GB2411423A

GB2411423A - Inflatable flood defence barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2411423A
Application number: GB0404021A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Paul Irving
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-24
Filing date: 2004-02-24
Publication date: 2005-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-24
Also published as: GB2411423B; GB0404021D0

Abstract

A flood defence barrier maybe constructed by digging a trench to a given depth around a property or properties to be defended from flood waters. Inside the trench a concrete footing is fitted to a given height and on top of the concrete footing a deflated airbag is fitted, bolted and fixed with a chemical waterproof resin to the top of the concrete footing. The airbag when deflated lies inside the trench below ground level. On top of the trench is fitted an opening and closing hinged metal, or plastic hinged flat operated by mechanical or electrical means . The flap allows the airbag to come out of the trench when inflated and cover over the trench when the airbag is deflated. Immediatley behind the trench and in front of the property or properties is erected a steel fence of a given height . The fence has an opening and closing mechanical/electrical gate that would lock into position on closing when the defence barrier is deployed. Within the area behind the defence barrier and in front of the property or properties, a waterproof housing or building is erected to contain all the mechanical/electrical machinery to inflate or deflate the airbag, open and close the hinged flaps and operate the steel gate within the fence structure. From the housing or building a pipe may run underground with one end connected to the airbag in the trench and the other end to the machinery to inflate or deflate the airbag. Also from the housing or building all mechanical/electrical wires or pipes may run underground to the hinged flap and gate.

Description

241 1 423 1.

FLOOD l:>EFENCE BARRIO The invention relates to a flood defence barrier that is not a permanent feature on the landscape but one that can tee erected when the problem arises and then can be disassembled when the flood waters retract Most flood defence barriers are of a solid construction, ie: concrete, earth mounds, brick walls or such like.Then there is the sight of armies of men laying sandbags to stop the deluge in its tracks and if the flood- waters start to get higher more sandbags are piled onto the existing mounds.There are new innovations but these are labour intense as well.

This type of flood defence barrier once fixed into place can be operated by the push of a button and can be taken down by the same means. Taking away the labour intense methods of conventional barriers. It is also not a blot on the landscape and therefore envy friendly This defence barrier is adaptable to a lot of differing flood problems, a single house as in the accompanying drawing, a small village, a town the possibilities are endless.

It is constructed by digging out a trench around or across the affected property or properties. The depth of the trench would differ for each sites flood problem which would always be the case. The base of the trench would contain a concrete footing, the depth and thickness of the concrete would also also differ from site to site. To the top of the concrete within the trench would be bolted a deflated airbag which would be made of a strong waterproof material, which also would be fined with a waterproof resin The top of the trench at ground level would have an opening hinged flap that would be sectional end the flap would be operated by mecharucaL electrical or hydraulic means. Within the boundaries of the trench on the property side there would be an enclosed weather proof housing of brick constnon or alike which would contain the pump for the airbag and the mechanical means to operate the opening hinged flaps on the top of the trench The pump would be attached to the underground airbag. Once all the site work was completed the whole opabon could be controlled by the push of a button to assemble or disassemble. Immediately behind the trench a steel fence would be constructed and once the inflated airbag was in place this would act as a support for the airbag. At any determined point in the steel fence would be an electronically operated gate for access to the property. This gate would automatically lock and bolt when the flood protection barrier was in operation and reverse the process when it was not in operation.

This defence barrier can be adapted in many ways to provide the needs for flood protection in any pelt of the FIGURE 1 shows the outlay of the trench which contains the deflated airbag and the opernng hinged flap to the top of the trench FIGURE 2 shows the air pump and hinged flap opening mechanism housing unit FIGI IRE 3 shows the constructed metal fence to the inside pemneter of the trench that will act as a SUppOlt for the airbag.. 2.

As shown in the drawing the trench would go entirely around the property ensunog that when the airbag was deployed to stop the floodwaters the property would remain undamaged and also the barrier would save the loss of life.

The drawing itself is showing the invention in its simplest teens but I think the potential to adapt the invention farther is a definite possibility.

A trench would be dug around an effected proper which has had flood problems in the past and will be certain to have the same problems in the filture ie: built on flood plains. The depth of the trench would be calculated on site to determine the height and strength of the flood protection barrier. The base of the trench would have a concrete footing, depth and height also decided on site. To the top ofthe concrete foobug there would be attached by means of bolts and watertight resin fixing, a deflated airbag. This ailbag would be of a strong waterproof design, it would be contained in the footing and would be continuously joined in the trench around the full perimeter of the proper. At the top of the trench at ground level there would be mechanically controlled hinged metal flaps that would open when the defence bamer was in operation and close when it was not Immediately behind the trench a steel fence would be cad which would act as a support for the airbag, the height and strength ofthe fence would tee decided on site. At any given point in the fence an electrically controlled gate would be placed that would open and shut but would lock and bolt into position when the flood barrier was in opeadon Within the perimeter between the property and the fence a brick, or alilce, waterproofLousing would be constricted and within this housing the pump for the airbag and the mechanically controlled means of operating the hinged flaps to the trench would be sited.

When a flood was imminent the whole operation could be set into motion by the push of a button and the defence barrier would go into operation protecting the properly from the rising floodway When Me flood has ended the same button could then be pushed and the flood bamer would deflate back into the trench.

I have also included 2no 3D dewing of file project.

Claims

1. A flood defence barrier comprising of an inflatable airbag supported by a steel fence structure.

2. A flood defence barrier as claimed in Claim 1 which would be constructed by digging out a trench around the property or properties to which the barrier would protect.

Inside the trench a solid concrete footing would be erected to a given height and then a deflated airbag would be attached to the concrete footings by means of bolts and a waterproof chemical resin. The concrete footing and airbag would then be below ground level.

3. A flood defence barrier as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 that would then be fitted at the top of the trench with an opening hinged mechanical/electrical flap system made from metal or plastic that would when deployed into the open position would allow the inflated airbag to rise out of the trench to form a flood defence barrier between the flood waters and the property or properties but when closed would hide the trench and also the deflated airbag

4. A flood defence bamer as claimed in any proceeding claim that would have a steel erected fence built immediately behind the trench and in front of the property or properties so as to support the airbag when the airbag is inflated. At any given point in the fence an opening and closing mechanical/electrical gate would be fitted that would lock on the closure position thus making all of the fence structure of a solid and strong nature.

A flood defence battier as claimed in any proceeding claim that would have a brick constructed waterproof housing or building that would be built in any given space between the flood defence barrier and the property or properties that the barrier would protect. Inside the housing or building the mechanical/electrical means of inflating or deflating the airbag would be housed.From the housing or building an underground pipe would be taken and attached to the airbag in the trench, the other end ofthe pipe would be attached to the inflation machinery within the housing or buildingAlso within the housing or building would be the mechanicalfelectrical means of operating the opening hinged flap to the top of the trench and also the mechanicaVelectrical means of opening or dosing and also or unlocking locking the steel gate within the fence structure.

6. A flood defence barrier substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying c rawmgs.