Systems and methods for blocking a surge of water
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorJohn Albert Sweetman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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 plurality of surge gates each comprising a piston displaceable 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 shifting the piston of each of the plurality of surge gates between the first position and the second position to shift the system between an open configuration permitting fluid flow across the plurality of surge gates, and a closed configuration restricting fluid flow across the one or more surge gates.
A system for blocking a surge of water, the system comprising:
- a plurality of surge gates, wherein each surge gate comprises a piston displaceable 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 control system for individually controlling the position of the piston of each of the plurality of surge gates between the first position and the second position to shift the system between an open configuration permitting fluid flow across the plurality of surge gates, and a closed configuration restricting fluid flow across the one or more surge gates.
A method for blocking a surge of water, comprising:
- (a) operating a ballast system to displace a piston of each of a plurality of surge gates from a first position with an upper end of the piston positioned below the waterline to a second position that is spaced from the first position with the upper end of the piston positioned above the waterline whereby fluid flow is restricted across the plurality of surge gates;
- and
- (b) operating the ballast system to displace the piston of each of the plurality of surge gates from the second position to the first position whereby fluid flow is permitted across the plurality of surge gates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.