GB2451294A

GB2451294A - Self erecting flood protection device with buoyant barrier and electrical generation means

Info

Publication number: GB2451294A
Application number: GB0714735A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Brian Baxter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-27
Filing date: 2007-07-27
Publication date: 2009-01-28
Also published as: GB0714735D0

Abstract

A self erecting flood barrier has a chamber 1 having a drainage channel 3 therein. A movable barrier 4 is restrained by a central support means 17 and the side walls 2 of said chamber. Buoyant devices 5 allow the barrier to rise Figure 2, as flood water enters the chamber via a drain 11. A flexible seal 18 may be provided on the barrier, as water enters the chamber the seal is forced against the chamber, at the top of its stroke the seal 18 is tight against the chamber wall 19, 20. The barrier may be used for the generation of electrical power. As the barrier rises a vacuum is created thereby drawing flood water into the hollow interior of the barrier and chamber as said barrier rises. As flood water rises, a sealing element 28 Fig 10 may be pushed against a corresponding seal 13 thereby raising said barrier and creating said vacuum. The seal may have a means therein to allow the release of water from the chamber, said water acting on a device to generate power which may be electrical. In alternative embodiments the water inlet to the barrier may be remotely located via a drain / pipe 35, Fig 13. A siphon 38 Fig 14 may be used to suck water from a remote location using the suction generated as the barrier rises. A telescopic barrier may be provided Fig 15. The barrier may be connected to an existing drain network.

Description

Abstract Title A self erecting flood barrier/drain (SEFBD) There is described an automatically self erecting barrier to prevent ingress of floodwater through an opening or area of riverbank. Sections may be joined together to allow floodwater to be transported away from the flood. The barrier rises within a chamber and draws floodwater into the interior of the device. A vacuum is activated and floodwater is held and lifted within the barrier, preferably above the level of the flood, to provide maximum drainage capacity at the same time as providing a barrier against the flood. The barrier's upward movement may be controlled by the shape of the chamber.

Static and inflatable sealing elements on and within the device and its housing prevent floodwater circumventing the flood defence. The expanding nature of the drainage element may help to prevent untreated sewerage contaminating floodwater. By increasing drainage capacity it is less susceptible to sudden increased flow of storm waters and releasing effluent into the built environment.

Utilising the vacuum properties of the device a siphon can be applied using the vacuum as a primer for the siphon.

By allowing the build up of water in non-flood conditions and the releasing of it in a torrent, the device can generate energy by allowing the floodwater, or normal running, or drainage water, to flow through a turbine, waterwheel, or similar means.

FLOOD PROTECTION DEVICE -DRAIN -ENERGY PRODUCER

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the flood protection of streets, roads, buildings, riverbank and sea defence or other areas. The invention also relates to the drainage of floodwater within the device itself and/or by connection to municipal drainage systems. A siphon can be incorporated to assist in lifting floodwater out of a depression in the land. It further relates to the creation of energy by water power

BACKGROUND

Flooding can occur often with very little warning. The main sources of this are from the sea, rivers, streams (fluvial) and/or (pluvial flooding) caused by torrential rain, the volume of which prevents the ground absorbing the water fast enough, or overwhelming drainage systems.

Existing methods to deal with this varies from sandbags to permanent concrete walled structures, or temporary barriers, or demountable barriers that rely on their being installed before flooding occurs. Temporary barriers can consist of pallets angled away from the flood to provide a support structure for a membrane covering them. A further example of a temporary barrier is a long flexible tube filled with water.

Demountable barriers are semi-permanent/temporary in that anchorage holes in the ground are fitted with a holding means to support perpendicular members. These are erected when flooding threatens. When flooding is imminent horizontal slats are slotted into the perpendiculars forming a barrier.

The barrier is removed when the flood or threat of flooding has receded.

A more sophisticated approach is the prior art of the Self Closing Dam (SCW) which is described as a moveable dam. The Dam is composed of buoyant materials and floats in its own chamber on floodwater that enters the chamber through an aperture in the base of the chamber. The Dam rises on the floodwater and seals itself against the chamber. Patent number: US5725326 The present invention seeks to provide a means of flood protection, drainage and energy production patentably different from any known forms of flood protection. Unlike the Self Closing Dam, floodwater flows into and is contained within the interior of the barrier element of the Self Erecting Flood Barrier/Drain (SEFBD) through the upper or lower part of the device, or to any part of the device or chamber. This present invention is secured within its chamber as the device fills with floodwater. The rising floodwater activates a mechanism that may close the drain and seals against further entry of floodwater, thus creating a vacuum.

