Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CFD3-A 1-2
2-PRIOR ART
2-1 Previous designs and patents dealing with flexible
dams and water handling means used; cables, buoyants etc.,
to hold the upper parts of the water retaining flexible walls.
2-2 In a previous patent by the inventor, titled Canadian
Flexible Dams (CFD), buoyants were used to support the upper
part of the water holding flexible wall and cables to support
the intermediate parts of the said flexible walls in between
the waterbed and the surface of the water.
2-3 In another patent by the same inventor, titled Rever-
sible Canadian Flexible Dams (RCFD), (see patent no. 1158053),
opposite flexible walls, inclined upwards towards each other,
with openings on each flexible wall, supported by buyoants
and intermediate ties, were used alternatively for reversible
dams.
2-4 The use of cables, buoyants etc., to support the fle-
xible dams is costly and complex.
2-5 I~ a selfsupporting system could be designed, the cost
of the supporting cables, the buoyants and good part o~ the
connection system co~ld be saved, to reduce the overall cost
of the structure.
2-6 If the two opposite flexible walls described in para-
graph- 2~3, instead of being alternatively opened and closed
to let the water in and out, if they were.
A~ Both closed at the same time with water filling left
in between them and with their upper parts inclined towards
each other to form somehow a waterfilled trapezoidal shaped
cross section resting upright on its larger base.
B- And the upper parts o~ the opposite flexible walls
were connected to each other to counterbalance the outward
water pressure acting on the opposite flexible walls.
~2~f:~
CFD3-A 1-3
Such described structure would stand upright without
the necessity of buoyants to support the opposite flexible
walls and the forces acting on them, so retaining a somehow
trapezoidal shaped water wall that could support an exter-
nal waterhead of nearly the same height as the water wall
itself.
2-7 Besides, if the opposite flexible wall~ described in
paragraph 2-6 were supported with opposite ties, balanced
and connected to ~he waterbed or to each other with lateral
stabilizing ties to prevent swaying of the said water wall,
it would be possible to build up a higher water wall with
the same opposite flexible walls holding the said water wall.
2-8 On the other hand, if one of the opposite flexible
walls described in paragraph 2-7 is removed, and the inter-
mediate anchoring ties connecting the r~ai n; ng Elexible
wall to the waterbed, are balanced to have the direction
of the water pressure resultant forces acting on the an-
choring ties, pass along the line of the anchoring ties
themselves without creating downward vertical forces on
said ties and so eliminating the need of buoyants at the
surface of the water to support the water holding flexible
wall.
2-9 However, residual forces could remain abou~ the top
part of the flexible wall which forces have to be supported
separately by the appropriate means.
2-10 In the case of dams built in the mountains, it would
be possible to tie the upper part and any part of the water
holding flexible wall to areas in the mountains at the same
level of the top edge of the flexible wall or even higher
without generating downward vertical forces at the top edge
of the flexible wall.
This means that with this system it is possible to
~ '
~2~
CFD3-A 1-4
build flexible dams in the mountains with l.ittle or no
vertical supports, relying on the resultant upward water
pressure acting underneath the flexible wall, which is in-
clined to a certain degree against the upstream direction,
to support the flexible wall and whatever forces acting on
it, and relying as well on the balanced anchoring ties to
support the horizontal forces acting on the said flexible
wall.
2-11 If on the other hand, one of the opposite flexible
walls described in paragraph 2-6 is made continuous, closed
in in a form of truncated cone circular shape restin~ up-
right on its lar~er base with its lower edge tightly fixed
to the base of the cone and the upper edge joined in a con-
tinuous ring to counterbalance the outward water pressure,
when such flexible structure is filled with water, the up-
ward vertical component of the water pressure acking on the
inward inclined flexible skin of the cone would help keep
the outside skin of the conic shape flexible structure up-
standing, retaining inside it an upstanding water column
of a certain height without any solid support to hold it.
2-12 By addin~ outside rings on the structure described in
paragraph 2-11, to take place of the intermediate anchoring
ties, used on the water wall structure, it would be possible
to raise the level of the water column without increasing
the size of the water column skin holding it.
~ --3
CFD3-A l-5
ABBREVIATIONS AND KEY WORDS
BW- Breakwater.
CFB- Canadian flexible breakwater.
CFD- Canadian flexible wall dams consis-ting of flexible,
impermeable, inextensible plate supported at its up-
per end by a buoyant, a cable, a structure or the
like.
CFD2- Commonwealth flexible wall dams consisting of flexible,
impermeable, inextensible wall supported by fluid or
loose solid substance arranged or contained in a sta-
tically stable structure to support the shielding f:Le-
xible wall.
CFD3- Commonwealth ~lexible wall dams consisting of ~lexible,
impermeable, inextensible wall installed in an inclined
position over the water it holds,where the water pre-
ssure acting underneath the inclined flexible wall
supports the 1exible wall and the downward forces ac-
ting on it, resulting in the formation of selfsuppor-
ting water walls and water columns upstanding without
real solid walls to hold them up.
FW- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible wall used to re-
tain and hold water.
FWR- Flexible water reservoir.
PL- Drawing plate or sheet.
RCFD- Reversible Canadian flexible dams.
WCL- Water Column.
WCLS- Water column skin.
WL- Waterlock
WW- Water wall.
The term ~ater is used to mean liquids as well.
CFD3-A 1-6
3- DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION THROUGH THE DRAWINGS.
I- Plate 121 shows a true water wall without major
buoyants, supporting the outward water pressure. It consists
of opposite restrained flexible walls anchored to the water-
bed and tilted on top towards each other with their top edges
connected to each other, causing the internal water to lift
them up.
II- Plate 122 shows a selfsupporting true water column
using an impermeable, inextensible, flexible wall made con-
tinuous in a closed-in, circular, truncated,cone-shape struc-
ture resting upright on its larger base, retainlng a water
column inside it and provided with rings to counterbalance
the outward water pressure acting on the flexible wall skin
of the cone.
(For P1. 122 to 128 see section CFD3-B)
III- Plate 129 shows an upward selfsupporting single fle-
xible wall dam representing one side of the counterbalanced
flexible walls shown on P1. 121.
~Ol~S
CFD3 -A 1~ 7
3-1 DESCRIPTION OF NUM13ERED COMPONENTS.
PLATE 12 1
No~ 1, 2 - Opposite, flexible, impermeable, inextensible,
reinforced plates sat upright to contain within them a txue
water wall without a substantial buoyant to support them.
3- Anchoring line at the base of the flexible wall no. 1.
4- Anchoring line at the base of the flexible wall no. 2.
5- Ties anchoring intermediate points of the flexible
wall no. 1 directly or indirectly to the waterbed.
6- Ties anchoring intermediate points of the flexible
wall no. 2 directly or indirectly to the waterbed.
7- Anchoring platforms to the ti~s no. 5.
8- Anchoring platforms to the ties no. 6.
9- Upper ties tying the top of the flexible walls no. 1
and 2.
10- Water level inside the opposite flexible walls no. 1
and 2.
11- Water level outside one or both of the flexible walls
no. 1 and 2.
In the case of tldal powers, different water levels
could be outside the flexible walls no. 1 and 2.
12- Middle posts or continuous walls (not shown) could
be used to tie the ties no. 5 and 6, without bringing them
down to the waterbed.
The opposite ties no. 5 and 6 tying the opposite fle-
xible walls no. 1 and 2, could be connected to each other
directly to counterbalance their forces. However, additional
lateral ties would be needed to prevent the water wall from
swaying one way or the other.
It is possible to remove one flexible wall and tie
the other to fixed points upstream.
:iL2~
CFD3-A 1-8
PL~TE 122.
No. 1- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible,wall rolled in
a circular way to end in an upright truncated conic shape
with a watertight flexible sole (like no. 2) at its base
and outside horizontal rings (like no. 3) to restrain the
outer skin of the so-formed watar column to assume the re-
quired shape when filled with water.
2- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible membrane that
makes part of the water column skin (like no. 1).
3- Horizontal rings supporting the outer skin of the
water column at different levels to have it assume the re-
quired shape needed to balance the water pressure acting
on the conic shaped skin of the water wall in order to eli-
minate the residual downward components generated by the
inclined ties.
4- Transversal ties tying the rings no. 4 to reduce the
stresses on them.
5- Additional, internal, diagonal ties to add to the
stability of the water column and prevent it from swaying
in one direction or the other.
These ties are arbitrary and could be replaced by
external ties.
6- Top ring joining the upper edges of the water wall
skin and balancing the upper residual stresses on the skin.
7- Water level inside the conic shape, selfsupporting
water column.
8- Clamps connecting the diagonal ties no. 5 to the trans-
versal ties no 4 to give rigidity to the water column and
prevent it from swaying in one direction or the other.
1~_ 'r'
CFD3-A 1-9
Rev. 1
(For Pl. 123 to 128 see section CFD3-B)
PLATE 129
No.l- Water~retaining flexible wall, tightly anchored along
its lower edge to the waterbed, supported along its upper
edge with ties like no. 4 extending upstream, and supported
at intermediate points in between the waterbed and the sur~
face of the water with balanced ties like no. 2,3, extending
upstream and anchored to the waterbed.
2,3,4-Ties extending upstream (see above).
5- Waterlevel.
6- Waterbed.
7- Cable beams supporting the back of the flexible wall
PLATE 129- Rev. . ~ A~DITIONAL FEATURES
~A, 3A - Solid spacers along the ties 2 and 3.
4A - Arched header cable transferring the loads from
the ties like 4B to opposite supports away from the centre
of the water basin.
4B - Ties transferring the loads from the u~per edge of
the flexible wall No. 1, to the arched header cable 4A.
7A - Solid spacers along the cable beams like No. 7.
