THE INVENTION'S HISTORY
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WATER IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORY, THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS
CONSTRUCTED A VERY EXTENDED RESERVOIR SYSTEM TO STORE THE
NILE'S WATERS. THE BIBLE MAKES FREQUENT REFERENCES TO THE WATER
SUPPLY GENESIS CHAPTER 26, FOR EXAMPLE, NARRATES HOW
ISAAC'S SHEPHERDS FOUGHT WITH THE CAESAR'S VALLEY INHABITANTS
FOR THE POSSESSION OF THE VALLEY'S SPRINGS. LONG AFTER, KING
EZEQUIAS "MADE A POOL AND CARRIED WATER TO THE CITY OF JERUSALEM"
(11 KINGS 20,20). ANCIENT ROME MIGHT NOT HAVE REACHED ITS
GRANDEUR WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HYDRAULIC ENGINEERS.
THE WATERS FROM THE TIBER HAD BECOME TOO POLLUTED TO BE CONSIDERED
DRINKABLE. THE ENGINEERS BUILT ALMOST 650 KILOMETRES
OF AQUEDUCTS, THAT CARRIED WATER TO THE CITY FROM DIFFERENT
SOURCES LOCATED OUTSIDE OF IT.
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IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE
ARCHEOLOGISTS STILL EXPLORE THE WATERING SYSTEMS BUILT BY THE
ANCIENT INDIAN ENGINEERS OF NORTH AMERICA.
THE WATER GOES THROUGH A WELL DEFINED HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE,
CALLED WATER CYCLE. IT FALLS TO THE EARTH IN THE FORM OF RAIN
OR IN ANY OTHER PRECIPITATION. PART OF IT IS ABSORBED BY THE SOIL,
USED BY PLANTS AND RETURNS TO THE ATMOSPHERE BY MEANS OF TRANSPIRATION
OF THE AERIAL PARTS OF THE VEGETABLES. SOME OF THE PRECIPITATION
IS FILTERED THROUGH THE PERMEABLE, POROUS ROCKS AND
IS INCORPORATED INTO THE UNDERGROUND WATER SUPPLY. THIS IN
TURN, FINDS ITS WAY TO THE RIVERS OR REACHES THE SURFACE AS
SPRINGS.
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SOMETIMES IT IS EXTRACTED BY MEANS OF WELLS.
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A LARGE PART OF WATER FROM PRECIPITATION FLOWS ON THE EARTH'S
SURFACE AS RIVERS OR STREAMS OR IS COLLECTED IN LAKES AND LAGOONS.
MOST OF THIS WATER RETURNS TO THE OCEAN. THE SUN EVAPORATES
IT FROM THE SURFACE AND TAKES IT TO THE CLOUDS, FROM
WHERE IT PRECIPITATES TO THE EARTH AGAIN, THUS STARTING ANOTHER
CYCLE.
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CONSEQUENTLY, IN THE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE, WATER PASSES FROM THE
ATMOSPHERE TO THE SOIL AND THEN AGAIN TO THE ATMOSPHERE. IN
ORDER TO OBTAIN WATER FOR OUR SUPPLY SYSTEMS WE MUST RESORT
TO RIVERS AND LAKES; OR TO EXTRACT IT FROM UNDERGROUND BY
MEANS OF WELLS.
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WHEN IT COMES FROM A RIVER OR OTHER WATER COURSES, THE ENGINEER
MUST DECIDE IF THESE CAN SATISFY THE MAXIMUM DEMANDS OF
THE POPULATION WHEN THESE REACH THEIR LOWEST LEVEL. THE SUMMER
HEAT REDUCES THEM BY MEANS OF EVAPORATION. AT THE SAME
TIME, THE AMOUNT OF WATER USED FOR IRRIGATION INCREASES, AS WELL
AS FOR AIR CONDITIONING AND OTHER PURPOSES. LET'S ASSUME THAT
THE ENGINEER DETERMINES THAT PEOPLE WOULD USE MORE WATER
THAN THE RIVER CAN PROVIDE DURING THE LOW PERIODS. HE WILL TAKE
MEASURES TO STORE A PART OF THE WATER WHEN THE RIVER IS HIGH.
CONSTRUCTING A DOCK THAT DAMS UP SOME OF ITS FLOW. THE WATERS
THAT ACCUMULATES AT THIS SPOT FORMS A DAM OR WATER COLLECTING
RESERVOIR.
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IF THE DOCK HAS BEEN DULY CONSTRUCTED, THE WATER LEVEL IN THE
DAM WILL REMAIN LOW BEFORE THE SPRING SPATES OCCUR. IN CONSEQUENCE,
THE RESERVOIR IS ABLE TO RECEIVE AND STORE
THE WATER SURPLUS FROM THE OVERFLOW. AS SUMMER PASSES BY
THE COMMUNITY SHALL RESORT TO THIS RESERVOIR TO COMPENSATE
THE LACK OF THE RIVER'S ADEQUATE FLOW.
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THE USE OF DAMMINGS AND RESERVOIRS OFTEN CREATES MANY PROBLEMS.
IN MOST PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LAW
DOES NOT ALLOW A CITY TO COLLECT AND STORE ALL OF A RIVER'S FLOW.
THE LAW ACKNOWLEDGES THE RIGHT OF THE INHABITANTS LOCATED
DOWNSTREAM FROM THE DAM TO RECEIVE A PART OF THE WATER. GENERALLY,
THE CITIES MUST HAVE AGREEMENTS ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER
THESE CAN TAKE FROM A RIVER AND ACCUMULATE IN A DAMMING.
WHEN THE ENGINEERS CONSTRUCT A RESERVOIR THEY MUST CONSIDER
MANY IMPORTANT FACTORS. THE DOCKS MUST HAVE CLOSING WALLS THAT
EXTEND DOWNWARD, SO THAT NO FILTRATIONS ARE PRODUCED UNDER
THE DAMMING.
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THE SLOPES OF THE SOIL DOCKS MUST BE MODERATED ENOUGH SO THAT
THE SOIL REMAINS IN PLACE EVEN WHEN IT IS SATURATED, THE SOIL
DAMS MUST BE PROVIDED WITH A WATERPROOF CORE, SUCH AS CLAY OR
CONCRETE, SO THAT THE WATER DOES NOT FILTER. IF THE ENGINEERS
CONSTRUCT A CONCRETE DAM, THEY MUST TAKE THE CONTRACTION AND
EXPANSION INTO ACCOUNT . THE DOCK MUST BE STRONG ENOUGH SO
THAT THE WATER PRESSURE AGAINST ITS WALLS DOES NOT KNOCK IT
DOWN. THE DAMS, MADE OF SOIL AS WELL AS WELL AS OF CONCRETE,
MUST HAVE ENOUGH DUMP CAPACITY TO CONTAIN THE HIGHEST FLOW
FROM THE STORMS. THE WATER FLOWS FROM A RESERVOIR TO THE SUPPLY
SYSTEM THROUGH OUTLETS OR INTAKE MECHANISMS. AT THE
DAMMINGS WITH SOIL DOCKS AN OUTLET TOWER IS ERECTED FAR AWAY
FROM THE SHORE. THIS IS FITTED WITH A SERIES OF FLOODGATES AT
DIFFERENT LEVELS THROUGH WHICH THE WATER FLOWS TO AN OUTLET
SYSTEM. IF THE WATER IS COLLECTED AT A RUBBLEWORK DAM, THE OUTLET
STRUCTURE CAN BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE SAME DAM.
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GENERALLY, IN THE OUTLETS THICK GRIDS ARE PLACED, IN ORDER TO
PREVENT LARGE FLOATING OBJECTS, INCLUDING ICE, FROM ENTERING
THE DUCTS. INSIDE THE THICK GRIDS THERE ARE OTHER FINER ONES
THAT INTERCEPT LEAVES, AQUATIC VEGETATION, FISHES AND LARVAE.
THESE GRIDS MUST BE CLEANED FREQUENTLY, IN LARGE SYSTEMS, MECHANICAL
CLEANING DEVICES ARE OFTEN EMPLOYED.
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SEVERAL METHODS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ARE KNOWN.
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ONE OF THESE IS DREDGING, WHILE THE OTHER CONSISTS IN USING SEDIMENTATION
POOLS.
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THESE RECEIVE THE WATER BEFORE IT PASSES TO THE RESERVOIR AND
RETAIN THE SILT IT CONTAINS. LOGICALLY, THE POOLS MUST BE DREDGED
FROM TIME TO TIME IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE SILT. A THIRD METHOD
CONSISTS IN THE USE OF FLOODGATES AT LOW LEVEL, THROUGH WHICH
THE SILT EXITS FROM THE RESERVOIR DURING THE RISING PERIODS.
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A FOURTH METHOD CONSISTS IN EXTRACTING CLEANER WATER FROM THE
COAST ZONES BY MEANS OF LOG OUTLETS.
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THIS SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY VERY LITTLE USED.
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MANY TIMES A TOWN MUST OBTAIN WATER FROM DISTANT SOURCES. THE
WATER PROVISION OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, COMES FROM A LAKE
SITUATED 80 KILOMETRES AWAY FROM THE CITY. NEW YORK OBTAINS
MORE THAN HALF OF THE WATER CONSUMED FROM THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS,
LOCATED MORE THAN 150 KILOMETRES AWAY. LOS ANGELES RECEIVES
PART OF ITS WATER SUPPLY FROM PARKER'S DAM, LOCATED MORE
THAN 400 KILOMETRES AWAY THESE CITIES HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO
THE ONES FACED BY THE ENGINEERS IN ANCIENT ROME WHEN THEY
BUILT THE AQUEDUCTS THAT TOOK WATER TO THE CITY.
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IN FACT, TODAY'S ENGINEERS HAVE BETTER MATERIALS AVAILABLE.
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THE LINKS THAT CONNECT THE WATER SOURCE TO THE DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM ARE THE AQUEDUCTS, ALSO CALLED TRANSMISSION WATERWAYS.
IN THE MAJORITY OF THE AQUEDUCTS, THE WATER FLOWS THROUGH
GRAVITY. IN THESE STRUCTURES, THE SLOPE BY WHICH THE WATER
RUNS DOWNSTREAM, ALSO CALLED HYDRAULIC GRADIENT, MUST BE
STEEP SO THAT CONTINUOUS FLOW EXISTS, BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT IT
CAUSES EXCESSIVE PRESSURES. IN SOME CASES, THERE ARE SYPHONS
THAT CARRY WATER OVER MOUNTAINS, UNDER RIVERS AND THROUGH
VALLEYS. THE PUMPS CAN FORCE IT THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION WATERWAYS
TO PLACES IT COULD NOT ARRIVE BY THE SOLE FORCE OF
GRAVITY.
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THE WATER TRANSMISSION LINES GENERALLY COME IN THE FORM OF
CLOSED DUCTS, OR DRAINS, EVEN THOUGH IN SOME CASES OPEN
DITCHES ARE USED. THE ENGINEERS OFTEN DO NOT SUPPORT THE EMPLOYMENT
OF THE LATTER FOR WATER PROVISION, DUE TO THE DANGER
OF CONTAMINATION.
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TO CONDUCT WATER EFFICIENTLY, THE DUCT WOULD OFFER THE LEAST
SURFACE IN RELATION TO THE VOLUME OF WATER IT CARRIES. EVIDENTLY,
THE CIRCULAR TUBES ARE THE ONES THAT BETTER RESPOND TO THESE
DEMANDS, BUT IN VERY LARGE SIZES CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE. IN THOSE
CASES, THE ENGINEERS USUALLY SELECT AN EASIER CONSTRUCTION
TYPE, WITH CROSS SECTIONS IN HORSESHOE FORM.
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BECAUSE OF THE SMOOTHNESS OF THEIR INTERNAL SURFACE, CONCRETE
TUBES ARE GOOD CONDUCTORS TO CARRY WATER UNDER PRESSURE,
THESE ARE OFTEN PRESTRESSED. A VERY STRONG, WELL-TIGHTENED
WIRE IS WOUND AROUND THE CONCRETE PIPE, AND THEN WITH A PNEUMATIC
GUN CEMENT MORTAR IS PULVERISE ON THE CORE THAT HAS BEEN
WRAPPED WITH WIRE. THIS MAINTAINS THE INTERNAL CORE IN COMPRESSION.
WHEN THE WATER ENTERS THE PIPE UNDER PRESSURE, THE ELEMENT
SUPPORTING THE LOAD IS THE STEEL WIRE AND NOT THE CONCRETE.
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ANOTHER USEFUL MATERIAL FOR TRANSMISSION WATERWAYS IS CAST
IRON. IT LASTS LONG, REQUIRES LITTLE MAINTENANCE AND CAN BE
MOULDED TO SUPPORT HUGE PRESSURES. DIFFICULTIES MAY OCCUR IF
CORROSIVE WATER IS SENT THROUGH AN UNTREATED CAST IRON DRAIN.