Alternatively the drain can be sited in the walls of the chamber, or by the chamber, or device, or surrounding earth. This allows for a separate entry point for the floodwater and a separate exit point for air to be expelled, to create a vacuum, As a vacuum is created the device releases from its anchorage and ascends, sometimes assisted with hydraulic jacks, or pistons, within the confines of its chamber, or device.

The chamber acts as a guide and restriction to upward movement at a point before the vacuum is released. The effect of this could preferably be lifting the contained floodwater above the level of the actual flood. In effect, stacking floodwater whilst transporting it away from the critical area Sections of the j system can be connected together in order to facilitate the flow of the contained floodwater over distance. The chamber and the moveable element of the device are filled with floodwater providing the maximum drainage capacity away from the critical area of the flood. The expanding nature of the device requires less space for its installation, to drain a greater volume of floodwater, than a conventional drainage system.

The system can be used to connect with an existing or planned municipal draining system. Alternatively, or as welt as, in a riverbank scenario, the system can be used to transport the contained floodwater away from the critical area to further downriver to be released back into the river. The floodwater can be directed to a designated reservoir or floodplain. The definition of flood, is water where it is not wanted. By proactively moving it away from the flood site, it decreases the risk of flooding, rather than relying on the passive element of a barrier that can only be effective as long as it is high enough.

By its nature floodwater will gather at low points in the land. In some circumstances a siphon could be added using the vacuum elements of the barrier as a primer to the siphon. Conventional drainage pipes, or flexible pipes, would transport the floodwater away from the flood, to floodplains, holding reservoirs, or over gradients that would take the floodwater away from the areas protected. A siphon is an extremely efficient natural pump.

Sometimes fire engines are deployed to use high pressure pumps at flood sites. These have a limited efficacy as the hoses are short and are only used once flooding has occurred.

A siphon has the advantage of being able to transport floodwater up a gradient and over the rim of a depression in the land and over long distances.

They are effective providing the outlet is tower than the inlet and continue to be so over undulating terrain. Deployed on the SEFBD, this is an added means to transport floodwater away as the flood is gathering, as opposed to retrospective action. A siphon connection portal could be positioned at almost any point on the top of the barrier.

The system is designed to be bespoke to local conditions where applicable.

Alternative means are shown to create a vacuum and therefore sometimes a different structure may be required to achieve the same result. Different geographical conditions and the precise siting of the system will determine the appropriate structure that the design will be dependent on.

Existing civil engineering solutions are often unsympathetic to their surroundings if placed in attractive locations in town or countryside The self rising and self sealing element of the SEFBD solves this problem by being set into the ground and providing the benefit of unobtrusive flood defence.

Water companies have been prosecuted for allowing raw sewage into the built environment. This occurs in storm or flood conditions when the drainage capacity is overwhelmed by sudden surges of storm or floodwater. The expanding element of the device creates extra capacity on demand in response to these conditions. The self sealing element of the device will greatly lessen leakage and with further modification virtually eliminate it, thereby reducing the risk of water borne diseases, such as cholera, when people are most vulnerable in flood conditions.

The energy creating aspect of the device consists in allowing the device to rise higher in its chamber until the vacuum is released, or by depressing the sealing element. This can take place in non-flood conditions, releasing the water with an energy creating torrent. This could be directed to turbines or waterwheels to make the conversion of energy to a source of energy storing.

This would be used primarily in non-flood conditions, even with a low volume flow of water. The device and chamber would be filled and released repeatedly. Producing energy in this way would off set the cost of building and installing such flood defences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of a non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figurel is a vertical through section of the barrier and drainage chamber; shown in its normal configuration under non-flood conditions; Figure 2 is a vertical through section showing the barrier in flood conditions also illustrating the tubular construction to aid buoyancy, drainage and to provide housing for hydraulic means to lift barrier with floodwater held within by vacuum; E3 is a horizontal, random length of barrier showing plan view of inner construction; fiqre 4 is a vertical through section of the barrier showing inner construction; * D Figure 5 is a transverse section through the barrier showing hollow tubular construction and hydraulic pistons situated within; Figure 6 is a transverse section showing base of the barrier; Figure 7 is a general view of the barrier as shown in Fig 5; also showing two further sections of the barrier; Figure 8 is an end side elevation of barrier rising within through section of the barrier; Figure 9 is a transverse plan view of the end section of the barrier communicating with the seal attached to the end of the drainage chamber; Fig 10 is a through section of the top of the barrier with drain seal shown under flood conditions; shows means to seal drain: Fig 11 is a similar view to fig 10, showing alternative means to seal drain; Fig 12 is a lateral view of fig 11.

