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US 2022/0349138 A1Published application
Apparatus for flood control
AssigneeJ&M Investment, LLC
InventorJon Erik RASMUSSEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dynamic fluid flow control structure is provided that allows precise control over fluid flow using a series of two or more orifices, at least one of which may be reconfigured to change its flow characteristics. A flood control system and a flood control process are provided that emulate a preset discharge profile over time. Some versions of the structure, process, and system can be used to provide controlled storm discharge patterns in a developed area that emulate the natural pre-development discharge patterns.
Claims18
A structure 1000 for controlling the flow of a fluid, the structure comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit 100 through which the fluid flows;
- (b) a reconfigurable first barrier 200 in the conduit 100, the first barrier 200 comprising a first orifice 210, and the first barrier 200 capable of assuming a contracted first configuration and an expanded first configuration, wherein the first orifice 210 has a lesser first CdA value when the first barrier 200 assumes the contacted first configuration, the first orifice 210 has a greater first CdA value when the first barrier 200 assumes the expanded first configuration, and the lesser first CdA value is smaller than the greater first CdA value;
- (c) a second barrier 300 in the conduit 100, the second barrier 300 comprising a second orifice 310, wherein the second orifice 310 has a second CdA value, the lesser first CdA value is smaller than the second CdA value, and the greater first CdA value is no smaller than the second CdA value;
- wherein the first orifice 210 reduces the flow of the fluid more than does the second orifice when the first barrier 200 assumes the contracted configuration, and wherein the first orifice reduces the flow of the fluid no more than does the second orifice 310 when the first barrier 200 assumes the contracted configuration;
- and
- wherein Cd is the coefficient of discharge and A is the cross-sectional area of the given orifice.
3 more elements
The structure of claim 5, wherein
- the first orifice 210 is a contracted first size when the first barrier 200 assumes the contracted first configuration;
- the first orifice 210 is an expanded first size when the first barrier 200 assumes the expanded first configuration;
- the second orifice 310 is a second orifice size;
- the intermediate orifice 410 is a contracted intermediate size when the intermediate barrier 400 assumes the first intermediate configuration;
- the intermediate orifice 410 is an expanded intermediate size when the intermediate barrier 400 assumes the second intermediate configuration;
- the contracted first size is smaller than the expanded first size;
- the contracted intermediate size is smaller than the expanded intermediate size;
- the contracted first size is smaller than the contracted intermediate size;
- the contracted intermediate size is smaller than the second orifice size;
- the expanded first size is no smaller than the second orifice size;
- the expanded first size is no smaller than the contracted intermediate size;
- and
- the expanded intermediate size is no smaller than the second orifice size.
10 more elements
The structure of claim 12, wherein:
- the lesser intermediate CdA value is smaller than the second CdA value;
- and the greater intermediate CdA value is no smaller than the second CdA value.
A structure 1000 for controlling the flow of a fluid, the structure comprising:
- (a) a fluid conduit 100 through which the fluid flows;
- (b) a first barrier 200 in the conduit 100, the first barrier 200 comprising an first orifice 210, and the first barrier 200 capable of assuming a contracted first configuration and an expanded first configuration;
- (c) a second barrier 300 in the conduit 100, the second barrier 300 comprising a second orifice 310;
- wherein the first orifice 210 reduces the flow of the fluid more than does the second orifice when the first barrier 200 assumes the first configuration, and wherein the first orifice reduces the flow of the fluid no more than does the second orifice 310 when the first barrier 200 assumes the second configuration;
- and wherein the first barrier 200 comprises two retractable sections 220 which, when retracted, increase the size of the orifice to be greater than the width of the second orifice 310.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.