IN THE AQUEDUCTS AND WATER STORAGE LAGOONS CONSTRUCTED IN
VERY REMOTE TIMES, MANKIND FACED THE DIFFICULT TASK OF HAVING
WITH SAFE AND PRACTICAL ENOUGH MECHANISMS FOR CONTROL AND
BETTER USE THEREOF. THERE ARE RECORDS SHOWING DIFFERENT
FORMS OF CONTROLLING THE FLOWS MAKING CLAY MIXES THAT EVEN
THOUGH THEY STOPPED SUCH WATER RESULTED INOPERATIVE. FOR THIS
REASON WOOD BEGAN TO BE USED FOR THEIR CONTAINMENT IN ORDER
TO MAKE THESE RESERVOIRS MORE MANUAL. IN THE LAST CENTURY
AND THE BEGINNING OF THIS ONE, MOSTLY STRUCTURAL STEEL FLOOD-GATES
WERE DESIGNED, TO OBTAIN BETTER RESULTS IN THE DAMMING
AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE WATER TO BE USED. MODERN HISTORIANS
BELIEVE THAT VARIOUS ASIATIC CIVILIZATIONS ALREADY KNEW HOW TO
MANUFACTURE STEEL WITH IRON ABOUT 500 YEARS A.C. INDIA'S WAS APPARENTLY
OF VERY GOOD QUALITY FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS ACCORDING
TO THE MEDICAL REPORTS FROM YEAR 400 TO 300 A.C. THE DAMASCUS
FAMOUS SABRES WERE MADE, WITH HINDU STEEL IN ANCIENT SYRIA.
IN THOSE DAYS, THIS MATERIAL WAS PRODUCED IN VERY SMALL QUANTITIES.
THE MOST IMPORTANT METAL THEN AND DURING MANY CENTURIES
WAS IRON. IT IS NOT KNOW HOW LONG AGO MAN EXTRACTED IT FOR THE
FIRST TIME FROM ITS MINERAL, BUT THIS MUST HAVE BEEN LONG
BEFORE THE XIII CENTURY A.C. IN SAID PERIOD IRON OBJECTS WERE
ALREADY BEING MANUFACTURED, SOME OF WHICH STILL LAST. THROUGHOUT
THE GREEK AND ROMAN PERIODS AND MOST OF THE MIDDLE AGE,
THE MALLEABLE IRON, WAS NAMED WROUGHT IRON, WAS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT. CAST IRON, WAS ALSO MANUFACTURED IN CONSIDERABLE
AMOUNTS, IN EUROPE, AS OF THE XIV CENTURY. LITTLE PROGRESS WAS
MADE IN THE CONVERSION OF LARGE AMOUNTS OF IRON TO STEEL, UNTIL
THE CHEMICAL NATURE THEREOF WAS KNOWN, IN 1781 THE SWEDISH
CHEMIST TORBEN OLOF BERMAN, MADE ONE OF THE FIRST ATTEMPTS TO
SCIENTIFICALLY ANALYSE STEEL. HE DEFINED WROUGHT IRON, CAST
IRON, AND STEEL BY THE AMOUNT OF CARBON THAT EACH ONE CONTAINED.
TODAY WE KNOW THAT WROUGHT IRON, CAST IRON, AND STEEL
ARE IRON AND CARBON MIXES (PLUS OTHER SUBSTANCES) AND THAT
THEIR RESISTANCE MUST BE DUE MAINLY TO CARBON. WROUGHT IRON,
WHICH HAS A LOW CONTENT OF CARBON, LESS THAN 0.2 PER CENT. IS
THE SOFTEST OF THE THREE ALLOYS. IT CAN BE HAMMERED AND FOLDED
IN A VARIETY OF FORMS, WHICH JUSTIFIES ITS NAME. WROUGHT IRON IS
MUCH HARDER, EVEN THOUGH RELATIVELY BREAKABLE. THIS IS DUE TO
ITS HIGH CARBON CONTENT OF 2.0 TO 4.5 PER CENT. FOR CENTURIES
THIS ALLOY HAS BEEN MOLDED OR CAST IN USEFUL FORMS. THE STEEL
CARBON CONTENT IS LOCATED BETWEEN THESE TWO ENDS. GENERALLY
IT IS LOWER THAN 1.2 PER CENT STEEL POSSESSES PART OF THE CAST
IRON FLEXIBILITY AND IT IS MORE RESISTANT THAN CAST IRON. EVEN
AFTER STEEL'S NATURE, WAS KNOWN, MANUFACTURES CONTINUED
PRODUCING IT ONLY IN SMALL QUANTITIES, IT STARTED TO BE WIDELY
USED IN THE 1850'S DECADE WITH THE INTERVENTION OF THE BESSEMER
PROCEDURE, THAT ALLOWED TO CONSIDERABLY INCREASE THE METAL'S
AVAILABILITY. THE BESSEMER STEEL
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PROVIDED GREAT PART OF THE STEEL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE FIRST RAILWAYS AND SKYSCRAPERS THE OPEN HOME OR MARTIN-SIEMENS
PROCEDURE, INTRODUCED IN 1860, POINTED OUT A NEW ADVANCE
OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY THAT WAS A WITNESS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE ELECTRIC OVEN PROCESSES OF OXYGEN AND
VACUUM TO MAKE STEEL.
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AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PROGRESS IN THE MAKING OF THE STEEL,
AMONG THEIR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS ELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICES
FOR WATER CONTROL IN DAMS AND RIVERS BEGAN TO BE DESIGNED.
THUS, PIPES, VALVES AND METALLIC FLOODGATES WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE
OPERATING MECHANISMS STARTED TO BE MANUFACTURED, THE SAME
THAT ARE DESIGNED ACCORDING TO THE DIFFERENT NEEDS OF THE
PROJECTS. THESE CAN BE OF DIVERSE TYPES ACCORDING TO THE DESIGNS
DEVELOPED.
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THE COMMONLY EMPLOYED STEELS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS
EQUIPMENT, CAN'T RESIST THE CORROSIVE ATTACK OF WATER AND ITS
POLLUTING AGENTS, BY THEMSELVES SO IT IS NECESSARY TO SUBMIT
THEM TO ANTICORROSIVE TREATMENTS. SUCH TREATMENTS ARE GENERALLY
PERFORMED BY FIRST CLEANING THE SURFACE TO BE PROTECTED
BY MEANS OF SILICOQUARZ SANDBLAST UNTIL ITS SURFACE IS LIKE
WHITE METAL IN ORDER TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY AN INORGANIC LAYER OF
ZINC, THEN A LINK AND FINALLY A HIGH SOLID POLYCHLORIDE VINYL FINISH,
IN ORDER TO COMPLETE SAID TREATMENT.
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THE EXPERIENCE I HAVE ACQUIRED THROUGH 15 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT MAINLY IN THIS FIELD HAS LED ME TO REALIZE THAT
THE DIFFERENT TREATMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN USED ARE NOT DURABLE
ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE CONSTANT DETERIORATION THAT THEY UNDERGO.
AS THE MATERIALS INVOLVED IN THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED
TREATMENTS DETERIORATE, THE EQUIPMENT IS EXPOSED TO THE DETERIORATION
OF ITS COMPONENTS, THEREBY ITS WORKING LIFE DEPENDS
DIRECTLY UPON THE PERIODICAL APPLICATION OF THESE TREATMENTS,
WHICH ARE HIGHLY EXPENSIVE.
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EVEN MORE SERIOUS IS THE DETERIORATION OF THESE FLOODGATES AND
IRON MECHANISMS WHEN THERE ARE RESIDUAL SUBSTANCES MIXED IN
THE WATER AS A RESULT OF LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE AS IN BIG URBAN
AREAS, WHICH DRASTICALLY ACCELERATE THE DETERIORATION PROCESS
OF THIS EQUIPMENT. THIS WATER IS USED IN GREAT MEASURE TO IRRIGATE
CROPS MEANT MAINLY FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. IT HAS BEEN
OBSERVED THAT THE PARTICLES OF IRON (RUST) AND OF THE DIFFERENT
CHEMICAL COMPONENTS USED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED ANTICORROSIVE
PROTECTION AND IN THE DIFFERENT ELASTOMERS AND LUBRICANTS USED
FOR ACTIVATION THAT SEPARATE ARE ADDED TO THE ALREADY CONTAMINATED
WATER.
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AS A RESULT OF THESE EXPERIENCES I BEGAN TO RESEARCH ALTERNATIVES
THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DIMINISH THESE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH I HAVE CREATED A NEW DESIGN THAT IS
SIMPLER AND MORE PRACTICAL AND OFFERS SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES
OVER THOSE THAT ARE TRADITIONALLY EMPLOYED. THIS DESIGN, IN ADDITION
TO THE SAVINGS DUE TO THE SIMPLIFICATION IN THE MANUFACTURING
OF ITS COMPONENTS, OFFERS A GREATLY REDUCED WEIGHT
SINCE IT CONTEMPLATES THE USE OF A HIGHLY ENGINEERED PLASTIC,
MENTIONED IN THE MARKS MECHANICAL ENGINEERS MANUAL, SECOND
EDITION AS TYPE 6 NYLON, AND IS QUOTED FOR USE IN GEARS AND OTHER
MACHINERY PARTS.
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THIS MATERIAL, WITH A FEW ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS, OFFERS ADVANTAGES
SUCH AS:
- EXCELLENT CORROSION RESISTANCE.
- IT PRACTICALLY ELIMINATES LUBRICATION THROUGH OILS AND
GREASES, SINCE IT IS POSSIBLE TO LUBRICATE BY WAY OF WATER.
- IT IS HIGHLY ABRASION RESISTANT.
- IT IS HIGHLY IMPACT RESISTANT.
- MINIMUM FRICTION COEFFICIENT.
- IT RESISTS CHEMICAL ATTACK BY DIVERSE CORROSIVE COMPOUNDS
FOUND IN RESIDUAL WATERS.
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WE REALIZE EVERY DAY IN THIS RAPIDLY ADVANCING WORLD IN EVERY
TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECT THAT WE NEED TO SUBSTITUTE THE MATERIALS
THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY USING. TODAY, WE FIND PLASTICS
EVERYWHERE, AS THE NAME INDICATES, THEY CAN BE MOLDED, GIVING
THEM DIFFERENT SHAPES, WHICH IS THE REASON THAT THEY ARE SO
USEFUL. STONE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS NOT MALLEABLE, IN ORDER TO GIVE IT
THE SHAPE WE WANT, WE HAVE TO CHISEL IT, BUT OTHER MATERIALS ARE,
UP TO A CERTAIN POINT. IN REMOTE PERIODS SUCH AS THE NEOLITHIC
ERA, MANKIND MADE CERAMIC RECIPIENTS FOR THEIR FOOD AND BEVERAGES
OUT OF MALLEABLE CLAY: THEN DURING THE IRON AGE, THEY
LEARNED HOW TO SHAPE COPPER, BRONZE, AND IRON, WITH WHICH THEY
MADE TOOLS, THEY ALSO WORKED WITH WAXES, FISH, AND RUBBERS,
FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. IN TIME, OTHER MALLEABLE SUBSTANCES
WERE CREATED: GLASS, CEMENT, CONCRETE, MORTAR, AND RUBBER.
SINCE THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, CHEMISTS, PHYSICISTS, AND ENGINEERS
HAVE USED ALL THE RESOURCES OF MODERN SCIENCE TO CREATE
A WIDE RANGE OF MALLEABLE ORGANIC SUBSTANCES CALLED PLASTICS.
BECAUSE THESE MATERIALS ARE HIGHLY ADAPTABLE THEY ARE
USED TO MAKE MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS: GOLF TEES, LIFE BOATS,
FILM, WOODEN BOARDS, THREAD FOR STOCKINGS, ROPE, RAIN SHOES,
RAIN COATS, DISHES, WATER PIPES, TABLE COVERS, WRAPPING FOR
MEATS AND VEGETABLES, ETC. ALL PLASTICS ARE MALLEABLE, BUT NOT
ALL MALLEABLE MATERIALS ARE CALLED PLASTICS: THE INORGANIC SUBSTANCES
THAT CAN BE MOLDED, SUCH AS METALS, CLAY, GLASS, AND
CEMENT ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE WITHIN THE FIELD OF THE PLASTIC
INDUSTRY. NEITHER IS RUBBER.
