GB2236344A

GB2236344A - Anti-flood barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2236344A
Application number: GB8920950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Francis Egan; Keith Michael Righton; Terence Christopher Meehan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-15
Filing date: 1989-09-15
Publication date: 1991-04-03
Also published as: GB8920950D0

Abstract

A device for use in closing openings in buildings comprises a frame for sealing securement around at least a part of the opening (4), a closure member (6) for selective fitment to the frame, and a mechanism for sealing the closure member relative to the frame. The sealing mechanism comprises an expandable element (10) for disposal between the closure member (6) and frame (8) at least around the extent of the frame (8) around the opening (4). The closure member protects the opening against flood, high winds, heavy rain. The closure member may seal pant or whole of the opening. <IMAGE>

Description

Anti-Flood Devices This invention relates to the sealing of openings in buildings for example, to prevent the ingress of water.

The invention has particular application in buildings subject to flood situations, but can also be effective in other adverse ambient conditions such as high winds and/or heavy rain, and storm conditions at sea.

Windows, doors and other openings in stationary or mobile structures are normally selectively closeable.

Some structures however, have permanent openings without a closure system, and the present invention is directed at a device which can supplement an existing closure system or constitute the only closure system available.

According to the invention, a device for closing openings of the kind described above comprises a frame for sealing securement around at least a part of the opening, a closure member for selective fitment to the frame, and a mechanism for sealing the closure member relative to the frame. The sealing mechanism comprises an expandable element for disposal between the closure member and frame at least around the extent of the seal of the frame around the opening. The closure member and frame are adapted to receive the element upon expansion thereof when the closure member is fitted to the frame, to form a seal therebetween. Thus, with the closure member fitted and the element expanded, at least a portion of the opening is securely sealed.

A device of the invention can be used to partially or wholly seal an opening. When used as a protection against flooding, the device may be adapted to fit a door frame, to seal only the lower portion of the opening.

The frame of the device can be fitted around the base and up two sides of the opening, and the expandable element need likewise only extend along the same length of the periphery of the closure member. In some circumstances, the frame of the device may be embodied in the existing frame around the opening, thus obviating the need for a separate assembly.

Where a device according to the invention is to be used to wholly seal an opening, then the expandable element when fitted will complete a closed curve to seal the plate against the frame surrounding the opening.

Typically, in embodiments of the invention the expandable element is an inflatable tube which is expanded into juxtaposed grooves on the closure member and frame when inflated. However, other forms of expandable sealing elements may be used, as of course may other forms of receptors. Normally though, the closure member is adapted to fit within the frame with the expandable element being disposed around the outer periphery of the closure member, for generally outward expansion against the frame. Thus, the expansion of the element is broadly in a substantially common plane.

The closure member itself is normally a quite separate component which is moved into place only when emergency situations arise. However, it could be permanently mounted on a door for example, or indeed it may form the door or part of the door with the expandable element permanently fitted thereto for substantially immediate activation. For most other applications however, the closure member in a device of the invention will be a separate component for installation only when required.

As noted above, the expandable element can be permanently retained on the closure member, although in some embodiments it could be retained on the frame, for example around a window. Typically, the element is retained in a groove, and the groove is preferably partially closed by inwardly directed flanges at the mouth thereof. For example, a typical closure member for use in the invention comprises a pair of substantially parallel plates with means for receiving the expandable element around the periphery thereof. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the closure member comprises a body sandwiched between such plates, the body defining the base of the groove and possibly the sides thereof with the plates extending around the extremities of the body to partially close the groove.

A device according to the invention may also include means for expanding the element, such as a pump or air pressure cylinder with an appropriately associated valve.

Such means can be installed in one of the closure member and frame, normally the closure member, thereby enabling it to be fitted to the frame and activated to expand the element and effect the desired seal with minimum delay.

In sealing buildings as contemplated herein, consideration should also be given to other openings such as vents or air bricks which can be provided to ventilate foundations and other parts of the building structure. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, such other openings can be sealed using a unit comprising a body with an expandable seal mounted on a surface thereof, and means for mounting the body with the surface in juxtaposition with the external face of the building containing the opening. Typically, the mounting means will comprise a hook which extends through the opening and latches at the inner end thereof. Thus, when the seal is expanded, it fills the space between the building and the body, urging the body outward to a limit defined by the hook.The seal can be expanded by inflation, for example using a capsule of compressed gas, or be formed in a material which can be readily activated to expand, such as a plastics form.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a device according to the invention fitted over a door; Figure 2 is a section taken on line Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an enlarged, broken cross section through the closure member of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is an enlarged broken cross section through a frame member.