'~
CFD3-A 1-10
4-DETAILS
4-1 Instead of providing vertical supports to support
the water holding flexible membrane and the forces acting
on it, efforts are made here to harness the water pressure
itself to lift up the flexible membrane that retains the
water.
4-2 In the case of a flexible wall dam, if the flexible
wall is inclined against the upstream direction of the wa-
ter, the water pressure acting underneath the flexible wallwould exert on the flexible wall an outward horizontal pres-
sure, and an uplifting vertical pressure proportional to
the inclination o~ the flexible wall against the upstream
water.
4-3 See Pl. 121 - TRUE SELFSUPPORTING WATER WALLS
Pl. 121 shows opposite, impermeable, inextensible,
flexible walls (like no. 1, 2) containing water in between
them and installed in a balanced way that would allow them
to retain a water wall in between them and support an ex-
ternal waterhead without the need of a substantial buoyant
to support them at the surface..of the water.
4-4 Upon reviewing the designs in CFDl where the water
retaining flexible wall was substantially inclined against
the upstream water to have the flexible wall ride over the
water, using water underneath it as a saddle and converting
the water pressure from the horizontal direction to an in-
clined upward direction that could be broken into a hori-
zontal direction and an upright vertical direction.
4-5 However, to harness these vertical upright forces,
the cable beams and the anchoring ties supporting them had
to be balanced by balancing the curvatures of the membrane
in a way that the upward forces acting on the upper leg of
CFD3-A 1-11
the lower arched flexible wall is balanced by the downward
forces acting on the lower leg of the adjacent upper fle-
xible wall so that the direction of the resultant forces
acting on the joint would pass throuyh the tie tying that
joint so eliminating the vertical downward ~orces that re-
~uired buoyants at the surface of the water to support the
vertical downward forces generated by the inclined anchoring
ties tying the unbalanced water retaining flexible wall.
4-6 However, residual, substantially horizontal forces
are left at the upper leg of the top arch formed by the
restrained flexible wall.
4-7 In the RCFD patent (already issued) use was made of
opposite ~lexible walls to support a waterhead ~rom either
side of the flexible walls.
On a similar pattern use is made here of opposite
restrained flexible walls used to:
A- Counterbalance each other, including the residual
forces at the upper arches of the flexible membranes, with-
out substantial buoyants to support them.
B- The erection of a water wall supported by opposite,
restrained, balanced flexible walls ending in a basically
trapezoidal shape cross section which combination of balan-
ced arched flexible walls and the trapezoidal shape water
wall would give the water wall a character as if it is
standing on an angle of repose, which fact gives the whole
assembly a better position and a relative rigidity, to stand
up against high waterheads on either side of the water wall
as if it was a solid concrete dam limited only by the strength
of reinforcing cables of the flexible wall.
4-8 The present design on Pl. 121 shows two opposite fle-
xible walls (like no. 1 and 2~ tightly anchored at their
-D
CFD3-A 1-12
lower edges to the waterbed (see no. 3, 4) and the remai-
ning parts are tilted towards each other to end in a basi-
cally trapezoidal cross section shape which ~ives the wa-
ter wall a better stability to stand up against the inter-
nal and external water pressure acting on it,.
4-g The opposite flexible walls are supported at inter-
mediate lines in between the waterbed and the surface of
the water with cable beams and anchoring ties (like no. 5,
6) calculated and balanced to have the direction of the
resultant forces acting on the ties, pass through the ties
themselves without generating vertical downward forces that
would require a buoyant at the surface of the water to sup-
port them~
4-10 Said anchoring ties (no. 5, 6) could be anchored di-
rectly to th~ waterbed (see no. 7, 8) or to intermediate
structures that could trans~er their stresses wherever
possible.
4-11 The upper ends of the flexible walls are connected
to each other with connections (like no. 9) that could trans-
fer forces to each other so that the residual forces at the
upper parts of the flexible walls are counterbalanced with
each other.
4-12 The already described water wall could support dif-
ferent waterheads on either side of the wall~
4-13 See Pl. 122 - TRUE SELFSUPPORTING WATER COLUMNS
If a truncated pyramid is built of solid impermeable
sides (standing upright on its larger base) and filled with
water, the resultant, upright water pressure acting on the
four walls of the pyramid would tend to uplift and detach
the inward slanted four walls of the pyramid from their
base.
4-14 If two opposite walls of the truncated pyramid are
CFD3-A 1-13
extended to a c~rtain length, the two opposite extended
solid walls would be subjected to an upward vertical re-
sultant due to the internal water pressure on the inward
slanting extended walls.
4-15 If one of the extended walls of the pyramid is taken
out and the opposite extended wall is still subjected to
the same water level (say from a flow of a stream etc.),
the extended wall would still be subjected to the same
uplifting water pressure as it was before removing the
oppcsite wall.
If that remaining extended wall was extended for a
considerable len~th it would need supports to take the ho-
rizontal component of the outward water pressure and its
uplifting vertical component.
These forces could be supported by either:
A~ ~ solid structure on the downstream area of the solid
wall of the pyramid which could take the stresses in com-
pression as is the case of the conventional solid dams.
B- Or by ties connected to that r~A;ning prolonged side
of the original pyramid and extended to be anchored to a
fixed point in the upstream area, which ties would take the
stresses in tension instead of compression.
4-16 The balanced ties described in the previous paragraph
in combination with that solid wall of the remA;n;ng pro-
longed side of the pyramid would hold the waterhead acting
on them without the need of a buoyant at the surface of the
water in a way as if the water is assuming an angle of repose
to rest on it.
4-17 If the rPmA;n;ng extended wall of the pyramid is re-
placed with a flexible wall, even that the flexible wall
would take a curvaceous shape, this does not upset the ba-
lance of the tension ties that were holding the remaining
~4~ 5
CFD3-A 1-14
straight, solid wall of the pyramid.
4-18 To reduce the stresses acting on the flexible wall
the one s~an arched, flexible wall, replacing the solid
wall of the pyramid, is subdivided into multi spans and
multi curves or arches which are balanced with each other
to eliminate the residual downward vertical forces and, in
certain cases, generate upward vertical components to carry
the flexible wall and its accessories etc.
4-19 Since the water pressure increases with the depth,
the lower arches closer to the waterbed would be smaller
than the adjacent arches above them.
4-20 The resultant, balanced forces would generally be
in the same direction as the direction of the tension ties
connecting the flexible wall to fixed points on the water-
bed or elsewhere upstream.
4-21 On the other hand, if the original truncated, solid
pyramid described in paragraph 4-13 is replaced with a fle-
xible wall waterfilled, truncated, circular cone resting
upright on its larger base, even that the outer skin of
the flexible cone would assume a single arch all around,
this would not upset the balanced u~ward resultants that
were acting on the four opposite solid walls of the pyramid.
4-22 To reduce the stresses on the outer skin of the cone,
the one arched, flexible outer skin of the cone is subdi-
vided into multi spans, multi arches flexible wall, which
arches are balanced with each other to have the resultant
forces acting on them, have the same direction as the di-
rection of the ties anchoring them to the waterbed, leaving
some residual, upward forces to carry the outer skin of
the cone with its accessories etc.
4-23 In the case of a circular, conic structure as already
described, instead of the internal ties restraining the
s
CFD3-A 1-15
flexible skin of the cone, such a structure could have
horizontal outside rings at different levels to restrain
the flexible skin of the conic structure (like no. 3, Pl.
122).
Besides, for large diameter water columns, these ho-
rizontal rings could be tied with transversa:L ties (like
no. 4) to reduce the stresses on them.
Also, additional internal diagonal ties (like no. 5)
or external ties (not shown) could be added to stiffen the
flexible structure and prevent it rom swaying.
4-24 A top ring, solid or flexible, is used to balance
the residual outward water forces acting on the skin (like
no. 1) of the flexible truncated cone.
4-25 Additional clamps (like no. 8) could be added to con-
nect the diagonal stabilizing ties (like no. 5) to the trans-
versal ties (like no. 4) to prevent the flexible skin o
the cone from bulging out one way or the other at interme-
diate levels and help keep the water column standing up
straight.
4-26 Instead of the diagonal stabilizing ties (like no.
5) a fixed upright central pos~ (not shown) could be instal-
led at the center of the cone and the transversal reinfor-
cing ties (like no. 4) could be connected to it, which fact
keeps the cone skin and the outside rings supporting it
equidistant fxom the center of the cone and prevents the
water column from swaying away in any direction.
4-27 Such described conic structure with or without restrai-
ned flexible outer skin, balanced to be self-standing with-
out substantial buoyants at the surface of the water could
be referred to as a TRUE WATER WALL or WATER COLUMN.
4-28 The same principles used for water walls and water
columns is applicable for waterlocks, where the gate of
` !_..'
~Z~
CFD3-A 1-16
the waterlock could consist:
A- of a single impermeable flexible wall similar to one
of the opposite flexible walls shown on plate 122, in cer-
tain cases, with an additional mechanism that would slide
up and down the opposite vertical edges of the flexible
wall while the balanced upstream anchoring ties would sup-
port the outward water pressure in the waterlock basin,
and in other cases, inflated buoyants could be attached
to the flexible wall gate to lift up the flexible wall with
the rising water level inside the basin of the waterlock
while the balanced anchoring ties (like no. 5, 6) would
support the outward water pressure in the basin.
B- Of two opposite flëxible walls (like no. 1, 2~ shown
on plat~ 122 with systems to move the ~lexible walls up and
down similar to those described in the previous paragraphs
4-28~A.
4-29 In certain cases the anchoring ties extending upstream,
used on the flexible wall gate to support the outward water
pressure, are replaced by substantially horizontal cable
beams supporting the back of the flexible wall and connec-
ted to ~ixed points at the opposite sides of the waterlock
basin.