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MADE WITH POLYMERS. -- EACH PLASTIC CONSISTS OF ONE BASIC INGREDIENT
OR CONTAINS ONE ORGANIC SUBSTANCE WITH A HIGH MOLECULAR
WEIGHT WHICH CAN BE SOFTENED AND MOLDED WHEN PRESSURE OR
HEAT OR BOTH ARE APPLIED. IT IS MADE OF GIANT MOLECULES CALLED
POLYMERS, WHICH CONSIST OF SMALLER MOLECULES THAT ARE JOINED
AT THE ENDS LIKE A CHAIN. SOMETIMES THE CHAINS CROSS EACH OTHER
AS IN THE FORM OF A NET, IN SOME CASES, EACH LINK OF THE CHAIN IS
THE SAME BASIC UNIT OR MONOMER, SOME POLYMERS, KNOWN AS COPOLYMERS
ARE FORMED BY A MIX OF TWO OR MORE MONOMERS. THE
MAJORITY OF PLASTICS ARE MADE BY THE SYNTHESIS OR UNION OF VARIOUS
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES WHICH RESULTS IN A PRODUCT IN WHICH
CARBON IS COMBINED WITH ONE OR MORE ELEMENTS, INCLUDING HYDROGEN,
OXYGEN, NITROGEN, CHLORINE, AND FLUORIDE. THESE PRODUCTS
ARE USUALLY CALLED SYNTHETIC RESINS BECAUSE IN SOME ASPECTS
THEY ARE SIMILAR TO NATURAL SUBSTANCES CALLED RESINS;
THESE INCLUDE GUMLAC, COLOPHONY, AND AMBER WHICH ARE NOTED
FOR THE LARGE SIZE OF THEIR MOLECULES. AS THESE SYNTHETIC RESINS
ARE PREPARED IT IS NECESSARY TO COMBINE SMALLER MOLECULES
IN ORDER TO OBTAIN POLYMERS, IN CAREFULLY CONTROLLED CONDITIONS,
FOR EXAMPLE: THOSE THAT ARE ALCHIDES, PHENOLIC RESINS,
AND VINYLS. OTHER PLASTICS ARE OBTAINED FROM NATURAL ORGANIC
SUBSTANCES THAT ARE CHEMICALLY MODIFIED IN ORDER TO PRODUCE
THE DESIRED PLASTIC MATERIAL. CELLULOIDS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE DERIVED
FROM CELLULOSE, A CARBOHYDRATE WHICH IS FOUND IN PLANTS
AND IS EASILY OBTAINED FROM COTTON OR WOOD PULP. THE CASEINIC
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PLASTICS ARE DERIVED FROM CASEIN, A PROTEIN THAT IS FORMED WHEN
MILK SOLIDIFIES. THE BASIC MOLECULES OF THESE NATURAL ORGANIC
SUBSTANCES ARE POLYMERS. IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE
SIZE OF THESE GIANT MOLECULES IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A MATERIAL
THAT IS EASY TO MOLD ON AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE.
PLASTICS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO MAIN GROUPS: THERMOPLASTIC AND
THERMOSTABLE, WHICH DIFFER IN HOW THEY ARE AFFECTED BY HEAT.
THE FIRST SOFTEN WHEN THEY ARE HEATED AND HARDEN WHEN THEY
ARE COOLED, IF THEY ARE HEATED AGAIN, THEY BECOME SOFT AGAIN,
THEY CAN BE MOLDED INTO THE SAME SHAPE OR INTO A DIFFERENT ONE.
ONLY A PHYSICAL CHANGE IS PRODUCED, NOT A CHEMICAL ONE. DIFFERENT
SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE NOT PLASTICS ALSO BEHAVE IN THE SAME
MANNER SUCH AS PARAFFIN WAX WHICH IS A WELL KNOWN EXAMPLE.
CELLULOSE ACETATE AND POLYSTYRENE ARE INCLUDED IN THE THERMOPLASTIC
GROUP.
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THERMOSTABLE PLASTICS ARE AFFECTED IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY
WHEN HEAT IS APPLIED, FIRST THEY BECOME SOFT, THEN HARD AND THEN
THEY CAN NO LONGER BE SOFTENED AGAIN BY APPLYING HEAT. THIS
PERMANENT HARDENING, CALLED CURING, IS A CHEMICAL CHANGE COMPARABLE
TO THE HARDENING OF AN EGG IN BOILING WATER. THERMOSTABLE
PLASTICS INCLUDE PHENOLICS AND EPOXICS (NYLON AMONG OTHERS).
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PIONEERS IN PLASTICS -- THE FIRST COMMERCIAL PLASTIC WAS CELLULOID,
A CELLULOSE NITRATE WHICH WAS CREATED IN 1868 BY JOHN HYATT,
AN AMERICAN PRINTER. HE HAD ENTERED A CONTEST THAT OFFERED A
10,000 DOLLAR PRIZE TO THE PERSON WHO CAME UP WITH THE BEST SUBSTITUTE
FOR IVORY TO MAKE BILLIARD BALLS, HYATT DECIDED TO EXPERIMENT
WITH PYROXYLIN, A CELLULOID NITRATE, TO REPLACE IVORY. THE
ENGLISH CHEMIST, ALEXANDER PARKES HAD PUT OUT THE INFORMATION
THAT IF PYROXYLIN, A BRITTLE AND NON-MALLEABLE SUBSTANCE WERE
MIXED WITH CAMPHOR, THE RESULTING SUBSTANCE WOULD BE MALLEABLE;
HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT WITHSTAND AN INTENSE USE, HYATT IMPROVED
THE MIXING PROCESS BY USING HEAT AND PRESSURE AND PRODUCED A
PLASTIC MATERIAL THAT HE CALLED CELLULOID WHICH COULD BE WORKED
WITH MACHINERY AND LAMINATED. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT ADEQUATE FOR
BILLIARD BALLS AND HYATT DID NOT WIN THE PRIZE. NEVERTHELESS, HE
DISCOVERED THAT CELLULOID WAS A GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR IVORY IN
MANY OTHER PRODUCTS.
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AT FIRST IT WAS USED TO MAKE FALSE TEETH, SHIRT - FRONTS AND COLLARS,
THEN FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM, AUTOMOBILE CAR WINDOW CURTAINS,
ETC. FOR YEARS NOTHING WAS ABLE TO REPLACE IT BUT IT LOST
GROUND RAPIDLY IN THIS CENTURY, WHEN NEWER AND BETTER PLASTIC
MATERIALS WERE DEVELOPED. DURING THE LAST YEARS OF THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY THE GERMAN SCIENTISTS WILHELM KRISCHE AND
ADOLPH SPITTELER BEGAN TO LOOK FOR A MATERIAL WHICH WOULD REPLACE
SLATE IN THE MANUFACTURING OF OILSKIN. THEY DISCOVERED
THAT THE EFFECT OF FORMALDEHYDE ON CASEIN PRODUCED A SUBSTANCE
WITH A HORNED ASPECT; A SUBSTANCE APPROPRIATE FOR MANY
USES. THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF CASEINIC PLASTIC BEGAN IN
GERMANY AND FRANCE AROUND 1900. THE PRODUCT RECEIVED THE
COMMERCIAL NAME OF GALALITE "SOFT STONE" FROM THE GREEK "MILK"
AND LITHOS "STONE". DOCTOR LEO BAEKELAND, A BELGIAN-AMERICAN
CHEMIST IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT MAN IN THE HISTORY OF PLASTIC.
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IN 1872 THE EMINENT GERMAN CHEMIST ADOLPH VON BAEYER HAD OBSERVED
THAT WHEN DIVERSE PHENOLS AND ALDEHYDES REACTED, THEY
FORMED RESINOUS MASSES WHEN MIXED TOGETHER. THESE WERE NOT
PUT TO INDUSTRIAL USE UNTIL 1909; THAT YEAR BAEKELAND MANAGED
TO CONTROL THE REACTION BETWEEN PHENOL AND FORMALDEHYDE,
THEREBY PRODUCING A USEFUL PHENOLIC PLASTIC PRODUCT, WHICH
WAS CALLED BY THE COMMERCIAL NAME OF BAKELITE. IT COULD BE
SHAPED BY WAY OF MOLDING OR CASTING WITH HEAT OR PRESSURE, IN
LIQUID FORM IT WAS USED AS AN ADHESIVE TO BOND LAYERS OF WOOD,
CLOTH, PAPER, AND OTHER MATERIALS.
-
BAKELITE WAS THE FIRST COMMERCIAL SYNTHETIC RESIN.
-
SINCE 1909 MANY OTHER PLASTICS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND COMMERCIALLY
PRODUCED. THIS INDUSTRY HAS GROWN CEASELESSLY, INVADING
ONE FIELD AFTER ANOTHER. EACH YEAR MILLIONS OF KILOGRAMS
OF PLASTIC MATERIAL DESTINED FOR VARIOUS USES ARE PRODUCED IN
THE UNITED STATES ALONE.
-
A TYPICAL PREPARATION PROCESS -- IN GENERAL THE CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
USED TO PRODUCE PLASTICS DO NOT EXIST AS NATURAL PRODUCTS,
THEY ARE PRODUCED WITH THE RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL,
SUCH AS, PETROLEUM, NATURAL GAS, CARBON, CHALK, FLUOR SPAR, SULPHUR,
WATER, AND AIR TO MENTION THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES. BECAUSE
THE MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF PLASTICS
ARE SO BASIC, IT IS SAID THAT "NYLON IS MADE OUT OF CARBON,
AIR, AND WATER" THAT POLYVINYL CHLORIDE "IS MADE OUT OF CARBON,
CHALK, LIME, AND WATER". NATURALLY THESE STATEMENTS ARE EXTREME
SIMPLIFICATIONS. THEY BRING TO MIND A MAGICIAN BREAKING EGGS INTO
A TOP HAT AND PULLING OUT AN OMELETTE.
-
ACTUALLY, IT IS NOT EASY TO TRANSFORM AND ALTER THESE BASIC NATURAL
MATERIALS TO TURN THEM INTO PLASTIC. YOU NEED COMPLICATED
EQUIPMENT, SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND EXPERT TECHNICIANS. FOR
EXAMPLE, LET US OUTLINE THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES REQUIRED
TO PRODUCE SYNTHETIC RESIN, MELAMINE, FORMALDEHYDES, WHICH IS
A COMBINATION OF THE LAST TWO.
-
THE BASIC MATERIALS ARE MELAMINE WITH CARBON, CHALK, AND AIR.
WE DO NOT USE ACTUAL CARBON AS AN INGREDIENT; WE RESORT TO
COKE, WHICH IS A DERIVATIVE OF CARBON AND IS OBTAINED AS A
SUBPRODUCT TOGETHER WITH GAS AND TAR WHEN BITUMINOUS CARBON
IS HEATED IN AN OVEN, THE CHALK IS ALSO NOT USED AS AN INGREDIENT
IN THE MANUFACTURING OF MELAMINE, INSTEAD THE LIME OBTAINED WITH
CARBON BIOXIDE, WHEN THE CHALK IS HEATED IN AN OVEN IS USED. FINALLY,
NEITHER DO WE USE AIR. INSTEAD, WE USE THE NITROGEN IN THE
AIR WHICH WE OBTAIN BY COMPRESSING, EXPANDING AND COOLING THE
AIR WHICH BECOMES LIQUIFIED DURING THE PROCESS. THEN THE LIQUID
AIR IS DISTILLED IN ORDER TO SEPARATE ITS COMPONENTS. THE
CHEMIST WORKS WITH THE THREE INGREDIENTS; COKE, LIME, AND NITROGEN.
A MIXTURE OF LIME AND COKE IS HEATED IN AN ELECTRIC OVEN
AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE AND FORMS CALCIUM CARBIDE AND CARBON
MONOXIDE. THE CALCIUM CARBIDE IS THEN HEATED WITH THE NITROGEN
ALSO IN AN ELECTRIC OVEN AND PRODUCES CALCIUM CYANAMIDE.
THIS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE THEN REACTS WITH WATER AND ACID TO
FORM CYANAMIDE FROM WHICH DICYAMINIDE IS OBTAINED BY TREATING
IT WITH ALKALIS. FINALLY,
THE DICYAMINIDE IS HEATED WITH AMMONIA AND METHANOL. THIS PRODUCES
MELAMINE, WHICH IS HOW WE NOW HAVE THE COMPONENT MELAMINE
FORMALDEHYDE.
-
THE MATERIALS THAT WE START WITH FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF FORMALDEHYDE
ARE CARBON, WATER, AND AIR. FIRST THE CARBON MUST
BE CONVERTED TO COKE BY WAY OF THE PROCESS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED,
THEN THE COKE IS MADE TO REACT WITH STEAM IN ORDER TO
PRODUCE HYDROGEN AND CARBON MONOXIDE. WHEN THESE TWO GASES
ARE HEATED AT HIGH PRESSURE WITH CHROMIC OXIDE AND ZINC OXIDE
OR ANOTHER CATALYST WE OBTAIN METHANOL AND MIX ITS STEAM WITH
THE OXYGEN IN THE AIR WITH THE HELP OF A CATALYST, THE RESULTING
PRODUCT IS FORMALDEHYDE.
-
NOW WE HAVE MELAMINE AND FORMALDEHYDE WHICH MUST BE COMBINED
IN ORDER TO FORM MELAMINE-FORMALDEHYDE RESIN. FOR THIS
OPERATION, THE CHEMIST USES A REACTION VAT MADE OUT OF A STAINLESS
STEEL CALLED MARTITE. THIS HAS A MIXER, A STEAM SHIRT FOR
HEATING AND AN ELECTRIC INSTRUMENT FOR REGISTERING TEMPERATURES.
FIRST THE FORMALDEHYDE IS INTRODUCED INTO THE MARTITE,
THEN THE MELAMINE AND THE NECESSARY CATALYSTS; ONCE THE COMPOUND
IS HEATED AND STIRRED BY THE MIXER, THE RESIN IS REMOVED
AND PUMPED THROUGH A FILTER-DAM IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE SOLID
IMPURITIES; THEN THE FILTERED LIQUID RESIN IS COMBINED WITH SULPHITE
PULP OBTAINED FROM WOOD BY MEANS OF A CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL
TREATMENT IN A DOUBLE BLADED STAINLESS STEEL MIXER.
