GB2457463A

GB2457463A - A pivotable barrier apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2457463A
Application number: GB0802639A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Connelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-13
Filing date: 2008-02-13
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Also published as: GB0802639D0

Abstract

A barrier apparatus comprises one or more barriers 10, the or each barrier comprising a wall member 20 having first 22 and second 24 ends, and being pivotably mountable at a location 26 interposing the first and second ends. A first portion 30 of the wall member on one side of the pivot point 26 is pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation 100 to an upwardly extending orientation to provide a barrier. A second portion 32 of the wall member on the opposing side of the pivot point is pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a downwardly extending orientation to cooperate with a stop member to provide supporting means. The first portion of the wall member may be substantially longer and lighter than the second portion of the wall member. The wall member pivots from a dormant horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical flood protection orientation in response to rising flood water.

Description

I

Barrier Apparatus The present invention relates to barrier apparatus. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to flood prevention barriers which can be selectively raised or lowered using the level of flood water.

It is known to provide flood barriers adjacent to bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes or seas, where there is a risk of an increase in water level due to weather conditions. However, permanent walls can be visually obtrusive when the water is at its normal level.

It is also known to provide flood walls which buoyantly rise in response to an increasing level of water. For instance, PCTIGB99IO2I 16 discloses a flood prevention barrier which has a number of connected floating flood walls, each contained within a trough. The trough communicates with the flood water so that the trough fills with water as the level of the water rises beyond a predetermined level. This causes the buoyant flood wall to rise which contains the water and prevents flooding of the area beyond the barrier.

However, installing the trough requires substantial work. Also, such bamers typically require a deep trough section for the wall when it is lowered, which adds to the complexity and cost of installing the barrier. Furthermore, the flood walls are, by necessity, slidingly connected to the trough. This entails that a complicated yet robust sealing system must be used. Also, the side loading on the flood walls from the flood water produces substantial lateral forces and bending moments on the walls which increase the higher the walls rise. This may also interfere with the sliding of the flood walls relative to the trough, or their stability as they rise.

Dynamic or impact loading may also be present, such as from sea waves, and it is desirable that a flood barrier is configured to cope with such loading.

According to the present invention, there is provided a barrier apparatus comprising one or more bafflers, the or each barrier comprising: a wall member having first and second ends, and being pivotably mountable at a location interposing the first and second ends such that a first portion of the wall member on one side of the pivot point is pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation to an upwardly extending orientation to provide a barrier, and such that a second portion of the wall member on the opposing side of the pivot point is pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a downwardly extending orientation to cooperate with a stop member to provide supporting means.

The upwardly extending first portion of the wall member may be vertically or obliquely oriented. The downwardly extending second portion of the wall member may be vertically or obliquely oriented.

The downwardly extending second portion of the wall member may, following a sufficient amount of pivoting, make contact with a base member to provide the supporting means. The downwardly extending second portion of the wall member thus defines a leg member which supports the upwardly extending first portion of the wall member and which is supported by the base member. In such a case, the base member at least partially provides the stop member. The base member may be the ground or a platform member mounted to the ground.

Alternatively or in addition, the downwardly extending second portion of the wall member may, following a sufficient amount of pivoting, make contact with a vertically or obliquely oriented surface of the stop member which prevents further pivoting.

Preferably the first portion of the wall member is substantially longer than the second portion of the wall member. Preferably the first portion of the wall member is substantially lighter than the second portion of the wall member.

Preferably the relative lengths and weighting of the first and second portions of the wall member are arranged such that pivoting of the wall member does not occur during normal conditions.

Preferably the barrier apparatus includes a platform member fixable to the ground and the wall member is pivotally mountable to the platform member.

Preferably the platform member defines a vertical clearance for accommodating the downwardly extending second portion of the wall member.

Preferably the platform member defines a reservoir for containing flood water to assist pivoting of the wall member as the level of flood water rises. Preferably the platform includes one or more inlets to allow flood water to enter the reservoir.

Preferably the wall member is pivotally mountable via a hinge member.

Preferably the hinge member comprises a solid or hollow inner pole inserted within a hollow outer pole, the outer pole having a plurality of slots to accommodate flanges which are fixedly attached to the inner pole, such as by welding. The hinge member provides a robust pivoting support for the wall member. The flanges may be fixedly attached to the platform member, such as by welding.

The stop member may comprise an elastic material for absorbing dynamic or impact loading imparted to the wall member.