Such cable beams could be provided with winch means
to release the supporting cable beams and let the flexible
wall gate fall down towards the waterbed to let the vessels
pass, and pull up the cable beams and the flexible wall
gate to close back the waterlock basin.
~-30 Similar cable beam systems, with or without winch
means, could be used in certain cases to replace the ancho-
ring ties supporting the outward water pressure on the fle-
xible wall dams described in paragraphs 4-15 B to 4-20.
Such cable beams could be provided at the back of the fle-
3 2~
CFD3-A 1-17
xible wall dam to support the outward water pressure on
the flexible wall and transfer ~heir stresses to fixed
points at the opposite sides of the dam.
In such cases the cables supporting the upper ed~e
of the flexible wall have to be connected to fixed points
at the same level of the top edge of the flexible wall or
at higher level above.
4-31 The basic principles governing the true selfsuppor-
ting water walls and water columns could be abbreviated
as follows:
lst- It is understood that the water pressure acting un-
derneath an inclined solid straight wall exerts a horizon-
tal outward pressure, and a vertical upward pressure pro-
portional to the inward inclination o~ said wall.
This fact holds true even when the straight solid
wall is replaced with a flexible, impermeable wall.
2nd- A water wall is a wall of water assuming basically
trapezoidal cross section shape resting upright on its lar-
ger base and retained upright with two opposite wall skins
tightly anchored at their lower edges to the base of the
water wall and connected at their upper edges to each other
to counterbalance the opposite outward water pressure ac-
ting on them.
3rd- To reduce the stresses acting on the opposite wall
skins retaining the water wall, rows of ties are connected
to the opposite wall skins at different heights and trans-
fer their loads to each other or to opposite points at the
base of the water wall or further beyond.
4th- In the case of flexible wall skins retaining the wa-
ter wall, the arches formed by the flexible wall skin are
balanced to have the direction of the resultant of the wa-
ter pressure forces acting on the flexible wall skin pass
CFD3-A 1-18
along the line of the anchoring ties tying the said flexi-
ble wall skins.
5th~ For the same size of flexible wall skins, the larger
is the number of rows of ties supporting the flexible wall
skins, the higher would be the resulting water wall.
6th- Unequal num~er o rows supporting the opposite fle-
xible wall skins upset the balance of the flexible wall
skins and tilt the water wall to the side with less suppor-
ting rows of anchoring ties.
7th- Water walls as described above could be used as dams
to replace solid conventional dams.
For waker wall dams in steep valleys, to have the
water wall tilting against the upstream direction, the fle-
xible wall skin on the downstream side should have larger
number of rows of~anchoring ties than the fle~ible wall skin
at the upstream side o~ the water wall.
This ~etting is also advantageous for water wall dams
in flat areas as it gives the water wall an advantage to
have it inclined against the upstream water pressure.
8th- A water wall dam as descxibed above could support
an e~ternal waterhead of approximately 9/10 of the height
of the water wall itself.
9th- The water walls have to be provided with a make-up
water supply to keep the water level of the water wall at
least 10% higher than the waterhead it supports.
lOth- Circular closed-in water walls are called water columns.
llth- Water columns use external rings to counterbalance
the opposite outward internal water pressure acting on them
instead of the rows of ties used on the water walls.
12th- The above mentioned rules will be referred to as the
Commonwealth Blind Water wall Rules and abbreviated as CBWR.
CF~3-A 1-19
4-32 (see Pl. 129) Plate 129 shows an upward selfsupporting,
single, flexible wall dam representing one side of the coun-
terbalanced flexible walls shown on Pl. 121 (see paragraphs
4-3 to 4-6), using the upward component of the internal
water pressure, pushing up on an upstream inclined flexi-
ble wall, retaining said water, to support said flexible
wall.
4-33 The water-retaining flexible wall is supported, at
intermediate points between the waterbed and the surface
of the water, with ties like no. 2, 3 extending upstream
and anchored to the waterbed.
Said ties are designed to have the direction of the
resultants o the forces acting on the arched flexible wall
pass all along through the ties themselves, so that these
ties would not generate any downward forces on the flexible
wall.
3-34 Usually, a residual, unbalanced, outward, horizontal
force remains, towards the upper half of the upper arch of
the flexible wall, which residual unbalanced force could
be supported by ties like no. 4 extending upstream.
4-35 On plate 121, opposite water-retaining ~le~ible walls,
similar to that shown on Pl. 129, are used, where said re-
sidual unbalanced horizontal forces towards the top of the
flexible walls are counterbalanced with each other, resulting
in an independent, selfsupporting flexible wall/water wall
dam, capable of supporting an external water head about the
same height o~ the water wall itself.
4-36 In the case where opposite counterbalanced flexible
walls are used as in Pl. 121, the ties of one wall could
be connected to the similar ties of the opposite wall to
counterbalance each other.
12~ 9~
CFD3-A 1-20
Rev. 1
However, for water walls with narrow base and large
comparative height, additional diagonal ties, internally
in between the opposite flexible walls or external to the
flexible walls, would have to be added, in that case, to
prevent the water wall from swa~ing laterally in one way
or the other.
4-37-~See Pl. 129 - Rev. 2) Plate 129, Rev. 2, shows
additional features generally used when the water retaining
structure is to be,used as a water gate that is destined to
be lifted up and lowered down frequently to allow the water
level inside the basin to rise and fall as needed.
4-38- ~n arched header cable like 4A, is used to collect the
loads ~rom the ti.es like No. ~ and transEer it to opPosite
supDorts away from the center of the water basin.
4-39~ To lower the flexible wall like No. 1, the arched header
cable is released at both ends which fact releases the top
edge of thë flexible wall ~nd allows it to fold down to the
water bed.
To raise the flexible wall No. 1, the opposite ends of the
arched header cable are pulled up, which fact pulls up with
it, the top edge of the flexible wall No. 1, which retains
the water inside the basin and help raising the water level
ins;de said basin.
4-40- Figure 1, on Pl. 129, Rev. 2, shows a plan view of the
arched header cable 4A, and the ties 4B.
The roll of the ties 4B, is to transfer the loads from the
upper edge of the flexible wall No. 1 to the arched header
cable like 4A.
~Iq ~
~L~a~18~5
CFD3-A 1-21
4-41- Generally the arched header cable like ~A, is
installed like an inclined suspended bridge cable where
the connection points C and D are at higher elevations
and further upstream than the rest of the arched cable.
4-42 -To allow the flexible wall to fold down and unfold
in regular pattern, the following measures are taken:
A - The ties like No. 2,3 are provided with
solid spacers in between their anchoring points
and connection with the cable beams like No. 7.
At the same time the cable beams like No. 7,
are equally provided with substantially horizon-
tal solid spacers in between the anchoring ties
like No. 2 and similiar spacers in between the
ties like No. 3.
B - In certain cases, the ties like No. 2,3 and
the supporting cable beams like No. 7, are re-
placed with solid members hinged at their points
of inter section.
4-43~ The solid spacers like 2A,3A, the same as the solid ties
replacing them~ are used to:
A - Allow the flexible wall No. 1, to fold down
and unfold in an inclined accordian pattern.
B - Support the flexible wall No. 1, until the
water pr~ssure behind the ~lexible wall builds
up and supports said flexible wall.
~i
CFD3-B 2-1
The present adjoint invention deals with flexible water
locks, water gates etc., generally used to allow navigation
of vessels in between basins of different water levels,
making use of the resultant upward water pressure pushing up
on an inclined wall retaining said water, to support said
wall, in a variety of systems ;
a) using interconnected opposite flexible walls retaining, in
between them, a water wall to support the outside water
pressure
b) using water filled closed in flexible mobile tubular
sections with controlled openings
c) using single flexible walls installed at the opposi.te
sides of the canal, mounted in certain cases on rails and
in other cases on opposite pi~oting shaEts
d) using single flexible walls rolled on upright sha~-ts
installed at the opposite sides of the canal and unro].ling
t.owards the center of th~ canal
e) using single flexible wall mounted on a horizontal shaft
installed transversally on the floor of the canal
f) using single flexible walls installed in an upright V
shape, anchored to the water bed, open back in an accor-
dian pattern, and close and interlock about the center of
the canal.
.
~ /
CFD3~B ~-2
2 PRIOR ART
2-1 The existing conventional water locks and water
gates present various disadvantages :
a) they are massive
b) it takes a long time to build them
c) they are costly to build
d) the water gates transfer their loads to the opposite
sides of the canal which fact requires massive
pillars on both sides of the canal to support them
e) the water gates open and close through the water with
open arms which fact causes the water to exert heavy
resistance to the moving gates and limits their speed.
2-2 The new invention described in the present patent
have numerous advantages over the existing conven-
tional solid water locks and water gates, namely :
a) they could be prefabricated and assembled on site in a
short period`of time
b) they could be removed and installed elsewhere and even
in a different pattern
c) they require much less material resulting in a lighter
weight
d) they open and close knifing through the water without
allowing the water to exert any substantial resistance to
their movement
e) some of the systems described in the new invention
transfer their loads to the floor of the canal ~eeping the
opposite sides of the ccnal unloaded, which ~act allows the
erection of water locks and water gates anywhere amid
water, eliminating the need of erecting heavy pillars on
both sides of the gates to support said gates.
2 7-
~2~
CFD3-B 2-3
3-1 DESCRIPTION OF THE lNV~N~l~10~ TH~OUGH THE D~AWINGS
I Plate 123. Pl. 123 shows two opposite sections of a
mobile flexible water gate, made of two opposite
counter balancing flexible walls, mounted on rails.
II Plate 124. Pl. 124 shows two opposite sections of a
water lock made of two opposite counter balancing
flexible walls mounted on substantially horizontal
pivoting shafts.