THEN THE MIXED RESIN AND THE SULPHITE PULP ARE DRIED OUT, CUT
WITH A SHEAR, AND MIXED WITH DIVERSE MODIFIERS, THAT IS, SUBSTANCES
ADDED DURING THE GRINDING IN A PELLET MILL.
-
THESE MODIFIERS INCLUDE DYES, LUBRICANTS AND CATALYSTS. PART
OF THE GROUND MIXTURE IS FILTERED IN ORDER TO SEPARATE THE FINE
PARTICLES WHICH ARE PACKAGED IN DRUMS AND SOLD AS PLASTIC POWDER
FOR MOLDING, THE REST OF THE MIXTURE IS COMPACTED (THAT IS
COMPRESSED) AND RUN THROUGH A CUTTING MACHINE TO PRODUCE PELETS
OF THE DESIRED SIZE, AFTER SIFTING IT IS PACKAGED IN DRUMS
AND IS SOLD UNDER THE NAME OF GRANULATED MOLDING COMPOUND.
THIS IS A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE MANY CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROCESSES
NEEDED FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF CARBON, CHALK, WATER,
AND AIR INTO A TYPICAL PLASTIC MATERIAL SUCH AS MELAMINE-FORMALDEHYDE.
-
MODIFIERS -- MANY OTHER PROCESSES ARE USED IN THE MANUFACTURING
OF PLASTICS. THE ADDITION OF MODIFIERS IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
I IN PRACTICALLY ALL CASES SINCE USUALLY SYNTHETIC RESINS BY THEMSELVES
ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR MOLDING PURPOSES.
DYES -- ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ADDED, THESE ARE MADE OF RED CADMIUM,
YELLOW CADMIUM, AND WHITE TITANIUM BIOXIDE DYES AND PIGMENTS.
LUBRICANTS -- THEY ARE GENERALLY ALSO INCLUDED AND THEY FACILITATE
THE FILLING OF A MOLD WHEN THE MOLDING POWDER IS CONVERTED
INTO A FINISHED OR SEMIFINISHED PRODUCT.
-
SOME PLASTICS ACQUIRE A CHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY, WHICH IS
WHY DUST ADHERES TO ITS SURFACE, IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THIS
PROBLEM, DESTATIFYERS ARE ADDED TO THE PLASTIC MIXTURE. ONE
TYPE OF THESE INCREASES THE ELECTRIC CONDUCTION ON THE SURFACE,
THEREBY PERMITTING THE STATIC CHARGE TO ESCAPE.
-
EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT DETERIORATES SOME PLASTICS, THIS CAN BE
AVOIDED BY ADDING STABILIZING SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE COMPRISED
OF ORGANIC BARIUM ACIDS, CADMIUM, CALCIUM, AND ZINC.
-
OTHER MODIFIERS ACT AS FLAME RETARDANTS, AMONG THESE ARE ORGANIC
PHOSPHOROUS COMPOUNDS THAT ARE CHEMICALLY COMBINED
WITH BROMINE OR CHLORINE. WHEN MIXED WITH PLASTICS PRODUCTS
ADEQUATE FOR FILLERS SUCH AS SMOKE BLACK, CLAY, COTTON FLUFF,
MICA,
AND SAWDUST ADD VOLUME AND THE MATERIAL IS MADE LESS POROUS
THEREBY REDUCING THE TOTAL COST. PLASTICIZERS ARE ANOTHER IMPORTANT
MODIFIER, THEY COME IN LIQUID OR SOLID FORM AND ARE
ADDED TO THE PLASTIC POWDER IN ORDER TO IMPROVE FLEXIBILITY AND
ADD OTHER QUALITIES; THERE HAVE BEEN SOME 400 ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
EMPLOYED AS PLASTICIZERS.
-
ONCE THE NECESSARY MODIFIERS HAVE BEEN ADDED, THE PLASTIC MATERIAL
IS CONVERTED INTO POWDER, OR IT CAN BE PREPARED IN GRANULATED
FORM, AS WITH MELAMINE-FORMALDEHYDE RESIN WHICH HAS BEEN
PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED. IT CAN ALSO BE SOLD AS PELLETS OR CHIPS.
IT IS NOW READY TO BE MADE INTO FINISHED OR SEMIFINISHED PRODUCTS.
-
IMPORTANT GROUPS -- TODAY THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT
PLASTIC MATERIALS WHICH ARE COMMERCIALIZED UNDER A PROFUSION
OF BRAND NAMES SUCH AS: HERCULOID, NITRON, AND ROWLAND CN, FOR
EXAMPLE: ARE TRADEMARKS OF CELLULOID NITRATE, BEETLE, PLASKON,
AND CATALIN ARE TRADEMARKS OF UREA-FORMALDEHYDE, STYRON,
LUSTREX AND BAKELITE POLYSTYRENE ARE TRADEMARKS OF POLYSTYRENE,
OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO NAME EACH OF THE AVAILABLE
PLASTIC PRODUCTS IN THIS BRIEF LIST, NOT TO MENTION THE STILL
NUMEROUS TRADEMARKS BY WHICH THEY ARE KNOWN. IN THE FOLLOWING
PARAGRAPHS I WILL ENUMERATE THE MOST IMPORTANT GROUPS OF
PLASTICS ALONG WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS
AND USES OF EACH ONE.
-
ACRYLIC RESINS -- ARE THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS WHICH ARE KNOWN
FOR THEIR STRENGTH, RESISTANCE TO THE OUTDOORS, AND TRANSPARENCY.
POLYMETACRYLATES THE MOST IMPORTANT RESIN IN
THIS GROUP AND IS BETTER KNOWN BY ITS COMMERCIAL NAMES OF
PLEXIGLASS AND LUCITE.
-
IT REMAINS TRANSPARENT IN SPITE OF DIFFERENT CLIMATIC CONDITIONS,
IT RESISTS BLOWS, IT BURNS SLOWLY AND DOES NOT BECOME BRITTLE
WHEN COOLED: IT IS USEFUL FOR SIGNS, AUTOMOBILE TAILLIGHTS, HAIR-BRUSH
HANDLES, COMBS, AND JEWELRY, IT ADAPTS VERY WELL TO MATERIALS
THAT IMITATE GLASS, ITS USED IN AEROPLANES DUE TO ITS TRANSPARENCY
AND RESISTANCE TO METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.
-
ALCHIDIC RESINS -- THESE ARE THERMOSTABLE, THEY MAKE GOOD ELECTRIC
ISOLATORS AND ARE RESISTANT TO HEAT; IT IS USED IN PAINTS,
ENAMELS, GLOSS PAINTS, ADHESIVES AND PRINTING INKS. ALCHIDIC PLASTIC
MATERIALS ARE USED IN ELECTRIC SWITCHES, FUSES, AUTOMOBILE
IGNITIONS AND BASEBOARDS FOR ELECTRIC TUBES.
-
ALILIC RESINS -- ARE THERMOSTABLE PLASTICS THAT MAKE EXCELLENT
ELECTRIC ISOLATORS AND HAVE A LOW LEVEL OF WATER ABSORPTION
AS WELL AS LITTLE CONTRACTION DURING AND AFTER THE MOLDING
PROCESS. THEY ARE USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF AUTOMOBILE IGNITIONS
AND DISTRIBUTOR CAPS SWITCHBOARDS, BASEBOARDS FOR
ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC TUBES, AND OTHER ELECTRIC AND ELECTRONIC
COMPONENTS. THE ALILIC RESIN CALLED DYALIFTHALYDE PROVIDES
A SAFE ISOLATOR IN THE MOST ADVERSE CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE
AND HUMIDITY, IT IS FORT THIS REASON THAT IT WAS EMPLOYED
IN THE TERMINAL EQUIPMENT OF THE FIRST TRANSOCEANIC TELEPHONE
CABLE.
-
AMINORESINS -- MAKE UP A GROUP OF THERMOSTABLE PLASTICS THAT
INCLUDES MELAMINE FORMALDEHYDE RESIN. MOLDED AMINIC PRODUCTS
ARE TRANSLUCENT OR OPAQUE, THEY ARE ALSO SHINY. DYES TAKE WELL
TO THEM AND THEY ARE TOTALLY DEVOID OF ANY SMELL OR TASTE.
MELAMINE-FORMALDEHYDE RESIN HAS A LOW HUMIDITY ABSORPTION
COEFFICIENT AND PROVIDES A HARD SMOOTH SURFACE. AS A RESULT IT
IS GREATLY EMPLOYED FOR TABLEWARE, BUTTONS, BOXES FOR HEADPHONES
AND DISTRIBUTOR CAP HEADS. UREA-FORMALDEHYDE RESIN IS
USEFUL FOR AMONG OTHER THINGS TO MAKE RADIO BOXES AND OTHER
ELECTRIC DEVICES.
-
CASEINIC PLASTICS -- ARE CREATED BY THE REACTION. OF FORMALDEHYDE
TO CASEIN, WHICH RESULTS IN A MATERIAL THAT IS THERMOSTABLE,
HARD AND HAS A HORNED ASPECT.
-
THESE PLASTICS HAVE A SHINY SURFACE POLISH AND COME IN A WIDE
RANGE OF COLORS, THEY ARE USED TO MANUFACTURE BUTTONS, BEADS,
GAME BOARDS, PUSH BUTTONS FOR MACHINES, KNITTING NEEDLES, AND
TOYS.
-
CELLULOSICS -- THESE ARE CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES THAT FORM A GROUP
THAT INCLUDES CELLULOSE ACETATE, THEY ARE THERMOPLASTIC, RESISTANT
AND COME IN A VARIETY OF COLORS, CELLULOSE ACETATE IS THE
MOST WIDELY USED OF THE CELLULOSICS; IT IS USED TO MAKE FIBRES
(RAYON ACETATE), PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM, BUTTONS, COMBS, EYEGLASS
FRAMES, LAMPSHADES, VACUUM CLEANERS, AND FLOOR POLISHERS. THE
PRODUCTS THAT ARE MOLDED WITH THIS MATERIAL ARE SOFT TO THE
TOUCH AND RESIST DETERIORATION; FINGERPRINTS ARE EASILY REMOVED.
-
BUTYRATE OF CELLULOSE ACETATE IS MORE RESISTANT THAN CELLULOSE
ACETATE AND ABSORBS LESS HUMIDITY, IT IS RESISTANT TO THE BEHAVIOUR
OF ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS AND IS EASILY CLEANED, IT IS IDEAL FOR
AUTOMOBILE STEERING WHEELS , PORTABLE RADIO BOXES, TOOL HANDLES,
AND TELEPHONE RECEIVERS.
-
EPOXIC RESINS -- ARE THERMOSTABLE CHEMICALLY RESISTANT, DURABLE,
FLEXIBLE, AND STRONG PLASTICS. THEY PROVIDE EXCELLENT PROTECTIVE
COVERINGS, ARE USEFUL AS PRIMERS, FINAL PAINTS, AND VARNISHES
SUCH AS, COATINGS AND LININGS FOR CANS, DRUMS, PIPES, RECIPIENTS,
AND TANKER TRUCKS. THESE RESINS MAKE EXCELLENT ADHESIVES,
THEY ARE ALSO BEING USED MORE AND MORE FOR MOLDING AND
CASTING AND LAMINATING. THE LAMINATES OR COMBINED LAYERS OF
EPOXIC RESINS AND PRODUCTS MADE WITH FIBERGLASS HAVE BEEN
WIDELY USED IN ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS, PRINTINGS, AVIATION, MACHINERY
HOUSINGS, TANKS, AND TOOLS.
-
FLOUROCARBONS -- OUTSTANDING FOR THEIR DURABILITY, THEY RESIST
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, FLAME, HEAT, AND OUTDOOR CONDITIONS.
THESE THERMOPLASTICS ARE FLEXIBLE AT LOW TEMPERATURES, ARE
GOOD ELECTRIC ISOLATORS, THEY ARE USED FOR MANUFACTURING
VALVES, PUMPING EQUIPMENT DIAPHRAGMS, PACKAGING, NON-LUBRICATING
RODS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, WIRE AND PIPE COVERINGS.
-
PHENOLIC RESINS -- ARE THERMOSTABLE PLASTICS THAT ARE SOLID,
RIGID, AND HAVE ANTITHERMIC RESISTANCE. THEY HAVE A NATURALLY
DARK COLOR AND USUALLY DO NOT COME IN THE RANGE OF BRIGHT
COLORS WHICH THE PUBLIC GENERALLY ASSOCIATES WITH PLASTICS.
PHENOLICS ARE USED FOR PARTS OR ITEMS THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL MECHANICAL
OR ELECTRIC QUALITIES MORE THAN AN ABILITY TO COLOR
WELL. AMONG OTHER THINGS THEY ARE USED FOR CAMERA CASINGS,
DISTRIBUTOR CAPS, ELECTRIC IRON HANDLES, SWITCHES, TELEPHONES,
BASEBOARDS, TELEPHONES, AND WASHING MACHINE PADDLES, IN LIQUID
FORM THEY ARE USED AS PROTECTIVE COATINGS AND ADHESIVES AS
WELL AS FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF LAMINATES.
