ES2343990A1 - Floating cover adaptable to the level of the packaging (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Floating cover adaptable to the reservoir level. Specially designed to adapt to different types of rafts, without problems supporting the efforts generated by its own weight, the cover is constituted from a plurality of floats (1), constituted by a pipe in which a filling of material of low density (2) as well as a certain amount of water to act as a ballast, pipes (1) that are joined together forming an extensible reticular structure, with a fixed central area, based on rigid spacers (4) and a permeable and extensible perimeter zone, based on telescopic spacers (5-5 ''), reticular structure equipped with fixing means on its perimeter, and on which a shading sheet (7-9-10) is disposed, preferably obtained based on a polypropylene mesh sheet fixed to it by any conventional means, which allows the passage of rain and prevents the evaporation of water from the pond. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Floating cover adaptable to the level of reservoir.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a cover for reservoirs, specially designed to prevent it from occurring the evaporation of the waters stored in them.

The object of the invention is to provide a Floating cover adaptable to different types of rafts, which support without problems the efforts generated by the weight of the same although the surfaces to be covered are very large, also allowing the infiltration of rainwater, all this with a structure that does not prevent or limit access to it by part of the operators in the maintenance functions of the installation.

Background of the invention

In arid climates like those in southeastern Spain, water losses from evaporation in storage rafts of Water are important throughout the year. Given the shortage every time increased water resource for irrigation in the Mediterranean basins and the investment effort of all agents in obtaining alternative resources, which are raising the average costs of cubic meter of water used, the need arises to try avoid losses to the maximum once the resource is captured or generated. Various automation programs have been successfully carried out and tubing of conduits in different Irrigation Communities to avoid maximum losses in the networks and infiltration in the land. Another problem that arises is evaporation losses in the sheets of water exposed for long periods to the abundant heat stroke of the area.

To minimize losses by evaporation should be covered storage reservoirs.

Systems that cover the reservoir with systems similar to those of greenhouses, which present A problem that focuses primarily on two aspects:

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When the lights are very big, the efforts of the cables can arrive to be tremendous on the perimeter structure of support. The intermediate supports, which would help alleviate this problem, may cause impermeability problems of the vessel by causing points unique in its support at the bottom of the reservoir.

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He perimeter stiffening element, which is designed as a wall concrete perimeter, it is magnified with large lights, which occupies the coronation path, constituting a barrier to Reservoir maintenance tasks. In addition, in reservoirs already built, with very narrow crowning paths, the Inability to install this wall.

Covering systems with sheets raincoats have the advantage of achieving near efficiencies 100% reduction in evaporation loss. For him Otherwise, when it rains, the water cannot infiltrate through the covering. In addition, standing water above the surface promotes the generation of algae and dirt that accumulate on the cover sheet.

Description of the invention

The reservoir cover that the invention proposes to solve the problem fully satisfactorily previously exposed, in the different aspects commented.

For this the structure that is recommended, which It can adapt to any type of reservoir, both rafts existing as new construction, it materializes in a reticular structure, based on floats consisting of a pipe of any appropriate material, within which it is established a partial filling of polystyrene or any other material of high buoyancy, and that is complemented with water, in order to give a greater weight to these floats, which prevent them from being displaced by the wind, pipes that will be closed by their extremes, and that are fixed together forming a kind of grid, mesh or reticular structure.

This fixation may be done through rigid elements, such as through tubes of similar nature, in areas where stretching is not necessary of the system to adapt to the vessel, as is the case in the area central, and by means of telescopic elements or separators in the area marginal of it, in order to allow to adapt the structure reticulate to different sizes of rafts. Also said telescopic separators may be articulated, in order to adapt to the slopes before a decrease in the water level.

The float structure will be fixed to the edge of the coronation path through its interlocking to the ground by any conventional means.

The structure described is complemented by a series of meshed sheets, preferably polypropylene, although however, it may be obtained from different materials that produce a high shading index and that allow rainwater infiltration, as well as hail or snow when they melt, also reaching very high ratios in the evaporation containment, so that over the central zone and invariably fixed superiorly and by any conventional means a sheet of dimensions consistent with that sector, while in the marginal and extensible areas will be available sheets of it type, arranged in such a way as to allow such extension / retraction maneuvers.

In this way a cover is achieved adaptable to different raft geometries, both existing and newly built, windproof, capable of withstanding hail load, permeable to rainwater, snow and hail, capturing the water coming from them, and that prevents evaporation losses in a very high proportion.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization of it, is accompanied as an integral part of said description, a set of drawings where with character Illustrative and not limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows, according to a representation schematic elevation and section, a reservoir cover carried out in accordance with the object of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a plan view of the cover of the previous figure, which appears partially devoid of shading blades for easier identification of the different elements that participate in the cover.

Figure 3.- Shows an elevation view lateral and in section of the fixed fixing means between floats

Figures 4 and 5.- Sample paths side elevation and sectional representations of the means of telescopic fixing between floats.

Figure 6.- Shows, finally, a detail in side elevation of the raft fixing means to the path of coronation.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the figures outlined you can be observed as the cover that is recommended is constituted to from a plurality of floats that join forming each other an extensible reticle, floats that, as you can see by example in figure 3, they are constituted from a pipe (1) preferably of high density polyethylene, in which houses a filler (2) of expanded polystyrene, of smaller diameter that the inside diameter of the pipe (1), so that it occupies the order of 50% of the interior space of the pipe (1), filling the rest with water (3), which acts as a ballast. These floats ensure minimal flotation by preventing the tube from filling completely water, with sections of tubes or floats available (1) several tens of meters, welded together, with plugs in the ends that ensure the seal of the float when it is on dry ground.