Fig 13 is a vertical through section that shows alternative means of floodwater entering the chamber and a separate means of air expulsion from device.

Fig 14 is a general view of the barrier showing the position of a siphon to extract floodwater from the barrier by means of a flexible pipe.

Fig 15 is a general view of the barrier showing a telescopic element that could give extra height to the barrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, The device is shown installed in an earthen trench, although It may be installed at the side and river bed of a river bank, into a dyke or levee, or into a road, pavement or as a gutter between the road and pavement or as a stand-alone transportable barrier. Its shape or configuration may be altered as appropriate to its designated function, for instance in some circumstances it may be required to function in an elongate manner without a great depth of vertical rise.

Fig 1, shows the device in non-flood conditions. 1 refers to the chamber shown integrally situated on a retaining wall to prevent hydrostatic pressure traversing floodwater through the earth underneath the device. The depth of this may vary and in many locations may not be required.

2 refers to the drainage chamber. This could be made from rigid hardwearing materials that may be reinforced, cast in situ, or precast and assembled on site. Alternatively it could be made from semi rigid materials with a supporting collapsible frame that would require less depth for installation. Preferably installed with a rounded bottom channel 3 for ease of flow in flood and non-flood conditions where the device is installed for the purposes of everyday rainwater, drainage, flood defence, or the production of energy.

The chamber acts as guide to the barrier element as it rises to the top of the chamber connecting with the sealing pads 20, which are situated on the lateral flanges of the device and communicating wall of chamber 18 and 19.

The shape may vary as appropriate, but is shown at the top of the chamber ensuring that maximum pressure is exerted on the pads to increase the sealing effect. This may also prevent the barrier rising to a level where the vacuum would be released.

A skirt of flexible material may be attached to the bottom of flanges 18 as a trailing seal. As the pressure of floodwater within the chamber builds it forces the trailing seal against the chamber wall, thus providing a secondary seal. 4 shows the barrier which may be constructed of composite lightweight materials. Buoyancy may be engineered into the construction at the base of the barrier by incorporating flotation compartments 5.

Floodwater is allowed to flow into the bottom of the said compartments, through a series of apertures at the bottom of wall 6. The top of the barrier is gutter shaped with one side, in this instance, shown higher than the other 7, This height will vary in accordance with location, the higher side prevents floodwater spilling to the dry side. Floodwater flows into the trough 8 and down through drains into and filling the barrier interior and chamber. In some locations a gutter may not be required.

A spherical sealing element 9 is shown contained in an anti-debris barrier that may be of a similar construction to meshlO. This sealing element could be elliptical or function similarly to a trapdoor, or two doors mitred at the end rising to meet to provide a seal, or by any other means. Magnets may be incorporated to assist the closing of seals.

Various configurations may be used. The drains could be located vertically in the side/top of the barrier negating the need for a trough 35. The drain could be located some distance away and fed to the chamber by means of a pipe, by transporting it further away, through the system, thus transporting potential floodwater away from the critical area before a flood forms. Alternatively the drains could be located as a conventional roadside drain with floodwater flowing down the outside of the barrier and then up into its interior 12. A sealing mechanism may be situated below Figure 11, Figure 12, This barrier wall is shown of tubular construction Fig 5, it could be virtually any shape that allows air to be trapped inside, in a similar way to that shown. This may also provide housing for hydraulic jacks or pistons placed at appropriate intervals preferably along the individual sections of the device, at both ends and in the middle Fig 3. This feature allows air to be compressed by rising floodwater to provide the compression for the hydraulic legs.

The hydraulic jacks may also be powered by gas canisters or electric or other power based motors and telescopic in function. Conventional hydraulic means with hydraulic fluids connected or otherwise to a motor, by means of valves and pumps, which may assist the pressure power of the compressed air, or operate independently A second feature of this construction is that it provides greater buoyancy by either allowing the floodwater to compress and trap air in individual tubular sections of the wall, or by sealing these sections, thus trapping air inside.

These tubular sections can be linked by apertures or ducts allowing compressed air to flow between them to develop an appropriate level of compression, directly to the jacks, or through an arrangement of hydraulic pipes and valves. The interlinking air flow can be extended to the flotation chambers to give a greater measure of control over buoyancy and compression.

