GB2383071A

GB2383071A - Flood barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2383071A
Application number: GB0129552A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur Leslie Jones
Original assignee: FLOOD WATER GUARD Ltd
Current assignee: FLOOD WATER GUARD Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-11
Filing date: 2001-12-11
Publication date: 2003-06-18
Also published as: GB0129552D0

Abstract

A flood barrier protecting a building aperture 11 comprises a frame 13, 14, 15 attached to a property 10 in a sealed manner, a panel 17 sealed to the frame and a means to secure the barrier to the property. The securing means for the frame to the house may be screw fittings 16 or sealant. Preferably the channel-shape frame has resilient flanges 18, 19 directed towards each other, serving to seal the frame against the panel. The panel structure may be a honeycomb reinforcing material spaced between two sheets. Preferably, the barrier has a plurality of removable panels, and H-shaped sealing members (28, Fig7) may seal between the panels. Also defined is a flood barrier comprising a deformable sealing member and a pair of rigid plates with a screw means between the plates to give lateral deformation of the sealing member (Fig 11). A further invention is defined comprising a non-return valve in a liquid flow pipe, to prevent flood flow from outside into a property (Fig 12).

Description

FLOOD BARRIER This invention relates to flood barriers, and in particular to barriers for preventing the ingress of flood water into homes and business or other properties.

Flood waters cause considerable damage to properties and their contents. Hence, if floods occur or are threatened, certain precautions are taken to prevent or minimise such damage.

As a first resort, attempts may be made to divert the flood waters away from the properties.

However, if this cannot be done or is achievable only to a limited extent, barriers may be placed against the properties to prevent as much as possible the ingress of the water to those properties. Such barriers usually take the form of bags of sand or the like that are placed against the doors and windows of the premises. However, there is always the problem of getting sufficient bags to secure all of the premises in a town or city that are threatened by extensive flooding. In addition, if the floods last for longer than a relatively short time, seepage of the flood water through or around the bags can occur leading to seepage of the water into the premises. Furthermore, there is the problem of storage of a very large number of such bags during the time that the threat of flooding is remote.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby a barrier may quickly be put in place at a property when flooding occurs or is threatened, and can be readily stored at that property when flooding is not threatened.

The invention provides a flood barrier adapted to be secured to a property to cover at least a part of an aperture in the property, comprising at least one elongate frame member adapted to sealingly engage the property, a panel sealingly engaged by the frame member, and securing means operable to secure the barrier to the property adjacent the aperture.

The invention also provides a flood barrier disposed to cover at least a part of an aperture in a property, comprising at least one elongate frame member, a panel sealingly engaged by the frame member, and securing means securing the barrier to the property adjacent the aperture with the frame member sealingly engaging the property.

The panel may be removably engaged, in use, by the frame member. The securing means may comprise screws and/or sealant operable to secure the frame member to the property.

The frame member may be of channel shaped cross-section and adapted to receive an edge of the panel. The frame member may comprise a pair of opposed flanges, the flanges being resilient and directed towards each other when not in use whereby sealing of the channel

against the faces of the panel is effected when the panel is engaged in the frame member.

The barrier may comprise a plurality of elongate frame members, and may comprise three elongate frame members. Two of the frame members may extend substantially parallel with each other, and each end of the third frame member may be connected to an end of a respective one of the two frame members.

Alternatively, the barrier may comprise a panel having a frame member extending around its periphery and sealingly secured thereto. In this case, the securing means may comprise expanding headed screws retained within the property and releasable nuts on the screws operable in use to retain the barrier with the frame member in sealing engagement with the property.

The panel may be of solid section. Alternatively, the panel may comprise a pair of sheets of material spaced apart by a reinforcing structure. The reinforcing structure may be a honeycomb structure, or may comprise a plurality of spacing members. The panel may comprise a plurality of panel sections mutually and sealingly engaged in edge-to-edge disposition. The panel sections may be sealingly connected by means of a sealing member of H-shaped cross section providing two back-to-back channels, each adapted to receive an edge of a panel section therein. Each sealing member channel may comprise flanges that have free edges directed towards each other whereby sealing of the channel against the faces of a panel section is effected when that panel section is engaged in the sealing member channel. Alternatively, each panel section may have a recess in one edge thereof adapted to receive and seal with a rib formation on an edge of an adjacent panel section.

The invention also provides a flood barrier adapted to be secured in a property to seal an aperture in the property, comprising a deformable sealing member, a pair of rigid plates disposed on opposed sides of the deformable sealing member and screw means extending between the plates and operable to move the plates towards each other to deform the deformable sealing member laterally of the plates.

