GB2283267A

GB2283267A - Movable barriers

Info

Publication number: GB2283267A
Application number: GB9421753A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip David Johnston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-10-30
Filing date: 1994-10-28
Publication date: 1995-05-03
Also published as: GB9421753D0

Abstract

A movable barrier arrangement 10 for controlling the flow of sewage in a sewer, has a flexible barrier member 12 selectively movable to extend across part or all of the sewer and thereby effect the said control. The barrier member 12 comprises a reinforced elongate sheet, which in use is controllably wound onto and off a storage drum 14 located in the ground generally beneath the sewer. The barrier member 12 extends from the storage drum 14, through the base 26 of a frame member 22 into the sewer, to sealingly run in side frame members 24. A motor 36 is connected to the drum 14 to effect rotation thereof according to signals received from control means C which continually monitors the depth and/or flow rate of sewage on one side of the sewer and sends signals to the motor 36 to rotate the drum 14 to move the barrier member 12 appropriately, to control the flow of sewage over the barrier member 12. <IMAGE>

Description

Movable Barriers The present invention relates to movable barriers, and particularly but not exclusively to movable barriers for use in sewers.

Sewage treatment works are often capable of only accepting amounts of sewage up to a certain maximum, above which the works often become overloaded or inoperable. Often the normal sewage flow is greatly increased by storm water and the like which is often channelled into the sewer system.

It is therefore desirable to control the rate of sewage input to treatment works. One way of trying to achieve control is to provide a permanent barrier in the sewer system which has one or more holes therein to let predetermined volumes of water therethrouqh. Such barriers are prone to blockage by solids in the sewage, and moreover often cause a build up of solids in the sewers which require manual removal.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a barrier arrangement for restraining or restricting the flow of a liquid, the arrangement comprising a flexible barrier member selectively movable to extend across part or all of a space through which the liquid is movable.

Preferably the arrangement comprises storage means to store a part or substantially all of the flexible barrier member when said part or all of the member does not extend across said space. Preferably the storage means is located beneath said space such that the flexible barrier member moves in an upward direction to extend across the space.

Preferably the storage means extends downwardly to a lesser extent than the maximum upward movement of the flexible barrier member. The storage means may be arranged to store the flexible barrier member in a rolled and/or collapsed condition. Preferably the storage means comprises a former member around which the flexible barrier member is rolled for storage. One end of the barrier member may be attached to the former member. The former member may be a drum.

Preferably a frame is provided which can extend around the space to guide the flexible barrier member as it moves across the space. The frame may comprise two guide members which extend substantially vertically up the sides of the space, and which locate and guide opposite edges of the barrier member.

Each guide member may comprise a slot in which one of said edges locates and along which the edge is movable. One or more seals may be provided in the slots to seal against the flexible barrier member whilst permitting said movement. The or each seal may comprise rubber, plastics material or stainless steel.

The frame may further comprise a base member which extends between said guide members. The base member may comprise a slot through which the flexible barrier member extends. One or more seals may be provided along the slot to substantially prevent the storage means being contaminated with liquid through said slot.

Preferably means is provided to move said flexible barrier member. The moving means may comprise a motor connected to move the storage means and thereby the barrier member. The motor may be connected to rotate the former member. The motor may be connected to the storage means by a drive shaft.

The drive shaft may extend down one guide member.

Alternatively a drive shaft may extend down each guide member engageable with each end of the former member.

Preferably control means is provided to monitor a parameter and control movement of the flexible barrier member according to variations in the parameter.

Preferably the control means is operable to monitor the level and/or flow rate of liquid on one side of the barrier member and to control the barrier moving means to position the barrier member such that a required flow of liquid can pass thereby. Preferably the barrier member is positioned such that liquid passes thereover.

The barrier member may comprise a notch in its upper end. The notch may be triangular and is preferably located centrally on the barrier member.

Preferably the barrier member is made of plastics material and/or rubber. Strengthening members, such as metal strips or rods may be provided in the barrier member. The strengthening members preferably extend across substantially the whole width of the barrier member.