III Plate 125. Pl. 125 shows two opposite sections of a
water lock made of a cable supported flexible wall
inclined upstream.
The two opposite sides of the flexible water lock
could be mounted on rails and could be mounted on
substantially horizontal pivoting shafts.
IV Plate 126. P1. 126 shows two opposite sections oE an
inclined flexible water lock. Each section is rolled
on an upright shaft inclined upstream against the
water direction and supported with ties connected
upstream to the walls of the canal.
V Plate 127. Pl. 127 shows a flexible wall water lock
inclined upstream, supported with ties extending
upstream on a horizontal pivoting shaft.
VI Plate 128. Pl. 128 shows two opposite upright flexible
walls inclined upstream, supported with ties extending
upstream and pivoted at the center of the canal to open
in a V shaped pattern.
3-2 DESCRIPTION OF NUMBERED COMPONENTS
Plate 123
No. 1 Canal
No. 2 Housing canal for the mobile water gate
No. 3,~ Supply canals used to prefill the water gates prior
to the low water basin
No. 5,6 Opposite sections of the water gate
No. 7 Rails
No. 8 Pull-in cables
No. 9 Pull;out cables
'~ 3~
.. ,.;
CFD3-B 2-4
No. 10 Tongue and groove at the edyes of the housing canal
and the outer edge of the water gates to prevent
water leakage
No. 11 Flexible walls
No. 12 Loops at the lower ends of the flexible walls. The
water pressure forces said loops against the rails
and prevents water seepage.
Besides, said loops prevent the flexible walls, and
the structure attached to it, from sliding away.
No. 13 Cable beams at the top of the flexible walls
No. 14 Cable beams at the middle of the flexible walls
No. 15 Ties to supporting the cable beams No. 14. In
certain cases said ties connect the opposite cable
beams to each other to counter balance their forces
and in other cases said ties transfer their loads
to the water bed.
No. 16 Ties connecting the top cable beams to each other to
counterbalance their forces. ~dditional diagonal
ties are used in certain cases to prevent the water
wall from swaying one way or the other. Said
diagonal ties connect the upper parts of the flexible
walls to fixed points to prevent them from swaying.
No~ 17 Beams joining rails
No. 18, Saddle-shaped scructures to hold the opposite
& 19 flexible walls in place.
No. 20 Beams joining saddles
No. 21, Tension cables supporting the upper parts of the
& 22 water gate to compensate for the higher water level
required inside the water gate over the water level
inside the basin closed by the water gate.
No. 23 Pulleys around which cables Mo. 21 and 22 are rolled.
No. 24 Cables holding pulleys No. 23
No. 25 Gates on supply canals No. 3 and 4
Plate 124
No. 1,2 Same as on Plate 123
3,4,5,6
No. 7 Substantially horizontal pivoting shaft to allow the
opposite sections of the water gate to pivot up and
down in a door-like pattern.
No. 8 Pull-in cables
No. 9 Pull-out cables
~2~ 95;
CFD3-B 2--5
No. 10 Tongue and groove seal to prevent water seepage
No. 11-25 Same as on Plate 123
Plate 125
No. l-lQ Same as on Plate 124
No. 11-25 Same as on Plate 123o. 26 Points of connection of ties No. 16, supporting
the cable beams No. 13 to the pier.o. 27 Points of connection of ties supporting the
middle cable beams No. 14 to tha pier.
Plate 126
No. 1 Main navigation canalo. 2 Housing for the rolled flexible wallo . 3 Left roll of flexible wallo. 4 Right side roll of the flexible wallo. 5 Shaft around which t
he flexible wall is roll~do. 6 Block at the end of the left hand spiralo. 7 Block at the end o~ the right hand spixal
: The opposite blocks No . 6 and 7 a.re arbitrar.ily
ident.ified as left and right. One of them is
provided with the groove and the opposite one with
a tongue with means of interlocking once they
engage with each other and other means of
disengaging to set them apart.o. 8 Ties transferring the load from the left hand
flexible wall to points upstreamo~ 9 Ties transferring from the opposite right hand
flexible wall to points upstreamo. 10 Pull-out cables, used to pull the blocks No. 6
and 7, holdi.ng the flexible walls apart from each
other while the shafts No. 5 are turning to roll
the flexible wall around them.o. 11 Pull-in cables used to pull the blocks No. 6 and
7 towards each other.o. 12 Pulleys around which the pull-in and -out cables
are pulled.o. 13 Flapping tongue pressing against the flexible
walls, covering the shaft No. 5, to prevent
leakage behind the flexible walls.
To prevent leakage at the lower edge of the flex~
ible wall, use same system as on Plate 123.
,' ~ 0~ ~ ~
CFD3-B 2-6
Plate 127
No. 1 Main navigation canal
No. 2 Flexible water retaining wall
No. 3 Horizontal shaft around which the flexible wall
No. 2 is rolled. Said shaft is mounted in a lower
housing at the floor of the canal transversally
across the canal.
No. 4 Gears at the edges of the shaft No. 3 used to
operate said shaft
No. 5 Motorized chain to operate shaft No. 3
No. 6 Upper shaft holding the upper edge of the flexible
wall
No. 7 Cables to operate upper shaft
No. 8 Housing of the upper shaft and other equipment
No. 9 Pulleys over the casing No. 8 around which cables
No. 7 are rolled
No. 10 Ties transerri~g the water Eressure loacl~, from the
~lexibl~ wall No. 2 to areas upstream
No. 11 Sets o~ longitudinal rollers that would press over
the edges of flexible wall No. 2 to prevent slipping
out of the flexible wall due to the high water
pressure on it.
The upright edges of the flexible wall are pro~ided
with means to prevent them from slipping out
through the rollers No. 10 and eventuall~r allowins
the water to escape.
No. 12 Flapping tongue pressing on the flexible wall rolled
around the shaft No. 3 to prevent water leakage from
underneath the flexible wall.
Plate 128
No. 1 Canal
No. 2 Flexible walls
No. 3 Left upright post at the upright free edge of the
left flexible wall
No. 4 Right hand upright post at the upright free edge of
the right side flexible wall
No. 5 Pivot points for the upright posts, No. 3 and 4
No. 6 Right side housing area for the right side flexible
wall
No. 7 Left side housing area for the leit side flexible
wall
!
CFD3-B 2 7
No. 8 Floor of the canal
No. 9 Housing of the flexible walls below the floor of
the ~anal
No. 10 Pull-in cables for the left-hand flexible wall
No. 11 Pull-in cables for the right-hand flexi.ble wall
No. 12 Pull-out cables for the left-hand flexible wall
No. 13 Pull-out cables for the right-hand flexible wall
No. 14 Pulleys for pull-in cables
No. 15 Pulleys for pull-out cables
No. 16 Multi pulleys at top of the right-hand post, No. 4
No. 17 Multi pulleys at top of the left-hand post, No. 3
No. 18 Ties transfering the. loaas from the right-hand
flexible wall to points upstream
No. 19 Ties transfering the loads from the left-hand
flexible wall to points upstream
No. 20 Nigh water level
No. 21 Low water level
No. 22 Spring-loaded umbrella-type inclined pins
~ 7-
,~
CFD3-B 2-8
4 DETAILS
4-1 The present adjoint invention deals with flexible
wall water locks, water gates etc., generally
used to allow navigation of vessels in between basins of
different water levels, making use of the resultant
upward water pressure pushing up on an inclined wall
retaining said water, to support said wall, in a variety
of systems :
4~1-1 (See Plate 123~
One system of water gates consists of opposite
mobile sections, like No. 5 and 6, each of which is made
of opposite flexible walls, No. 11.
The upper edges of the opposite flexible walls, No. 11,
are inclined towards each other to form a substantially
trapizoidal cross-section resting on its larger base.
~ -1-2 Such a structure, when ~illed with water, uses
the upward water pressure, pushing up on the inclined
fle~ible walls to sustain itself upright and to sustain
an outside water pressure acting on it.
4-1-3 The opposite flexible walls, No. 11, axe kept
in place by means of solid saddles, No. 18 and 19,
mounted on rails, No. 7, capable of moving from and to
the center of the canal by means of the pull-in and pull-
out cables, No. 8 and 9, where the opposite sections of
the water gate engage and interlock with each other to
prevent water leakage, and to develop tension strenght
between each other to resist the upstream water pressure
that would be acting on them once the water level builds
up inside the water lock closed by said water gate.
4-1 4 To interlock the opposite water gate sections,
No. 5 and 6, said sections are built with tongue and
groove engaging ends, provided with engaging umbrella-
type pins that interlock the tongue and groove parts once
they engage in each other.
4-1-5 To open the water gate, the spring-loaded
umbrella pins are pulled back with a certain mechanism to
allow the tongue and groove sections to disengage from
each other.
The pu ll-out cables, No. 9, are activated to pull the
sections, No. 5 and 6, apart from each other along the
rails, No. 7, until they are confined in their housing
area/ No. 2.
-
CFD3-B 2-9
4-1-6 This system of water gates transfers the loads
due to the water pressure acting on khem, to the floor
of the canal via :
a) the rails
b) the loops, No. 12, at the lower end of the flexible
wall
c) add itional solid ties installed on the saddles and
moving with the saddles while engaging in their rails.
4-1-7 To give the water gate a better stability against
the outside water pressure, the floor carrying the rails
and the saddles above them, is made inclined against the
upstream water direction resulting in a water wall tilting
over the outside water column that it has to support,
which fact gives the water gate assembly an advantage
over the water pressure it has to support.
In this setting, the inclined supporting water wall
within the water gate is set in a way that the direction
of ~he resultant outside water pressure passes through the
middle third o~ the base of the water gate.
4-1-8 To build up the water wall inside the water gate,
the gates, No. 25, on the water supply canals, No. 3 and 4,
are opened to allow the water to build up a water wall
inside the water gate before that any water is allowed
inside the main water lock, No. l.