The invention also provides a flood barrier for a property having a liquid flow pipe extending from inside to outside of the property, whereby the flow pipe has a free end outside the property, comprising a non-return flow valve secured in the pipe and operable to allow flow of liquid from inside the property to the outside of the property but to prevent flow of liquid from outside the property to the inside of the property.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of barrier, Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a frame member, Figs. 3 to 5 are alternative sections of panel, Fig. 6 is a front view of an alternative panel, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the sealing member of the panel of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a front view of another alternative panel, Fig. 9 is an end view of the panel of Fig. 8 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of barrier, Fig. 11 illustrates a third embodiment of barrier, and Fig. 12 illustrates a fourth embodiment of barrier.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a property 10 having an aperture 11 such as a door.

As is conventional, the door aperture 11 is framed by a doorframe 12, usually of wood or upvc. Secured to the doorframe 12 are three elongate frame members 13,14, 15. Frame members 13,14, 15 are secured by screws 16 to the doorframe 12 so as to form a seal with the doorframe 12. A sealant (not shown) may be inserted between the frame members 13, 14,15 and the doorframe 12 if desired to enhance the sealing effect. Frame members 13,14 extend parallel with each other and are secured to the uprights of the doorframe 12. Frame member 15 extends at right angles to the frame members 13,14 with the ends of the frame member 15 attached to the lower ends of the frame members 13,14. Each of the frame members 13,14, 15 is of channel shaped formation. A panel 17 is inserted into the frame members 13,14, 15 by sliding in the direction of the arrow in frame members 13,14.

The cross-section of the frame members 13,14, 15 is shown in Fig. 2. The frame members 13,14, 15 have a channel shaped cross-section with opposed flanges 18,19 to receive an edge of the panel 17. The flanges 18,19 are of a resilient material such as rubber or a plastics material and are directed towards each other when not in use. When the panel 17 is inserted in the frame member 13,14, 15, the flanges 18,19 deform outwardly to accommodate the thickness of the panel 17 (shown in dashed lines), thereby sealing the flanges 18,19 against the faces of the panel 17. When fully inserted, the panel 17 is sealingly engaged by each of the frame members 13,14, 15, thereby forming a barrier preventing flood water having a depth less than the height of the panel 17 from entering the property 10 through the aperture 11. The height of the panel 17 is chosen to provide a satisfactory barrier for the depth of flood prevailing or anticipated.

The panel 17 may be of solid section as shown in Fig. 3, preferably of a plastics material.

Alternatively, the panel 17 may be formed of two sheets of material 20 separated by a honeycomb reinforcing structure 21 as shown in Fig. 4, or by spacing members 22.

Fig. 1 shows a single panel 17 that fits into the frame members 13,14, 15. Alternatively, in particular for wide apertures 11, the panel 17 may be formed of two or more laterally disposed panel sections 23,24 as shown in Fig. 6. In this case the panel sections 23,24 are mutually and sealingly engaged in edge-to-edge disposition. The panel sections 23,24 are sealingly connected be means of a sealing member 25 of H-shaped cross section as shown in Fig. 7.

The sealing member 25 provides two back-to-back channels 26,27, each adapted to receive an edge of a panel section 23,24 (shown in dashed lines) therein. Each sealing member channel 26,27 has flanges 28 that have their free edges directed towards each other whereby sealing of the flanges 28 against the faces of a panel sections 23,24 is effected by outward deformation of the flanges 28 when those panel sections 23,24 are engaged in the sealing member channels 26,27. As a further alternative, the panel 17 may be formed of several vertically disposed panel sections 29, as shown in Fig. 8. Each panel section 29 has a recess 30 in one edge as shown in Fig. 9 adapted to sealingly receive a rib formation 31 on an edge of an adjacent panel section 29. With this embodiment, as flood waters rise, further panel sections may be added to those already in place to ensure protection of the property 10.

Referring now to Fig. 10, there is shown built into the property 10 a conventional airbrick 32 having apertures 33 therein. To prevent ingress of flood water to the property 10 through the apertures 33, a barrier 34 is provided. The barrier 34 comprises a plate 35, preferably of a plastics material, which is of larger dimensions than the airbrick 32. Around the periphery of the plate 35 is a frame member 36, which may be of a deformable material such as rubber or suitable plastics material. The frame member 36 may be approximately 18 mm wide by 5 mm thick. Secured in apertures 33 are screws 37, for example butterfly clips having expandable heads. The plate 35 has holes 38 positioned to allow the screws 37 to pass through the holes 38 when the barrier 34 is placed in contact with the airbrick 32. Wingnuts 39 are then tightened on the screws 37 to maintain the frame member 36 in sealing contact with the property 10 around the airbrick 32. When the flood waters have receded, the wingnuts 39 may be loosened or, with the banier 34, removed to allow air circulation through the apertures 33 again.