The invention also provides a barrier arrangement for controlling the flow of sewage to a sewage treatment station, the arrangement being according to any of the preceding eleven paragraphs.

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 diagrammatic perspective view of a barrier arrangement according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the arrangement of Fig. 1 located in a sewer for use.

Referring to the drawings there is provided a barrier arrangement 10 for controlling the flow of sewage in a sewer, the arrangement 10 comprising a movable, flexible barrier member 12 selectively movable to extend across part or all of the sewer.

In more detail, the barrier member 12 comprises a elongate sheet of rubber or plastics material.

Reinforcing rods 18 extend laterally through the barrier member 12. A triangular notch 20 is formed centrally in the upper edge (in use) of the barrier member.

The barrier arrangement 10 further comprises a frame 22 comprising two box-section side members 24 and a box-section base member 26 joining the side members 24 such that the frame 22 has a generally U-shaped configuration.

A slot 28 is provided down the inward face 32 of each member 24. A seal 30 extends along each edge of the slots 28. The seals 30 are of rubber or any other suitable material, and provide a seal against the barrier member 12 whilst permitting said movement.

Further slots 34a,34b are formed in the upper and lower faces 26a,26b respectively of the base member 26.

The upper slot 26a communicates with both slots 28.

Seals 35 are provided on the upper slot 26a to prevent liquid from seeping past the barrier member 12 as it extends through the base member 26 as will be hereinafter described.

A drive assembly 16 is provided to move the barrier member 12. The drive assembly 16 comprises an electric motor 36 located above a one of said side members 24, and a drive shaft 38 extending from the motor 36 down through said side member 24 and the base member 26, to terminate at a bevel gear 40. The gear 40 engages with a corresponding bevel gear 42 attached to one end of a drive shaft 44 of storage means 14.

The storage means 14 is provided to store the part of the base member 12 not extending across the sewer.

The storage means comprises a drum around which the barrier member 12 can be wound for storage. One end 46 of the barrier member 12 is attached to the drum 14 to prevent separation of the barrier member 12 and the drum 14 when the barrier member 12 is fully unwound.

Clips 48 may be provided which are slideably movable along the drive shaft and which can hold the edge of the barrier member 12 to the drive shaft to help guide the barrier member 12 during movement.

Fig. 2 shows the arrangement 10 in position in a sewer P defined in part by two opposing walls W1,W2 and the ground G. The base 26 extends between the walls W1,W2 at ground level, and the guide members 24 extend from the base 26 up the walls W1,W2. The side members 24 seal against the respective walls W1,W2.

The storage means 14 is located in a recess 50 formed in the ground G. The depth of the recess 50 is considerably less than the maximum height of the barrier member 12 above the ground G, since the barrier member 12 is stored wound around the drum 14. This therefore obviates the need for a deep recess to be formed in the ground which could be expensive to produce.

In use, the barrier arrangement 10 is operable to control the amount of sewage passing from one side thereof to the other, thereby permitting control of the amount of sewage allowed into a sewage treatment works.

The control means shown diagrammatically at C in Fig. 1, monitors the depth and/or flow rate of sewage on the upstream side of the barrier arrangement 10. The control means determines the operation of the motor 36 and hence the movement of the barrier member 12. For instance, when the sewage level L is rising, and the flow rate is increasing, for instance when storm water has entered the sewer system, then the control means C will detect this and cause the motor 36 to rotate the drum 14 in an anticlockwise direction (Fig. 1) and thereby unroll and thus raise the barrier member 12 such that the upper edge of the barrier member 12 which comprises the notch 20 is positioned at an appropriate height to ensure only a predetermined amount of sewage passes over the member 12.

The notch 20 acts to reduce inaccuracies in control due to any misalignment of the barrier member 12 in the frame, and also facilitates the passage of floating solids in the sewer to pass over the member 12 without blocking the arrangement 10.

