Patent Application
20210172138
The present invention relates to a floating flap gate apparatus for preventing an influx of a rising water, and in particular, the present invention relates to a floating flap gate apparatus that makes it possible to effectively prevent an influx of water when a corner portion is present.
A floating flap gate exists which blocks an opening to a living space or an underground space at the time of a rising water in order to prevent the rising water from flowing into the living space or the underground space, by causing a door body to float, using a buoyancy of the water which is trying to flow in (e.g., Patent References 1 and 2).
The floating flap gates disclosed in Patent Reference 1 and Patent Reference 2 have a door body opening and closing auxiliary mechanism, and thus, the floating action of a door body is delayed at an initial stage of water influx, so the water does not flow into a living space or into an underground space, and it does not become difficult to lower the door body even when a water level is low, and the door body also does not suddenly fall.
The door body opening and closing auxiliary mechanism disclosed in Patent Reference 1 and Patent Reference 2 is constructed with a rope having a counterweight attached to a forward end of a door body, and with the other end attached to a counterweight or spring via a pulley, with the pulley installed so that the counterweight reaches its lowest point or the spring reaches its free length while the door body is rising or descending.
In Patent Reference 1, the auxiliary opening and closing mechanism of the door body is provided inside a stopper disposed on an inner side of a lowered door body. In Patent Reference 2, the auxiliary mechanism of the door body is provided inside a housing disposed in a position relative to a place where the rope is attached on both sides of a forward end surface of the door body.
That is to say, the auxiliary opening and closing mechanism assists in opening and closing the door body from both side portions of the door body. Therefore, when the width (span) of the door body increases, it becomes difficult to assist in opening the door body, so a limit was placed on the span of the door body.
Because of the above, there is a need to provide a land-based structure such as a stopper or a housing in a width-wise central portion of the door body when the span of the door body increases in cases where the auxiliary opening and closing mechanism of the door body disclosed in Patent Reference 1 or Patent Reference 2 is employed.
However, in cases where the auxiliary opening and closing mechanism of the door body disclosed in Patent Reference 1 and Patent Reference 2 is employed, it is impossible to install a land-based structure in a width-wise central portion of the door body. Also, the auxiliary opening and closing mechanism of Patent Reference 1 and Patent Reference 2 cannot provide a solution in an application in which it is not desirable to install a land-based structure in such a width-wise central portion of the door body.
Moreover, there are also cases in which parts of the above floating flap gate that prevent an influx of water has not only a rectilinear region, but also a corner portion. In cases where such a corner portion is present, a stopper is provided that corresponds to the corner portion, making it impossible to form a water-impervious wall continuous with the corner portion, thus making it impossible to effectively block the corner portion from an influx of water.
Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. 2012-241449
Patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. 2014-118774
The problem that the present invention aims to solve is that in cases where a corner portion is present in an installation portion of a floating flap gate apparatus, it is impossible to form a water-impervious wall that is continuous with the corner portion, thus making it impossible to effectively block the corner portion from an influx of water.
The present invention was devised with the object of effectively blocking a corner portion present in an installation portion of a floating flap gate apparatus from an influx of water by forming a water-impervious wall that is continuous with the corner portion.
The present invention is a floating flap gate apparatus constructed to prevent an influx of a rising water, the floating flap gate comprising a door body configured such that a forward end of the door body swings upwards around a base end thereof within a plane in a height direction in a direction in which the water flows in, and having the following as its most essential features.
The floating flap gate apparatus according to the present invention comprises a floating flap gate arranged in a first rectilinear region, a floating flap gate arranged in a second rectilinear region, and a corner flap gate disposed in a corner portion where the first and second rectilinear regions intersect.
