OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The object of the present invention application is to register a surface-cover device
for dammed water which incorporates significant innovations and advantages over the
techniques used up until now.
[0002] More specifically, the invention proposes the development of a surface-cover device
for dammed water which, due to its particular arrangement, allows a surface of dammed
water to be protected from solar exposure, thus preventing its loss due to evaporation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] For some time now, at an international level, there has been a general problem in
many regions due to water deficit. For this reason, there are a number of systems,
methods and innovations known in the prior art to optimise both the consumption and
the storage of water to ensure the best use of the available water resources.
[0004] In regions wherein there is a large water deficit, more innovations are normally
applied in the interest of optimising this valuable resource and, therefore, more
inventions can be developed, both in the field of sustainable transport and supply
and that of storage per se.
[0005] More specifically, and focusing on the storage or damming of the water, there is
an additional problem, derived from prolonged solar exposure of large quantities of
dammed water and since it often coincides with the fact that an area with water deficit
is also an area with very large and powerful ratios of solar exposure, the problem
of evaporation of the dammed water becomes quite relevant.
[0006] For this reason, with the aim of remedying this problem, different embodiments and
technical solutions have appeared in order to reduce or alleviate the water loss which
is produced by evaporation in these water storage installations.
[0007] However, these technical solutions have different drawbacks, such as limited effectiveness
when faced with evaporation, complexity in the assembly and/or installation, as well
as in the maintenance thereof, among others.
[0008] The present invention contributes to solving and resolving the present problem, since
it permits a surface of dammed water to be protected against sun exposure, thereby
preventing the loss thereof through evaporation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention was developed with the aim of providing a surface-cover device
for dammed water, which is essentially characterised in that it comprises a body with
a predominantly flat and polygonal geometry, and in which at least one element is
integrated to provide buoyancy on the surface of the water, as well as at least one
volumetric ventilation chamber, said ventilation chamber being disposed such that
it receives a possible evaporation from the surface of the water over which said body
is located.
[0010] Additionally, in the surface-cover device for dammed water, the body has a substantially
square geometry.
[0011] Alternatively, in the surface-cover device for dammed water, the body has dimensions
between 30x30 cm and 120x120 cm.
[0012] Preferably, the surface-cover device for dammed water comprises ventilation means
for the ventilation chamber.
[0013] Additionally, in the surface-cover device for dammed water, the ventilation means
comprise grooves which connect the interior of the ventilation chamber with the exterior.
[0014] Additionally, the surface-cover device for dammed water comprises a belt by way of
a tab arranged on the perimeter around the body and which is contained in a contact
plane between the buoyancy element and the surface of the water.
[0015] Preferably, in the surface-cover device for dammed water, the body has in the central
region thereof a housing enabled to accommodate the buoyancy element.
[0016] Additionally, the surface-cover device for dammed water comprises an exterior perimeter
tab in the body which is higher in relation to the surface of the water and is enabled
to incorporate means for fastening between a plurality of bodies.
[0017] Alternatively, in the surface-cover device for dammed water, the fastening means
comprise holes enabled for the insertion of plastic screw or bolt elements.
[0018] Preferably, in the surface-cover device for dammed water, the body is made of polymeric
material or similar fibre-reinforced material.
[0019] Alternatively, in the surface-cover device for dammed water, the body is made of
a polymeric material or similar material without fibre.
[0020] Owing to the present invention, a surface of dammed water can be protected against
sun exposure, thereby preventing the loss thereof through evaporation.
[0021] Other features and advantages of the surface-cover device for dammed water will become
apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment illustrated
by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Figures 1 and 2 are schematic views from different perspectives of a preferred embodiment
of the surface-cover device for dammed water of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] As is schematically shown from different perspectives in the figures 1 and 2, the
surface-cover device for dammed water comprises a body 1 with a predominately flat
and polygonal geometry. In this preferred embodiment, the body 1 has a square shape.
[0024] Furthermore, in the body 1 at least one buoyancy element 2 is integrated which provides
the body 1 with the possibility of floating on the surface of the water.
[0025] In figure 1, the surface-cover device for dammed water of the invention is represented
from an upper perspective in relation to the surface of the water over which it is
located. In figure 2, the same surface-cover device for dammed water of the invention
is represented, but from a lower perspective in relation to the surface of the water
over which it is located.
[0026] The body 1 also incorporates at least one volumetric ventilation chamber 3. In this
preferred embodiment, there are four identical ventilation chambers 3. Said ventilation
chambers 3 are arranged in the body 1 by way of cavities or a vaulted geometry and
such that they receive any evaporation of the surface of the water on which the body
1 itself floats.
[0027] At the same time, surface-cover device for dammed water of the present invention
comprises ventilation means for the ventilation chamber 3.
[0028] As seen in figure 2, in this preferred embodiment, the ventilation means comprise
grooves 31 which connect the interior of the ventilation chamber 3 with the exterior.
