GB2359846A

GB2359846A - Flood barrier for fitting to buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2359846A
Application number: GB0104426A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Georg Buck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-22
Filing date: 2001-02-22
Publication date: 2001-09-05
Also published as: GB0104449D0; ITBZ20010003U1; ES1048429U; ES1048429Y; GB0104152D0; FR2806123A3; DE20003159U1; GB0104426D0; GB2360813A

Description

2359846 1 Apparatus for the flood protection of buildings The present

invention relates to an apparatus for the flood protection of buildings. Numerous buildings in coastal towns or in the vicinity of lakes or rivers stand in flood endangered areas, in which flooding occurs repeatedly. In recent years, due to the climate, the incidence of flood disasters has increased, which cause not merely significant material damage. Some buildings in particularly endangered locations are seriously threatened by flooding several times per year. In most flood disasters, buildings in the area of flooding are, however, not completely flooded, but rather the water rises mostly only to the height of the ground floor or at worst to the height of the f irst f loor of the building. When the doors and windows are not constructed to be watertight, the f lood water enters through the doors and windows, which lie below water level, into the buildings. As a result of the entering water, the buildings are uninhabitable, and the inhabitants must be evacuated. That is very dif f icult and expensive. Further, due to the entering water, and the contamination carried with the water, furniture, fittings, electrical equipment and the entire interior of the building is destroyed, so that after the high water level as fallen, significant renovation efforts are necessary. That is likewise demanding in terms of time and is expensive.

The object of the present invention is thus to make available an economic and simple apparatus which makes it possible to protect the interior of buildings from the entry of flood waters. The apparatus is further intended to be simply and rapidly mountable and dis- mountable, and simple to store.

The above object is achieved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated, without the invention being restricted thereto, in the subclaims and in the following description, which is

2 accompanied by schematic drawings. Here, there is shown:

Figure 1 a schematic illustration of a building; Figures 2a and b a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 an enlarged illustration of the area B of Figures 2a and b in mounted condition, and a section through the line A-A of Figures 2a and b; Figures 4a and Sa a second embodiment of the present invention; is Figures 4b and 5b a section through the line A-A of Figure 4a or Sa; Figures 4c and Sc a modification of the embodiment of Figures 4b and 5b; Figure 6a an enlarged illustration of the area B in Figure 4a, b and 5a, b in mounted condition, and a section through the line AA of Figures 4a and Sa; Figure 6b a modification of the embodiment of the invention of Figure 6a; Figure 7a a further embodiment of the present invention; Figures 71o and c a section through the line C-C or D-D of Figure 7a; Figure 8a a further modification of the present invention; Figure 8b, a section through the line AA of Figure 8a during 3 the mounting; Figures 9a and 9b a further embodiment of the present invention.

is The basic concept of the present invention is to make available an apparatus for the flood protection of buildings which is formed in substance in two parts, and which consists of a watertight mountable and dis-mountable partition, and further of means for the temporary attachment of the partition externally to a building, so that an opening of a building is closed in a watertight manner by the partition attached to the building. The means for the temporary mounting of the partition include a first means for the attachment, which is arranged in the region of the opening of the building and which is connected fixedly and in a watertight manner with the building, and further a second means for the attachment which is connected with the partition in a watertight manner, the first and second means for the attachment being formed so as to be connectable with one another in a watertight manner.

For clarification of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a building 1 having a building wall 10, a window 11 and a door 11A and a roof, standing on ground 14.

Figures 2a and 2a show the window 11 in the building wall 10 with a first embodiment of a floodwater protection apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention, which in substance is formed in two parts. The apparatus 2 consists of a partition 5 which is mountable in a watertight manner and is dismountable, which is shown in Figure 2b, and further includes means 3, 4 for temporary attachment of the partition 5 externally on the wall 10 of a building 1. Thereby, first means 3 are arranged in the vicinity of the window 11 on the wall 10 and fixedly connected with the wall 10, and second 4 means 4 f or the temporary attachment are arranged on the partition 5 in correspondence with the arrangement of the first means on the building wall 10.

