Water control apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to improved water control gates and related inflatable actuators, and associated sealing, manufacture and operation apparatus and methods. Advancements in technologies related to air fitting design, inflated bladder stress relief, inflatable bladder strength enhancement, water gate related slide friction mitigation, abutment and other impounded water seals, gate panel fabrication, traffic accommodating water impoundment structures, and water gate panel system operation efficiency, as well as nappe aeration, hinges, and bladder manufacture technology are disclosed herein.

1 - 130 . (canceled)  
   
   
       131 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus comprising an inflatable membrane; an overtop flow deflection fin responsive to said inflatable membrane; and 
 an inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element to which said inflatable membrane is responsive; wherein said inflatable membrane comprises an longitudinal insert element positioned substantially co-radially with and internally of said overtop flow deflection fin.    
   
   
       132 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus as described in  claim 131  wherein said longitudinal insert element is a tear drop cross-sectionally shaped insert element.  
   
   
       133 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus as described in  claim 131  wherein said inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element comprises an inflatable membrane-to-foundation clampable retention element to which said inflatable membrane is responsive; and an inflatable membrane-to-foundation clamp retention enhancement element to which said inflatable membrane-to-foundation clampable retention element is responsive.  
   
   
       134 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus as described in  claim 131  wherein said inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element and said inflatable membrane are each elastomeric.  
   
   
       135 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus comprising an inflatable membrane; a flow deflection fin responsive to said inflatable membrane; and an inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element; wherein said inflatable membrane comprises a flow deflection fin proximate, inner bladder section positively conformed to have an inflated bladder stress reduction significant increase in a minimum curvature radius and wherein a deflated bladder, flow deflection fin proximate profile exhibits an approximately thirty degree or greater void profile point angle and a substantially circular arc inner bladder curvature.  
   
   
       136 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus as described in  claim 135  wherein inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element comprises a wedge-shaped inflatable membrane-to-foundation clamp retention element.  
   
   
       137 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus as described in  claim 135  wherein said inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element comprises a substantially flat, inflatable membrane-to-foundation clampable retention element and an inflatable membrane-to-foundation clamp retention enhancement element to which said substantially flat, inflatable membrane-to-foundation clampable retention element is responsive.  
   
   
       138 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus comprising an inflatable membrane; a flow deflection fin responsive to said inflatable membrane; and an inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element; wherein said inflatable membrane comprises a flow deflection fin proximate, inner bladder section positively conformed to have a rounded, inwardly-pointing radius of curvature and wherein a deflated bladder, flow deflection fin proximate profile exhibits an approximately thirty degree or greater void profile point angle and a substantially circular arc inner bladder curvature.  
   
   
       139 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus as described in  claim 138  wherein said inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element comprises a wedge-shaped inflatable membrane-to-foundation clamp retention element.  
   
   
       140 . An inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus as described in  claim 138  wherein said inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element comprises a substantially flat, inflatable membrane-to-foundation clampable retention element and an inflatable membrane-to-foundation clamp retention enhancement element to which said substantially flat, inflatable membrane-to-foundation clampable retention element is responsive.  
   
   
       141 - 142 . (canceled)  
   
   
       143 . An inflatable article apparatus comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder element; a pressurized fluid inlet element responsive to said inflatable bladder element; and    an inflatable bladder-to-foundation attachment element to which said inflatable bladder element is responsive;    wherein said inflatable bladder element comprises at least one circumferentially continuous, integrally adjoined inner bladder layer that has an installed, inflated configuration longitudinal central axis that is horizontal and normal to an impending flow direction.    
   
   
       144 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  wherein said at least one circumferentially continuous, integrally adjoined inner bladder layer is a reinforced bladder ply.  
   
   
       145 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  wherein said at least one circumferentially continuous, integrally adjoined inner bladder layer is an innermost reinforced bladder ply.  
   
   
       146 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  wherein said at least one circumferentially continuous, integrally adjoined inner bladder layer is at least one overflow orthogonal, deflated bladder joint traversing ply.  
   
   
       147 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 146  wherein said at least one overflow orthogonal, deflated bladder joint traversing ply is at least one joint traversing reinforcement ply.  
   
   
       148 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 147  wherein said at least one joint traversing reinforcement ply is two joint traversing reinforcement plies.  
   
   
       149 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  wherein at least one circumferentially continuous, integrally adjoined inner bladder layer comprises a layer that is continuous along a circumference located within a plane that is parallel to a bladder expansion axis and whose normal vector is substantially perpendicular to a retained water horizontal force component.  
   
   
       150 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  further comprising a gate panel hinge flap element responsive to said inflatable bladder.  
   
   
       151 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  wherein said inflatable bladder-to-foundation attachment element comprises an inflatable bladder-to-foundation clampable retention element and an inflatable bladder-to-foundation clamp retention enhancement element to which said inflatable bladder-to-foundation clampable retention element is responsive.  
   
   
       152 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  wherein said inflatable bladder-to-foundation attachment element comprises a wedge-shape bladder-to-foundation clamp retention element.  
   