Referring now to Fig. 11, there is shown a flood barrier 40 adapted to seal a toilet bowl 41 from water flowing upwardly into the toilet bowl 41 during flooding. The barrier 40 comprises a

deformable sealing member 42 having a planform that approximates to that of the toilet bowl 41. Disposed on opposed sides (above and below) of the deformable sealing member 42, are a pair of rigid plates 43,44. A screw 45 is secured, e. g. by welding, to the lower plate 43 and extends upwardly through the upper plate 44. A wingnut 46 on the screw 45 is operable to move the plates 43,44 towards each other to deform the deformable sealing member 42 laterally of the plates 43,44 and into sealing contact with the sides of the toilet bowl 41.

In Fig. 12, there is shown a further useful form of barrier 47. In this case, there is a waste pipe 48 passing through a cavity wall of a property 10 from inside to outside of the property 10. Waste water normally passes through the pipe 48 in the direction of the arrow. To prevent water from passing in the opposite direction and into the property 10, a barrier 47 in the form of a non-return valve 49 is located inside the pipe 48 near to its outside free end.

By means of the invention, a property can be protected from flood water damage. The plate 17 and barrier 40 may easily be stored at the property 10 when not required, and quickly put in place when required. Barrier 34 may be left in place, but with the wingnuts 39 undone so as to allow air circulation through the airbrick 32. Alternatively, the barrier 34 may be removed and only put in place quickly when required. Barrier 47 may be left in place so as to be ready in any emergency. Other embodiments of flood water barrier will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. For example, a barrier of the form of barrier 34 may be secured by screws to a sub-frame secured around a door or window. In this case, the sub-frame could incorporate captive nuts for receiving the screws.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A flood barrier adapted to be secured to a property to cover at least a part of an aperture in the property, comprising at least one elongate frame member adapted to sealingly engage the property, a panel sealingly engaged by the frame member, and securing means operable to secure the barrier to the property adjacent the aperture.
2. A flood barrier disposed to cover at least a part of an aperture in a property, comprising at least one elongate frame member, a panel sealingly engaged by the frame member, and securing means securing the barrier to the property adjacent the aperture with the frame member sealingly engaging the property.
3. A flood barrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the panel is removably engaged, in use, by the frame member.
4. A flood barrier according to claim 3, wherein the securing means comprises screws operable to secure the frame member to the property.
5. A flood barrier according to claim 3, wherein the securing means comprises a sealant operable to secure the frame member to the property.
6. A flood barrier according lo any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the frame member is of channel shaped cross-section and adapted to receive an edge of the panel.
7. A flood barrier according to claim 6, wherein the frame member comprises a pair of opposed flanges, the flanges being resilient and directed towards each other when not in use whereby sealing of the channel against the faces of the panel is effected when the panel is engaged in the frame member.
8. A flood barrier according to claim 7, wherein the barrier comprises a plurality of elongate frame members.
9. A flood barrier according to claim 8, wherein, the barrier comprises three elongate frame members.

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10. A flood barrier according to claim 9, wherein two of the frame members extend substantially parallel with each other, and each end of the third frame member is connected to an end of a respective one of the two frame members.
11. A flood barrier according to claim 3, wherein the barrier comprises a panel having a frame member extending around its periphery and sealingly secured thereto.
12. A flood barrier according to claim 11, wherein the securing means comprises expanding headed screws retained within the property and releasable nuts on the screws operable in use to retain the barrier with the frame member in sealing engagement with the property.
13. A flood barrier according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the panel is of solid section.
14. A flood barrier according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the panel comprises a pair of sheets of material spaced apart by a reinforcing structure.
15. A flood barrier according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing structure is a honeycomb structure.
16. A flood barrier according to claim 14, wherein, the reinforcing structure comprises a plurality of spacing members.
17. A flood barrier according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of panel sections mutually and sealingly engaged in edge-to-edge disposition.
18. A flood barrier according to claim 17, wherein the panel sections are sealingly connected by means of a sealing member of H-shaped cross section providing two back-toback channels, each adapted to receive an edge of a panel section therein.
19. A flood barrier according to claim 18, wherein each sealing member channel comprises flanges that have free edges directed towards each other whereby sealing of the channel against the faces of a panel section is effected when that panel section is engaged in the sealing member channel.

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20. A flood barrier according to claim 17, wherein each panel section has a recess in one edge thereof adapted to receive and seal with a rib formation on an edge of an adjacent panel section.
21. A flood barrier adapted to be secured in a property to seal an aperture in the property, comprising a deformable sealing member, a pair of rigid plates disposed on opposed sides of the deformable sealing member and screw means extending between the plates and operable to move the plates towards each other to deform the deformable sealing member laterally of the plates.
22. A flood barrier for a property having a liquid flow pipe extending from inside to outside of the property, whereby the flow pipe has a free end outside the property, comprising a nonreturn flow valve secured in the pipe and operable to allow flow of liquid from inside the property to the outside of the property but to prevent flow of liquid from outside the property to the inside of the property.
23. A flood barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 with Fig. 3,4 or 5, Figs 6 and 7 or Figs. 8 and 9; or Figs. 10,11 or 12.