One or both of the stop member and the downwardly extending portion of the wall member may include a catch member for maintaining the wall member at the pivoted position.

The wall member may comprise any structural material such as wood, steel or concrete. Preferably the wall member comprises a buoyant material such as rigid StyrofoamTM.

The wall member may comprise a hollow casing and a buoyant secondary wall member provided within the casing. The casing may include one or more inlets on one side of the casing to allow flood water to enter the casing and cause the secondary wall member to rise and thus partially extend upwards from the casing. The secondary wall member extends the overall height of the barrier apparatus.

Preferably the barrier apparatus includes one or more seats. Preferably a first seal is provided at the hinge member. Preferably a first end of the first seal is fixed to the wall member and a second end of the first seal is fixed to the platform member. Preferably a second seal is provided between adjacent barriers.

Preferably, the barrier apparatus provides a barrier against rising flood water.

Alternatively, the barrier apparatus may provide a barrier against other hazards such as fire, landslide, avalanche or the like. Actuation means may be provided to pivot the wall member such that the watt member provides the barrier. The actuation means may be mechanical, hydraulic or electrical or a combination.

The actuation means may be manually operable. Alternatively or in addition, the barrier apparatus may include one or more sensors. The actuation means may be operable in response to the signal from the or each sensor.

The barrier apparatus may be substantially linear. Alternatively, the barrier apparatus may form a continuous boundary so as to provide a container for substances within the boundary when the wall section provides the barrier. The substances may be solid, liquid or gas. The substances may be hazardous.

The barrier apparatus may provide protection from invasion or attack. The wall member may be formed from a material which is resistant to attacks or impacts, such as a bullet-proof material. The wall member may be formed from a Keviar material. Alternatively, the apparatus may be located at homes or business premises to prevent intruders from entering these buildings.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a barrier apparatus with the wall shown in a pivoted position, and with the wall shown in its normal or non-pivoted position in dotted lines; Figure 2 is an underside plan view of the wall of the barrier apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detailed portional view of the seal between the wall and the platform of the barrier apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a detailed portional view of the seal between two adjacent barriers.

Figure 1 shows a barrier apparatus which comprises a number of barriers 10.

These barriers 10 are connected together to form a long barrier apparatus.

However, except for Figure 4, only one barrier 10 is shown in the figures.

Each barrier 10 includes a wall 20 which has a first 22 and second end 24. The wall 10 is pivotably mountable at a pivot location 26 interposing the first and second ends. Therefore, a first portion 30 of the wall 20 on one side of the pivot point 26 pivots from the horizontal orientation 100 shown in dotted line to an upwardly extending orientation to provide the banier. Also, a second portion 32 of the wall 20 on the opposing side of the pivot point 26 pivots from the horizontal orientation 100 to a downwardly extending orientation.

The first portion 30 of the wall 20 is substantially longer than the second portion 32. Also, the first portion 30 includes a light buoyant material such as a foam.

The second portion 32 includes a heavy material, and may include additional weighting. However, the relative lengths and weighting of the first and second portions are arranged such that pivoting of the wall 20 will not occur during normal conditions.

It is not necessary for the fully pivoted walt 20 to be vertical. Figure 1 shows the wall 20 as being obliquely oriented.

The barrier apparatus also includes a platform 40 which is fixed to the ground 110. The wall 20 is pivotatly mounted to the platform 40. The platform 40 raises the pivot point 26 from the ground. The platform 40 also defines a vertical clearance to accommodate the downwardly extending second portion 32 of the wall 20 when it has been pivoted.

The platform 40 also defines a reservoir 42 for containing flood water 120. This assists in pivoting of the wall 20 as the level of flood water 120 rises. A number of inlets 44 at one reservoir wall 46 allow the flood water 120 to enter the reservoir 42.

The wall 20 is pivotally mounted to the platform 40 using a hinge 50. This is formed from a hollow inner pole inserted within a hollow outer pole which is welded to the wall 20. The outer pole has a number of slots to accommodate flanges which are welded to the inner pole, and these flanges are welded to the platform 40.

During normal conditions, the wall 20 is substantially horizontal with the free end contacting a rest 48. It is visually unobtrusive and even provides a walkway and decking 26 is provided on its upper surface. During flooding conditions, the rising flood water 120 will cause the waIt 20 to pivot, assisted by the relative lengths and weightings of the first and second portions of the wall 20 and the location of the pivot point 26.