In the present example, the barrier member 12 is raised and lowered by rotation of the drum 14 as described. When the barrier 10 is to be lowered, the motor 36 rotates the drum 14 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) to thereby wrap and store the barrier 10 therearound. It is to be appreciated that the barrier member 12 can be moved by any suitable means such as a threaded mechanism.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, the drive assembly 16 may comprise two or more motors or have any other suitable configuration. The frame 12 may be of any suitable configuration. The storage means may be so formed to store the flexible barrier member in other than a rolled condition, such as a concertined condition.

The embodiment described is suitable for use in sub-surface sewers, but it will be appreciated that the invention could be used in any other appropriate environment, for example a surface water sewer.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A barrier arrangement for restraining or restricting the flow of a liquid, the arrangement comprising a flexible barrier member selectively movable to extend across part or all of a space through which the liquid is movable.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which the arrangement comprises storage means to store a part or substantially all of the flexible barrier member when said part or all of the member does not extend across said space.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, in which the storage means is located beneath said space such that the flexible barrier member moves in an upward direction to extend across the space.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, in which the storage means extends downwardly to a lesser extent than the maximum upward movement of the flexible barrier member.

5. An arrangement according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the storage means is arranged to store the flexible barrier member in a collapsed condition.

6. An arrangement according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which the storage means is arranged to store the flexible barrier member in a rolled condition.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which the storage means comprises a former member around which the flexible barrier member is rolled for storage.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, in which one end of the barrier member is attached to the former member.

9. An arrangement according to claim 7 or claim 8, in which the former member is a drum.

10. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which a frame is provided which extends around the space to guide the flexible barrier member as it moves across the space.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, in which the frame comprises two guide members which extend substantially vertically up the sides of the space, and which locate and guide opposite edges of the barrier member.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, in which each guide member comprises a slot in which one of said edges locates and along which the edge is movable.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, in which one or more seals is provided in the slots to seal against the flexible barrier member whilst permitting said movement.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, in which the or each seal comprises rubber, plastics material or stainless steel.

15. An arrangement according to any of claims 10 to 14, in which the frame further comprises a base member which extends between said guide members.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15, in which the base member comprises a slot through which the flexible barrier member extends.

17. An arrangement according to claim 16, in which one or more seals is provided along the slot to substantially prevent the storage means being contaminated with liquid through said slot.

18. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which means is provided to move said flexible barrier member.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18, in which the moving means comprises a motor connected to move the storage means and thereby the barrier member.

20. An arrangement according to claim 19, in which the motor is connected to rotate the former member.

21. An arrangement according to claim 19 or claim 20, in which the motor is connected to the storage means by a drive shaft.

22. An arrangement according to claim 21, in which the drive shaft extends down one guide member.

23. An arrangement according to claim 21, in which a drive shaft extends down each guide member engageable with each end of the former member.

24. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which control means is provided to monitor a parameter and control movement of the flexible barrier member according to variations in the parameter.

25. An arrangement according to claim 24, in which the control means is operable to monitor the level of liquid on one side of the barrier member and to control the barrier moving means to position the barrier member such that a required flow of liquid can pass thereby.

26. An arrangement according to claim 24 or claim 25, in which the control means is operable to monitor the flow rate of liquid on one side of the barrier member and to control the barrier moving means to position the barrier member such that a required flow of liquid can pass thereby.

27. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which the barrier member is positioned such that liquid passes thereover.

28. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which the barrier member comprises a notch in its upper end.

29. An arrangement according to claim 28, in which the notch is triangular.

30. An arrangement according to claim 28 or claim 29, in which the notch is located centrally on the barrier member.

31. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which the barrier member is made of plastics material and/or rubber.

32. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which strengthening members, such as metal strips or rods are provided in the barrier member.

33. An arrangement according to claim 32, in which the strengthening members extend across substantially the whole width of the barrier member.

34. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, for controlling the flow of sewage to a sewage treatment station.

35. A barrier arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

36. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.