The corner flap gate has a plurality of door bodies divided by straight lines passing through a part of the corner portion where lines extending in a width-wise direction of a base end side bottom surface of the door bodies of the two floating flap gates intersect, and two adjacent ones of the plurality of door bodies are connected by a hinge structure that maintains a water-impervious state, and among the plurality of door bodies, a door body adjacent to a door body of the floating flap gates and the door body of the floating flap gate are connected by a hinge structure that maintains the respective water-impervious states.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the corner flap gate rises or lowers, following a raising or a lowering of the door bodies of the floating flap gates, thereby making it possible to effectively block the corner portion continuously.
In the present invention, the corner flap gate is formed on a base end side of the plurality of door bodies with a notched site that includes the part intersected by the corner portion, and if the notched site is covered with a water-impervious membrane that maintains a water-impervious state in the hinge structure, then it is possible to smoothly raise or lower each of the door bodies.
In the present invention, the angle of the corner portion may be 90° or more, or less than 90°, and the two floating flap gates are arranged in such a manner that a side surface of the second rectilinear region side of a door body of the floating flap gate arranged in the first rectilinear region in a lowered state, and a bottom surface of a gate body of a floating flap gate arranged in the second rectilinear region in a lowered state, are formed in a single straight line when viewed from above.
As long as there is a plurality of door bodies forming the corner flap gate in the present invention, the number thereof is not limited, but a configuration having three door bodies comprising a central door body, and a right-side door body and a left-side door body arranged on both sides of the central door body, is desirable from the standpoint of an ability to follow a raising or lowering of the door bodies of the floating flap gates.
According to the configuration described above, when the door bodies are lowered, the central door body, the right-side door body, and the left-side door body are flat; and when the door bodies are raised, the right-side door body and the left-side door body approach each other and fold into each other with respect to the central door body, making it possible to easily form a water-impervious wall continuous with the corner portion. When this happens, the interfolding of the central door body, the right-side door body, and the left-side door body makes it possible to absorb a difference of in a raising angle of the adjacent floating flap gate door bodies, even if different wave forces or wave directions operate on the adjacent floating flap gate door bodies, resulting in an occurrence of an instantaneous difference in water levels.
In the present invention, if a hinge structure is arranged on a surface side of the two floating flap gates and the corner flap gate in a lowered state, it is desirable, since there is no risk of an overflow of water flowing onto a top side of the hinge portion, as was the case when a hinge structure was attached to a back side.
According to the present invention, even in a case where a floating flap gate apparatus is installed at a location in which a corner portion is present, the corner flap gate raises or lowers, following a raising or a lowering of the door bodies of the floating flap gates, thereby making it possible to effectively block the corner portion.
The present invention was devised with the object of forming a water-impervious wall that is continuous with a corner portion that is present in an installation portion of a floating flap gate apparatus, to effectively block the corner portion.
The above object is achieved by using a hinge structure that maintains a water-impervious state to connect (1) adjacent door bodies of a corner flap gate installed in a corner portion where a first rectilinear region where a floating flap gate is arranged intersects with a second rectilinear region, (2) a door body of a floating flap gate, and (3) a door body adjacent to these door bodies.
An embodiment of the present invention is described in detail, making use of
In detail, the floating flap gate apparatus 1 of the present invention comprises floating flap gates 11 and 12 respectively arranged in a first rectilinear region S1 on one side and in second rectilinear region S2 on another side that intersect at an angle of 90°, for example, and a corner flap gate 21 installed in a corner portion C where the two rectilinear regions S1 and S2 intersect.
The floating flap gates 11 and 12 are, for example, installed in such a manner that each respective end portion of a bottom surface 13f of a base end side of a plurality of door bodies 13 approach or come into contact at a part that includes a point P where a line extending toward a width-wise direction of a bottom surface 13f of a base end side of the door bodies 13 that are connected in a width-wise direction intersects with the corner portion C. In this case, when viewed from above, a side surface 13a of the door body 13 of the floating flap gate 11 (or 12) installed at the first rectilinear region S1 (or at the second rectilinear region S2) in a lowered state forms a straight line with a side surface 13f of the door body 13 of the floating flap gate 12 (or 11) installed at the second rectilinear region S2 (or at the first rectilinear region S1) in a lowered state.