-
POLYAMIDIC RESINS -- NYLON IS THE MOST WIDELY KNOWN OF THESE. IT
IS NOT ONE PLASTIC BUT A GROUP OF PLASTICS IN WHICH EACH ONE HAS
ITS OWN PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SPECIAL USES. THE WORD
NYLON SUGGESTS FABRICS, PANTYHOSE, OR BRISTLES FOR BRUSHES TO
THE GENERAL PUBLIC BUT THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF ITS MULTIPLE USES.
SINCE NYLON BASED PRODUCTS ARE STRONG AND CAN WITHSTAND ABRASION,
HEAT, AND CHEMICAL MATERIALS, THEY ARE SHAPED TO MAKE.
GEARS, BEARINGS, SPEEDOMETER CAMS, PARTS FOR COMMERCIAL MACHINERY
AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCES, THEY ARE ALSO USED TO MAKE
RIFLE BUTTS, ROTATING SWITCHES, SILVERWARE HANDLES, AND ZIPPERS.
POLYCARBONATE RESINS -- IT RESISTS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, HEAT,
BLOWS AND INTEMPERATE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS THERMOPLASTIC
IS USED TO MAKE DIFFERENT AEROPLANE PARTS, CARS, AND COMMERCIAL
CALCULATORS AND HAS A LOT OF USES IN THE MANUFACTURING
OF ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRIC DEVICES THE SAME AS WITH
ALUMINUM, TIN, AND COPPER, BUT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PLASTICS IT
CAN BE WORKED COLD ( THAT IS IT CAN BE MOLDED WITHOUT HEAT),
THROUGH LAMINATING, PRESSURE, AND STRETCHING IN ORDER TO MANUFACTURE
RECORDS AND PIPES.
-
POLYESTER RESIN -- ITS COMPONENTS ARE THERMOSTABLE, EXCELLENT
ELECTRICAL ISOLATORS, THEY PRESENT A LOW INDEX OF HUMIDITY ABSORPTION
AND ARE RESISTANT AGAINST HEAT. THEY ARE WIDELY USED
FOR COATINGS. POLYESTER MADE OUT OF FIBERS COMMONLY KNOWN
AS DACRON HAS BECOME VERY IMPORTANT IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY,
WHEN THEY ARE REINFORCED WITH FIBERGLASS, SYNTHETIC FIBERS AND
OTHER MATERIALS, POLYESTER RESINS CAN BE MOLDED TO MAKE DIFFERENT
PRODUCTS WHICH HAVE OUTSTANDING ELECTRIC CHARACTERISTICS
AND ARE LIGHT AND STRONG AND CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING
BLOWS.
-
THESE REINFORCED MATERIALS ARE USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF
PANELS FOR CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, AND MANY
OTHER PRODUCTS.
-
POLYETHILENE -- IS AMONG THE MOST USED PLASTICS, AMONG THERMOPLASTIC
MATERIAL IT IS STRONG AND CAN BE MADE RIGID OR FLEXIBLE,
RESISTANT TO HEAT AND COLD AND IS AN EXCELLENT ELECTRIC ISOLATOR.
ITS MANY USES INCLUDE FAUCETS AND PIPES, WRAPPING FOR ELECTRIC
CABLES, BUCKETS, RIGID AND SQUEEZABLE BOTTLES, GLASSES,
PLASTICS FOR DRINKING OUT OF, PLATES, BRUSH HANDLES, AND TOYS
AND IN FILM AND LAMINATE FORM IT IS USED FOR BAGS OF CANDY AND
OTHER FOODS, RAIN RESISTANT CLOTHING, WEATHER BALLOONS,
FREEZER BAGS AND PROTECTION AGAINST HUMIDITY UNDER CEMENT AND
INSIDE WALLS. HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE IS RIGID, WATER RESISTANT,
CLIMATE RESISTANT, WITHSTANDS ACIDS FROM FOODS, AND ABRASIONS
AND IS EASILY CLEANED WHICH IS WHY IT IS WIDELY USED TO MAKE
GARBAGE CANS.
-
POLYPROPYLENE -- IS A THERMOPLASTIC THAT HAS MANY VALUABLE
QUALITIES. IT IS LIGHT, STRONG, RESISTS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS, BOILING
WATER, AND CRACKING. IT IS A GOOD ELECTRICAL ISOLATOR; IT IS
USED TO MAKE PLATES, FAUCETS, PIPES, VALVES, BOTTLES, ACCUMULATOR
HOUSINGS, REFRIGERATOR PARTS, TEXTILE MACHINERY COMPONENTS,
DOMESTIC ARTICLES, AND WIRE AND CABLE ISOLATION. LABORATORY
EQUIPMENT MADE FROM POLYPROPYLENE WITHSTANDS BLOWS,
TEMPERATURES OF UP TO 140 DEGREES C. AND WITHSTANDS CHEMICAL
PRODUCTS AND CRACKING.
-
POLYSTYRENES -- ARE THERMOPLASTICS THAT ARE NOTED FOR THEIR
TRANSPARENCE, HARDNESS, SHININESS, AND ELECTRICAL QUALITIES AND
CAN BE MANUFACTURED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF COLORS, ITS USES ARE,
KITCHEN UTENSILS, RECIPIENTS FOR REFRIGERATING FOOD, DASHBOARDS,
TILES, PORTABLE RADIO HOUSINGS, PACKAGING BOXES, HANDLES,
AND TOYS.
-
RIGID POLYSTYRENE FOAM CAN BE COMMERCIALLY OBTAINED IN THE FORM
OF SLABS, BLOCKS, AND AS PELLETS THAT CAN BE CRUSHED AND MADE
INTO PLASTIC FOAM. IT IS USED FOR PACKAGING AND AS INTERMEDIATE
PANELS IN BUILDINGS.
-
SILICONS -- ARE RESISTANT TO CHEMICAL PRODUCTS, HEAT, WATER, AND
INTEMPERATE CONDITIONS AND ARE VERY GOOD ELECTRICAL ISOLATORS.
THESE THERMOSTABLE PLASTICS ARE USED IN AVIATION, IN MISSILES,
CONNECTORS, PLUGS, ISOLATORS FOR GENERATORS, SWITCHBOARD
PARTS AND CONTROL PANELS FOR TERMINALS.
-
URETHANE RESINS -- ARE THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS THAT MAKE UP
FLEXIBLE AND RIGID FOAMS THAT ARE STRONG, LIGHT, AND RESIST HUMIDITY.
THE FLEXIBLE ONES HAVE PROVEN TO BE USEFUL IN CAR SEATS
AND AEROPLANES, MATTRESSES, CRASH PILLOWS, FURNITURE STUFFING,
CLOTHING, PROTECTIVE PACKAGINGS AND THERMIC ISOLATION FOR
TANKS. THE RIGID FOAM IS USEFUL AS INSULATION AGAINST COLD
WEATHER AND FOR PACKAGING. THESE RESINS ARE ALSO USED AS ADHESIVES,
BRUSH BRISTLES, AND SOLID PLASTIC PRODUCTS.
-
VYNILIC RESINS -- OR VINYLS, ARE STRONG THERMOPLASTICS, GOOD ELECTRICAL
ISOLATORS, RESISTANT TO CHEMICAL PRODUCTS AND THEY COME
IN MANY COLORS; THEY ARE USED FOR TILES, PURSES, RECORDS, RAINCOATS,
SHOWER CURTAINS, UPHOLSTERY, HOSES, ELECTRIC PLUGS, AND
ISOLATION FOR WIRES AND CABLES.
-
THROUGH THIS ESSAY, WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CREATE AN IDEA OF WHAT
THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN HIGH ENGINEERING IN PLASTICS REPRESENT
FOR AND OFFER TO MANKIND UP TO TODAY.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
-
THE CHARACTERISTIC DETAILS OF THIS MAINTENANCE FREE SLIDING
FLOODGATE SYSTEM WITH AND WITHOUT THE OPERATING MECHANISM,
MADE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL. IS SHOWN IN THE 22 DRAWINGS THAT ARE
ATTACHED, IN WHICH THE PARTS THAT MAKE IT UP ARE DETAILED.
- FIGURE 1 IS AN OVERVIEW OF A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR FLOODGATE.
IN ONE PIECE WITHOUT THE MECHANISM SHAPED, LIKE A MANUAL SHOVEL
HANDLE.
- FIGURE 2 IS THE FRAME OF A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR FLOODGATE, IN
ONE PIECE WITHOUT THE MECHANISM, SHAPED LIKE A MANUAL SHOVEL
HANDLE.
- FIGURE 3 IS AN OVERVIEW OF A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR FLOODGATE
IN ONE PIECE WITHOUT THE MECHANISM, WITH A STRAIGHT PLATE HANDLE.
- FIGURE 4 IS THE FRAME OF A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR FLOODGATE, IN
ONE PIECE WITHOUT THE MECHANISM WITH A STRAIGHT PLATE HANDLE.
- FIGURE 5 REFERS TO AN ENTIRE FLOODGATE WITHOUT THE MECHANISM
BUT WITH TWO OR MORE PARTS, WITH A MECHANICAL JOINT, SHAPED LIKE
A STRAIGHT SHOVEL HANDLE.
- FIGURE 6 IS AN ENTIRE FLOODGATE WITHOUT THE MECHANISM, WITH TWO
OR MORE PARTS, WITH A MECHANICAL JOINT AND A STRAIGHT PLATE HANDLE.
- FIGURE 7 IS AN ENTIRE FLOODGATE SYSTEM WITH THE MECHANISM,
SHAPED LIKE A MANUAL SHOVEL HANDLE.
- FIGURE 8 IS AN COMPLETE FLOODGATE SYSTEM WITH THE MECHANISM
SHAPED LIKE A STRAIGHT PLATE HANDLE.
- FIGURE 9 SHOWS US AN OVERVIEW OF A MANUALLY OPERATED SQUARE
OR RECTANGULAR FLOODGATE.
- FIGURE 10 REFERS TO A MANUALLY OPERATED TRAPEZOIDAL FLOODGATE.
- FIGURE 11 IS A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR FLOODGATE WITH THE MECHANISM.
- FIGURE 12 IS A FLAT FLOODGATE SHEET FROM THE FLOODGATE WITH A
MECHANISM.
- FIGURE 13 REFERS TO THE SHEET'S GUIDE FRAMES ON THE FLOODGATE
WITH THE MECHANISM.
- FIGURE 14 REFERS TO THE SEAT PLATE ON THE FLOODGATE WITH THE
MECHANISM.
- FIGURE 15 SHOWS THE LIFT SCREW OF THE ON THE FLOODGATE WITH
THE MECHANISM.
- FIGURE 16 SHOWS THE LIFT NUT ON THE FLOODGATE WITH THE MECHANISM.
- FIGURE 17 IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE LOCK ON THE FLOODGATE WITH THE
MECHANISM.
- FIGURE 18 REFERS TO THE OPERATING HANDWHEEL ON THE FLOODGATE
WITH THE MECHANISM.
- FIGURE 19 SHOWS A RECTANGULAR OR SQUARE FLOODGATE SYSTEM,
WITH THE MECHANISM THAT IS OPERATED BY A CRANK.
- FIGURE 20 REFERS TO A RECTANGULAR OR SQUARE FLOODGATE SYSTEM
WITH AN OPERATING HANDWHEEL SYSTEM PARALLEL TO THE FLOODGATE
BLADE.
- FIGURE 21 IS AN OVERVIEW OF A CONCAVE FLOODGATE WITH RADIAL
MOTION, IN ONE PIECE, WHICH IS OPERATED BY BEARINGS OR PELLETS
ON THE RIBBING LOCATED ON THE FLOODGATE BLADE.
- FIGURE 22 REFERS TO A FLOODGATE SYSTEM WITH RADIAL MOTION, IN
TWO OR MORE PARTS, WHICH FUNCTIONS BY AN OPERATING HANDWHEEL,
GEARS AND RODS, OR LIFT SCREWS ALL SYNCHRONIZED IN ORDER NOT
ITS RADIAL TRAJECTORY.
-
-
BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE WILL PROCEED TO DESCRIBE EACH ONE OF THE
PARTS THAT MAKES EACH SYSTEM OR EACH FIGURE.
-
ACCORDING TO FIGURE 1 THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A ONE PIECE FLOODGATE
SHEET, SHAPED LIKE A SHOVEL, WHICH IS A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR
PLATE AT THE BOTTOM (1). IT IS THE AREA USED TO OBSTRUCT
THE WATER FLOW, IT CONTINUES UPWARD FROM THE UPPER MIDDLE SECTION
OF THE PLATE SHAPED LIKE A SQUARE BAR (2); AND HAS BOREHOLES
(3) AT CERTAIN INTERVALS ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE BAR, AND FINALLY
ENDS IN THE SHAPE OF A MANUAL SHOVEL HANDLE (4) WHICH ALLOWS
THE FLOODGATE TO BE RAISED.
