Flow Control Patents (Class 405/80)
  • Patent number: 5360289
    Abstract: A plurality of drainage pumps are disposed on a high floor gradation state in a circular arrangement. A plurality of drainage pumps are disposed on a low floor gradation state in a circular arrangement. The drainage pumps disposed on the high floor gradation are installed at a high level, with the drainage pumps having a low pump head and a large capacity in comparison with the drainage pumps disposed at the low floor gradation. An outer shape of an underground pump construction building is in the form of a circular cone shape spreading toward an upper portion of the underground pump construction building. The amount of power for discharging the drainage can be reduced and the construction area for the underground pump construction building can be reduced thereby minimizing the necessary requirement for installation of the underground pump construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Takada, Kenji Otani, Sadashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5348419
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for ascertaining and implementing the permeability effective for preventing and repairing scour or erosion in a control zone associated with a river or shoreline having a bank and a bed associated with a moving fluid. The method provides for preventing and repairing scour or erosion in a control zone associated with a river or shoreline having a bank and a bed associated with a moving fluid. Associated therewith, a variably permeable jetty system (Palisade.TM. system) is provided for preventing and repairing scour or erosion in a control zone associated with a river or shoreline having a bank and a bed associated with a moving fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Ercon Development Co.
    Inventors: Bert E. Bailey, W. Al Pollock, W. Les Thompson
  • Patent number: 5284402
    Abstract: The system consists in producing an underwater foundation (1) in the appropriate place, close to the dam (2), in the vertical line of said foundation (1) producing a floating platform (4), with buoyancy that can be regulated, and on this platform (4) proceeding with the manufacture of the tower (6-7), by means of a continuous concreting process, up to the moment when said tower is capable of floating alone, given its hollow nature, at which moment the floating platform (4) can be removed and from which time the tower becomes increasingly submerged in step with the increase in the length of its shaft (7), by means of supplying water (8) to its inside, until the said tower is totally finished, at which moment it is positioned by means of a greater supply of water which may be removed if it is necessary to correct errors in positioning, and after said definitive positioning the tower is also definitively ballasted or rendered stationary, the control and command elements for the gates or valves for the various in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Inventor: Antonio C. Del Villar
  • Patent number: 5263793
    Abstract: Turbulence in a wall-bounded fluid flow field having a turbulent wall region characterized by a system of roll pairs extending in the direction of flow, and propagating structures interacting with the system of roll pairs, is controlled by introducing into the turbulent flow, a disturbance that changes the character of the propagating structures directed at an inclined angle to the direction of flow. Where the disturbance increases the amplitudes of the propagating structure, turbulent mixing or heating is increased; and when the disturbance decreases the amplitude of the propagating structure, the turbulent drag is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Ormat Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lawrence Sirovich, Eugene Levich
  • Patent number: 5263833
    Abstract: A fish guiding assembly for use adjacent to dams and the like to channel fish into a safe passage includes an elongated buoyant frame including upper and lower elongated horizontally extending frame members, and a multiplicity of vertically extending louver slats of synthetic resin horizontally spaced apart and angularly oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of said frame. Upper and lower slat mounting members extend horizontally along the length of the frame and are supported thereby, and engage the slats adjacent their upper and lower ends to retain them in angular orientation. The upper ends of the louver slats are engaged to maintain them in the mounting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Northeast Utilities Service Company
    Inventors: David A. Robinson, Charles P. Ruggles
  • Patent number: 5255997
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for ascertaining and implementing the permeability effective for preventing and repairing scour or erosion in a control zone associated with a river or shoreline having a bank and a bed associated with a moving fluid. The method provides for preventing and repairing scour or erosion in a control zone associated with a river or shoreline having a bank and a bed associated with a moving fluid. Associated therewith, a variably permeable jetty system (Palisade.TM. system) is provided for preventing and repairing scour or erosion in a control zone associated with a river or shoreline having a bank and a bed associated with a moving fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Ercon Development Co.