   
       153 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  wherein said inflatable bladder is an inflatable bladder selected from the group of inflatable bladders consisting of: inflatable water gate actuator bladders and inflatable dams.  
   
   
       154 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 143  wherein said inflatable bladder is an inflatable bladder selected from the group of inflatable bladders consisting of: dock bumpers and inflatable seals.  
   
   
       155 . An inflatably actuated gate water control system that comprises the inflatable article apparatus described in  claim 147 .  
   
   
       156 . A rubber dam that comprises the inflatable article apparatus described in  claim 147 .  
   
   
       157 . An inflatable article apparatus comprising: 
 an inflatable water control bladder element;    a pressurized fluid inlet element responsive to said inflatable water control bladder element; and    an inflatable bladder-to-foundation attachment element to which said inflatable water control bladder element is-responsive;    wherein said inflatable water control bladder element comprises at least one integrally adjoined inner bladder layer having an installed, inflated configuration longitudinal central axis that is horizontal and normal to an impending flow direction.    
   
   
       158 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  wherein said at least one integrally adjoined inner bladder layer is a reinforced bladder ply.  
   
   
       159 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  wherein said at least one integrally adjoined inner bladder layer is an innermost reinforced bladder ply.  
   
   
       160 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  wherein said at least one integrally adjoined inner bladder layer is at least one overflow orthogonal, deflated bladder joint traversing ply.  
   
   
       161 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 160  wherein said at least one overflow orthogonal, deflated bladder joint traversing ply is at least one joint traversing reinforcement ply.  
   
   
       162 . (canceled)  
   
   
       163 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  wherein said at least one integrally adjoined inner bladder layer comprises a layer that is continuous along a circumference located within a plane that is parallel to a bladder expansion axis and whose normal vector is substantially perpendicular to a retained water horizontal force component.  
   
   
       164 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  further comprising a gate panel hinge flap element responsive to said inflatable water control bladder.  
   
   
       165 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  wherein said inflatable bladder-to-foundation attachment element comprises an inflatable bladder-to-foundation clampable retention element and an inflatable bladder-to-foundation clamp retention enhancement element to which said inflatable bladder-to-foundation clampable retention element is responsive.  
   
   
       166 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  wherein said inflatable bladder-to-foundation attachment element comprises a wedge-shaped bladder-to-foundation clamp retention element.  
   
   
       167 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  wherein said inflatable water control bladder is an inflatable water control bladder selected from the group of inflatable water control bladders consisting of: inflatable water gate actuator bladders and inflatable dams.  
   
   
       168 . An inflatable article apparatus as described in  claim 157  wherein said inflatable water control bladder is an inflatable water control bladder selected from the group of inflatable water control bladders consisting of: inflatable water gate actuator bladders and inflatable dams.  
   
   
       169 . A water control apparatus comprising: 
 an inflatable, water control bladder element adapted for attachment to a water control gate panel bottom edge as installed;    a pressurized fluid inlet element responsive to said inflatable, water control bladder element; and    an inflatable bladder-to-foundation attachment element to which said inflatable, water control bladder element is responsive,    wherein said inflatable, water control bladder element comprises at least one overflow orthogonal deflated bladder joint traversing ply.    
   
   
       170 . A water control apparatus as described in  claim 169  wherein said inflatable, water control bladder element comprises an integrally adjoined inner bladder layer.  
   
   
       171 . A water control apparatus as described in  claim 169  wherein said at least one overflow orthogonal deflated bladder joint traversing ply is at least one overflow orthogonal joint traversing reinforcement ply.  
   
   
       172 . A water control apparatus as described in  claim 171  wherein said at least one overflow orthogonal joint traversing reinforcement ply is two joint traversing reinforcement plies.  
   
   
       173 - 341 . (canceled)  
   
   
       342 . A water gate panel apparatus as comprising: 
 a polymeric plate element dimensioned to contact a planar abutment seal face throughout a possible water gate position vertical edge sweep; and    a plate-to-foundation surface attachment element to which said polymeric plate element is responsive,    wherein said plate-to-foundation surface attachment element comprises a plurality of fastener holes separated by an average, nearest fastener hole separation distance, and    wherein said average, nearest fastener hole separation distance divided by a polymeric plate element thickness is less than approximately twelve.    
   
   
       343 - 408 . (canceled)  
   
   
       409 . A water control apparatus comprising: 
 a concrete water control gate panel body element;    a slide friction reduced, actuator-side water control gate panel surface element responsive to said concrete water control gate panel body element;    a horizontal axis rotation hinge-to-water gate panel attachment element fixedly positioned at an overflow orthogonal installed water gate panel bottom edge and to which said concrete water control gate panel body element is responsive; and    an elastomeric, horizontal axis rotation hinge element to which said horizontal axis rotation hinge-to-water gate panel attachment element is responsive and to which said concrete water control gate panel is rotationally responsive.    
   
   
       410 - 628 . (canceled)  
   
   
       629 . The inflatable elastomeric dam apparatus as described in  claim 133  wherein said inflatable membrane-to-foundation attachment element comprises a wedge-shaped inflatable membrane to foundation clamp retention element.