-
FIGURE 2 SHOWS THE COMPLEMENT TO THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS A U-SHAPED
FRAME THAT FUNCTIONS AS A GUIDE WHICH PREVENTS THE
FLOODGATE SHEET FROM DERAILING AS IT SLIDES VERTICALLY, ITS SIDE
BARS, WHICH HAVE TRACKS (1), AS WELL AS THE LOWER BAR (2) ARE SUBMERGED
IN AND ANCHORED TO THE CANAL'S CONCRETE FLOOR RESPECTIVELY,
WHILE THE UPPER BAR OF THE FRAME (3) IS SLOTTED ALONG ITS
ENTIRE LENGTH IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO BE
RAISED. THE MIDDLE PART OF SAID BAR IS ALSO SLOTTED ALONG ITS
WIDTH (4) SO THAT IT CAN BE ATTACHED TO THE DIFFERENT BOREHOLES
ON THE BAR OF THE FLOODGATE PLATE.
-
THIS SYSTEM IS OPERATED MANUALLY AND FUNCTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER: THE FLOODGATE PLATE SLIDES UPWARD VERTICALLY BY
WAY OF ITS HANDLE, AND ACCORDING TO THE BOREHOLES ON THE BAR
OF THE FLOODGATE PLATE CAN BE STOPPED AT ANY ONE OF THEM WITH
A BIT MADE OUT OF THE SAME OR ANOTHER MATERIAL IN THE BOREHOLE
IN THE UPPER BAR OF THE FRAME, DEPENDING THE WATER FLOW TO BE
MANAGED.
-
THIS WAY, THE FLOODGATE SHEET CREATES A SEAL WITH THE LOWER
BAR OF THE FRAME WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT WHILE IT IS IN THE
CLOSED POSITION.
-
IN FIGURE 3, THE SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A ONE PIECE FLOODGATE SHEET
SHAPED LIKE A PADDLE IN WHICH THE PLATE IS SQUARE.OR RECTANGULAR
AT THE BOTTOM (1), WHICH IS THE PART USED TO OBSTRUCT THE
WATER FLOW, AND CONTINUES UPWARD FROM THE UPPER MIDDLE PART
OF THE SHEET SHAPED LIKE A NARROWER SHEET (2), AND WHICH HAS
BOREHOLES (3) AT CERTAIN DISTANCES ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE
SHEET, FINALLY ENDING IN AN OPENING IN ITS UPPER SECTION (4), SO
THAT IT CAN BE OPERATED MANUALLY WHICH, PERMITS RAISING OF THE
FLOODGATE.
-
FIGURE 4 SHOWS THE COMPLEMENT TO THE SYSTEM WHICH IS A U-SHAPED
FRAME WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A GUIDE SO THAT THE FLOODGATE
PLATE DOES NOT DERAIL AS IT IS MOVING VERTICALLY.
-
IN SAID FRAME ITS SIDE BARS (1) AS WELL AS ITS LOWER BARS (2) ARE
ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN THE CANAL'S CONCRETE, FLOOR RESPECTIVELY,
WHILE THE TOP BAR (3) OF THE FRAME IS SLOTTED ALONG
ITS LENGTH IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO BE RAISED.
THE CENTER OF SAID BAR ALSO HAS BOREHOLES SO THAT IT CAN BE ATTACHED
TO THE DIFFERENT BOREHOLES IN THE FLOODGATE'S NARROWER
SHEET.
-
THE SYSTEM IS OPERATED MANUALLY AND WORKS THE FOLLOWING WAY:
THE FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES UPWARD VERTICALLY FROM THE OPENING
IN THE NARROWER SHEET, AND DEPENDING ON THE BOREHOLES IN
THE UPPER BAR OF THE FLOODGATE PLATE CAN BE STOPPED AT ANY ONE
OF THESE WITH A BIT MADE OF THE SAME OR ANOTHER MATERIAL IN THE
BOREHOLE IN THE UPPER PART OF THE FRAME, DEPENDING ON THE WATER
FLOW TO BE MANAGED.
-
THIS WAY THE FLOODGATE SHEET IS SEALED TO THE LOWER BAR OF THE
FRAME THAT FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT WHEN IT IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION.
IN FIGURE 5, THE SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A SINGLE FLOODGATE SHEET
WHICH IS SHAPED LIKE A PADDLE THAT HAS A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR
SHEET AT THE BOTTOM (1) WHICH IS THE AREA USED TO OBSTRUCT THE
WATER FLOW, IT CONTINUES UPWARD FROM THE UPPER MIDDLE SECTION
OF THE SHEET IN THE FORM OF A SQUARE BAR (2); AND WHICH HAS
BOREHOLES (3) AT SET INTERVALS ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE BAR, ENDING
IN THE SHAPE OF A MANUAL SHOVEL HANDLE (4), WHICH PERMITS
THE FLOODGATE TO BE RAISED. IT CONTAINS A MECHANICAL JOINT THAT
CONNECT THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO THE LIFT BAR, IT ALSO HAS A U-SHAPED
FRAME WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A GUIDE THAT PREVENTS THE
FLOODGATE SHEET FROM DERAILING WHILE SLIDING VERTICALLY.
-
IN SAID FRAME, THE SIDE BARS WHICH ARE GROOVED (6), AS WELL AS
THE LOWER BAR (7), ARE SUBMERGED IN AND ANCHORED TO THE CANAL'S
CONCRETE FLOOR RESPECTIVELY, WHILE THE UPPER BAR (8), IS SLOTTED
ALONG ITS LENGTH IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO
BE RAISED. THE MIDDLE PART OF SAID BAR IS ALSO SLOTTED ALONG ITS
WIDTH (9) SO THAT IT MATCHES THE DIFFERENT BOREHOLES IN THE BAR
ON THE FLOODGATE SHEET.
-
THIS SYSTEM IS OPERATED MANUALLY AND WORKS THE FOLLOWING WAY:
THE FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES UPWARD VERTICALLY BY ITS HANDLE, AND
DEPENDING ON THE BOREHOLES IN THE BAR OF THE FLOODGATE SHEET
IT CAN BE STOPPED AT ANY ONE OF THEM WITH A BIT MADE OF THE SAME
OR ANOTHER MATERIAL, IN THE BOREHOLE AT THE TOP OF THE FRAME,
DEPENDING ON THE WATER FLOW MANAGEMENT REQUIRED.
-
IN THIS WAY THE FLOODGATE SHEET ADHERES TO THE LOWER BAR OF
THE FRAME THAT SERVES AS A SEAT WHEN IT IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION.
-
IN FIGURE 6 THE SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A PADDLE SHAPED FLOODGATE
IN ONE PIECE WHICH HAS A SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR SHAPED SHEET
AT THE BOTTOM (1), WHICH IS THE PART USED TO OBSTRUCT THE WATER
FLOW, IT CONTINUES UPWARD FROM THE UPPER MIDDLE PART OF THE
SHEET IN THE FORM OF A NARROWER SHEET (2); AND HAS BOREHOLES
(3) AT CERTAIN INTERVALS ALONG ITS LENGTH, FINALLY ENDING IN AN
OPENING AT ITS UPPER END (4) SO THAT IT CAN BE MANUALLY OPERATED
WHICH PERMITS THE FLOODGATE TO BE RAISED. IT HAS A MECHANICAL
JOINT (5) WHICH JOINS THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO THE SHEET. THE COMPLEMENT
TO THE SYSTEM IS A U-SHAPED FRAME WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A
GUIDE TO PREVENT THE FLOODGATE SHEET FROM DERAILING AS IT SLIDES
VERTICALLY.
-
IN SAID FRAME, ITS SIDE BARS (6), AS WELL AS ITS BOTTOM BAR (7) ARE
ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN THE CANAL'S CONCRETE FLOOR RESPECTIVELY,
WHILE THE UPPER BAR (8) OF THE FRAME IS SLOTTED ALONG
ITS ENTIRE LENGTH IN ORDER TO PERMIT THE PASSAGE OF THE FLOODGATE
SHEET THE CENTER PART OF SAID BAR IS ALSO SLOTTED ALONG ITS
WIDTH (9) SO THAT IT CAN MATCH THE DIFFERENT BOREHOLES IN THE
NARROWER SHEET OF THE FLOODGATE SHEET.
-
THIS SYSTEM IS OPERATED MANUALLY AND WORKS THE FOLLOWING WAY:
THE FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES UPWARD VERTICALLY, OPERATED FROM
THE OPENING IN THE NARROWER SHEET AND IN DEPENDING ON THE
BOREHOLES IN THE BAR OF THE FLOODGATE SHEET CAN BE STOPPED AT
ANY ONE OF THEM USING A BIT MADE FROM THE SAME OR ANOTHER MATERIAL,
DEPENDING ON THE WATER FLOW TO BE HANDLED.
-
IN THE SAME WAY, THE FLOODGATE SHEET IS SEALED TO THE LOWER BAR
OF THE FRAME WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT WHEN IT IS IN THE CLOSED
POSITION.
-
IN FIGURE 7, THE SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A FLOODGATE SHEET IN ONE
PIECE OR WITH A MECHANICAL JOINT. THE SHEET IS PADDLE SHAPËD,
AND HAS SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR SHEET AT THE BOTTOM (1) WHICH IS
THE PART USED TO OBSTRUCT THE WATER FLOW, IT CONTINUES TOWARDS
THE TOP FROM THE UPPER MIDDLE PART OF THE SHEET IN THE FORM OF
A ZIPPER (2) FINALLY ENDING IN THE SHAPE OF A MANUAL SHOVEL HANDLE
(3).
-
THE COMPLEMENT TO THE SYSTEM IS A U-SHAPED FRAME (4), WHICH
SERVES AS A GUIDE SO THAT THE FLOODGATE SHEET DOES NOT DERAIL
AS IT SLIDES VERTICALLY.
-
IN THIS FRAME, THE TRACKED SIDE BARS (5), AS WELL AS THE LOWER
BAR (6) ARE ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN THE CANAL'S CONCRETE
FLOOR AND WALLS, RESPECTIVELY. THE UPPER BAR (7) OF THE FRAME IS
SLOTTED ALONG ITS ENTIRE LENGTH IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE FLOOD-GATE
SHEET TO BE RAISED. THERE IS ALSO A RAISING MECHANISM IN
THE CENTER OF THIS BAR WHICH IS MADE UP OF A GEAR (8), DRIVEN BY A
CRANK OR A WHEEL (9) WITH A GEAR AT ITS BASE. THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS
THE FOLLOWING WAY: THE FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES VERTICALLY UPWARD
THROUGH ITS RAISING MECHANISM DEPENDING ON THE TEETH IN THE ZIPPER
ON THE FLOODGATE SHEET AND CAN BE STOPPED AT THE LEVEL OF
ANY ONE OF THESE USING THE GEAR ON THE MECHANISM, WHEEL, OR
WYNCH, DEPENDING ON THE WATER FLOW TO BE HANDLED.
-
BY THE SAME PRINCIPLE, THE FLOODGATE SHEET SEALS TO THE LOWER
BAR OF THE FRAME WHICH SERVES AS A SEAT WHEN IT IS IN THE CLOSED
POSITION.
-
IN FIGURE 8, THE SYSTEM HAS A ONE PIECE FLOODGATE SHEET OR A
SHEET WITH A MECHANICAL JOINT, SHAPED LIKE A PADDLE THAT IS A
SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR SHEET AT THE BOTTOM (1), THE PART USED
TO OBSTRUCT THE WATER FLOW, IT CONTINUES UPWARD FROM THE UPPER
MIDDLE SECTION OF THE SQUARE SHAPED SHEET IN THE SHAPE OF A
NARROWER SHEET (2), AND IN A ZIPPER FORM (3), TO END IN AN OPENING
AT THE TOP (4).
-
THE COMPLEMENT TO THE SYSTEM IS A U-SHAPED FRAME THAT FUNCTIONS
AS A GUIDE SO THAT THE FLOODGATE SHEET DOES NOT DERAIL AS
IT IS SLIDING VERTICALLY.
-
IN SAID FRAME, THE SIDE BARS (5), AS WELL AS THE BOTTOM BAR (6) ARE
ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN THE CANAL'S CONCRETE WALLS AND
FLOOR RESPECTIVELY, WHILE THE UPPER BAR (7) OF THE FRAME IS SLOTTED
ALONG ITS ENTIRE LENGTH SO THAT THE FLOODGATE PLATE CAN GO
THROUGH IT. THE CENTER OF THE BAR HAS A RAISING MECHANISM THAT
IS MADE UP OF A GEAR (8) THAT WORKS BY MEANS OF A WYNCH OR A
WHEEL (9) WITH A GEAR AT ITS BASE. THIS SYSTEM FUNCTIONS THE FOLLOWING
WAY:
-
THE FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES UPWARD VERTICALLY THROUGH ITS RAISING
MECHANISM. DEPENDING ON THE TEETH IN THE SHEET WITH THE
ZIPPER FORM ON THE FLOODGATE SHEET IT CAN BE STOPPED AT ANY
ONE OF THESE USING THE GEAR ON THE MECHANISM, THE WHEEL, OR
WYNCH, DEPENDING ON THE WATER FLOW TO BE HANDLED.