On the other hand, the corner flap gate 21 covers an interval between the adjacent door bodies 13 of the floating flap gates 11 and 12. There are also provided three door bodies 22: a central door body 23, for example, that is divided by a straight line passing through the part that includes the point P of the corner portion C, as well as a right-side door body 24 and a left-side door body 25 arranged on both sides of the central door body 23.
The part that includes the point P of the corner portion C includes not only the single point referred to as P, but also includes the vicinity of the point P. In an actual operation, in order to achieve a smooth upward swing of the door bodies 22, some leeway is required when considering the manufacturing accuracy of the door bodies 22 and the hinge portion, because some deviation occurs regarding the point P that intersects at the corner portion C.
Among the three door bodies 22 of the corner flap gate 21, the right-side door body 24 and the left-side door body 25 have a floating structure. Also, a side surface 24b on the floating flap gate 11 side of the right-side door body 24 and a side surface 25b on the floating flap gate 12 side of the right-side door body 25 are connected to a side surface 13a of the adjacent door bodies 13 of the floating flap gates 11 and 12, by means of a hinge structure 31 that maintains each of them in a water-impervious state.
The hinge structure 31 is configured in a manner illustrated in
Among the door bodies 22 of the corner flap gate 21, the right-side door body 24 and the central door body 23, and the central door body 23 and the left-side door body 25 are respectively connected by the hinge structure 32 that maintains each of them in a water-impervious state.
The hinge structure 32 is configured in a manner illustrated in
As shown in
In the event that a tsunami surges, for example, according to the corner flap gate 21 constructed as above, the door bodies 13 of the floating flap gates 11 and 12 installed at the two rectilinear regions S1 and S2 rise from the lowered state shown in
Use of the floating flap gate apparatus 1 according to the present invention makes it possible to form a water-impervious wall continuous with the corner portion C, due to the fact that the floating flap gates 11 and 12 are connected by the corner flap gate 21 in the manner described above.
In the case of the floating flap gates 11 and 12, it is difficult to reach a maximum raising angle of 90° from a lowered state. This is because although the maximum raising angle is 90° if the floating flap gates 11 and 12 are by themselves, and do not include the corner flap gate 21, but in the present invention, the corner flap gate 21 is included. The reason for this is that, according to the present invention, when the floating flap gates 11 and 12 rise to a raising angle of 90°, the end portions of the floating flap gates 11 and 12 approach each other, and there is no longer space for the folded corner flap gate 21. Accordingly, the maximum raising angle is determined by devising an optimized design so as to make it possible to ensure that there is space for the folded corner flap gate 21. A maximum raising angle of 75° is advantageous for the floating flap gates 11 and 12.
The above example describes a case where the force exerted by the surging waves on the rectilinear region S1 and on the rectilinear region S2 are of the same magnitude. However, as shown in
Specifically, as shown in
In order to achieve a smooth folding of the central door body 23, the right-side door body 24, and the left-side door body 25, the adjacent side surfaces of the central door body 23 and the right-side door body 24, as well as the adjacent side surfaces of the central door body 23 and the left-side door body 25, may be formed as described below, for example.
As shown in
On the other hand, with regard to the side surfaces 24a and 25a of the right-side door body 24 and the left-side door body 25 that face the side surfaces 23a and 23b that form the legs of the inverse trapezoid of the central door body 23, a width L6 of a portion parallel to the top surface side of the back surface side is shorter than a width L5 of the top surface side of the right-side door body 24 and the left-side door body 25 in a lowered state, and as the rate whereby the width becomes shorter increases, the base end side gradually becomes greater than the forward end side, so as to become disposed diagonally.
In addition, if an auxiliary force generator 33 is installed at the door body 13 adjacent to the side surface 24b of the right-side door body 24 of the corner flap gate 21 and at the side surface 25b of the left-side door body 24, in order to provide an auxiliary force in the folding direction of the right side door body 24 and the left-side door body 25, it becomes possible to smoothly perform folding of the right-side door body 24 and the left-side door body 25 at the initial stage of raising the corner flap gate 21.