    Inventors: Bert E. Bailey, W. Al Pollock, W. Les Thompson
  • Patent number: 5255999
    Abstract: A water-level control device is provided for controlling water levels between a high-tide level and a low-tide level. The water-level control device comprises a tiltable pipe connected to a drain pipe by a flexible joint. Tilting of the pipe allows flow of water from a high-tide point to a low-tide point. Water is pumped into a pond continuously, and the variable-height weir cyclically varies the outflow to simulate a tidal cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Space Biospheres Ventures
    Inventor: Johan A. Perslow
  • Patent number: 5242244
    Abstract: An aquatic control sleeve apparatus for enabling application of chemical agents to underwater aquatic vegetation accumulating in a body of flowing water and a method for enabling application of the same. The aquatic control sleeve apparatus has an aquatic control sleeve placeable within a body of flowing water substantially parallel to its normal flow path. A first collar attached to the upstream end of the aquatic control sleeve funnels the entire flow of water into the aquatic control sleeve. The water surrounding the aquatic control sleeve is stilled or pacified by the funnelling of the moving water into the aquatic control sleeve, thus permitting the application of chemical agents to the stilled water to treat underwater vegetation without the fear of the chemical agents being swept away by the water current. A second collar is provided at the downstream end of the aquatic control sleeve and discharges the water funnelled through the aquatic control sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Inventor: Daryl Dockery
  • Patent number: 5232307
    Abstract: A hydraulic diverter comprises a pair of tubes connected to receive water from a storm drain. One of the tubes is connected to discharge the water into a basin, while the other is connected to discharge water and bed sediment load into a bypass line. The storm water flow is preferentially directed through one tube or the other by changing the relative elevations of the tubes. The tubes are coupled together to change elevations by a pulley system or a swivel system. The pollutant laden "first flush" flow of storm water is diverted to the basin, while subsequent or "sustained" flow transporting bed sediment load is directed through the bypass line. The storm water itself is utilized to change the relative elevations of the tubes when the storm water flow transitions from a first flush flow to a sustained flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Inventor: Hasan M. Nouri
  • Patent number: 5184915
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, for lifting up water to a predetermined level where it can be useful, using the inexhaustible and non-polluting source of energy of the ocean tides to do so. The apparatus comprises a water chamber positioned to be filled with water following a rise in tide. Rising on the tide causes some air to be trapped and pressurized on top of the chamber. This pressurized air in turn is used to push some water up to the predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Inventor: John Marino
  • Patent number: 5160036
    Abstract: An apparatus for containing liquids and pollution within a liquid drainage comprising a first conduit, a second conduit, a liquid barrier, a means for lifting, and a means for sensing pollution. The second conduit is smaller in relative diameter than the first conduit and is positioned so that the second conduit outlet end is located within the first conduit. The second conduit has a flexible portion of its length which permits the outlet end of the second conduit to be lifted while the inlet end of the second conduit remains stationary. The liquid barrier guides fluid flow into the second conduit inlet during normal flow, guides fluid flow into the second conduit and liquid flow over the top of the liquid barrier and into the first conduit during floods and retains liquid during normal flow when the outlet end of the second conduit is lifted. The apparatus further comprises a means for lifting which is electrically connected to a sensing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: Charles P. Childers
  • Patent number: 5083885
    Abstract: A laying structure for a vacuum sewer pipe of a vacuum sewage collecting system for collecting sewage discharged from homes and facilities into a collecting tank through a vacuum sewer pipe kept negative in pressure internally is disclosed. The vacuum sewer pipe includes a portion laid in a plain topography which comprises a downward pitch portion sloped toward downstream, and a short upward pitch portion connected to the downstream end of the downward pitch portion to return a depth of the vacuum sewer pipe to an original level, the downward pitch portion and the upward pitch portion are alternated at least once. The upward pitch portion starts from a spot deepened from the original laying level by a depth corresponding to 0.8 to 1.0 times of a bore of the vacuum sewer pipe. By this arrangement, an air lock is not produced at the upward pitch portion even if the quantity of air flowing in the vacuum sewer pipe is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Ushitora, Kazuo Yamaguchi, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Tsuneo Asanagi
  • Patent number: 5067850
    Abstract: A storm drainage system including a gate which controls the release of the contents of the drainage system. The gate is motor activated which is responsive to manual activation or hydrocarbon sensor activation. The drainage system includes an overload sensor which detects a filled drainage system, for example by a heavy rain. The sensor provides a high-liquid-level override signal to the motor in response to the filled drainage system to open the gate independently of the hydrocarbon sensor activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Gray Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Gray
  • Patent number: 4904114
    Abstract: A device for assisting fish to circumnavigate obstacles such as dams is provided with a system of chambers within each of which is disposed an inclined, water permeable, floating screen movable up and down depending on the level of water in the chamber. The level of water is controlled by a system of strategically located gates and valves. The lowermost chamber is provided with a siphon-like arrangement assisting the draining of the chamber, without the need for a pump. The invention simplifies the overall arrangement and its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Warner Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Warner, James Schjelderup