THIS WAY, THE FLOODGATE SHEET SEALS TO THE LOWER BAR OF THE
FRAME, WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT WHEN IT IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION.
-
WITH RESPECT TO FIGURE 9, WE OBSERVE THAT THIS SYSTEM CONTAINS
ONE FLAT SQUARE OR RECTANGULAR FLOODGATE SHEET WHICH IS IN ONE
PIECE AND LARGER THAN THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE FRAME OF THE FLOOD
GATE. THIS FLOODGATE SHEET HAS TWO OVAL SHAPED BOREHOLES (2)
AT THE TOP AND HAS TWO CIRCULAR BOREHOLES (3) AT EACH SIDE IN
THE UPPER PART OF THE FLOODGATE SHEET.
-
THE SYSTEM IS COMPLEMENTED BY A FRAME THAT FUNCTIONS AS A GUIDE
FOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE FLOODGATE SHEET THE SIDE BARS OF THE
FRAME (4) ARE GROOVED AND ARE ANCHORED AND SUBMERGED IN THE
CANAL'S CEMENT FLOOR; THE LOWER BAR OF THE FRAME (5) IS NOT
GROOVED SO THAT IT CAN FUNCTION AS A SEAT FOR THE FLOODGATE
D SHEET, AND THE UPPER BAR OF THE FRAME IS SLOTTED ALONG ITS
LENGTH IN ORDER TO PERMIT THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO SLIDE.
-
THE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM IS MANUALLY BASED, THE FLOODGATE
SHEET IS LIFTED MANUALLY USING THE OVAL SHAPED BOREHOLES WHICH
ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FLOODGATE SHEET WHICH FACILITATES
ITS VERTICAL MOVEMENT. IN ORDER TO REGULATE THE NECESSARY USAGE,
THE FLOODGATE SHEET IS HELD BY THE TWO CIRCULAR BOREHOLES
AT THE TOP WITH BOREHOLES THAT ARE PLACED IN THE CONCRETE CANAL
COLUMNS OR WALLS THAT ARE PLACED AT CERTAIN DISTANCES AND
IS HELD UP BY BITS MADE OF THE SAME OR ANOTHER MATERIAL.
-
THE FLOODGATE SHEET CREATES A SEAL WITH THE LOWER BAR OF THE
FRAME WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT WHEN IT IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION.
THE FLOODGATE SHEET CONTINUES TO BE THE PART USED TO OBSTRUCT
THE FLOW OF THE WATER.
-
IN FIGURE 10 WE OBSERVE THAT THIS SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A FLAT
TRAPEZOID SHAPED FLOODGATE SHEET (1) WHICH CONTAINS A CRESCENT
SHAPED SHEET (2) IN ITS UPPER MIDDLE PART WHICH FORMS AN INTEGRAL
PART OF THE FLOODGATE SHEET, THIS SHEET HAS A SLOT ALSO
SHAPED LIKE A SMALLER CRESCENT (3) IN THE MIDDLE SO THAT IT CAN BE
MANUALLY OPERATED.
-
THE FLOODGATE SHEET MOVES OSCILLATORILY FROM RIGHT TO LEFT OR
VICEVERSA, THROUGH THE FRAME WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A GUIDE SO THAT
THE FLOODGATE SHEET DOES NOT DERAIL. THIS FLOODGATE SHEET IS
SLOTTED AT THE SIDES (4) AT DETERMINED DISTANCES.
-
THE FRAME OPERATES ON THE SAME PRINCIPLE AS WITH THE OTHER
FLOODGATES. IT HAS U-SHAPED GROOVES IN ITS SIDE BARS (5), EXCEPT
THAT THE FRAME IS TRAPEZOIDAL (6) AND THE LOWER BAR (7) THAT
SERVES AS A SEAT ISN'T GROOVED. AT THE TOP OF THE FRAME (8), IT
HAS TWO JOINED SHEETS (9) SO THAT THE FLOODGATE SHEET CAN MOVE,
AND BOTH SHEETS ARE SLOTTED ALONG THEIR WIDTHS (10) AT CERTAIN
DISTANCES IN ORDER TO FUNCTION AS A GUIDE WHILE THE SHEET IS
EXITING THE FLOODGATE.
-
BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME ARE JOINED TO THE UPPER PLATES OF THE
FRAME A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN ITS UPPER LIMITS (11), IN ORDER TO
PERMIT THE OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT OF THE OF THE FLOODGATE SHEET
AT EITHER ONE OF ITS EXTREMES.
-
THE SYSTEM'S PERFORMANCE FOUNDED ON ITS MANUAL OPERATION. THE
FLOODGATE SHEET IS RAISED OSCILLATORILY MANUALLY TOWARD EITHER
ONE OF ITS SIDES DEPENDING ON WHAT IS REQUIRED, THE BOREHOLES
AT THE EDGES OF THE SHEET AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE UPPER PLATES
OF THE FRAME ARE HELD OR JOINED BY BITS OF THE SAME OR ANOTHER
MATERIAL, DEPENDING ON THE AREA NEEDED AND ACCORDING TO THE
USAGE TO BE HANDLED.
-
THE EDGES OF THE FRAME ARE SUBMERGED IN AND ANCHORED TO THE
CANAL'S CONCRETE WALLS AND FUNCTION AS A GUIDE FOR THE FLOODGATE
SHEET'S MOVEMENT; WHILE THE LOWER BAR OF THE FRAME WHICH
ALSO IS SUBMERGED IN AND ANCHORED TO THE CANAL'S CEMENT FLOOR,
FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT SO THAT THE FLOODGATE SHEET SEALS IN ITS
CLOSED POSITION.
-
FIGURES 11 AND 12 SHOW A RECTANGULAR OR SQUARE SHEET (1) WHICH
HAS A CRESCENT INTEGRATED TO ITS BODY (2) IF IT IS MOLDED. THIS
CRESCENT CAN ALSO BE SCREWED (3) ONTO THE SHEET IF IT IS MADE OF
A COMMERCIAL MATERIAL.
-
IT ALSO FUNCTIONS AS A COUPLING WITH THE LIFT SCREW USING A
BOREHOLE (4).
-
FIGURE 13 REFERS TO GUIDE FRAMES FOR THE PLATES. IT IS A PIECE
SHAPED LIKE A RECTANGULAR PRISM (1) THAT HAS A GROOVE (2) IN THE
MIDDLE OF ONE OF ITS SURFACES WHICH SERVES AS A GUIDE SO THE
FLOODGATE SHEET CAN SLIDE, IT IS ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN
THE CANAL'S CONCRETE WALLS (4).
-
IN FIGURE 14 WE SEE THE BASE PLATE.
-
IT IS A FLAT PLATE (1) WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT FOR THE FLOODGATE
SHEET (2). THIS CAN BE STRAIGHT (3) OR NOT DEPENDING ON THE SHAPE,
WHICH IS ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN THE CANAL'S CONCRETE
(5).
-
FIGURE 15 SHOWS THE LIFT SCREW.
-
IT IS AN ARROW (1) THAT CONNECTS THE CRESCENT (2) ON THE FLOODGATE
SHEET TO THE LIFT SCREW, WHICH HAS AN ACME WASHER ON TOP
(3), DEPENDING ON THE COURSE OF THE SHEET (4) AND SMOOTH AT THE
BOTTOM (5) TO PROVIDE THE TOTAL LENGTH FOR THE COUPLING WITH
THE PLATE.
-
FIGURE 16 SHOWS THE LIFT NUT.
-
IN THIS DRAWING, WE CAN SEE THAT THE LIFT NUT IS CYLINDER SHAPED
AND HAS A BOREHOLE IN THE CENTER (2), WHICH IS LAKED WITH ACME
THREAD (3) OR IS MOLDED DEPENDING ON THE DIMENSIONS REQUIRED
FOR THE ARROW. IN THE CUT WE CAN SEE THE MACHINING (4) OR THE
MOLDING NEEDED FOR THE LOCK.
-
ON ITS UPPER SURFACE IT HAS 4 GROOVES (5) EITHER MACHINED OR
MOLDED WHICH RECEIVE THE OPERATING WHEEL. THIS SCREW IS AUTO-LUBRICATED
DUE TO THE QUALITIES OF THE MATERIAL THAT IS USED, BY
ADDING MOLYBDENUM BISULPHATE TO THE NYLON WHICH GIVES IT THIS
QUALITY.
-
FIGURE 17 REFERS TO THE LOCK.
-
THIS FIGURE IS ALSO CYLINDRICAL (1) AND CAN BE MANUFACTURED ElTHER
BY MOLDING OR WITH TWO MACHININGS, A MINOR MACHINING AT
THE CENTER (2) THAT SERVES TO CREATE A SPACE FOR THE LIFT SCREW
AND A MAJOR ONE (3) WHICH SERVES TO COUPLE WITH THE LIFT NUT.
THE BOREHOLES (4) THAT CAN BE SEEN IN THE FIGURE ARE USED TO ANCHOR
THIS PIECE TO THE UPPER CONCRETE STRUCTURE (5) AS WELL AS
TO HOLD AND TO PERMIT THE ROTATING MOVEMENT OF THE NUT.
-
FINALLY, IN FIGURE 18, WE OBSERVE THE OPERATING HAND WHEEL.
-
IT IS A CYLINDRICAL PLATE (1), MACHINED OR MOLDED WHICH IS COUPLED
TO THE ELEVATING SCREW. IT FOLLOWS THE PARALLEL FLANK COUPLING
PRINCIPLE (2) BY PRESSURE, HELD IN PLACE BY SCREWS (3). THE
PLATE IS THICK ENOUGH TO BE EASILY HELD BY THE OPERATOR OF THE
EQUIPMENT.
-
THE SYSTEM WORKS THE FOLLOWING WAY:
-
THIS FLOODGATE CONSISTS OF A RECTANGULAR, SQUARE, OR CURVED
OBSTRUCTING PLATE, WHICH IS USED TO REGULATE THE WATER FLOW,
WITH DIFFERENT THICKNESSES AND DIMENSIONS DEPENDING ON THE
LOAD AND THE USAGE TO BE HANDLED. THIS PLATE SLIDES VERTICALLY
THROUGH SIDE FRAMES THAT ARE ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN
THE CANAL'S CONCRETE SIDEWALLS.
-
THE FLOODGATE IS ACTIVATED BY A MANUAL OPERATING MECHANISM
WHICH IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF SCREW LIFTING.
-
IT IS MADE UP OF AN AUTO-LUBRICATING CYLINDRICAL LIFT NUT, THAT
HAS INTERIOR THREADING WHICH IS USED TO CONNECT THE THREADED
ARROW WHICH IN TURN CONNECTS THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO THE
THREADS ON THE NUT, WHICH WHEN IT IS TURNED BY THE HAND WHEEL
COUPLED TO THE NUT, GENERATES THE LIFTING MOVEMENT OF THE
FLOODGATE SHEET. THE GYRATING THREADED NUT IS CONNECTED TO
THE TO THE UPPER CONCRETE STRUCTURE BY A CYLINDRICAL LOCK THAT
IS LARGER IN DIAMETER THAN THE NUT, WHICH ONLY ALLOWS THE NUT
TO SPIN ON ITS AXIS IN ORDER TO OPERATE.
-
THE BOTTOM OF THE OPERATING ARROW IS CONNECTED TO THE FLOODGATE
SHEET THROUGH A SCREWED-ON CRESCENT WHICH CAN BE AN INTEGRAL
PART OF THE SHEET (THROUGH MOLDING) OR CAN BE SCREWED
ONTO THE SHEET.
-
THE SEALING OF THIS FLOODGATE IS BASED ON THE SYSTEM BEING LIGHT
ENOUGH THAT WHEN IT RECEIVES THE WATER FLOW PERPENDICULAR TO
ITS SURFACE IT HERMETICALLY SEALS AND NO LEAKS PENETRATE.
-
THIS SYSTEM, BECAUSE OF ITS SHAPE AND CONSTRUCTION, CAN BE USED
WITHOUT ANY KIND OF ANTICORROSIVE MAINTENANCE OR LUBRICATION
OF ITS PARTS.
-
FIGURE 19 SHOWS THAT THIS SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A RECTANGULAR
OR SQUARE FLAT FLOODGATE SHEET PLATE (1) WHICH REGULATES THE
WATER FLOW. THIS PLATE IS JOINED TO A ZIPPER (2) IN ITS UPPER MIDDLE
PART BY WAY OF THE TWO SMALLER PLATES (3) AT ITS BOTTOM THAT
HAVE BOREHOLES (4) SO THAT THEY CAN BE CONNECTED BY A BIT MADE
OF THE SAME OR ANOTHER MATERIAL, OR BY A SCREW (5).