As the wall 20 pivots, the first portion 30 of the wall 20 will become increasingly upwardly extending and will thus provide a barrier to the flood water 120. The second portion 32 of the wall 20 will become increasingly downwardly extending.

Following a sufficient amount of pivoting, the second portion 32 will make contact with a stop 60 provided at the platform 40 which prevents further pivoting. This stop 60 has an obliquely oriented contact surface but this surface may be vertical. Therefore, the second portion 32 cooperates with the stop 60 to provide Supporting means.

Via the pivot point 26 and stop 60, the robust plafform 40 is effectively supporting the wall 20 as it receives substantial lateral loads and moments imparted by the flood water 120. This represents robust supporting means.

In addition, the downwardly extending second portion 32 of the wall 20 may be arranged to make contact with the ground 110 as it contacts the stop 60. The second portion 32 then defines a leg which supports the first portion 30 of the wall 20 and which is supported by the ground.

The flood water 120 may impart dynamic or impact loading. The stop member includes an elastic material at the contact surface for absorbing this dynamic or impact loading.

If desired, the stop 60 and second portion 32 can include a catch (not shown) for maintaining the waIl 20 at the pivoted position.

The wall 20 can include a hollow casing or frame 28 and a buoyant secondary wall member 29 provided within the casing 28. The casing 28 can include inlets on the side of the casing facing the flood water to allow flood water 120 to enter the casing 28 and cause the secondary wall member 29 to rise and extend upwards from the casing 28. This secondary wall member 29 extends the overall height of the barrier apparatus. However, the secondary wall member 29 does not have to resist all of the loading from the flood water 120. Also, the secondary wall 29 is supported at a greater height (the top portion of the casing 28) and so the side loading and moments generated by the flood water 120 on the secondary wall member 29 are less.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a first seal 70 is provided at the hinge 50 with one end of the first seal 70 fixed to the wall 20 and a second end of the first seal fixed to the platform 40. As shown in Figure 4, a second seal 72 is provided between the walls of adjacent barriers 10.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A barrier apparatus comprising one or more barriers, the or each barrier comprising: a wall member having first and second ends, and being pivotably mountable at a location interposing the first and second ends such that a first portion of the wall member on one side of the pivot point is pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation to an upwardly extending orientation to provide a barrier, and such that a second portion of the wall member on the opposing side of the pivot point is pivotable from a substantially horizontal orientation to a downwardly extending orientation to cooperate with a stop member to provide supporting means.
2. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the upwardly extending first portion of the wall member is vertically or obliquely oriented.
3. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim I or 2, wherein the downwardly extending second portion of the wall member is vertically or obliquely oriented.
4. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the downwardly extending second portion of the wall member, following a sufficient amount of pivoting, makes contact with a base member to provide the supporting means.
5. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the base member at least partially provides the stop member.
6. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the base member comprises the ground or a platform member mounted to the ground.
7. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the downwardly extending second portion of the wall member, following a sufficient amount of pivoting, makes contact with a surface of the stop member which prevents further pivoting.
8. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first portion of the wall member is substantially longer than the second portion of the wall member.
9. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first portion of the wall member is substantially lighter than the second portion of the wall member.
10. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the relative lengths and weighting of the first and second portions of the wall member are arranged such that pivoting of the wall member does not occur during normal conditions.
11. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including a platform member fixable to the ground and wherein the wall member is pivotally mountable to the platform member.
12. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the platform member defines a vertical clearance for accommodating the downwardly extending second portion of the wall member.
13. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein the platform member defines a reservoir for containing flood water to assist pivoting of the wall member as the level of flood water rises.
14. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wall member is pivotally mountable via a hinge member comprising a solid or hollow inner pole inserted within a hollow outer pole, the outer pole having a plurality of slots to accommodate flanges which are fixedly attached to the inner pole.
15. A bamer apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the stop member comprises an elastic material for absorbing dynamic or impact loading imparted to the wall member.
16. A bamer apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including a catch member for maintaining the wall member at the pivoted position.
17. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wall member comprises a hollow casing and a buoyant secondary wall member provided within the casing.
18. A barrier apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the casing includes one or more inlets on one side of the casing to allow flood water to enter the casing and cause the secondary wall member to rise and thus partially extend upwards from the casing.
19. A barrier apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a first seal is provided at the hinge member, and wherein a first end of the first seal is fixed to the wall member and a second end of the first seal is fixed to the platform member.