  • Patent number: 4884917
    Abstract: An arrangement for opposing the formation of eddies and diminishing the deposition of sediment at the junction of a branch channel with a main, water carrying channel. The upstream corner of the intersection of the channels is provided with a deflector to divert some of the main channel water into the branch channel. The deflector is in the form of a curved, vertically disposed wall extending the full depth of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Kirby
    Inventor: Hermann Christiansen
  • Patent number: 4877537
    Abstract: A pumping system for gates wherein a sluice body liftably received in the guide grooves formed in the side walls of a water channel mounts a plurality of pumps in parallel with each other, the suction ports and the discharge ports of the pumps being located in the upstream and downstream sides, and a debris collecting device is provided in the water channel upstream the pumps. The suction ports of the pumps are opened towards the bottom of the water channel at a given height, and the debris collecting device is so constructed that it can be liftable over the level of the water channel. At the time of a natural drainage, the sluice body and the debris collection device are lifted to allow free flow of the water through the water channel, while at the time of a forced drainage the sluice body and the debris collecting device are lowered so that debris, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Mizota Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiji Kobayashi, Motohide Sakata
  • Patent number: 4810130
    Abstract: A siphon weir having a downwardly directed inlet port and a lower lying outlet port (18) on the downstream side connected with it by means of an approximately S-shaped siphon line (13) contains a ventilating mechanism for improving the regulating behavior. The ventilating mechanism is preferably constructed as a linear, sloping ventilating pipe (46), which is led out of the interior of the container to be regulated through the rising leg of the siphon line (13) and issues below the siphon top in the downwardly leading falling leg of siphon line (13). A diverter (28) for floating material can be mounted on the upper end of ventilating pipe (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignees: Dr. Hansjorg Brombach, Heinrich Hohlwegler
    Inventors: Hansjorg Brombach, Eric Markland
  • Patent number: 4797028
    Abstract: A siphon apparatus for hindering beavers from blocking the inlet of a flood control riser in a water reservoir. The siphon apparatus includes a first conduit for being positioned within the riser, the first conduit having a lower end and an upper end; a second conduit for being positioned outside the riser, the second conduit having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the second conduit being at a higher vertical plane than the lower end of the first conduit; and a third conduit for joining the upper ends of the first and second conduit and for allowing water to be siphoned from the lower end of the second conduit to the lower end of the first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventor: Robert E. Jamieson
  • Patent number: 4797027
    Abstract: The sluice oscillates about a shaft (16) in order to control the level of a downstream reach (4) to occupy a reference level as defined by the position of an opening (36) for connection to the atmosphere and suitable for being closed by a needle (38) carried on a float (40). The plate (6) is driven by a caisson (18) which is immersed in the upstream reach (2) and which contains a quantity of water (28) that is increased by sucking air via a hydraulic Venturi (50) driven by the flow of water between the two reaches. The displacements of the float (40) control the pressure reduction which is actually applied to said caisson in such a manner as to obtain the desired level control. The invention is applicable to controlling irrigation networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Alsthom
    Inventors: Gilles Combes, Germain Delage
  • Patent number: 4662782
    Abstract: In a situation where animals, such as beavers, attempt to flood lands by blocking culverts or constructing dams across waterways, a device is used to maintain a constant flow of water through the dam or culvert. An elongated pipe or culvert with a downwardly directed opening distant from the culvert or dam is used. On the end of the pipe closest to the culvert is a gate which prevents animals and debris from passing through but allows for the smaller elongated pipe to communicate with the culvert. The beaver instinctively attempts to dam the gate area rather than dam the underwater opening of the elongated pipe, and thus is unsuccessful in stopping the flow of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventor: Walter Lambert
  • Patent number: 4606672
    Abstract: An upstream canal flow control device comprising a gate depending down into the flowing stream from a pivotal axis transverse to the stream and an arm extending downstream from the axis and gate containing a ballast to force the gate against stream flow, the ballast adjustable along the arm to cause the gate to retain an upstream water level as a function of the ballast position therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Inventor: James R. LeSire
  • Patent number: 4594024
    Abstract: An offshore intake structure for a water cooling system having an intake shaft communicating with a lake or like reservoir comprises a well excavated in the bed of the lake having an opening communicating with the intake shaft. The well is covered by a submarine roof structure having a perforate outer region defining an inlet to the well and an imperforate inner region which extends over the intake shaft opening and radially outwards therefrom so as to define with the well bottom a horizontal flow passage extending inwards to the intake shaft. The construction is such as to permit an adequate intake flow while keeping the intake velocity below the limit at which fish would be entrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Inventors: Wolfgang R. Jenkner, Alan E. Christie, Emad E. M. Elsayed, John S. Griffiths, Guney A. Mentes
