is the plan view of the present invention showing the
stems segments 111 in the fully deployed vertical position roughly
perpendicular to shallow trench 121 with the elastic sheeting
material 151 that covering the gap between the stem segments and
sealing the stem segments against the concrete compartments 131
connected to foundation 132.
[0028] The present invention is susceptible to modifications and
variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from
the inventive concepts and the object of the invention. Mechanisms
other than those described may be employed to accomplish the main
object of the present invention, which is to provide a
self-deploying floodwall system that can protect against intruding
seawater and floodwaters without creating a physical and visual
obstruction to and from the waterfront during normal times. Such
modifications and variations are within the invention concepts.
[0029] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is
not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to
cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and
scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended
claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent
arrangements which are possible.
* * * * *