Further reserves of air may be located in the walls and bottom of the drainage chamber and directed to where required to increase the compression by means of channels, hoses or valves. Gas or fluids may be stored in compressible bags or compartments located within the walls and base of the drainage chamber, or in earthen banks, or river banks, or specially constructed storage tanks in a convenient location. Motors can also be installed in a watertight compartment with connecting pipes and hoses to provide hydraulic power to the rams from a convenient distance to the SEFBD itself.

Referring to Fig 2, shows the barrier 4 risen to its full extent with telescopic hydraulic pistons extended 17. Floodwater may fill the drainage chamber, the central reservoir 12 and the designated tubular section 14 and the area beneath the drain forcing the spherical seal 9 to activate and create a vacuum. The designated tubular section of central reservoir wall 15 may provide buoyancy plus compression. The designated section of wall 16 could provide compression to the hydraulic legs 17, assisted by designated tubular sections 15. The side flanges of the barrier 18, will contact the reverse shaped flange of the drainage chamber and the pressure exerted from the buoyancy properties of the barrier, assisted by the thrust of the hydraulic jacks in the compression chamber 16, could cause the sealing pads on the face of the barrier and chamber to form a seal 20. The bottom of the flanges 18 can be linked by transverse structural bracing components.

Referring to Fig 3, The tubular construction 111s the passage the floodwater will take by flowing downwards from the drain and filling the central reservoir 12 with floodwater and the area vacated by the device rising with the flood.

Thus, the tubular construction has a triple function. To alternatively provide a passage 14 from the drain 13 for floodwater to flood the interior of the barrier 12 and chamber 2. To provide buoyancy or reserve air for compression 15.

To provide a housing for a hydraulic piston and a compression chamber 16.

These functions may be distributed appropriately along the length of the complete section and grouped together. 11 is a generic reference to the tubular construction with 14 15 &16 being of the same construction but with different functions Referring to Fig 4 a vertical through section is shown of the barrier with a further two transverse plan viewpoints, Figure 6 and Figure 7 that show a non limiting view of the structure of the barrier.

Fig 5 is a horizontal view of the cylindrical construction of the barrier also in relation to the barrier 4 and drain 13, whilst providing for the triple function also facilitates a robust construction The view represented shows 11 and may be designated as any of 14,15, or 16, but shows the position of the hydraulic legs 17 within 16.

Fig 6 is a horizontal through view of the base of the barrier.

Fig 7 is a general view of the barrier detailing the end section with two further sections connected together. The trough 8 is shown with the sides of the trough shown 7, the higher side, furthest from the flood providing a protective wall until the barrier rises and the vacuum is activated. A convex semi circular member 21 forms part of the end of the unit 22 and extending above the trough and onto the end flange 23. The member is part of the end of the unit sealing system. 18 shows the side flange. Two additional units are connectively shown 26 and 27. Where three or more units are connected the central units will not require end sealing means 26.

Fig 8 is a vertical view of through section of the chamber showing the barrier rising on the flood within the drainage chamber detailing the end flange 23 and 21 connectively engaging with the other elements of the sealing system 24.

Fig 9 is a horizontal transverse view of the end of the unit 22 engaging with 24 formed on the end of the drainage chamber, with a reverse, concave semi circular shape to that of 21. A robust membrane 25 could be attached for the appropriate height of the concave, preferably with bottom open and the top closed. As the floodwater rises air is forced upwards, causing the membrane to fill with air, forming a seal.

The Barrier rises with convex 21 and concave 24 separated by a cushion of air, thus forming a seal. Alternatively the seal may be pre-filled with a fluid and operated with fluid pressure (fluid and/or gas),or pumped in by motor A sliding seal as described in Patent No GB2327971 may also be used as a sealing method with just one inflatable tube at each end of the section running off the pre-filled fluid compartment to service the seal at either end.

Alternatively a sliding seal as described in patent GB2327971 may be inserted into 25, or both could be used, or alternative means of sealing, as appropriate.

Referring Fig 10 is a vertical through section view of the underside of the drain 13 showing the area below the trough 8. Floodwater flows down through the drain filling the interior of the barrier forcing the spherical sealing element 27 upwards into the drain, forming a seal and creating a vacuum. The spherical sealing element preferably self seals activated by its inherent buoyancy or by the assisted hydraulic piston element. The sphere is connected to the ceiling of the barrier by an arm that is anchored in place and places the sphere in the centre of the aperture, allowing the floodwater to seal with a final precision. The sphere has a rounded flange encircling it to provide a more efficient seal. The spherical element of the seal may be operated by a motor. This seal can be disengaged by means of exerting downward force on the spherical member to release the vacuum to facilitate a torrent of water to create energy.