4-l-9 To compensate ~or the height of the water level
required in between the flexible walls, No. ll, over the
outside level in the water lock canal, No. 1, additional
tension cables are installed, No. 21 and 22, and connected
to higher points at the opposite sides of the canal to
give the water gate assembly an additional support
against the outside water pressure acting on it.
4-l-lO In certain cases, instead of using two opposite
flexible walls retaining a water wall between them, a
continuous tubular section is used with controlled open-
ings, which unit, when filled with water, acts like a
solid wall against the outside water pressuxe.
~-1-ll For more information see Chapter 3, Plate 123.
(Description of Numbered Components)
i~
~2~ S
CFD3-B 2-10
4-2-1 (See Plate 124)
A second system of water gates consists of opposite sec-
tions the same as described on Plate 123 with the diff-
erence that the opposite sections of the water gate, like
No. 5 and 6, are mounted on substantially horizontal
pivoting shafts, parallel to the center of the canal,
which shafts allow the opposite sections of the water
gate to open and close in a lift bridge pattern.
4-2-2 The opposite sections, No. 5 and 6, of the water
gate are operated to open and close by means of pull-in
cables, No. 8, and pull~out cables, No. 9.
4-2 3 Upon closing the opposite sections, No. 5 and 6,
engage with each other in a tongue and groove system and
interlock with each other to develop the full strenyth
needed to support the water column acting on said gate.
4-2-4 To open the said water gate, the pull-out cables,
No. 9, are activated and the opposite sections, No. 5
and 6, of the water gate are lifted up like a lift bridge
and allowed to set on its side in a secondary casing
canal, No. 2, provided for it outside the main naviga-
tion canal.
4-2-5 The pivoting shafts, No. 7, supporting the oppo-
site sections of the water gate, are inclined against the
upstream water direction. At the same time, the floor of
the water gate is also inclined against the upstream water
direction, resulting in a complete assembly of water gate
and a water wall inside it, all inclined against the up-
stream water direction. Such inclination is set to have
the resultant forces of the outside water pressure pass
throu~h the middle third of the base of the water gate and
the waterwall retained by said water gate.
4-2-6 This setting gives an advantage to the water gate
and the water wall it retains over the outside water
pressure.
4-2-7 The opposite sections of the water gate are also
sustained by means of ties, (not shown), connected at
different levels of the water gate and transfer their loads
to points upstream.
4-3-1 (See Plate 125)
A third water gate system consists of opposite upright
sections, No. 5 and 6, each of which is made of a single
flexible wall, No. 11, mounted on a solid saddle, No. 18
and 19.
- 3~ ~
S
CFD3-B 2-11
4~3-2 In certain cases, the assembly of the flexible wall
and the saddle holding it in place, is mounted on rails
that allows it to roll to and from the center of the canal
and in other cases said assembly is mountecl on a substan-
tially horizontal shaft, No. 7, parallel to the center of
the canal, that allows it ip open and close in a lift
bridge pattern.
4-3-3 The water gate sections, No. 5 and 6, are operated
to open and close, hy means of pull-in and pull-out cables,
No. 8 and 9, that are c ~trolled by mechanisms outside the
water.
4-3-4 The shafts, No. 7, and the base of the water gate
are inclined against the upstream water direction.
This setting allows the retained water to push up on the
retaining flexible wall and support it.
4-3-5 The flexible walls of the water gate transfer the
loads acting on them d~e to the outside water pressure,
by means of ties to points upstream.
~-q-l ~ fourth system of water gates consists of opposite
sections of flexible walls, No. 3 and 4, rolled around
upright shafts, No. 5, mounted at the opposite sides of
the canal and operated by pull-in cables, No. 11, and
pull-out cables, No. 10.
4-4-2 To close the water gate, the opposite rolled flexi-
ble walls are pulled in towards each other by means of
the pull-in cables, No. 11, that are connected to the
blocks, No. 6 and 7, which blocks, upon reaching each
other, they engage in tongue and groove fashion and inter-
lock with each other to develop the tension strength
required to resist the outside water pressure.
4-4-3 The lower edges of the flexible walls are ending
with a loop increasing its cross-section. When subjected
to water pressure, the massive loops sgueeze in between
the rails housing them and prevent water leakage below the
flexible wall.
At the same time, the loops act as an anchoring means to
prevent the lower edges of the flexible walls from slipping
out under the water pressure acting on them.
4-~-4 The flexible walls transfer the water pressure loads
acting on them to points upstream, by means of ties, No. 8
and 9, connected to the flexible walls, No. 3 and 4, at
different levels between the waterbed and the surface of
the water.
1895
CFD3-B 2-12
4-5-1 See Plate 127
A fifth water gate system consists of a flexible wall, No.
2, rolled around a substantially horizontal shaft, No. 3,
mounted in a special housing transversally across the canal
below the floor level oE the canal.
4-5-2 Said water gate s~stem opens by unrolling the
flexible wall, No. 2, pulling it up by means of the pull~
up cables, No.7.
4-5-3 The opposite upright edges of the flexible wall
are made of a larger section than the main flexible wall
and are made to pass through an upright slot along their
line of operation which fact, forces the edges of the
flexible walls to squeeze against the slot and prevent leak-
age. Besides, this system acts as an anchoring means to
the upright edges of the flexible wall.
4-5-4 Another system to prevent water leakage is by means
of upright rollers, No. 11, on both sides of the flexible
wall that when activated, press against the flexible wall
to prevent water leakage.
4-5-5 To prevent leakage at the floor of the canal, a
flexible plate, No. 12, is fastened to the floor of the
canal.Under the water pressure, it presses over the rolled
flexible wall, No. 2, to prevent water leakage underneath
the flexible wall.
4-5-6 The flexible wall transfers the water pressure
loads acting on it to points upstream by means of ties, No.
10, connected to the flexible wall.
4-6-1 See Plate 128
sixth water gate system consists of opposite flexible
walls, No. 2, with their lower edges substantially sealing-
ly anchored to the water bed and open and close in a V
patter folding back in an accordian shape towards the
opposite sides of the canal, No. 1, extending through
housings, No. 6 and 7, provided for them inside the oppo-
site walls of the canal.
4-6-2 To obtain the largest clearance of the canal, with
the minimum angle of aperture of the V posts, No. 3 and 4,
said posts forming the V structure have their pivoting
points, No. 5, at a level below the floor of the canal.
4-6-3 The V shaped flexible water gate is installed in a
plan inclined forward against the upstream water direction.
This setting allows the retained water column to push up
on the retaining flexible wall and support it.
L~
~18~
CFD3-B 2-13
4-6-4 The flexible wall water gate transfers the water
pressure loads acting on it to points upstream by means
of ties, No. 18 and 19.
4-6-5 To close the V shaped water gate, the pull-in
cables , No. 10 and 11., are activated from around the
pulleys, No. 14, 16 and 17, by means of mechanisms locat-
ed outside the water until the V posts, No. 3 and 4 t
come to close by engaging and interlocki~g with each other
to close the gate.
4-6-6 To open the V shaped gate, the pull-out cables,
No. 12 and 13, are activated from around the pulleys, No.
15, by means of outside mechanisms located outside the
water until the V posts, No. 3 and 4, are far apart to the
required location, leaving enough open clearance in the
canal to allow passage of the navigating vessels.
4-6-7 The pull- in cables, No. 10 and 11, are un.rolled
further and allowed to slacken down to rest at the floor
of the canal to prevent any interEerence with passing
vessels.
- 3 3
~
~z~ s
CFD3-C 3-1
1- ABSTRACT
The present adjoint invention deals with open, upright,
selfsupporting, flexible wall dams, reservoirs and columns
used for holding liquids, using the upward component of the
liquid pressure pushing up on an inward tilting flexible wall
that retains said liquid, which liquid in return supports
the retaining flexible wall in question.
-3 y-
~2C~
CFD3-C 3-2
2- PRIOR ART
2-1 For open top liquid reservoirs, the industry uses
generally solid wall circular tanks, mostly cylindrical
shapes, usually built of steel plates, assembled and welded
on the job siteO
2-2 For open, shallow, liquid reservoirs, including above
ground swimming pools, the industry makes use of solid struc-
tures to form the outer wall of the reservoir and a flexible
impe -a~le membrane liner installed inside the solid struc-
ture, where the flexible impermeable membrane retains the
water, while the solid outer wall supports the flexible lining.
2-3 The disadvantages of the large s~eel reservoirs are:
A- The steel plates are too heavy.
B- The assembling and welding operation is costly and
time consuming.
C- Most of the liquids to be stored are corrosive and
the steel has very low resistance against corrosion.
D- Once a tank is built in place it could not be moved
to another location and remains as a dead investment etc.
2-4 The disadvantages of the shallow liquid reservoirs
using a flexible liner supported by a solid structural wall
are:
A- The cost of the solid structural wall constitutes 80
of the total cost of the reservoir.
B- The solid structure is cumbersome and requires time
and skill to install and to dismantle.
C- In the case of swimming pools, the solid structure
requires a large storage space in winter etc.
2-5 The present adjoint invention deals with all flexible,
generallv boneless reservoirs that could be:
A- Prefabricated in the shop, rolled and transported to
site.
-3 ~ ~
CFD3-C 3-3
B- Could be sat in position in a very short time.
C- Could be used in one area, then emptied, rolled and
transported again to another site.c
D- For storage of corrosive liquids, the solid steel tanks
could corrode in a very short period of time, while the
rubberized flexible reservoirs are usually immune to corrosion.
E- The overall cost of the all flexible reservoirs is about
25% of either the solid steel tanks or the shallow reservoirs
with solid outside walls and flexible liners inside them.