-
THIS FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES THROUGH A FRAME WITH GROOVED SIDES
SO THAT THEY FUNCTION AS A GUIDE AND PREVENT THE FLOODGATE
SHEET FROM DERAILING. THE FRAME HAS A LOWER BAR WITHOUT
GROOVES (7) AT THE BOTTOM THAT FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT FOR THE
FLOODGATE SHEET; AT THE TOP OF THE FRAME (8) THE BAR IS SLOTTED
ALONG ITS LENGTH SO THAT THE FLOODGATE SHEET AND ZIPPER CAN BE
RAISED. THIS TOP BAR CARRIES A FLOODGATE LIFT MECHANISM (9) WHICH
IS A GEAR JOINED TO THE BAR BY A WYNCH (10) IN THE MIDDLE, WHICH,
AS IT PRODUCES A CIRCULAR MOVEMENT, TURNS THE GEAR WHICH MOVES
THE ZIPPER SO THAT THE FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES VERTICALLY.
-
THE SYSTEM WORKS THE FOLLOWING WAY:
-
THE FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES VERTICALLY THROUGH THE GROOVED
BARS OF THE FRAME WHICH FUNCTION AS A GUIDE SO THAT THE SHEET
DOES NOT DERAIL, SAID BARS ARE ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN
THE CANAL'S CONCRETE SIDE WALLS.
-
THE LOWER BAR OF THE FRAME WHICH IS ALSO ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED
IN THE CONCRETE FLOOR OF THE CANAL, FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT
FOR THE FLOODGATE SHEET SO THAT IT CREATES A SEAL IN ITS CLOSED
POSITION.
-
FIGURE 20 SHOWS THAT THIS SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A RECTANGULAR
OR SQUARE FLAT FLOODGATE SHEET PLATE (1) WHICH REGULATES THE
WATER FLOW. THIS PLATE IS JOINED TO A ZIPPER (2) IN ITS UPPER MIDDLE
PART BY WAY OF THE TWO SMALLER PLATES (3) AT ITS BOTTOM THAT
HAVE BOREHOLES (4) SO THAT THEY.CAN BE CONNECTED BY A BIT MADE
OF THE SAME OR ANOTHER MATERIAL, OR BY A SCREW (5). THIS FLOODGATE
SHEET SLIDES THROUGH A FRAME WHOSE SIDE ENDS (6) ARE
GROOVED SO THAT THEY FUNCTION AS A GUIDE AND PREVENT THE FLOODGATE
SHEET FROM DERAILING. THE FRAME HAS A LOWER BAR WITHOUT
GROOVES (7) AT THE BOTTOM THAT FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT FOR THE
FLOODGATE SHEET; AT THE TOP OF THE FRAME (8) THE BAR IS SLOTTED
ALONG ITS LENGTH SO THAT THE FLOODGATE SHEET AND ZIPPER CAN GO
THROUGH IT. THIS TOP BAR CARRIES A FLOODGATE LIFT MECHANISM (9)
WHICH IS A GEAR JOINED TO THE BAR BY A WHEEL (10) IN THE MIDDLE,
PARALLEL TO THE GEAR. WHEN THE WHEEL PRODUCES A CIRCULAR MOVEMENT,
IT TURNS THE GEAR WHICH MOVES THE ZIPPER SO THAT THE
FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES VERTICALLY.
-
THE SYSTEM WORKS THE FOLLOWING WAY:
-
THE FLOODGATE SHEET, WHICH IS USED TO OBSTRUCT THE WATER FLOW,
AND IS JOINED TO THE ZIPPER IS RAISED VERTICALLY BY USING THE WHEEL
THAT TURNS THE GEAR, WHICH MOVES THE ZIPPER AND RAISES THE
FLOODGATE IN ORDER TO MANAGE THE REQUIRED WATER FLOW.
-
THE FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES VERTICALLY THROUGH THE GROOVED
BARS OF THE FRAME WHICH FUNCTION AS A GUIDE SO THAT THE SHEET
DOES NOT DERAIL, SAID BARS ARE ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN
THE CANAL'S CONCRETE SIDE WALLS AND THE LOWER BAR OF THE FRAME
WHICH IS ALSO ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN THE CANAL'S CONCRETE
FLOOR, FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT FOR THE FLOODGATE SHEET SO
THAT IT CREATES A SEAL IN ITS CLOSED POSITION.
-
FIGURE 21 SHOWS THAT THE SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A CURVED FLOODGATE
SHEET PLATE (1), THIS PLATE IS MOLDED AND HAS ANOTHER CURVED
PLATE INSIDE THAT IS MUCH SMALLER BUT MUCH HEAVIER (2) IN ORDER
TO AVOID FLEXING.
-
THIS FLOODGATE SHEET SLIDES FREELY ALONG THE FRAME WHICH FUNCTIONS
AS A GUIDE. THE SYSTEM IS COMPLEMENTED BY A CURVED FRAME
WHICH IS SIMILAR IN DESIGN TO A SOFT DRINK CASE (4), THIS FRAME IS
SLOTTED (5) ALONG THE UPPER PLATE SO THAT THE FLOODGATE SHEET
CAN GO THROUGH IT.
-
THE OPERATING MECHANISM ON THIS TYPE OF FLOODGATE IS A SET OF
GEARS (6) LIKE THAT OF A WATCH WHICH ARE JOINED WITH TWO LIFT
SCREWS (7) WHICH ARE ANCHORED IN AXLE FORM (8) TO A CONCRETE
BASE (9) IN THE FLOOR OF THE CANAL THEREBY OBTAINING JOINT MOVEMENT
IN ALL ITS POINTS. THE LIFT MECHANISM ON THE FLOODGATE SHEET
IS BY WAY OF A ROUND WHEEL WITH A TOOTHED BASE (10) THAT GIVES
THE OTHER GEARS MOVEMENT.
-
THIS SYSTEM WORKS IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
-
THE FLOODGATE'S FRAME IS ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN THE CONCRETE
AT ITS SIDES SO THAT IT FUNCTIONS AS A GUIDE AND PERMITS
THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO SLIDE RADIALLY; THE HAND WHEEL INITIATES
THE MOVEMENT AND ENTERS INTO CONTACT WITH THE OTHER GEARS
WORKING IN SYNCHRONIZATION AND MOVING THE LIFT SCREWS AT BOTH
ENDS WHICH ARE PARALLEL TO THE FRAME AND THE FLOODGATE SHEET.
THE MOVEMENT OF THE LIFT SCREWS ALONG THE AXLE ALLOWS THE
FLOODGATE SHEET TO SLIDE RADIALLY, AND LOCK IN PLACE DEPENDING
ON THE WATER FLOW TO BE MANAGED.
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THE LOWER BASE OF THE FRAME IS ALSO ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED
IN THE CANAL'S CONCRETE BASE SO THAT IT FUNCTIONS AS A SEAT AND
ALLOWS THE FLOODGATE SHEET TO CREATE A SEAL IN ITS CLOSED POSITION.
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THIS SHAPE IS USED FOR LARGER WATER FLOWS WITHIN CANALS.
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FIGURE 22 SHOWS THAT THIS SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF A CURVED FLOODGATE
SHEET PLATE (1), THIS PLATE IS MOLDED AND IS RIBBED EITHER
ALONG ITS LENGTH OR ALONG ITS WIDTH (2) AS A REINFORCEMENT AND
HAS TWO OTHER RIBS SHAPED LIKE HALF OVALS (3) FOR MORE HYDRAULIC
RESISTANCE.
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THIS FLOODGATE SHEET IS JOINED TO THE FRAME (4) SO THAT IT LIFTS
RADIALLY.
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IT HAS A LIFT MECHANISM WITH EITHER WHEELS OR TURNING BEARINGS
ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE RIBS WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR TO THE
FLOODGATE SHEET, AS WELL AS TWO MORE WHEELS AT ITS SIDES SO
THAT THE FLOODGATE DOES NOT DERAIL.
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THIS SYSTEM WORKS AS THE FLOODGATE SLIDES ALONG THE WHEELS IN
THE RIBBINGS PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLOODGATE SHEET, THIS SLIDING
IS RADIAL AND ALLOWS THE REQUIRED WATER FLOW TO BE MANAGED.
IF NECESSARY, A CURVED SEAT PLATE IS PLACED AND ANCHORED TO AND
SUBMERGED IN THE CANAL'S CEMENT FLOOR SO THAT THE FLOODGATE
CREATES A SEAL IN ITS CLOSED POSITION.
THIS SHAPE IS USED FOR LARGER WATER FLOWS WITHIN CANALS.
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THIS INVENTION IS BASED ON A MAINTENANCE-FREE, PLASTIC, SLIDING
FLOODGATE DESIGN WITH OR WITHOUT AN OPERATING SYSTEM. THIS
INVENTION CONTEMPLATES THE MANUFACTURING OF FLOODGATES TO
REGULATE WATER FLOW APPLICABLE TO AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK
WATERING ZONES AND IN GENERAL WHEREVER IT IS NECESSARY TO CONTROL
WATER FLOW IN SEWAGE, WASTES, WHITE WATERS, WATER WITH A
HIGH ALKALINE CONTENT, WATER WITH A HIGH SALINE CONTENT, ETC.
WHERE DUE TO THE PROPERTIES OF THE WATER TO BE HANDLED, THE
TRADITIONAL FLOODGATES PRESENT MORE SERIOUS CORROSION, CAUSING
DIFFICULTIES IN MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION. THESE FLOODGATES
ARE ENGINEERED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SIMPLICITY OF THE DESIGN
THAT CONSISTS IN SOLVING THE SERIOUS PROBLEM OF MANUFACTURING,
TRANSPORTATION, ASSEMBLY, OPERATION, PREVENTIVE AND
CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE, AS WELL AS EXPENSES. THIS INVENTION
PRESENTS THE ADVANTAGES OF THE LIGHTNESS OF ITS DESIGNS IN ITS
HANDLING IN MANUFACTURING AS WELL AS IN ITS TRANSPORTATION AND
ASSEMBLY.
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ALSO, GIVEN THE LOW FRICTION COEFFICIENT AND THE LOW SPECIFIC
WEIGHT OF THE SELECTED MATERIAL (NYLON, POLYPROPILENE, ULTRA
HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHILENE, HIGH DENSITY POLYETHILENE,
AND PVC) MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO SIMPLIFY ITS OPERATION AND WE ACHIEVE
A HERMETIC SEAL WITHOUT IT BEING NECESSARY TO ADD ANY OTHER
IMPLEMENT TO DO SO.
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IN ADDITION, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY KIND OF FINISHING, IT DOES NOT
REQUIRE LUBRICATION FOR ITS OPERATION, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY
TYPE OF MAINTENANCE FOR ITS PRESERVATION, WHICH RESULTS IN MORE
DURABILITY AND CONSIDERABLY REDUCES EXPENSES. SINCE NONE OF
ITS COMPONENTS CORRODE, BETTER USE IS MADE OF THE WATER AND
AVOIDING THE WASTES THAT COME WITH THE TRADITIONALLY USED ONES.
THIS INVENTION CONSISTS IN THE SEALING OF THE PLASTIC FLOODGATES,
WHICH CONSIDER THE MANUFACTURING OF ITS COMPONENTS WITH THE
HIGH ENGINEERED PLASTIC MATERIAL MENTIONED BEFORE.
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THE PARTS THAT MAKE UP THIS FLOODGATE SYSTEM CAN BE MANUFACTURED
BY MOLDING OR THEY CAN BE MACHINED, USING COMMERCIAL
PLASTIC PROFILES TO SIMPLIFY THEIR MASS PRODUCTION. THIS FLOODGATE
CONSISTS OF A RECTANGULAR, CURVED, OR SQUARE OBSTRUCTION
SHEET WHICH REGULATES THE WATER FLOW, WITH DIFFERING THICKNESSES
AND MEASUREMENTS, DEPENDING ON THE WATER FLOW TO BE
HANDLED. THIS SHEET SLIDES VERTICALLY, RADIALLY, OR OSCILLATORILY
ALONG SIDE FRAMES WHICH ARE ANCHORED TO AND SUBMERGED IN THE
CANAL'S CONCRETE SIDE WALLS, IN A U-SHAPE WHICH FUNCTION AS
GUIDES SO THAT THE SHEET DOES NOT DERAIL. IN THE SAME MANNER,
THE LOWER PART OF THE FRAMES HAVE A PLATE THAT FUNCTIONS AS A
SEAT TO SEAL THE FLOODGATE SHEET IN ITS CLOSED POSITION. THIS
SEAT PLATE CAN BE CURVED OR STRAIGHT AND IS ANCHORED TO AND
SUBMERGED IN THE CANAL'S CONCRETE FLOOR.
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THIS FLOODGATE'S SEAL IS BASED ON THE LIGHTNESS OF THE SYSTEM
AND THE MATERIALS USED SO THAT WHEN IT RECEIVES THE WATER FLOW
PERPENDICULAR TO ITS SURFACE, IT WILL HERMETICALLY SEAL AND NOT
PRESENT ANY LEAKS.
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DUE TO THE FORM AND NATURE OF THIS SYSTEM, IT CAN BE USED WITHOUT
ANY KIND OF ANTICORROSIVE MAINTENANCE OR LUBRICATION OF ITS
COMPONENTS. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT IT DOES NOT CAUSE POLLUTION.
