Systems and methods for coastal drainage control
AssigneeEcoShore Int'l, Inc.
InventorKenneth William CHRISTENSEN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drainage device includes a conduit extending from a bottom end toward a top end and a valve coupled to the conduit. The valve includes a first stop having an opening and an obstruction within the conduit. The obstruction, in a first configuration, may be spaced apart from the opening, enabling fluid to flow through the first stop and through the conduit. The obstruction, in a second configuration, may block the opening to prevent fluid flow through the first stop and through the conduit. The obstruction may move from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to (1) fluid pressure acting in a direction from the bottom end toward the top end of the conduit, or (2) when a fluid having a higher density than the obstruction is disposed within the valve.
Claims22
A drainage device, comprising:
- a conduit extending from a bottom end toward a top end;
- and
- a valve coupled to the conduit, the valve including:
- a first stop, the first stop having an opening;
- and
- an obstruction within the conduit, wherein:
- in a first configuration, the obstruction is spaced apart from the opening, enabling fluid to flow through the first stop and through the conduit;
- and
- in a second configuration, the obstruction is configured to block the opening to prevent fluid flow through the first stop and through the conduit, wherein the obstruction is configured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to (1) fluid pressure acting in a direction from the bottom end toward the top end of the conduit, or (2) when a fluid having a higher density than the obstruction is disposed within the valve.
(canceled)
A drainage device, comprising:
- a conduit extending from a bottom end toward a top end;
- and
- a valve coupled to the conduit, the valve being configured to:
- in a first configuration, enable fluid to flow through the valve and through the conduit from the top end toward the bottom end;
- and
- in a second configuration, prevent fluid flow through the valve and through the conduit;
- and
- a flexible tube in fluid communication with the conduit, and extending away from the top end of the conduit, wherein:
- the flexible tube comprises a perforation between a first part and a second part of the flexible tube;
- the first part of the tube is directly coupled to the conduit;
- and
- in response to a pulling force applied to the second part of the flexible tube, the second part is configured to separate from the first part at the perforation.
(canceled)
A method of controlling drainage of a coastal area, comprising:
- inserting a bottom end of a drainage device below a sea floor;
- and
- positioning a flexible tube at a top end of the drainage device above the sea floor at a first position, wherein during low tide and high tide, the flexible tube is arranged to be continuously submerged by seawater;
- wherein, during a transition from high tide to low tide, water from the coastal area is configured to flow through a beach and drainage devices, and out of the drainage device furthest out exiting above the sea floor into the open water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.