Figure 3 shows in an enlarged illustration a section through the apparatus 2 along the line A-A of Figure 2a and b in a mounted condition. With this embodiment of the present invention, the partition 5 is of a wood, plastics or metal plate; the first means for the attachment 3 are formed of watertight sleeves 33 let into the wall 10 with nuts 32 anchored in them, and the second means for the attachment 4 are formed of suitable bolts 42 arranged in the partition 5. The partition 5 can now be brought into a suitable position so that the bolts 42 can be turned in the nuts 32, whereby is the partition 5 is so arranged on the wall 10 that it covers the window 11. On the partition 5 there is further arranged, on the side towards the building wall, an elastic watertight layer D1. By means of suitable tightening of the bolts 42, the elastic layer Di is brought into pressure contact both with the partition 5 and also with the building wall 10, whereby the window 11 is closed externally in a watertight manner. The present embodiment of the present invention is particularly suitable for windows and doors which do not have projecting wall parts or window ledges and which have an even plastered or finished wall surrounding the window 11 or the door 11A.

Figures 4a, b and c and Figures 5a, b and c show a further embodiment of a flood water protection apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention, having a partition 5 and first 3 and second 4 means for temporary attachment of the partition externally on a building 1. The first means for the temporary attachment 3 consist of a closed frame 31 which is arranged on the wall 10 of a building 1, and which is let into the wall 10 in a suitable manner. The frame 31 is advantageously formed so as to be closed and arranged around the opening for example of a window 11. As illustrated in Figure 4b and c, the frame 31 may be a recess in the wall 10, or a projection in the wall 10. The apparatus 2 consists further of a partition 5 illustrated in Figure 5a, on which there is arranged in a watertight manner a frame 41 formed to correspond with the frame 31. The frame 41 is thus so formed that it makes available projections which correspond with the recesses of the frame 31 or makes available recesses which correspond with the projections of the frame 31. The two frames 31, 41 are connected with one another in a manner similar to that of the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 and will be described below with reference 6a and b.

is Figure 6a shows a enlarged illustration of the partition 5 with the frames 31 and 41 of Figures 4 and 5 in a mounted condition, in -a sectional illustration along the line A-A of Figures 4a and Sa. A first frame 31 is let into a recess of a building wall 10 in the vicinity f or example of a window 11, and consists of a metal frame 31 having a section of a suitable U-shaped form. In the metal frame 31 there is further arranged an elastic seal D1. Further, on the rear side of the frame 31 there are arranged a plurality of nuts 32 in watertight sleeves 33 which sit in deeper recesses in the wall 10. Frame 31 and sleeve 33 are connected with the door 10 in a watertight manner. A frame 41 corresponding with the metal f rame 31, is arranged on the partition 5 and connected with the partition 5 in a watertight manner. The frame 41 may be, as illustrated in the drawing of Figure 6a, formed in a solid manner, or likewise have a U-shaped crosssection, whereby in this case likewise a seal D1 is arranged in the f rame 41 in a suitable manner. In the frame 41 and the partition 5 there are arranged bolts 42 in an arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of the nuts 32 on the frame 31, whereby between the heads of the bolts 42 and the partition 5 suitable sealing rings R, D2 may be provided. The frames 31 and 41 are advantageously of metal, and the partition 5 may in a suitable manner be a wood, metal or plastics plate.

6 The apparatus 2 of Figure 6a makes it possible, as with the device 2 of Figures 2 and 3, to connect the partition 5 in a watertight manner with the building wall 10, in a simple manner, in that the bolts 42 are screwed into the nuts 32 on the frame 31 towards the wall and the seal D1 is brought into watertight pressure contact with the frame 31 towards the wall and the frame 41 towards the partition. By means of release of the bolts, the apparatus 2 can be removed from the building wall in a likewise simple manner.

