Method and system for a retractable floodwall system
AssigneeRSA Protective Technologies, LLC
InventorsRichard S. Adler, Risto Salo, Diego Porqueras
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a retractable floodwall unit that comprises a foundation unit having a plurality of guide tracks along side walls of the foundation unit, a floodwall panel stowed in the foundation unit; a power system for raising and lowering the floodwall panel, and a plumbing system. The plumbing system is configured to remove ground water from a dry-side of the floodwall unit and flood water that becomes located in the floodwall unit.
Claims22
A retractable floodwall unit comprising:
- a foundation unit having a plurality of guide tracks along side walls of the foundation unit;
- a floodwall panel stowed in the foundation unit;
- a means for raising and lowering the floodwall panel, the means for raising and lowering the floodwall panel comprising one or more actuators and a transmitting mechanism operatively coupled to the one or more actuators and the floodwall panel and the transmitting mechanism optionally comprising one or more counterweights;
- and
- a plumbing system, comprising
- a sparger pipe comprising a plurality of holes along a length of the sparger pipe, the plurality of holes being open to an interior space of the foundation unit,
- a plurality of pipes,
- a pumping unit configured to pump fluid through the plumbing system, and
- a motor for actuating the pumping unit;
- wherein the floodwall panel defines a dry side of the retractable floodwall unit and a wet side of the retractable floodwall unit;
- wherein the plumbing system is configured to transport fluids through the plurality of pipes from the dry side to the wet side;
- wherein the foundation unit has a top surface;
- wherein the motor moves telescopically between a first position and a second position;
- wherein the motor is located underground and below the top surface of the foundation unit in the first position;
- and
- wherein the motor is at least partially located above the top surface of the foundation unit in the second position.
A method for controlling a floodwall unit, the floodwall unit including a retractable floodwall panel;
- a plumbing system;
- a first actuator for raising and retracting the retractable floodwall panel;
- a second actuator for actuating a pumping unit of the plumbing system;
- and a controller,
- the method comprising:
- simultaneously raising the retractable floodwall panel and telescopically raising the second actuator such that when the retractable floodwall panel is fully raised the second actuator is in an extended position above the floodwall unit, or
- simultaneously lowering the retractable floodwall panel and telescopically lowering the second actuator such that when the retractable floodwall panel is fully retracted the second actuator is in an retracted position within at least a portion of the floodwall unit.
A retractable floodwall unit, comprising:
- a foundation unit having a top surface;
- a floodwall panel stowed in the foundation unit;
- a means for raising and lowering the floodwall panel, the means for raising and lowering the floodwall panel comprising one or more actuators and a transmitting mechanism operatively coupled to the one or more actuators and the floodwall panel and the transmitting mechanism optionally comprising one or more counterweights;
- and
- a plumbing system, comprising a pumping unit and a motor;
- wherein the motor moves telescopically between a first position and a second position,
- wherein the motor is located underground and below the top surface of the foundation unit in a first position, and
- wherein the motor is at least partially located above the top surface of the foundation unit in a second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.