  • Patent number: 4576512
    Abstract: A sluice gate is provided in the form of a vane wheel on a horizontal shaft mounted transversally across the sluice in which it is installed, said vanes being distributed about the shaft and being partially immersible for the purpose of gate operation, same said vanes providing different sluice closing surface areas and said sluice gate comprising wheel locking means to maintain the vanes fixedly in the sluice. Application in small irrigation sluices is suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Alsthom-Atlantique
    Inventors: Gilles Combes, Germain Delage
  • Patent number: 4368121
    Abstract: A dam spillway for the passage of water from a forebay to an afterbay comprises a means for compressing the atmospheric air by the passing water and a floatation chamber connected to said means. The floatation chamber incorporates a froth separating cavity having a lower wall thereof in the form of a smooth concave curve. Accommodated in the upper portion of the froth separating cavity substantially above the water level of the afterbay is a froth remover in the form of a tubular member provided with a longitudinal slot facing the interior of the cavity. Secured on the froth remover is an assembly of water sprinkling froth suppressing sprayers adapted to communicate with the forebay. Connected to the upper portion of the froth remover adjacent to the sprayer assembly are perforated air ducts secured at the bottom of the afterbay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Inventors: Jury N. Vasiliev, Evgeny P. Gladkov
  • Patent number: 4352593
    Abstract: A dam spillway to pass water over the crest from a forebay into an afterbay comprises a mixing chamber communicating with a diffuser; said mixing chamber has an intake arrangement ensuring formation downstream of the diffuser of a flotation zone with a froth collector installed at the end thereof; said intake arrangement includes a water flow divider, a water breaking grid and air intake ducts, the divider being installed above the chamber and made in the form of a screen composed of chutes; said water breaking grid of the intake arrangement composed of bluff members is provided in the inlet portion of the chamber, whereas the air intake ducts of said intake arrangement are made in a wall of the mixing chamber below the grid in close proximity thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Inventors: Anton L. Iskra, Mikhail S. Kharchenko, Jury N. Vasiliev
  • Patent number: 4337008
    Abstract: A specific feature of the present invention comprising a water-permeable screen mounted on a perforated suction pipe is that located therein between the screen and the pipe are partitions the length of contour of which resting on the screen decreases towards the perforated pipe inlet, the screen surface defined by two adjacent partitions being superior to that of the pipe between the same partitions, whereas the partitions on said pipe are disposed in a manner such that the hydraulic resistances therebetween will increase in proportion to the distance from the partitions to the perforated pipe inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Inventors: Valery A. Kulyabko, Vera M. Sinyavskaya, Alexandr A. Sivkov, Evgeny N. Gavrilov
  • Patent number: 4275766
    Abstract: A fluid control system suitable for controlling the volumetric rate of fluid flowing in a conduit. This system includes a chamber communicating with a conduit, a downstream and upstream wall are formed in the chamber and each has an opening in their lower ends to permit undisturbed flow of fluid therethrough at a predetermined level. An additional orifice is formed in the upstream wall above the first opening to permit fluid entry into the chamber when the fluid exceeds the predetermined level thereby flooding the chamber between the two walls & dissipating the velocity of the fluid so as to limit the volumetric rate of flow in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Inventor: Harvey G. Aronson
  • Patent number: 4199274
    Abstract: A flow measuring flume is described which is compact, cost-effective, self-cleaning and of adjustable capacity. This flume is applicable in the chemical water treatment of acid discharge streams from coal mining operations. It incorporates the self-cleaning advantage of the Parshall venturi flume but without the fixed throat size limitation of a venturi. It further incorporates the adjustable capacity of the notched weir type flow meter without the debris blocking characteristic of the dam like weir. The flume comprises a rectangular open channel with a triangular base and with a discharge opening in one of its two side walls, adjacent to the common corner. A sliding door is used to adjust the discharge opening width, but does not alter the geometric similarity or flow discharge characteristics per unit width of outlet. In addition this flume has one side wall higher than the other for the purpose of protecting equipment from flood damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Inventor: John L. Loth
  • Patent number: 4162864
    Abstract: This invention relates to system for and method of moving sea water by utilizing tidal flow and ebb. This is achieved by the provision of at least one reservoir in the vicinity of the seashore and at least one tidewater channel connecting the reservoir and the seashore and also the provision of a plurality of floodgates on both reservoir and tidewater channel, the floodgates being adapted to be opened and shut in accordance with the tides of the sea for producing uni-directional current of tidewater through the tidewater channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Inventors: Yoshiki Maeda, Chikako Maeda
  • Patent number: 4146346
    Abstract: The salinity intrusion of ocean tidewater into a communicating fresh water river is prevented by laterally restricting the out-flow cross-section of the river with a series of flotation weirs and control weirs so that the surface level of the out-flow cross-section is higher than the surface level of the adjacent tidal salt water. The weirs are located so as to not obstruct the ship channel of the river.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Inventor: Eric A. Salo