There are no particular restrictions on the configuration of the auxiliary force generator 33, but according to the example illustrated in
Although there are no particular restrictions on the installation location of the auxiliary generator 33, it is more effective to install it at the forward end side of the door body 13. There may be one or more than one of the auxiliary force generator 33. If multiple auxiliary force generators are installed at a single door body 13, each respective spring force of the coil spring 33a may be varied, or the spring force may be uniform and without variation.
In the case of the floating flap gate apparatus 1 having the above configuration according to the present invention, when the door bodies 13 and 22 rise, the water pressure load operating on the door bodies 22 of the corner flap gate 21 is transmitted via the hinge structures 32 and 31 to the floating flap gates 11 and 12 on both sides. In addition, the floating flap gates 11 and 12 are supported by tension rods 14 and by a bottom support member that bolsters the floating flap gates 11 and 12 (see
In the present invention, there are no particular restrictions on the construction of the floating flap gates 11 and 12 installed in the rectilinear regions S1 and S2. However, it is advantageous to select a structure such as that shown in
In further detail, in the floating flap gates 11 and 12 illustrated in
Within the underground space 42a are installed a counterweight 43, a compression spring 44 provided on both sides of the upper surface of the counterweight 43, and a group of connected pulleys that includes two fixed pulleys 45a and 45b, and two movable pulleys 46a and 46b. The other end of the retracted wire rope 41 is guided by the group of pulleys to an upper end of the counterweight 43. The counterweight 43, which has a width slightly smaller than that of the door body 13, hangs downward due to being affixed to a ceiling portion of the underground space 42a in this position.
Among the group of pulleys, the first fixed pulley 45a is disposed at the retracted portion of the wire rope 41 in the underground space 42a, while the second fixed pulley 45b is disposed at the ceiling portion of the underground space 42a which is the upper hanging position of the counterweight 43.
On the other hand, the first movable pulley 46a is rotatably attached to at a lower end of a push-up rod 47 that moves vertically between the first fixed pulley 45a and the second fixed pulley 45b. The second movable pulley 46b is attached to the counterweight 43.
When the push-up rod 47 moves vertically, motion toward a forward end side 13a and a base end side 13e of the door body 13 in a lowered state is restricted by upper and lower guide rollers 47a and 47b. Moreover, movement of the door body 13 in a lateral direction is restricted by upper and lower side rollers 47c and 47d. In addition, the vertical rising and falling movement of the push-up rod 47 is restricted by an upper-limit stopper 47e and a lower-limit stopper 47f, and a push-up roller 47g is attached at the upper end.
When raising the door bodies 13 and 22, and when lowering the gates bodies 13 and 22, the floating flap gates 11 and 12 and the corner flap gate 21 having an auxiliary mechanism for opening and closing the door bodies 13 that includes the first and second fixed pulleys 45a and 45b, the first and second movable pulleys 46a and 46b, the counterweight 43, and the push-up rod 47 operate as described below.
When a water infiltration reaches a predetermined level, and a buoyancy operating on the door bodies 13 and a rotational force in the direction of raising resulting from an upward-pushing force of the push-up rod 47 exerted by the counterweight exceed the rotational force in the direction of lowering due to the weight of the door bodies 13, the door bodies 22 start to float when the door bodies 13 start to float.
After the push-up rod 47 reaches its raising limit, the rotational force in the direction of raising resulting from water pressure operating on the immersed portions of the back surfaces 13b of the door bodies 13 exceeds the rotational force in the direction of lowering due to tension generated in the wire rope 41 caused by the weight of the door bodies 13 and the counterweight 43. This results in the door bodies 13 rotating and rising in the direction of raising. The door bodies 22 also rise together with the rising of the door bodies 13.