Figure 1 shows a conventional door 2 hung in a doorframe 4. Overlaying the door 2 is the closure member 6 of a device according to the invention. As shown in Figure 2, the closure member 6 is mounted in a frame 8 formed separately from that which receives the door 2.

Means (not shown) may be provided to locate the closure member on the door in the appropriate position relative to the frame 8. The frame 8 is shown also wholly within the door opening, but it will be appreciated that it could be mounted on the external or internal face of the wall if desired.

Extending around the base and up opposite sides of the closure member 6 is an expandable element 10 which is shown more clearly in Figure 3. The element 10 is an inflatable tube permanently housed in a groove 12 around the periphery of a body 14 sandwiched between parallel plates 16 defining either side of the member 6. Each plate 16 has a peripheral flange 18 which partially closes the groove 12 in the body 14 to retain the element 10 therein. Although not shown, it will be appreciated that the element 10 extends within the groove 12 around the base of the closure member 6, as well as up the sides thereof.

The closure member 6 should be as light as possible depending on the circumstances under which it is to be used, and a suitable construction comprises aluminium plates with a body of styrofoam sandwiched therebetween.

The expandable element can be a rubber or synthetic rubber tube, generally like a bicycle tyre in construction, with a suitable valve fitted for inflation and subsequent deflation as required.

Not only can the expandable element be substantially permanently attached to the closure member 6, but so can a mechanism for expanding the element. If a mechanical element is used, then a suitable linkage can be mounted on the closure member 6, but inflatable elements are preferred. A suitable inflating mechanism such as an air pressure cylinder with an associated valve, can be readily mounted in a closure member 6 of the type illustrated by forming an appropriate recess 20 in the body 14, with access to one of the plates 16.

It is of course important that the frame 8 is securely and sealingly mounted around the respective opening, and a suitable frame member may take the form shown in cross-section in Figure 4. The frame member 22 shown in Figure 4 may be a simple angle cross-section with a groove 24 in the external surface of either limb.

Holes are provided for screws 26 so that either limb may be secured against an appropriate surface surrounding an opening. When the frame is secured, a sealing compound is disposed in the appropriate groove 24 which is compressed as the frame member is secured. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the frame of the device must extend around two substantially right angular corners.

To achieve this, a separate frame member may be used at the base, and the corner itself built up to form a suitable surface against which the expandable element can seal. Where the expandable element is exposed at its ends, as in the embodiment of Figure 1, suitable means will be provided for closing the ends of one or both of the groove 12 and respective frame member 22.

For sealing other openings in a building as discussed above, a similar seal mounting as illustrated in Figure 3 can be used, but with the groove 12 forming an annular recess in a surface of a body facing a vent or air brick in the building structure. A hook extending through one of the air brick openings will hold the body loosely in place until the seal 10 is expanded to lock the body and hook with the seal effectively preventing the ingress of water into the space between the body and the air brick, and thence through the opening.

Claims

1. A device for'use in closing openings in buildings comprising a frame for sealing securement to the building around at least a part of a said opening; a closure member for selective fitment to the frame; and a mechanism for sealing the closure member relative to the frame, which mechanism comprises an expandable element for disposal between the closure member and frame around at least the extent of said sealing securement, complementary means on the closure member and frame for receiving the element upon expansion thereof with the closure member fitted to the frame to form a seal therebetween.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the receiving means comprises grooves on the closure member and frame which grooves move into juxtaposition when the closure member is fitted to the frame.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the expandable element is an inflatable tube.

4. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the closure member is adapted to fit within the frame, the receiving means being disposed around the outer periphery of the closure member and the inner periphery of the frame, whereby expansion of the element with the closure member fitted is in a substantially common plane against the respective receiving means.

5. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the expandable element is retained on one of the closure member and frame.

6. A device according to Claim 5 wherein the element is retained in a continuous groove in the closure member, which groove is partially closed by inwardly directed flanges at the mouth thereof.

7. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the closure member comprises a pair of substantially parallel plates with means for receiving the expandable element around the periphery thereof.

8. A device according to Claim 6 and Claim 7 wherein the closure member comprises a body sandwiched between the plates and defining the base of the groove.

9. A device according to any preceding Claim including means for expanding the element.

10. A device according to Claim 9 wherein the expanding means is housed in closure member, and permanently connected to the expandable element.

11. A device according to Claim 3 and Claim 10 wherein the expanding means comprises an air pressure cylinder.