Referring Fig 11 is an alternative method of operating buoyant spheres to provide a seal to the drain 13 and to create a vacuum. As floodwater rises in the interior of the barrier, spherical sealing element 29 forms a seal with the drainl3. Simultaneously, spherical elements 30 attached to pivotal arms 31 to move up and towards each other, releasing spherical elements 32 and 33.

These float upwards to contact 29 introducing greater buoyancy to sealing element 29. The apparatus is supported by a frame 34. The sealing element could take the form of a valve in a non limiting way.

Referring Figure 12 shows the spherical elements 29, 30, 32, and 33 with pivotal arms 31 from a different angle. The apparatus would preferably be enclosed to prevent flood-borne debris fouling its operation.

Referring Figure 13 shows an alternative entry of floodwater to the chamber 2 through a drain 35 located outside the chamber. Also shown is sealing element 28 in sealing position under 37 which has a perforated protection hood. This allows air to be expelled to create a vacuum without having the entry of floodwater and the evacuation of air through the same aperture. The drain can be situated at different points 36 to accommodate different situations. Alternatively the drain can be situated in the wall of the chamber on either side or both.

Referring Figure 14 is a general view of the barrier showing a flexible pipe 38 communicating with a siphon portal to extract floodwater from the barrier. The flexible pipe can convey floodwater over a distance. Alternatively it could convey the floodwater a short distance and discharge into a permanent sump, or trough, or fixed pipe positioned behind the barrier, on top of a bank, or wherever appropriate according to the location, to transport floodwater away.

Referring Figure 15 is a general view of the barrier showing a telescopic element 391010, that could be made from buoyant materials, which may give extra height to the barrier and maybe situated either side of the chamber.

Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas, which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination disclosed here.

Claims

Claims 1. A multi purpose flood protection device to close an opening in a wall, to protect a river bank, to provide street and roadway defence, enclose areas such as a housing estate or power installation plants, the device comprising of a self levelling barrier, in non-flood conditions rests unobtrusively within a chamber, that allows floodwater into its interior section or sections of barrier and chamber; the barrier forms a seal with the chamber and creates a vacuum that preferably lifts the internal floodwater higher than the flood, creating greater capacity for drainage that may be linked to an existing drainage system or a specifically designed one: in non-flood conditions a flow S...

of water may be allowed for the system to function, by inducing the vacuum to :. repeatedly break releasing a torrent of water directed at a turbine or similar means to produce energy: a siphon may be attached to the system to draw * . floodwater away from the critical area relieving the pressure of the floodwaters impacting on the designated protected areas.

2. A flood protection device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means effects a seal between the chamber and the barrier when the barrier rises on the floodwater and contacts the upper area of the chamber along its lateral edge regions and barrier ends by means of sealing pads.

3. A flood protection device according to claim 1, the raising floodwater may activate a mechanism that may close the drains and seals against further entry of air and floodwater, thus creating a vacuum.

4. A flood protection device according to claim 2, that forms a seal at the barrier end by communicating with a flexible material or membrane filled with trapped air or fluid or a combination of both by the floodwater and attached to the chamber end wall: alternatively using a fluid or air filled bladder connecting with flexible inflatable tubes to create a seal at the end of the chamber wall.

5. A flood protection device according to any of the claims 1 to 4, that has S...

a trailing skirt of flexible material attached to the bottom flanges of the barrier to provide a secondary seal. *.S * *5

6. A flood protection device according to claim 1, that uses flotation compartments connected to a tubular construction of the barrier walls.

7. A flood protection device according to claim 3, allows the interior of the barrier to fill with floodwater by the means of gutters and drains located within or on the barrier or from a distance: in some locations one side of the gutter may be higher than the other to provide additional protection, or in some locations a gutter may not be required. I-,

8. A flood protection device according to claim 3, wherein a vacuum self sealing element trapping floodwater within the barrier by means of valves or doors powered by the energy of the flood or other self sealing means, magnets may be used to assist the sealing elements or by means mechanical, electrical, solar or gas powered, or by other means: an anti debris barrier of a mesh like construction may be positioned to protect any self sealing mechanisms 9. A flood protection device according to claim 6, wherein the barrier tubular wall construction has a triple purpose, trapping air for buoyancy purposes, housing pistons or jacks, part of an air compression system to *:*:: activate pistons or jacks and in some circumstances drainage of floodwater to * SS the chamber and barrier interior, collectively or singularly. S. * S * S.. S..

