GB2392194A

GB2392194A - Double panel flood barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2392194A
Application number: GB0219343A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-20
Filing date: 2002-08-20
Publication date: 2004-02-25
Also published as: GB0219343D0

Abstract

A flood barrier seals an opening with a panel (5,6) which is releasably secured in channel shaped rails (4) fitted around the lower region of a door frame. Seals (1) are provided within the channels, which are preferably made from PVC, to seal the barrier. Ideally a double channel is used so that two panels of different height can be fitted one behind the other. The higher one can then be removed during moderate flood conditions to allow easier access to the building. A tapered wedge (16) may be placed behind the boards to urge them against the seals, and a deflector rail 7 with a soft rubber tip may be used to prevent water from entering the space between the flood barrier and the door.

Description

23921 94

Dual Entry System Barrier.

The invention relates to a flood barrier that creates a seal across a doorway or an opening in a building to prevent the penetration of floodwater.

Flood barriers usually consist of sandbags stacked against a door, which, whilst stemming the flow of water are not designed to prevent water entering a building.

An object of this invention is to create a watertight seal with the doorjamb and threshold of a doorway or the sides and base of an opening, whilst still allowing access to and fro the building, the same could be used to protect a window area. Access is achieved by fitting a low barrier up to 18 inches high in the front channel of a double channel rail, which can easily be stepped over, as the water level rises a further barrier of approximately 36 inches but can be of a variable height is placed in the rear channel of the double channel rails. This second barrier can be removed and replaced according to the water level, allowing entry / exit as and when water levels permit. A single channel rail can be used where access is not required and the water pressure on the area to be protected is reduced for various reasons, width of gap, secondary door etc. The rails are made of rigid PVC incorporating a seal, which is formed by way of a co-extrusion of rigid PVC forming the chair section (the body) of the rail, and flexible PVC which forms the seal and is produced to a shore hardness 52 "A" scale, but the shore hardness of the flexible PVC can be variable to suit, the seal could also be individual of the extrusion and added by means of gluing or other means of fixing. Preferably the double channel rails are a manufacturing co- extrusion, but a second single rail can be fixed to another single rail by means of gluing or welding. The rails could also be made of metal aluminium or wood. Preferably the barrier board is made of structured multiple wall Polycarbonate sheet material, but may also be made of plastics material, aluminium other metals, wood or a combination of these to be aesthetically in keeping with the building. The rails could also have just one seal inside the rail with a tapered wedge placed behind the board applying pressure against the board and seal, this is particularly advantageous for the elderly or infirm, as it would take much less effort to insert the barrier boards. The rails would preferably be bonded inside an aluminium framework but could be fixed independent of a framework.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: There are nine drawings numbered 1/9 through 9/9.

Pagel/9 shows a single channel rail Fig 10 showing the seals Fig I and flange Fig 2 Page 2/9 shows a double channel rail Fig 11 showing the seals Fig 1 and rear and bottom seals Fig 12 Page 3/9 shows a double channel rail with two barrier boards fitted Page 4/9 shows a reduced height front channel of a double channel rail Fig 4 Page 5/9 shows a reduced height front channel rail Fig 4 with a low height step over barrier board fitted in the front channel of the rail Fig 5 the barrier board bottom seal Fig SA.

Page 6/9 shows a reduced height front channel rail Fig 4 with a step over barrier board fitted Fig 5 and a second variable height barrier board in place in the rear channel of the rail Fig 6.

Page 7/9 shows the end view of the rain deflector cap Fig 7. with a soft rubber tip Fig 8. fitted on top of a barrier board Fig 6. Fig 9 shows a step over barrier board in place with a variable height second barrier fitted to the rear channel with rain deflectors Fig 7 fitted, also the fixing flange Fig 2.

Page 8/9 shows the rails bonded inside an aluminium framework Page 9/9 shows the wedge / single seal configuration.

Asshownon Sheet 2/9 Fig 11. a double channel rail is fixed to each side of an opening or doorway by means of a flange Fig 2. Sheets 1/9 & 7/9. using stainless steel quick release bolts or similar, behind this flange is a seal Fig 12. Sheet 2/9 this creates a watertight seal with the framework and threshold of the opening or doorframe. Fig 13 Sheet 8/9 shows the double channel rails Fig 11 bonded into an aluminium framework Fig 14 which increase the strength and stability. The framework is made watertight by means of seal between the edges of the framework and the doorway or contact area of an opening Fig 15 Sheet 8/9.

Inside this double channel rail are multiple seals Fig I Sheets 2/9. these seals create a double watertight seal with the barrier boards Fig 5 & Fig 6 Sheets 5/9 & 6/9 when the barrier boards are pushed in between these seals from the top of the rails. A further seal between the barrier board and the threshold is created by the seal as shown in Fig 5A Sheet 5/9. An alternative seal i s produced by having a single fixed seal inside each rail with a wedge seal placed on the opposite side of the barrier board between the barrier board and the back of the rail which would apply pressure between the barrier board and the single fixed seal. Fig 16 Sheet 9/9 this would require less physical effort and would assist the elderly or infirm.

As shown on Sheet 4/9 Fig 4 a rail with a shorter front channel than the rear channel is used to allow entry exit by placing a low barrier board Fig 5 Sheet 5/9 in the front channel, a further variable height barrier board is fitted in the rear channel Fig 6 Sheet 6/9 when flood water rises,

overnight or when leaving the property, this barrier board can be taken out whenever access is required, providing the water level remains below the variable height front barrier board. The height of the front barrier board is variable but would average about half a metro. The same can be achieved by using the equal length double rails as shown in Fig 11 Sheet 2/9 by simply placing a lower barrier board in the front channel this particular configuration of rail is used where extra resistance is required as two full size barriers can be fitted. A single rail Fig 10 Sheet 1/9 can be used in areas where the water pressure or size of opening is reduced.

As shown in Fig 7 Sheet 7/9 a deflector rail with a soft rubber tip Fig 8 Sheet 7/9 which can be contoured to the door, is fitted on the top of the barrier boards to add lateral strength to this area and stop rain water that hits the door and runs down from entering the gap between the door and the barrier board as any water entering would go inside the protected area. A deflector rail would be fitted to the top of the lower height barrier board covering the gap to the door when the second barrier board was not fitted.

Claims

1. A flood barrier for sealing an opening, in particular a doorway of a building, the flood barrier comprising of boards and rails for releasably securing the barrier to the opening, the seals are mounted inside the rails to form a watertight seal when the barrier boards are inserted.

2. A flood barrier as claimed in Claim I wherein the rails are of a double channel configuration to allow two barrier boards of variable heights to be fitted.