Figure 6b shows a further embodiment of the present invention, a modification of the embodiment of Figure 6a, having the partition 5, a frame 41 towards the partition, and a frame 31 towards the building wall. The frame 31 towards the building wall is likewise advantageously let into a recess formed in the building wall 10 and likewise has a Ushaped cross-section, so that likewise a recess is formed in the frame 31, in which a first seal D1A is arranged. The frame 31 carries on the rear side likewise a nut 32 for receiving a bolt 42 arranged in the partition 5, whereby in contrast to the nut of Figure 6a the nut 32 is arranged in a second recess laterally outwardly offset with regard to the first recess, which is large enough that the bolt 42 can be screwed into the nut 32. The second recess is likewise equipped in suitable manner with a watertight sleeve 33. On the partition 5 there is arranged in correspondence with the frame 31 towards the wall, a frame 41 having an Lshaped cross-section which is connected with the partition 5 in a watertight manner. The frame 41 is so arranged on the partition 5 that a projection of the L-shaped cross-section corresponds with the U-shaped recess of the frame 31 towards the wall. The section of the frame 41 towards the wall further carries a second seal D1B on its surface towards the frame 31.

The partition 5 of the apparatus 2 of Figure 6b can be mounted and dismounted in a likewise simple manner as the 7 partition 5 of Figures 2, 3 and 6a. The bolts 42 arranged on the frame 41 and the partition 5 are screwed into the nuts 32 on the frame 31 towards the wall, so that the seals D1A and D1B come into pressure contact with the frames 31 and 41 and the partition 5 is connected in a watertight manner with the building wall 10, or is released from the nuts. Advantageously there are further arranged between bolt head 42 and partition 5 further seals D2 and R.

The embodiments of the present invention described with reference to Figures 2 to 6 are particularly suitable for protecting from flood water windows 11 not having window ledges, and the embodiments described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 can be employed advantageously with walls 10 which are finished or plastered in any manner.

The described embodiments can likewise, as shown in Figure 7a, be employed for closing an opening of a door 11A of a building 1, which opening/door is proximate to the ground, in a watertight manner. For this, however, it is mostly further necessary that in the region of the door foot a suitable space 3B is created in the ground 14 which makes it possible to arrange the frame 31 towards the wall, or the nuts 42 in the sleeves 33, around a door 11A, in order also to connect the partition with the building wall 10 towards the ground. When the partition is dismounted such a space 3B formed in the ground 14 is covered over in suitable manner by means of a suitable cover 3D. Figure 7a shows such a door 11a, closed to the ground, with a frame 31 towards the wall.

Figure 7b and c show sections to the f rame 31 of Figure 7a along the lines C-C and D-D of Figure 7a. The frame 41 of Figures 7a, b and c may be formed for example U-shaped, as in the case of the above described f rames of Figures Ga, so that the frame 3 is closed, whereby the U-shaped recesses or projections are arranged perpendicularly to the wall 10 and to the partition 5.

8 is The section of the frame 31 towards the ground can, however, also advantageously be formed parallel to the building wall 10 and the partition 5. In this case a section of the frame 41 towards the partition, corresponding with the frame 31 towards the wall or ground (not shown in the drawings) is formed with a projecting section towards the floor parallel to the partition 5.

Figures 8a, and b show a modification of the present invention with which suitable clamping devices K arranged on the wall 10 are so arranged on the f rame 31 towards the wall that the partition 5 is connected with the building wall 10 in a watertight manner, in that a pivot arm of the clamping device K is brought into a suitable position above the partition 5, so that a seal between the partition 5 and the building wall 10 is brought into pressure contact to between partition and building wall. By these means there is made possible a particularly simple mounting and dismounting of the protection apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention, even without the need f or tools.