When the door bodies 13 rise to their raising limit, the counterweight 43 moves to the vicinity of its raising limit, and the compression spring 44 is compressed. Consequently, the tension of the wire rope 41 caused by the weight of the counterweight 43 and the compressive force of the compression spring 44 operates in the direction of lowering as a braking force on rotation of the door bodies 13 in the direction of raising.
When there is a decrease in the rotational force in the raising direction resulting from water pressure operating on the immersed portions of the back surfaces 13b of the door bodies 13, the door bodies 13 rotate in the direction of lowering up to a position where there is an equilibrium with the rotational force in the direction of lowering due to tension generated in the wire rope 41 caused by the weight of the door bodies 13 and the counterweight 43. The door bodies also start to rise together with the rising of the door bodies 13. In the vicinity of the upper limit of raising, the compressive spring force adds to the tension generated in the wire rope 41.
While the rotational force in the lowering direction resulting from tension generated on the wire rope 41 by the weight of the door bodies 13 and the counterweight 43 and the rotational force in the direction of raising resulting from water pressure operating on the immersed portions of the back surfaces 13b of the door bodies 13, the door bodies 13 rotate in the direction of lowering. The rotational force in the direction of lowering increases due to the weight of the door bodies 13, but after the push-up rod 47 makes contact with the back surfaces 13b of the door bodies 13, the lowering action decelerates due to the rotational force in the direction of raising resulting from the upward-pushing force of the push-up rod 47. The door bodies 22 also lower together with the lowering of the door bodies 13.
When there is no longer a buoyancy caused by water pressure operating on the immersed portions of the back surfaces 13b of the door bodies 13, the door bodies 13 and 22 are inserted into the storage space 42. When this happens, the upward-pushing force of the push-up rod 47 due to the counterweight 43 eases its impact during the insertion due to the upward-pushing force of the push-rod 47, even though there is no rotational force in the direction of raising that is superior to the rotational force in the direction of lowering caused by the weight of the door bodies 13.
In cases where it is typically impossible to build a bulky structure such as an end portion of the runway R, storage of the floating flap gates 11 and 12 and the corner flap gates 21 is accomplished in a boundary area between the land and water as illustrated in
On the other hand, in cases where a bulky structure such as a dike does not disturb the view, storage is accomplished in a boundary area between the land and water as illustrated in
The present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and the preferred embodiment may, of course, be advantageously modified within the scope of the technical ideas recited in the claims.
For example, according to the above example, in the corner flap gate 21, the hinge structure 32 has a double structure, with a rubber membrane 32a, and a fiber membrane 32b, serving to maintain a water-impervious state for the right-side door body 24 and the central door body 23, and the central door body 23 and the left-side door body 25, respectively (see
However, as shown in
The above example describes a case where an angle θ of the corner portion C is 90°. However, as shown in
Additionally, in the above example, because raising of the right-side door body 24 and the left side door body 25 are made easier due to the buoyancy or the auxiliary force generator 33, the right-side door body 24 and the left-side door body 25 were made as large as possible, and the central door body 23 was made as small as possible. In this case, the minimum value for the width L1 of the base end side of the central door body 23 is a width that enables attachment of the presser plate 32d, as shown in
In the above example, the forward end surfaces of the central door body 23, the right-side door body 24, and the left-side door body 25 form straight lines when in a lowered state when viewed from above. However, as shown in
Moreover, in the above example, the door bodies 22 of the corner flap gate 21 are formed from three gate bodies: the central door body 23, the right-side door body 24, and the left-side door body 25. However, the number of door bodies forming the door bodies 22 may be two, as shown in
In the various types of examples described above, the height and thickness of the door bodies 13 of the two floating flap gates 11 and 12 are determined by devising an optimized design so as to make it possible for the door bodies 13 to rise and descend according to a known angle θ of the corner portion C. This likewise applies to the number, configuration, height, and thickness of the door bodies 22 of the corner flap gate 21.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-58542 | Mar 2016 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2017/005943 | 2/17/2017 | WO | 00 |