--3`~-
, ~ . ~.,
~.
.
~L2~ 9S
CFD3-C 3-4
3-- DESCRIPTION OF THE lN~ N~l~lON THROUGH THE D.RAWINGS.
3-1 GENERAL
~- Plate 130 shows a continuous, closed-in, upright, open
top flexible reservoir for liquids, having its outex wall
consisting of a water wall retained in between two opposite
flexible walls.
II- Plate 131 shows a continuous, closed-in, upright, open
top conic shape flexible reservoir for liquids, resting on
its larger base, having its outer wall consisting of a single
flexible plate wall restrained with solid rings at its base
and supported at its top edge with solid ring connected to
the base rings with radial solid ties.
Pl. 132, 133 and 134 are not part of this text.
III- Plate 135 shows a continuous, closed-in, upright, open
top boneless flexible reservoir for liquids r having its outer
wall consisting of a flexible, impermeable, inextensible
single plate wall supported all around with a grid of fle-
xible rings interconnected with each other.
IV- Plate 136 shows a continuous, closed-in, upright, long-
itudinal, open top flexible reservoir for liquids, using solid
supports and ties for its single o~ter skin flexible wall.
- 37
~ ,~
~26~ 9$
CFD3-C 3-5
3-2 DETAIL OF NUM~ERED COMPON~NTS.
PLATE 130
l- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible, upright wall
forming the outer skin of the water wall.
2- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible, upright wall
forming the inner skin of the water wall.
3- Main sole of the reservoir.
4- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible wall used as a
lining covering the whole internal part of the reservoir.
5- Outer ring supporting the outer flexible wall no. l.
6- Inner ring supporting the inner flexible wall no.2.
7- T.ie connecting the outer flexible wall no. l to the
base of the reservoir.
8- Tie connecting the inner flexible wall no. 2 to the
base of the reservoir.
9- Diagonal ties connecting the opposite skins of the water
wall to each other.
10-- Diagonal ties joining the upper rings of the flexible
walls at opposite points.
11- Ties joining the top edges of the opposite flexible
walls no. l and 2.
12- Guy ropes connecting the upper edges of the flexible
wall no. 1 to outside diagonal points to prevent the whole
flexible structure from swaying one way or the other.
13- Transversal separation flexible walls, used to create
different chambers in the water wall and as internal stiffeners.
14- Horizontal ties joining the opposite flexible walls
no. 1 and 2 at different levels.
15- Outer solid ring at top of the outer flexible wall no. l.
16- Inner ring at top of the inner flexible wall no. ~.
- 3~-
~l2V18~3~
CFD3-C 3-6
PLATE 131
1- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible wall forming the
outer skin of the liquid reservoir.
2- Solid ring at the base of the reservoir, inside the
flexible wall no. 1.
3- Solid ring superimposed over the ring no. 2 from out-
side the flexible wall no. 1.
4- Solid ring at the top of the reservoir joining the up-
per edge of the flexible wall no. 1.
5- High tensile strength rope inside the top solid ring
no. 4
6- Radial ~olid ti~s connecting the top rin~ no. ~ to
the lower ring no. 3. Their main role is to give stability
to the reservoir and to prevent it from swaying one way or
the other.
In the case where the diameter of the upper ring is
not much smaller than the diameter of the base rings and the
conic reservoir approaches the shape of a cylinder, the ra-
dial solid members no. 6 act as compression structural mem-
bers to support the top ring no. ~ which would be supporting
the increasing downpull caused by the flexible wall no. 1.
7- Clamps holding the upper base ring no. 3 over the lower
base ring no. 2 with the flexible wall no. 1 squeezed in
between the two rings.
8- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible membrane tightly
connected to the upper edge of the reservoir, playing the
role of a floating roof on reservoirs used for storing hydro
carbons and volatile fluids in general.
~- Weights distributed over the membrane no. 8 to prevent
it from inflating with the least gas/vapour pressure from
inside the reservoir.
r- 3 ~
~Z~L8~S
CFD3-C 3-7
At the same time, the floating roof membrane has to
be provided with drainage means to prevent the rainwater
from accumulating over the floating roof and eventually
seeping in through the reservoir.
PLATE 135
1- Flexible, impermeable, inextensible wall, forming the
outer skin of the reservoir.
2, 3, 4, 5- Circular flexible grid all around the reservoir,
consisting of circular rings at different levels, connected
to each other with transversal ties like no. 8 to keep the
rings equidistant from each other.
The role of the lower ring no. 2 is to prevent the
upper rings no. 3, ~ 5 ~rom sliding up.
6- Top ring joining the upper edge of the flexible wall
no. l.
7- Diagonal ties joining opposite si~es of thç lower ring
no. 2 to each other.
8- Transversal ties connecting the rings no. 2, 3, 4, 5
to each other.
9- Water level inside the reservoir.
10- Sets of flexible inflated tubes all around the top
edge of the reservoir to prevent the upper edge of the fle-
xible wall no. 1 from sinking down into the water, under
little concentrated outside pressure and allowing the water
of the reservoir to overflow.
ll- Diagonal guy ropes internal or external used in certain
cases to prevent the structure from swaying one way or the
other.
12- Solid closed hollow ring used, in certain cases, as
a buoyant to support and stiffen the top edge of the fle-
xible wall.
13- Radial solid legs connected to the top solid ring~
~ ~0~
~LZ0~8~5;
CFD3-C 3-8
no. 12 to give lateral stability to the structure and pre-
vent the top ring from dipping into the wate:r under heavy
external pressure.
PLATE 136
1 to 10- Same as on Pl. 135.
11- Middle right solid arches.
12- Top right solid arch.
13- Top left solid arch.
14- Middle left solid arches.
15- Left upright solid supports.
16- ~ight upri~ht solid supports.
17- Horizontal solid ties joining the suppoxts no. 15, 16.
18- Flexible ties transferring the outward water pressure
acting on the flexible wall outer skin no. 1 to the solid
arches 11, 12, 13, 14.
These flexible ties are continuous, extending trans-
versally underneath the reservoir from one side of the re-
servoir to the opposite side.
19- Tendons joinin~ the ends of the solid arches 11, 12,
13, 14, used as reinforcement to said arches.
h-maximum height of liquid inside the flexible reservoir.
r-radius of curvature that the flexible wall skin develops
under the water head pressure inside the reservoir.
~ y/ _
-r~
~2~
CFD3-C 3- 9
4- DETAILS.
~-1 PI,ATE 13 0
4-1-1 Plate 130 shows a large open top basically circular
liquid reservoir.
4-1-2 The outer wall of this reservoir consists of an upright
water wall retained in between two opposite flexible walls
like no. 1,2 built in the same pattern as described in CFD3-A
(see text CFD3-A and Pl. 121).
4-1-3 The interior of the reservoir is lined with a flexible,
impermeable membrane like no. 4 covering the whole internal
part of the reservoir.
~ The opposite flexible walls, like no. 1 and 2, are
supported with flexible rings like no. 5 and 6 at different
levels between the waterbed and the surface of the water.
4-1-5 The resulting reservoir is stabilized with horizontal
diagonal ties like no. 10 and inclined transversai ties (not
shown) connecting opposite sides of the reinforcing rings like
no. 5 and 6, 15, 16 etc. at different levels o the reservoir.
4-1-6 Besides, the upper rings like no. 15 joining the top
edge of the outer flexible wall are connected to guy ropes
like no. 12, anchored to diagonally outside points.
For bet*er stiffness, the ring no. 15 is made of solid
sections joined to each other to give a better firm top edge
to the flexible wall.
4-2 PLATE 131
4-2-1 Plate 131 shows an open top basically circular conic
liquid reservoir resting on its larger base.
4-2-2 The outer skin of this reservoir is made of a single,
flexible, impermeable, inextensible wall like no. 1 built
in the same pattern as described for the reservoir shown on
Pl. 122, sec~ion CFD3-A.
~L2~
CFD3-C 3-10
4-2-3 The base of the present flexible reservoir is restrained
with multi solid circular rings like no. 2 and 3 clamped with
clamps like no. 7 to keep the base of the reservoir standing
flat and firm on the ground.
4-2-4 The upper edge of the flexible wall like no. 1 is con-
nected to a solid ring like no. ~ which is of a smaller dia-
meter than the rings no. 2 and 3 situated at the base of the
reservoir.
4-2-5 The upper ring like no. 4 is connected to the lower
ring like no. 3 by means of solid ties like no. 6, which role
is :
A- To keep the upright reservoir stable and prevent it
from swaying one way ox the other.
B- To keep the reservoir in the same shape, being full
or empty.
C- To support the flexible wall like no. 1, while the
reservoir is being filled with liquid, before that the liquid
level is high enough to create liquid pressure on the inward
inclined outer skin of the reservoir, enough to push up the
outer skin of the reservoir and support it.
4-2-6 For reservoirs destined to hold volatile, inflammable
liguids the upper edge of the reservoir is tightly covered
with a flexible, impermeable, inextensible membrane like no.
8, tailored oversize, playing the role of a floating roo~,
so that when the reservoir is empty, the membrane no. 8 would
sag into the reservoir without allowing the air to filter
underneath the membrane and mix with the gases produced at
the surface of the contained inflammable liquids which fact
could create a fire hazard inside the reservoir.
When the reservoir is being filled with liquid, the
liquid would push up the membrane no. 8 which could remain
spread at the surface of the liguidO
~ ~7L 3
~2~
CFD3-C 3-11
4~2-7 To prevent that the heat from the sun causes evaporation
at the surface of the liquid which could push up the membrane
no. 8 to form a dome filled with flammable gases at the sur-
face of the reservoir, the said membrane is loaded with cer-
tain weights to prevent it from lifting up easily at the sligh-
test vapour pressure underneath.