Said floats (1) are arranged forming a kind of grill or reticular structure, as can be seen in the Figures 1 and 2, and are joined together by rigid separators (4), as shown in figure 3, or separators (5-5 ') telescopic as shown in the Figures 4 and 5, depending on the inner (4) or outer (5) zone in which are intended to establish said floats.

Rigid spacers or tubes (4) allow keep the distance between floats stable (1), which they incorporate in their ends clip clips (6) for fixing to the floats (1), also serving as a means of support for shade sheet (7), preferably obtained from a sheet polypropylene mesh, which will be attached to the floats by flanges, wires, longitudinal seams, glued, stapled or any other conventional system, generating an air chamber between the water level and said sheet.

Telescopic separators or tubes (5-5 ') allow a range of positioning between two extreme situations, so that the minimum coincides with the separation achieved with the rigid separators (4), and the maximum with a length greater than a magnitude between 20 and 30%. These separators are fixed by a system of clip clip (8) similar to that of rigid separators. On said separators, as well as on the floats associated with the same, shading sheets (9) will be arranged, arranged in such so that its width can be varied.

According to another of the characteristics of the It is also provided that the cover adapts to different types of slopes, for which, and as you can observe in figure 6, the clip joints (8) allow the separators (4, 5-5 ') can adopt a different inclination with respect to the plane formed by the floats and separators that are arranged next to it.

For changes of slope direction, in the that the joint between float assemblies is opening as the level of the reservoir drops, to cover those areas are arranged scales (10) of rectangular shape that are fixed on its side upper and on one side, being free on the other side and in its low part to slide over the band of the other set of floats, the first, and above the lower scale next, the second, as can be seen in the figure 2.

Finally, for fixing or interlocking the cover, the perimeter of it is formed by a float standard where the covering fabric ends. This float is fixed at the edge of the coronation path of the reservoir through a system of interlocking that has a clip-like clip and a crimp with the existing perimeter curb or with a concrete run shoe made for that purpose, or any other system that makes it firm or, for example by a metal bar (13) driven into the ground (12), to blows and clamps by means of the corresponding clamps (11), or by a hole subsequently filled with epoxy. Shall check that the system chosen for interlocking, depending on of the land and of the constructive solution, admits a traction of the double the calculated when the reservoir is empty and the entire sheet in the area of the slope "hangs" from the interlocking.

So, starting from the reservoir at its maximum degree of filling, you will have the entire deck floating, the telescopic separators (5-5 ') will all be at your minimum length and direction change scales cover the gap minimum throughout its journey. The entire perimeter will be subject to edge interlocks. The entire deck floats on water. Yes It rains, the water seeps through the porous mesh. If hail or it snows, the ice is deposited on the mesh causing the sinking partial of the whole set until the water in the reservoir undoes the ice or snow accumulated, and system flotation makes it Regain your original level.

As the water level in the reservoir, the areas on the slopes are stretched thanks to the telescopic separators (5-5 ') that allow that movement. Successively, the floats parallel to the curves of level of each slope are supported on it, leaving the floats in the position of maximum separation between them what allows to achieve a larger surface area than in the initial position, maximum filling. The sheets or scales (10) go sliding on one of its sides and on the immediately bottom, always covering the sheet of water below them, which is expanding as the whole system descends.

In the case of emptying the raft completely, all floats (1) are supported on the bottom of the reservoir (14) and on the slopes (15), weighted with water, to ensure its stability against the wind, giving weight to the entire structure. The telescopic spacers (5-5 ') are all in their maximum degree of stretch to allow the sheet (9) to have the maximum area needed. Similarly, the scales (10) are occupying the most extreme position when reaching maximum separation between float groups of each of the slopes.

When the filling of the raft begins all the System works in reverse. As it rises they go peeling the parallel tubes (1) to the slopes (15) and the telescopic separators allow the total area of the system is gradually being smaller, until it reaches the maximum volume level dammed.

Claims (4)

1. Floating cover adaptable to the level of the reservoir, which being intended to cover rafts of different sizes, adapting to them, in order to prevent evaporation of the water contained therein, is characterized in that it is constituted from a plurality of floats (1), constituted by a pipe in which there is a filling of low density material (2), pipes (1) that join together forming an extensible reticular structure, by means of separators based on rigid tubes (4) and telescopic (5-5 '), reticular structure equipped with fixing means on its perimeter, and on which a shading sheet (7-9-10) is arranged, preferably obtained based on a meshed polypropylene sheet fixed to the same by any conventional means. 2. Floating cover adaptable to the level of the reservoir, according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipes (1) are preferably made of high density polyethylene, the filling (2) of expanded polystyrene, which affects a volume that occupies the order of 50 % of the interior space of the pipe (1), filling the rest with water (3). 3. Floating cover adaptable to the level of the reservoir, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid (4) and telescopic (5-5 ') separators are fixed to the floats (1) by means of a clip clip system (8), which they allow their articulation, forming different planes adaptable to the embankment slopes. 4. Floating cover adaptable to the level of the reservoir, according to claim 1, characterized in that the shade sheet (7) affects only the region of the structure that is fixed, while the regions of the reticular structure corresponding to the areas provided with separators Telescopes are covered by shading sheets (9), arranged in such a way that their width can be varied, while in the areas where the slope direction changes are located, in which the joint between float assemblies goes opening as the level of the reservoir drops, covering scales (10) of rectangular shape are arranged that are fixed on its upper side and on one side, being free on the other side and in its lower part.