Figures 9a and b show a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, in which the partition 5 is of a plastics sheet 5 connected in a watertight manner with a frame 41, whereby the plastics sheet 5 has a surface which is greater than the frame 41, and the plastics sheet 5 is connected with the frame 41 in the manner of a sail cloth. With this arrangement it is possible in an advantageous manner, in combination with a frame 31 arranged towards the building wall around an opening of a building 1, to protect from flood water also openings of a building which have in their vicinity elements projecting from the building wall 10. The frame 31 and the frame 41 can also close openings of a building which have such elements, such as for example window ledges. In that the surface of the sail-like plastic sheet 5 connected with the frame 41 is greater than the f lat surface and closed by the frame 41, the sheet can also cover 9 over projecting elements and in closed them in the space between building wall 10, building opening 11, 11A and frame 31, 41. In the case of rising water, the sheet 5 then matches to the contour of the building surface which the frames 3, 4 enclose, whereby in each case only slight lateral pressure, solely due to rising and not flowing water, acts upon the substantially vertically arranged surface. Thus, the sheet 5 can be formed to be sufficiently large and thin. It is clear that the sheet may also be of elastic material.

The present invention makes it possible in a particular simple and effective manner to protect the interior of buildings from flood water and thereby to provide protection from damage and costs arising therefrom. As mentioned above, is it can be mounted and dismounted in a simple manner, is furthermore is storable for example in garages or gardens without a special storage room being necessary therefor.

Claims

C L A I M S is 1. Apparatus (2) for protecting buildings from flood water,

characterized by: the apparatus (2) is formed substantially in two parts; the apparatus (2) is of a partition (5) which can be mounted in a watertight manner and dis-mounted, and a f irst (3) and a second (4) means for the temporary attachment of the partition (5) externally on a building (1), the partition (5) and the means (3, 4) for its temporary attachment are so formed that with the partition (5) attached to the building (1) an opening (11, 11A) of the building (1) is closed in a watertight manner.
2. Apparatus (2) according to claim 1, characterized by: the apparatus is so formed that a window (11) or a door (11M can be closed in a watertight manner externally by means of the partition (5).
3. Apparatus (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by: the means for the attachment (3, 4) includes the first means for the attachment (3) which is arranged in the vicinity of the opening (11, lIA) of the building (1) and is connected with the building (1) in a f ixed and watertight manner, and the means f or the attachment (3, 4) include the second means for attachment (4) which is connected with the partition (5) in a watertight manner.
4. Apparatus (2) according to claim 3, characterized by: the first means for the attachment (3) and the second means f or the attachment (4) are f ormed so as to be connectable with one another in a watertight manner.

11
5. Apparatus (2) according to claim 4, characterized by: the first means (3) include a plurality of nuts (32) arranged in watertight sleeves (33) in a building wall (10) ' and the second means (4) include bolts corresponding with the first means (3), which bolts are formed in suitable holes in the partition (5), and there is arranged between partition (5) and building wall (10) at least one seal (D1, DiA, D1B).
6. Apparatus (2) according to claim 5, characterized by:

the first means (3) for the attachment includes a a) first solid frame (31) or a b) a frame (31) having an L-shaped cross-section or c) a first frame (31) having a U-shaped cross- is section; in which the second means (4) for the attachment include a second frame (4, 41) formed to correspond with the first frame (3, 31), the second frame having in each case a) a U-shaped cross-section or b) a U-shaped cross-section or c) a U-shaped cross-section or a solid frame (4), there being arranged on the frames (31, 41) at least one seal (D1, D1A, D1B).
7. Apparatus (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by: the first and second frame (31, 41) are formed to be closed and to be larger than the opening (IIA, 11) in the building (1).
8. Apparatus (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by: the frames (31, 41) are so formed that they have a Ushaped or L-shaped cross-section, which is arranged perpendicularly to the building wall (1) or the 12 partition (5).
Apparatus (2) according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized by: the frames (31, 41) are so formed that they have a Ushaped or L-shaped crosssection, which is arranged for the most part perpendicularly and towards the ground parallel to the building wall (10) or the partition (5).
10. Apparatus (2) according to any preceding claim, characterized by: the partition (5) is of wood, plastics or metal; the means for the attachment (3, 4) and the frames (31, 41) are of metal.
11. Apparatus (2) according to any of preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized by:

the partition (5) is of a non-water penetrable plastic sheet (5) having a surface which is greater than the surface which the frames (31, 41) and closed and the partition (5) is connected with the frame (41) in a watertight manner in the manner of a sail cloth.
12. Apparatus for protecting buildings from flood water substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.