GB2371324A - Pivotable flood barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A flood prevention barrier is formed from a plurality of pivotable panels (4, Figure 5) which during normal conditions lie in a substantially horizontal plane and which during flood conditions are adapted to automatically pivot into a substantially vertical plane. The pivot action is initiated by the filling of a tank (5, Figure 7) connected to one end of each panel with the rising flood water. A waterproof membrane (7, Figure 8) may extend from the base of the barrier into the ground on the flood side of the barrier to prevent water seeping under the barrier. The application also discloses two further types of flood barrier (Figures 9 and 15) which are raised automatically in response to rising flood water.

Description

BuiMins Mood Defence Apparatus The invention relates to defence of property against flood, and is especially concerned with protecting buildings and land from flood with minimal visual impact Description Referring to figure 1 a continuous trench item lis dug around the building.

Into which strong anchorages are set, figure 2 item 2 illustrates one method by which this could be achieved. Although a rectangular trench is shown, any polygonal shape would work, indeed more sides necessarily reduces the individual length of each face and thereby reduces any tendency to bowing.

Onto these anchorages a sturdy hinge assembly figure 3 item 3 is secured to all sides as shown in figure 4.

Installed onto these are flaps item 4 of figure 5, which in turn are fitted with adjustable counterbalance arms. The flap assembly is located on the hinges in a horizontal attitude with the flap portion positioned outermost, see figure 6. The centre of gravity is to fall outboard of the hinge line ensuring that the flap assembly is held horizontal in dry conditions and with the counterbalance arms poised over the trench.

The counter balance arms are fitted with tanks, item 5 and connected by tubing to stand pipes item 6, which located at the outside edge ofthe flap. See figure 7.

All around the trench a flexible waterproof membrane skirt item 7 is positioned vertically down from ground level, to prevent the ingress of water from underneath, as shown in figure 8.

A further continuous flexible waterproof membrane is fitted to the flaps ensuring sufficient material is left at comers to facilitate range of movement, and sealed to the previously fitted membrane. Alternatively both membranes can be folded from a single piece minimising the risk of leaks.

To prevent any problems associated with back flow along service pipes and rainwater drains which, under less drastic conditions are intended to remove waste from the property, these are to be fitted with flood intercept valves. Any airbricks are fitted with purpose made snorkels and waste water pipes are to be sealed to the drain access . Man hole inspection covers to be sealed, or permitted to lift within an over-size" stirrup cup"barrier, or re-sited clear of the property.

Directly around the building a rigid waterproof trunking item 8 is fitted and totally sealed to the footings and abutting the wall figure 9 refers.

Sealed onto the underside of this trunking is a continuous flexible waterproof membrane skirt, which is let into the ground in front of the footings. Inside the trunking is a flexible waterproof membrane item 9 that is folded vertically into pleats and folded horizontally around the comers of the trunking.

The bottom pleat is completely sealed to the base of the trunking and the top pleat is attached to the buoyant rigid lid. In addition to the above see patent FR2731726 and FR2531475 and additional layer of buoyant material item 10 is applied to each pleat see figure 10. Rainwater down pipes are replaced with D section pipes which is to be constructed with sufficient additional strength as to significantly reduce the number of cleats required to secure the pipe to the wall. The pipe is secured at the drain access point where it is completely sealed, and to the wall at a point higher than the required protection height.

An open-out, stable-style waterproof door is fitted flush to the outside of the opening where the existing entrance doors are located.

For open out doors and French windows either a storm porch is built which in turn is fitted with an open out stable style waterproof door ; or, vertically rising flaps item 11 are positioned into slides item 12, level with the ground see figure I I.

Operation On reaching the standpipes, floodwater is diverted through the tubes to the tanks which fill and overbalance, rotating the system and thereby raising the flaps see figure 12.

The rising water will ensure that all flaps are progressively raised the fully vertical as shown in figure 13. Now that the flaps are upright the tanks are slowly permitted to empty via small drain holes.

Should the floodwaters breach the flaps, the building is further protected directly by the trunking. On reaching the building the floodwaters causes the lid to float, lifting along with it the waterproof membrane. Because the membrane is fitted with layers of buoyant material, which offers a measure of protection against abrasion to the waterproof membrane, it also has the crucial effect in that it ensures that the unfolding of the membrane is carried out sequentially from the bottom pleat up and thus eliminating any relative movement between membrane and building surfaces.

Further, due to the controlled unfolding of the pleats it permits the use of additional layers oftnmking to facilitate membrane being unfurled over projections or sudden changes of plan section as in the case of a box bay or oriel window; figure 14refers . The waterproof membrane is shaped to match the profile of the wall and projection, and is housed within a split trunking.

Up until sill level although both straight and shaped lids float up, only the straight membrane is released against the wall including the area immediately beneath the projection.

At sill level the split straight section of buoyant lid immediately under the sill is trapped and, as floodwaters still rise, only the shaped portion of the lid continues to rise and in so doing unfolds the shaped portion of the waterproof membrane up the wall and around the projection.

Any small water leaks through the membrane are caught in the trunking and pumped outside.

Where open out doors are protected by sliding vertical flaps as shown in figure 15, the approaching flood waters are diverted through stand pipes into the underground tanks item 13which drop with the increased weight bearing down on the rocker arm item 14 and raising the flap within its slides.

As the waters recede, the lid see figure 12 floats down and the membrane collapses along its fold lines and back into the trunking where drain holes in the outside of the trunking permit the elimination of the flood water and facilitate washing.

As the floodwaters recede past the vertical sliding flaps figures 15 refers, the stand pipes now act as a breather enabling the drain holes to function, permitting drainage of the counterbalance tank allowing the sliding flap to sink under its own weight.

Similarly, the receding floodwaters will lower the perimeter flaps figures 1-8.

Should the protected height be required to be increased up to a factor of two ; a further flap item 4a is hinged from the top of the main flap item 4 see figure 16. This secondary flap is slightly buoyant and is triangulated when deployed with steel cables anchored to the ground outboard of the system. See figure 17 Figure 18 shows a safety guard item 15, which is to be sufficiently strong to take the weight of pedestrians and traffic at entrance points Dissimilar metal strips may be incorporated into the trunking item 7 which, when they are wetted become batteries to power detectors to locate leaks and activate pumps.

An alternative version of flap assembly as shown in figures 1-8 could be more suited for emergency conditions whereby a trench figure 1 is dug and a preformed rigid assembly item 16 is fitted, as shown in figure 19. The assemblies are joined to each other at the comers and pinned to the ground. Flaps item 4 is fitted to the hinges and the structure is made water tight with a flexible waterproof membrane.

. A guard item 17 is fitted as in figure 20.

The folding flaps may be connected to mains water supply or header tank in order to facilitate servicing and as a back up system

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS According to one aspect of the invention floodwater is kept away from building, which therefore remains tenable despite flooding. The system is fully automatic and requires no energy or human intervention and is completely re-usable. It is suitable for all designs of building and any type of construction.

   It eliminates the damage, inconvenience and distress caused by flooding. It is unobtrusive in appearance and therefore requires no planning permission, which especially useful for listed buildings