GB2450875A

GB2450875A - Flood prevention barrier incorporating a float member

Info

Publication number: GB2450875A
Application number: GB0713258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fiona Meikle
Original assignee: MEIKLEWALL SCOTLAND Ltd
Current assignee: MEIKLEWALL SCOTLAND Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-09
Filing date: 2007-07-09
Publication date: 2009-01-14
Also published as: GB0713258D0

Abstract

A barrier apparatus comprises one or more barriers, the or each barrier comprising a trough section 20 and a wall section 30, movable between a first position in which the wall section is substantially contained within the trough section and a second position in which the wall section extends substantially vertically from the trough section. The wall section comprises a flexible barrier membrane 40 having a first portion 42 fixed at or vertically adjacent to the trough section and one or more float members 50 which co-operate with the flexible barrier membrane such that the flexible barrier membrane is in tension when the wall section is at the second position.

Description

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Rising Barrier Apparatus The present invention relates to barriers. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to barriers which rise in response to the presence of high levels of a fluid, such as water.

It is known to provide flood walls adjacent to water courses, such as seas, rivers or streams, where there is a risk of an increase in water level following heavy rainfall. Such flood walls often take the form of in situ concrete walls or earthwork structures such as bunds. However, permanent walls can be visually obtrusive when the water course is at its normal level.

It is also known to provide flood walls which rise as the level of water in the water course increases. Typically, the flood wall includes a number of rigid floating flood walls, each contained within a trough. The depth of the trough corresponds to the height of each flood wall. The trough communicates with the water course so that the trough fills with water as the level of the water course rises beyond a predetermined level, thereby causing the floating flood wall to rise and preventing the rising water from flowing beyond the flood prevention barrier apparatus into the surrounding area. However, such barriers typically require a deep trough section for the wall when it is lowered. This adds to the complexity and cost of installing the barrier.

: *** 25 * *** It is typical in the prior art for the flood wall to provide both the barrier surface for containing flood water and the structural resistance to the significant lateral loads imparted by the flood water. Conventionally, it has been assumed that rigid structural members are necessary to provide this structural resistance.

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According to the present invention, there is provided a barrier apparatus comprising one or more barriers, the or each barrier comprising: a trough section; and a wall section movable between a first position in which the wall section is substantially contained within the trough section and a second position in which the wall section extends substantially vertically from the trough section, -) wherein the wall section comprises: a flexible barrier membrane having a first portion fixed at or vertically adjacent to the trough section; and one or more float members which co-operate with the flexible barrier membrane such that the flexible barrier membrane is in tension when the wall section is at the second position.

Preferably a second portion of the flexible barrier membrane is wrapped around an upper surface of the or each float member.

Preferably means is provided to inhibit or prevent movement of the upper surface of the or each float member relative to the second portion of the flexible barrier membrane. Preferably the inhibiting or preventing means comprises frictional contact between the upper surface of the or each float member and the second portion of the flexible barrier membrane.

Alternatively the upper surface of the or each float member is fastened to : 25 the second portion of the flexible barrier membrane. S... * . *...

Preferably the float member is shaped to allow wrap around of the flexible * *:. barrier membrane without including sharp edges which could damage the flexible barrier membrane. I. * . * *.*

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Preferably the trough section includes an inlet to allow the ingress of fluid into the trough section. Preferably the trough section includes relief valve means for allowing the egress of fluid when the pressure of fluid within the trough section reaches a predetermined value.

Preferably the trough section includes a lid member for closing the trough section when the wall section is at the first position.

Preferably the lid member is adapted to provide lateral support when the wall section is at the second position.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a barrier apparatus with the wall section at a first position; Fig. 2 is a side view of the barrier apparatus of Fig. 1 with the wall section at an intermediary position; and Fig. 3 is a side view of the barrier apparatus of Fig. 1 with the wall section at a second position.

Figs 1 to 3 show a barrier apparatus comprising a number of barriers 10.

: * 25 Each barrier comprises a trough section 20 and a wall section 30. The * *** wall section 30 is movable between a first position shown in Fig 1 in which the wall section 30 is substantially contained within the trough section 20, * .: through an intermediary position shown in Fig 2, to a second position shown in Fig 3 in which the wall section 30 extends vertically from the trough section 20. * I

The wall section comprises a flexible barrier membrane 40 having a first portion or first edge 42 fixed to a first side 22 of the trough section 20 and a float member 50 which co-operates with the flexible barrier membrane 40 such that the flexible barrier membrane 40 is in tension when the wall section 30 is at the second position.

A second portion 44 of the flexible barrier membrane 40 is wrapped ) around an upper surface 52 of the float member 50. The flexible barrier membrane 40 then extends back such that a third portion or second edge 46 is fixed to a second opposite side 24 of the trough section 20. Seals (not shown) are provided at the first and second edges of the flexible barrier membrane 40.