4-2-8 The ~lexible membrane floating roof no. 8 is provided
with drainage means to drain the rainwater and other liquids
that could accumulate at the surface of the said membrane~ to
prevent said water from seeping through and form a dangerous
mixture with the hydro carbons.
4-3 PLATE 135
4-3-1 Plate 135 shows a large, boneless, open top, basically
circular, conic liquid reservoir resting on its laryer base.
4-3-2 The outer skin of this reservoir is made of a single,
flexible, impermeable, inextensible wall like no. l built in
the same pattern as described for the reservoir shown on
Pl. 122, section CFD3-A.
4-3-3 In certain cases, the outer skin flexible wall like
no. 1 is supported with a flexible grid, consisting of multi
flexible rings li}ce no. 2,3,4, and 5 at different levels be-
tween the base of the reservoir and the surface of the water.
The rings are interconnected with transversal ties li]ce
no. 8 to keep them equidistant from each other.
4~3-4 The diameter of the ring no. 2 is made smaller than the
diameter of the base of the reservoir and is located under-
neath said base, said ring is connected at opposite points
with diagonal ties like no. 7. The role o~ the ring no. 2
is to prevent the upper rings like no. 2,3,4 and 5 from sliding
up along the outer skin of the reservoir.
. ~
~ 4-3-5 The diameter of the upper rings like no. 3,4 and 5
8~3~
CFD3-C 3-12
are made calculated in a way to have balanced curvatures of
the membrane in between said rings (see text CFD3-A and Pl.
121 and 122)o
4-3-6 By using rings like no. 3,4 and 5 we would be able
to raise the water level in the same reservoir.
4-3-7 The more rings are used like no. 3,4 and 5, the higher
could be the water level in the same reservoir.
4-3-8 By el;m;n~ting the grid of rings completely, the water
level in the same reservoir would fall in certain cases about
20% from its original height.
4-3-9 At the same time, by eliminating the said rings, the
outer skin flexible wall like no. 1 would have to be made
~tronger to withstand the water pressure acting on it.
4-3-10 In certain cases, the grid of rings could be made in
a form of reinforcing belts that make part of the grid itself.
4-3-11 The upper edge of the outer skin of the reservoir is
provided with an additional flexible ring like no. 6.
4-3-12 Besides, the upper edge of the flexible wall outer
skin of the reservoir is provided with inflatable rings to
keep the top edge of the skin high above the suxface of the
water and prevent it from dipping into the water at the least
pressure and allowing the water to overflow~over the top edge
of the reservoir.
4-3-13 Although the resulting conic reservoir with its large
base is generally stable from swaying in one way or the other,
it would be an additional safety, to add guy ropes connected
to the upper rings of the grid like no. 5 and extended ra-
dially to be anchored to points outside the reservoir.
4-3-14 The advantage of the boneless, flexible reservoir in
question is that it could be folded and transported from
place to place and unfolded and filled easily without the
complexity that accompanies the solid wall reservcirs.
.~
..9~i
CFD3-C 3-13
4-3-15 In certain cases the top edge of the flexible wall
skin is connected to a solid closed lightweight-,ring like
no. 12 made to float on the surface of the water.
4-3-16 The solid ring like no. 12 is provided with solid
lightweight buoyant legs like no. 13 extending radially
to the waterbed fl~or in certain cases inside and in other
cases outside the liquid reservoir.
The solid floating ring no. 12 with its legs no. 13
are used:
A) To prevent the top edge of the flexible wall skin
from sagging into water it retains, under external pressure.
B) To give the whole structure a lateral stabilit,y against
swaying.
C) The buoyancy forces of the ring and its legs add to
the uplifting support of the general structure.
D) Helps supporting the flexible wall skin during the
liquid filling operation until the water pressure itself
would get to support said flexible wall skin.
4-3-17 In certain cases, when a longitudinal rese~rvoir is
needed instead of a circular one the design of the conic
circular structure is altered as follows:
A) The structure described on Pl. 135 is considered as
being sawn vertically along its diameter line.
B) The opposite sections are moved for a distance apart.
C) Two opposite solid ties similar to the ring no. 12
are made to join the opposite sections of the rings no. 12
to each otherO
D) Minimum of four solid radial legs like no. 13 are
installed at the intersections of the ring sections no. 12
with their new joining ties.
E) An additional flexible wall skin is made to join the
bisected flexible wall all around.
3~2~
CFD3-C 3-14
Said additional flexible wall skin is supported at
its top edge by the additional solid ties that were made
to join the bisected solid rings no. 12. At the same time
the bisected rings like no. 2, 3, 4, 5 are connected to
each other to support the added flexible wall.
4-3-18 The internal outward water pressure exerted on the
added longitudinal section is counterbalanced by the solid
half rings resulting at the opposite ends of the longitu-
dinal reservoir.
4-3-19 When possible, the added longitudinal solid sections
are connected to each other with direct transversal ties
across the reservoir to counterbalance the Eorces acting
on them.
4-3-20 For reservoirs destined to hold volatile, inflammable
liquids the upper ed~e of the reservoir is tightly covered
with a flexible, impermeable, inextensible membrane like
no. 15, Pl. 135, tailored oversize, playing the role of a
floating roof.
4-3-21 When the reservoir is empty the flexible membrane
cover would sag into the reservoir without allowing the
air to filter into the reservoir.
4-3-23 The flexible membrane cover is prevented from bubb-
ling out by means of loads kept over said membrane cover.
4-3-23 At the same time, the said flexible cover is pro-
vided with drainage means to drain any rain water accumu-
lating over said cover.
- ~?-
.~,
CFD3-C 3-15
4-4 PLATE 136
4-4-1 Plate 136 shows a longitudinal ~lexible wall partly
selfsupporting, open top reservoir built basically in the
same way as the reservoir descri~ed on Pl. 135 with the
additional longitudinal part of the reservoir added as if
the circular reservoir described on Pl. 135 was sawn verti-
cally, the two halves were moved a certain distance apart
and an additional section of flexible wall was made to join
the space in between the two sawn and separated sections of
the original reservoir shown on Pl. 135.
4-4-2 At the same time, the grid of rings like no. 3, 4, 5,
6 connected to each other by means of additional solid ar-
ches like no. 11, 12, 13, 14 bridging the gap between the
two separated halves of the original reservoir.
4-4-3 The solid arches are designed to support the outward
water pressure transferred through the outer skin of the
reservoir to the typical transversal ties like no. 18 that
are connected to said solid arches.
4-4-4 Said solid arches like no. 11, 12, 13, 14 are further
strengthened with tension tendons like no. 19 connecting
the opposite edges of each arch to help said arches support
the stresses transferred to them through the transversal
ties like no. 18.
4-4-5 Besides, the solid arches like no. 11, 12, 13, 14 are
held in place by means of upright solid structures like no.
15, 16 which are joined together by the solid tension member
no. 17.
4-4-6 The typical tension structural member like no~ 17 is
used to counterbalance the outward water pressure acting on
the opposite parallel ~lexible walls of the longitudinal re-
servoir in question.
~ y&~-
s
CFD3-C 3-16
4-4-7 Apart from this, the top edge of the flexible wall for-
ming the outer skin of the reservoir is, in certain cases,
ended with inflatable tubular sections to help keep said
top edge floating higher than the surace of the water, and
in other cases, the top edge of the flexible wall is attached
to little buoys, cork, foam, wooden pieces or the like, to
keep the top edge of the flexible wall floating slightly
higher than the surface of the water, so preventing the water
from overflowing over the sagging top flexible edge of the
reservoir~
4-4-8 For the supporting rings like no. 3, 4, 5, it would
give a better result if said rings are built in in the fle-
xible wall like no. 1.
This fact prevents the supporting rings from sliding
horizontally and vertically along the back of the flexible
wall skin, and as a result the water level obtained inside
the reservoir ~ould be slightly higher than if said suppor~ing
rings would have been allowed to slide along the skin of the
reservoir.
4-4-9 Besides, it would be preferrable to have the supporting
rings made of flat belts to reduce the shearing effect of
the belts against the flexible wall skin.
4-4~10 As a rule of thumb the relation between the level of
the water (h) inside the reservoir and the radius of curva-
ture (r) that the 1exible membrane skin forms under the
water pressure is approximately in the relation of 4 to 5
or h/r ~4/5.
However, this relation is subject to many variables,
namely:
A- The stiffness of the flexible wall skin.
,1~ ?i
B- The number of supporting rings around the flexible
_ y~
CFD3-C 3-17
wall skin.
C- The spacing between the supporting rings.
D- The tightness of the supporting rings around the fle-
xible wall skin.
E- The overall diameter of the reservoir and the water
head inside it.
F- The density of the liquid inside the reservoir etc.
~ ~0 ~
!~. `,
.~
9s
CF~ 4-2
Rev.l
2-PRIOR ART
2-1 To restrain the flow of water in a certain water
course, the teGhnology uses so far solid barriers of
different sorts. Also, air inflated flexible portable
barriers are used to a certain extent for very low water
head operations, as to divert a water course or the like.
2-2 The solid water barriers like dams, dykes, etc. are
costly, heavy weight and time consuming.
On the other hand, the air inflated barriers, are limited
to temporary and very low water head operations.
2-3 Besides, for water gates, operating in sub zero
temperature, a heat source have to be provided to prevent
ice formation around the mobile parts oE said water gates
and keep it operational.
~-4 The present adjoint invention uses light weight
flexible dams that have the following advantages:
A- Simple, flexible uniform surface usable for low and
high water heaa operations.
B- Instead of using mechanical energy to close and open
the water co~rse r it uses, when possible, the water pressure
:Erom a higher elevation to raise the closed-in flexible
barrier.