10. A flood protection device according to claims 6 or 9, wherein the jacks * *5 or pistons are activated by conventional hydraulic means using hydraulic fluids powered by the energy of the flood or by means mechanical, electrical, solar or gas powered, or by other means.

11. A flood protection device according to claims 6 and 9 tol 0, wherein the tubular construction of the barrier walls traps air from the action of the rising floodwater compressing it into a network of smaller ducts to act as a source of energy to power the jacks or pistons as the only source of power or to be conjunctionally used with conventional means hydraulic, mechanical, solar or gas powered, or by other means 12. A flood protection device according to claim 6 and 9 to 11, whereby provision is made for further reserves of air to be trapped within the walls and floor of the drainage chamber, or make provision of air to be stored some distance away to be piped to the device by utilising the energy of the flood or by any other means.

13 A flood protection device according to claim 3, wherein the convex and concave shape of the end of the barrier interacts with an air, fluid or gas filled membrane to provide a seal: alternatively the seal may be pre-filled and fluids and gases may be pumped in by a motor or a self sealing sliding seal * ** * * I * **

ISIS

14. A flood protection device according to claims 1 and 3, that allows the self levelling barrier's interior to fully or partially flood to activate a release S..

mechanism causing the barrier to rise and further activate the vacuum sealing system trapping the internal floodwater and preferably lifting it higher than the * flood, thereby expanding the draining capacity of the system.

15. A flood protection device according to claims 1 and 3 and 6 to 14, whereby the system can be connectively interfaced with existing municipal drainage works or specifically designed ones.

16. A flood protection device according to claim 1, whereby in non-flood conditions a flow of water may be dammed and to build up, to fully activate L5 the device: the vacuum can be induced to break, releasing a torrent of water to be directed to a waterwheel or turbine or other means to create energy.

17. A flood protection device according to claims 1 and 16, the energy created can be stored and used to assist the function of the device in some circumstances, or stored and used for other purposes, or immediately directed to other uses 18. A flood protection device according to all previous claims will only operate active'y as a flood device in flood conditions for only a fraction of its life cycle Therefore, the greater part of its life cycle may be used to create energy by employing its function as a flood device in non-flood conditions. * S * * S

19. A flood protection device according to claim 1, wherein a siphon can S..

be attached to the device either automatically or manually. The vacuum acts as a primer to the siphon. A siphon may transport floodwater over long * S distances, out of depressions and over inclines, providing the outlet is lower than the inlet.

A flood protection device according to claim 19, may direct and transport floodwater to designated holding reservoirs or an alternative existing watercourses or a specifically designed watercourses by means of temporary or permanent siphons.

21. A flood protection device according to claims 1 and previous claims may operate as single unit, or sections can be joined together with flood water flowing freely through the sections of the chamber and the barrier.

22. A flood protection device according to claims I and 21, wherein sections can be joined together in a straight line, or to follow a curve or to form angles or to form right angles as may be found in squares and rectangles or a circle or an ellipse or any similar combination to enclose a designated area to protect it from flooding.

23. A flood protection device according to claims 1 and 21 to 22, where the *::. device may be a large scale or small scale works. In the instance of street defence a section may be used singly to block a flow of floodwater; sections may be joined together and operate parallel to each other protecting property on the outer side of each barrier holding and canalising the floodwater on the * ** roadway, providing an additional means of holding, storing and drainage * capacity to prevent drainage systems being overwhelmed.

24 A flood protection device according to claim 1, that may have an additional means to increase the height of the barrier by self erecting telescopic means, running the length of the barrier, this section may be buoyant, hollow and self sealing in a similar way to the main barrier and may be joined to other telescopic sections.

25. A flood protection device according to claims 1 and 12, gas or fluids may be stored within the walls and base of the drainage chamber, or in river and earthen banks, or in specially constructed storage tanks to assist in the operation of the device.

26. A flood protection device that according to claim 11, motors or other sources of power may be installed in watertight compartments connecting with pipes, hoses and ducts to provide hydraulic power to the rams from within the device or from a distance.

27. A flood protection device that according to claim 1 and 24, the telescopic section of the barrier may provide the self sealing vacuum element *eI S of the barrier by creating a vacuum by rising on the flood water within the main barrier and sealing it when it reaches its maximum height and is I..

constrained from rising further by the main barrier, it may also lift floodwater by vacuum internally and allow the flow of floodwater through joined * telescopic sections repeating the action of what takes place in the main barrier.