Systems and methods for blocking a surge of water
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorJohn Albert Sweetman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surge gate for blocking a surge of water includes a sleeve disposed below a waterline of the water, wherein the sleeve has an open upper end and a closed lower end, and a piston slidably disposed in the sleeve, wherein the piston is configured to rise vertically within the sleeve along a vertical axis between a first position with an upper end of the piston positioned below the waterline, and a second position with the upper end of the piston positioned above the waterline.
Claims20
A system for blocking a surge of water, the system comprising:
- a sleeve disposed below a waterline of the water;
- a piston slidably disposed in the sleeve, wherein the piston comprises an inner cavity and is displaceable through the sleeve between a first position with an upper end of the piston positioned below the waterline and a second position that is spaced from the first position with the upper end of the piston positioned above the waterline;
- and
- a pump coupled to the piston and configured to pump water into and from the inner cavity of the piston to displace the piston between the first position and the second position.
A system for blocking a surge of water, the system comprising:
- a sleeve disposed below a waterline of the water;
- a piston slidably disposed in an interior of the sleeve, wherein the piston is displaceable through the sleeve between a first position with an upper end of the piston positioned below the waterline and a second position that is spaced from the first position with the upper end of the piston positioned above the waterline;
- and
- a pump fluidically connected to the interior of the sleeve by one or more fluid conduits, wherein the pump is configured to pump water through the one or more fluid conduits to displace the piston between the first position and the second position.
A system for blocking a surge of water, the system comprising:
- one or more surge gates, wherein each surge gate comprises:
- a sleeve disposed below a waterline of the water;
- a piston slidably disposed in the sleeve, wherein the piston is displaceable through the sleeve between a first position with an upper end of the piston positioned below the waterline and a second position that is spaced from the first position with the upper end of the piston positioned above the waterline;
- and
- a ballast system comprising at least one of a pump and a compressor for adjusting a buoyancy of the piston to displace the piston between the first position and the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.