[0029] The main function of the ventilation chambers 3 is to protect from prolonged exposure
to the sun which may cause the evaporation of some water and since they are ventilated
laterally through the grooves 31 and have the vaulted shape which can be distinguished
in figures 1 and 2, this favours the return of said water by means of condensation
and therefore prevents the loss thereof through evaporation.
[0030] Said vaulted or dome shape of the ventilation chambers 3 facilitates the condensation
of the evaporated water on the interior contour of said chambers and therefore it
falls on the surface of the water.
[0031] The body 1 has a belt 4 by way of a tab arranged on the perimeter around the same,
as seen in figure 2 and which is contained in a contact plane between the buoyancy
element 2 and the surface of the water, in order to thus provide stability for the
body 1 when it floats on the surface of the water.
[0032] The body 1 can have in the central region thereof a housing 11 enabled to accommodate
the buoyancy element 2 and having a circular, square or other suitable geometry.
[0033] The surface-cover device for dammed water can comprise an exterior perimeter tab
12 in the body 1 and it is higher in relation to the surface of the water on which
the body 1 itself rests and it is enabled to incorporate means for fastening between
a plurality of bodies 1 and fastening said bodies mutually between them with the aim
of assembling a matrix of bodies 1. Said fastening means comprise holes 13 enabled
for the insertion of plastic screw, bolt or clip elements, for example, and thereby
be able to join bodies 1 to others.
[0034] The arrangement of the holes 13 in the perimeter tab 12 allows the passage of air,
thereby preventing the wind from moving the bodies 1 when they float on the surface
of the water.
[0035] At the same time, the exterior perimeter tab 12 makes it difficult for the water
covered by said tab to evaporate.
[0036] With the option mentioned above of mutually fastening a plurality of bodies 1, it
is possible to produce a matrix of bodies 1 in order to thus cover wide extensions
of surfaces of dammed water.
[0037] In this sense, with the aforementioned option of mutually joining a plurality of
bodies 1 with screw, bolt or clip elements, since this joining has a sufficient clearance
if the water level is lowered or raised and therefore reducing or increasing the extension
of the surface free of water, the general extension of the matrix produced by the
bodies 1 can be adapted to the surface free of water of the reservoir on the perimeter
thereof.
[0038] The body 1 is made of polymeric or similar fibre-reinforced material, or material
without fibre, and is adequately resistant to the outdoors and external climatic agents.
[0039] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body 1 has a square geometry and
dimensions of between 30x30 cm and 120x120 cm.
[0040] These dimensions can vary, but should always fluctuate between values that can provide
optimal surface ratios in order not to have to place large quantities of bodies 1
to cover relatively extensive surfaces of water and therefore, dimensions such that
they allow optimal the manufacture thereof in equipment for processing polymeric material,
which also have dimensional limitations which can cause a body 1 to not be viable
for manufacture due to the excessive dimensions thereof or due to the high manufacturing
costs which this may entail (machinery, moulds, quantity of material, manufacturing
times, etc...).
[0041] The surface-cover device for dammed water of the present invention, since it does
not allow the passage of light, also helps to reduce the proliferation of algae, since
they require light to survive.
[0042] The details, shapes, dimensions and other secondary elements, as well as the materials
used in manufacturing a surface-cover device for dammed water of the invention, may
be suitably replaced with others that are technically equivalent and do not depart
from the essential nature of the invention or from the scope defined by the claims
included below.
1. The invention relates to a surface-cover device for dammed water, characterised in that it comprises a body (1) with a predominantly flat and polygonal geometry, and in
which at least one element (2) is integrated to provide buoyancy on the surface of
the water, as well as at least one volumetric ventilation chamber (3), said ventilation
chamber (3) being disposed such that it receives a possible evaporation from the surface
of the water over which said body (1) is located.
2. The surface-cover device for dammed water, characterised in that the body (1) has a substantially square geometry.
3. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 2, characterised in that the body (1) has dimensions between 30x30 cm and 120x120 cm.
4. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises ventilation means for the ventilation chamber (3).
5. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 4, characterised in that the ventilation means comprise grooves (31) which connect the interior of the ventilation
chamber (3) with the exterior.
6. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a belt (4) by way of a tab arranged on the perimeter around the body
(1) and which is contained in a contact plane between the buoyancy element (2) and
the surface of the water.
7. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (1) has in the central region thereof a housing (11) enabled to accommodate
the buoyancy element (2).
8. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an exterior perimeter tab (12) in the body (1) and is higher in relation
to the surface of the water and it is enabled to incorporate means for fastening between
a plurality of bodies (1).
9. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 8, characterised in that the fastening means comprise holes (13) enabled for the insertion of plastic screw
or bolt elements.
10. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (1) is made of polymeric or similar fibre-reinforced material.
11. The surface-cover device for dammed water according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (1) is made of polymeric or similar material without fibre.