Water flow control product and method of manufacture

Abstract

A water flow control device comprising an outer water permeable bag formed from burlap or an equivalent material which contains internally thereof an inner bag of a close woven cotton fabric containing a minimized quantity of a novel restorable superabsorber. In a preferred embodiment, the inner bag is substantially equal in laid out dimensions as the internal dimensions of a laid out outer bag. Further, desirably, the inner bag is anchored in its laid out position within the outer bag. The present product is readily storable in a dry compact state and may be reused up to as many as 5 or more times. Multiple ones of the present water flow control devices may be stacked in storage for future use.

1 . A water flow control bag comprising
 a. an outer bag,   b. an inner bag,   c. a quantity of a superabsorber in powder form disposed within said inner bag,   d. said superabsorber comprising particulates being of substantially spherical geometry, having an average diameter of between about 100 and 500 micrometers and an expansion ratio of not less than 500 between their dry state and their liquid saturated state.   
   
   
       2 . The water flow control bag of  claim 1  wherein said outer bag is formed from a burlap fabric. 
   
   
       3 . The water control bag of  claim 1  wherein said inner bag comprises a woven cotton fabric. 
   
   
       4 . The water flow control bag of  claim 3  wherein said cotton fabric is woven employing a twill weave pattern including a yarn count of about 118 warp yarns and about 90 weft yarns per inch. 
   
   
       5 . The water flow control bag of  claim 1  wherein said superabsorber exhibits an expansion rate due to intake of a liquid of about 2 minutes 49 seconds. 
   
   
       6 . The water flow control bag of  claim 1  wherein said outer bag and said inner bag are of substantially equal length and width dimensions when laid out flat. 
   
   
       7 . The water flow control bag of  claim 6  wherein said length dimension of each of said outer and inner bags is about 24 inches and said width dimension is about 18 inches and wherein said inner bag includes about ⅓ cup of said superabsorber powder disposed therein. 
   
   
       8 . A method for producing a water flow control bag comprising the steps of:
 forming an outer bag of a coarse woven burlap fabric,   forming an inner bag of a fabric comprising 2×2 twill weave cotton yarns having about 118 warp yarns per inch and about 60 weft yarns per inch, said outer and inner bags having substantially equal width and length dimensions,   disposing within said inner bag a quantity of a superabsorber having an expansion factor of at least 500 grams of expanded material per each gram of dry superabsorber,   closing said outer bag and said inner bag,   anchoring said inner bag and its supersorber contents within said outer bag wherein said inner bag is disposed in a substantially fully laid out attitude within said outer bag to define a flexible storable water flow control bag,   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  and including the step of providing means projecting from multiple locations about the perimeter of said outer bag for connecting two or more of said water flow control bags together to define a barrier against the flow of water through individual ones of said bags.