When the wall section is at the first position, the flexible barrier membrane can hang loosely within the trough section 20. When the wall section is at the second position, the flexible barrier membrane 40 is taught, thus providing the structural resistance to a side load on one side of the wall section 30 caused by fluid pressure.

Means is provided to prevent movement of the upper surface 52 of the float member 50 relative to the second portion 44 of the flexible barrier membrane 40. This means comprises frictional contact between the upper surface 52 and the second portion 44. Alternatively or in addition, : 25 the upper surface 52 may be fastened to the second portion 44. S... * S *55S

The float member 50 can be formed from any suitable buoyant material, * *;:* such as glass reinforced plastic or Styrofoam. The float member 50 has a generally triangular shape to complement the shape formed by the flexible barrier membrane 40 when the wall section 30 is at the second position.

* .**** S * Also, this shape provides stability when the float member 50 is buoyantly floating. However, this generally triangular shape has rounded edges 54 to enhance the wrap around of the flexible barrier membrane 40 and to eliminate sharp edges which could damage the flexible barrier membrane 40.

The trough section 20 includes an inlet 26 to allow the ingress of fluid into the trough section. Therefore, the level 110 of fluid within the trough section 20 will be the same as the level 112 on the first side 22 of the trough section 20 once the wall section 30 has passed the intermediary position. This will remain the case until the wall section 30 is at the second position but the level 112 of fluid on the first side 22 of the trough section 20 continues to rise. In such as event, the pressure of fluid within the trough section 20 will increase. The trough section includes a relief valve 28 for allowing the egress of fluid from the trough section 20 when the pressure of fluid within the trough section 20 reaches a predetermined value.

In an alternative embodiment, sealing at the first side 22 of the trough section 20 may not be provided and instead fluid is allowed to freely flow into the trough section 20. This effectively provides the inlet.

The trough section includes a lid member 60 for closing the trough section when the wall section 30 is at the first position. The lid member 60 is : . 25 pivotably connected to the second side 24 of the trough section 20 and rising of the wall section 30 will cause the lid member 60 to pivot from a horizontal to a near vertical orientation. A stop 62 is provided to prevent * *:. further pivoting of the lid member 60 when the wall section 30 is at the second position. The lid member 60 therefore provides lateral support when the wall section is at the second position. Indeed, this lateral * * support is provided at the base of the extended wall section 30 where the moment caused by the side load from fluid pressure is at its greatest.

Additional sealing (not shown) can be provided at the pivot point of the lid member 60.

During normal conditions, the barrier apparatus is as shown in Fig 1.

Under flooding conditions, the level 112 of fluid on the first side 22 of the / ) trough section 20 will rise. Fluid enters the trough section 20 via the inlet and starts to act upon the lower portion of the float member 50. The float member 50 will rise as the level 110 of fluid within the trough section 20 rises, and will push the underside of the lid member 60 such that it pivots open (Fig 2).

The float member 50 will float out of the trough section 20 and progressively take up the slack of the flexible barrier membrane 40. The lid member 60 prevents lateral drifting of the float member 50 at this stage.

This will continue until the flexible barrier membrane 40 becomes taught when the wall section is at the second position. At this stage, much of the structural resistance to the fluid is provided by the flexible barrier / membrane 40 in tension, although the lid member 60 still provides lateral support.

Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing : 25 from the scope of the present invention. S... * . * S.. * S * S..

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Claims

1. A barrier apparatus comprising one or more barriers, the or each barrier comprising: a trough section; and a wall section movable between a first position in which the wall section is substantially contained within the trough section and a second position in which the wall section extends substantially vertically from the trough section, wherein the wall section comprises: a flexible barrier membrane having a first portion fixed at or vertically adjacent to the trough section; and one or more float members which co-operate with the flexible barrier membrane such that the flexible barrier membrane is in tension when the wall section is at the second position.

2. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a portion of the flexible S...

**..* barrier membrane is wrapped around an upper surface of the or each float member. S. * . * ***

3. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, including means to inhibit or *:::: 20 prevent movement of the upper surface of the or each float member relative to the second portion of the flexible barrier membrane

4. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the inhibiting or preventing means comprises frictional contact between the upper surface of the or each float member and the second portion of the flexible barrier membrane.

5. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the upper surface of the or each float member is fastened to the second portion of the flexible barrier membrane.

6. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the float member is shaped to allow at least partial wrap around of the flexible barrier membrane when the wall section is at the second position.

7. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trough section includes an inlet to allow the ingress of fluid into the trough section.

8. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trough section includes relief valve means for allowing the egress of fluid when the pressure of fluid within the trough section reaches a predetermined value.

9. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein Preferably the trough section includes a lid member for closing the trough section when the wall *:*::* 15 section is at the first position. * * ***.

10. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the lid member is adapted to provide lateral support when the wall section is at the second position. **** * * *

11. A barrier apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.