GB2365475A

GB2365475A - Flood protection barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2365475A
Application number: GB0010741A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Gillespie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-05
Filing date: 2000-05-05
Publication date: 2002-02-20
Also published as: GB0010741D0

Abstract

A panelled horizontally adjustable barrier has a soft pliable seal along the base and vertical edges of the panels. The barrier may have a second panel inner panel that moves horizontally along a ratchet track and there may be a stabilizing screw fixed to each panel, on the same face but opposing edges, the screw extending horizontally. The inner panel may have a seal running vertically, parallel to the inside vertical edge and making contact with the inside face of the outer panel.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> LNTRODUC Today there seems to be more and more reports of local flooding not just around the country but around the world. This has been put down to global warming and many areas have been warned to expect more floods as a more regular events. People are now experiencing more disruption, expense and heart arche due to flood damage to homes and business properties. Just a couple of feet of water can prove disastrous not only in terms of damage coursed by the water to the internal structure of the building but also the property that is kept within that building. In business terms Flood damage can cost a company more than just repair bills but more importantly lost revenue and ultimately closure of the business. Conventional flood defence of property relies on the sandbag which can be quite effective, but they are heavy, cumbersome, not easily stored as they are bulky and it takes quite a time to build an effective barrier consistent of several loads of sandbags. Most of the water entering a building gets access via the external doors and air bricks. If these two main areas can be easily , quickly and effectively sealed then damage to the property can be greatly reduced. The simple solution is for a slimline , lightweight easily installed panel to be placed across the openings that seals itself to the masonry of the building providing, in conjunction with the external walls an effective water dam. In an ideal world all door openings between the masonry would be the same width (why the masonry ? Because the water seeps around the door frame and wall.) but in reality this width varies so a barrier must be able to adjust to the required width with in a specified range.

PRLNCZ PUES -OF THE BARRIER The primary roll of the water barrier is to replace the need of sandbags to protect a property from flood damage. The barrier is used to keep water from entering the property via the door way to a preset height of the barrier. The barrier design allows easy storage when not in use due to its light weight and slirn construction. It is quick and easy to install aswell as to dismantle. The barrier is adjustable to fit a range of door openings. The barrier make contact with the walls and step of the property via the use of the ply-able soft rubber which moulds itself to the contours of the masonry and allows it to create a seal between the barrier and the walls and floor. After use the rubber will return to shape so being able to be used over and over again.

DAMDOOR The main-design of Dam aoor Type one is two solid panels. One panel slides 'in and out of the other increasing or decreasing the width surface area. Both panels have the soft plyable rubber seal on their bases which continues up the opposite edge to the other panel allowing a water tight seal to be made on the two walls and floor of the door way opening. The water is prevented from flowing down the side of the two adjoining panels by a '0' ring seal on the inner panel which is tight to the outer panel. The first outer panel is placed against the wall and then the second inner panel is pushed out on a ratchet to the opposite wall of the door opening until the rubber seal is tightly compressed into the contours of the wall. While opening the barrier to its required width , weight is applied to the top of the barrier so providing a seal with the floor. This seal will remain in place, held by the tight fit of the side panels. The two panels both have handles on them to provide easy push points for opening the sections. For added security of the barrier remaining open at its set width of the door opening, a locking screw prevents the inner panel slipping back in the event the ratchet is accidentally released. Added stability is added to the barrier by the use of two stabilisers on each panel. These are screwed out to a tight fit with the wall once the panels have been extended to the correct width of the door opening stabilising the barrier against any seal movement, too and fro and up and down.

FRAME A CCESSOR In certain situations the property that requires protection ftom rising water levels may need a frame fitting to the building masonry door frame to provide a flat surface for the barrier seal to make a water tight contact. The frame would be required when the walls of the property where excessively pitted, weathered to the point of creating an unstable surface of contact and where the walls or floor are not within the limits of alignment. The frame would need to be secured to the property door opening prior to the bartier being fitted. This would be done by using silicon sealant (or the equivalent ) on the rear surface of the frame, which would fill the larger, deeper depressions in the masonry that the seal on the barrier was unable too. The frame would then have to be drilled and screwed to the wall and floor creating the required seal. The water barrier would then fit within the frame and widened as normal to create the water seal. Frame length would be standard, that is cut to the require three lengths of the two upright wall sections and the floor section. The floor section being the most unpredictable length , while the upright section could be standard. Dimensions of the frame should be slim so not to intrude on the character of the building when the barrier is not in use. Produced from plastic there could be a range of colours that would blend more discretely with the surrounding masonry.

Claims

PROPERTY WATER BARRIER DAMDOOR CLAIMS I - A paneled horizontally extendible barrier with a soft pliable seal along the base and vertical edges of panels.
2. A barrier as in claim I where the second inner panel moves horizontally along a ratchet track.
3. A barrier as in claims I and 2 where on the same face side but opposing edges there are fixed to each panel a stabilizing screw, which extends horizontally.
4. A barrier as in claims 1, 2 and 3 where on the inner panel a seal runs vertically up the panel parallel to the inside vertical edge and makes contact with the outer panels inside face.