C- Instead of using heat sources to prevent the ice
formation, it uses water circulation passing through the
closed-in barrier to keep the water flowing through and the
flexible barrier warm enough due to the water circulation,
to stay flexible.
D- It is provided with an efficient anchoring system
that makes it easy to install and to dismantle and re-install
in another location without any major adjustment.
~V~1~395
CFD3-D 4-3
Rev.l
3- DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION THXOUG~I T~E DRAWINGS.
3-1
I- Plate 136, showing a plan view of t:he flexible
membrane water barrier basically shown on Pl.129 ana 121,
folded and anchored to the waterbed with water inlets and
outlets.
II- Plate 137 showing a section view of the water barrier
~ shown on Pl. 136.
3-~ DESCRIPTION OF NUMBERED COMPONENTS.
3-2-1 PLATE 136
No. 1- Flexible impermeable inextensible plate tailored and
joined together to orm the water barrier.
2- Lon~.itudinal channel made in the waterbed in the
shape of the letter "C" with its opening oriented upwards,
used to anchor the flexible wall No. 1, to the waterbed by
means of long.itudinal pieces like No. 3, inserted in-
dividually to inter lock over the flexible wall inside the
"C" channel.
3- Multi long itudinal blocks, inserted individually
~J inside the "C"~channel No. 2, to squeeze the flexible wall
,
No~ 1, inside the said channel.
4- Long itudinal blocks inserted towards the end of the
flexible wall No. 1, outside the blocks No. 3, to prevent
thë flexible wall from slipping through in between the "C"-
channel No. 2, and the squeezing blocks No. 3.
5,6~ Joint blocks that could be of concrete or the like
used to connect one end of the flexible wall No. 1, to a
pier or to one edge of the water course. Said piers usually
comprise tunnels allowing water inlets and outlets after
passing through the tubular shape flexible wall.
.,~
.
895
CFD3-D 4 ~
Rev.l
The main role of the water flowing through the tubular
flexible wall, is to prevent the water from freezing
inside the flexible wall.
7- Water inlet control openings.
8- Water outlet control openings.
9- Electric generating turbines.
PLATE 137
3-2-2 Plate 137, Description of n~bered components.
No. 1,2,3,4 - Same as on Plate 136.
5- Keys in the form of wavy surface on the waterbed
used to give the flexible wall No. 1 r higher resistance
against sliding away.
6- Liquid, usually water filling the closed in,tub-
ular, flexible wall No. 1.
7- Water level retained and supported by the flexible
wall No. 1.
8- Flexible hard shield over the water retaining flex-
ible wall No. 1, to protect it from being sheared by the
ice blocks passing over it.
9- Additional reinforcement added inside the flexible
wall along the hinging line to counter balance the fatigue
that could happen where the flexible wall tubular unit is
subject to frequent opening and closing operations by
being frequently filled and emptied like in the case of a
water gate.
10- Concentric solid tubular conduits in between the in-
let opening No. 7 and the outlet opening No. 8.
11- Set of super imposed closed in flexible envelopes
shown in Fig. 3.
. .;
~ 53 -
~ZO~L~39~
CFD3-D ~-5
Rev.l
A - Front envelope.
B - Middle envelope.
C - Rear envelope.
D - Anchoring line of front edge of the front envelope.
E - Mixed anchoring line for front and middle envelope.
F - Anchoring line of middle and rear envelope.
G - Anchoring line of rear edge of the rear envelope.
Fig. 1, shows the flexible wall like No. 1, made of flat
open flexible wall folded and installed in place.
Fig. 2, same as Fig. 1, except that it is made with closed
in all around tubu1ar structure.
Fig. 3, shows a set o~ fluid ~illed super imposed flexible
envelopes tightly anchored to the waterbed.
.:
c ._~
~20~1395
~CFD`3`-D 4-6
Rev.l
~)~'i'~LS
4-1 (See Pl. 136, Pl. 137)
The present adjoint invention uses flexible, im-
permeable, inextensible plate like number onej similax
to the one used in CFD3-A, Pl. 129, where said plate is
folded to have its opposite longitudinal ends tightly
anchored to the waterbed.
4-2 Ther, said opposite edges are anchored to the
waterbed by being inserted in a longitudinal channel,made
in the waterbed, having the shape of the letter "C" with
its opening oriented upwards like No. 2.
4-3 Following that, longitudinal solid blocks like
No. 3, are inserted in mouth pieces over the :Eolded ~lex~
ible wall like No. 1 inside the "C" shaped channel like
No. 2, where the longitudinal blocks interlock with each
other and squeeze the folded flexible wall inside the "C"
channel leaving it tightly and firmly anchored to the
waterbed through the said channel.
4-4 To prevent the anchored edges of the flexible wall
No. 1 from slipping out in between the "C" shaped channel
No. 2 and the squeezer blocks No. 3, the said anchored
edges are made to extend for a distance beyond the squeezer
blocks like No. 3 and then are rolled in opposite direction
around secondary longitudinal blocks, like No. 4, and are
left to extend down and be squeezed in between the "C"
channel and the squeezer blocks like No. 3.
4-5 In certain cases, the opposite anchored edges of
the flexible wall No. 1 are tightly joined to each other
to form a continuous closed in tubular unit.
In such case the secondary blocks like No. 4 are
-ps simply inserted at the end of the tubular flexible unit,
; be~ond the squeezer blocks No. 3, where they prevent ~he
B~S
CFD3-D 4_7 ~
Rev.l
longitudinal closed edge of the flexible wall from slip-
~ ~' . 7' . ~
ping through.4-6 To make the opposite anchored edges of the flex-
ible wall better water tight, the opposite folds of the
wall No. 1, that are inserted and squeezed inside the
"C" channel, are cemented to each other to prevent water
sipage in between the adjac~nt plys of the flexible wall.
4-7 In certain cases the resulting flexible tubular
structure is anch*red to the waterbed through multi "C"
shaped longitudinal channels like that described in para-
graphs 4-2 to 4-6.
4-8 The opposite open ends of the resulting tubular
flexible structure are tightly and firmly fastened to
solid piers like No. 5, No. 6.
Said piers are provided with internal openings
that serve as water inlets like No. 7 and outlets like
No. 8 to concentric tubular conduits like No. 10, inside
the already closed in flexible tubular structure.
4-9 The piers like No. 5 are provided with a water
inlet opening on the upstream side, while the piers like
No. 6 are provided with water outlet openings on the down
stream side of the structure.
4-.10 The water is allowed to flow continuously through
the concentric hard conduits like No. 10, to prevent the
water from freezing inside the flexible wall.
4-11 The inlet and outlet openings like No. 7, No. 8
are designed to allow the regulation of the water flow in
and out of the concentric tubular structure.
The outer, closed tubular flexible wall, like No.l
is provided with sep.-arate water inlets (X) and outlets
(Yl, not shown, used to inflate and deflate said tubular
_ 5~, _
~Z~8gS
CFD3-~ 4-8
Rev. 1
flexible wall.
To lower the water level retained by the said
tubular flexible wall, the outlet openings like tY) are
enlarged and the inlet openings like (X) are partially
closed, which fact deflates the water filled tubular
structure and allows the water in the basin to flow over
the deflated tubular structure.
4-12 To raise the level of water in the basin, both
inlet and outlet openings like (X and Y) are closed and
water is allowed inside the flexible tubular structure
through a separate opening, from a higher elevation to in-
flate the flexible tubular structure to the re~uired level
so retaining behind .it a higher water head.
4-13 In case there is no water source available at
higher elevation, to inflate the flexible tubular struct-
ure, then water would be pumped in to inflate the tubular
flexible structure to the required level.
4-14 Electric generating turbines like No. ~, could be
installed at the outlet openings like No. 8, to harness
the hydro enexgy created by the water head in the basin.
5-15 To give a better stability to the water filled
tubular water barrier, the base upon which said water bar-
rier rests, is made inclined towards the upstream direction,
in a way to have the direction of the resultant forces of
the water pressure, acting on the water filled tubular flex-
i~le wall, pass through the middle third of the base upon
wh~ch said tubular water barrier rests.
4-16 To create a better grip between the water filled
tubular water retainer and the water bed base upon which it
rests, said waterbed base is made in a wavy surface (see
i,
.~b ~ Pl. 137, No. 5~ to reduce the tendacy of the water filled
_ S,~
395
CFD3-D 4_9
Rev.l
tubular unit to slide away, and add to the anchorage
effect of the tubular water filled unit with the waterbed.
4-17 The upper part of the flexible wall No. l, is
shielded with a hard flexible plate covering it to protect
said water retaining flexible wall from being sheared by
sharp ice blocks passing over it.
4-18 The flexible wall like No. 1, is provided at its
hinging lines like at ~oint No. 9 with means to prevent
the fatigue and breaking of the reinforcement of said flex-
ible wall, like:
A - Additional reinforcement at the hinginy lines.
B - Internal wrapped hin~es ~ree to turn inside khe
rubberized flexible wall.
C - Rollers at the opposite sides of the flexible
wall, along the hinging lines to prevent sharp
folding and unfolding of the flexible wall.
Such rollers could be slightly moved to move the
hinging lines with them.
4-l9 To avoid the use of ties and cable beams like
No. 2,3,4,7, Pl. 129, the flexible wall like No. l itself
is folded and anchored in the place of the ties resulting
in a plurality of closed in, super imposed flexible tub-
ular structures as in Fig. 3, Pl. 137, which could stand
higher water heads while eliminatiny the complexity of the
cable bea~s and the ties through the flexible wall.
In case the section of the waterbed, in between the
anchoring lines at D E F G (Fig. 3, Pl. 137) is not water
tight, an additional thin flexible wall would be added, over
the waterbed in between the anchoring lines and tightly
anchored along the longitudinal edges of the main flexible
wall resulting in a water tight composite flexible structure
all around.
_
