GB2465968A

GB2465968A - Inflatable barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2465968A
Application number: GB0821950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Anthony Turner; Malcolm Victor Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-02
Filing date: 2008-12-02
Publication date: 2010-06-09
Also published as: GB0821950D0

Abstract

A sealing facility for incorporation in an aperture in a building, preferably a cavity wall vent 10 or pipe, the facility comprising an inflatable bladder 17 to effect sealing or blockage of the aperture and a water presence sensor 18 such that when the sensor detects the presence of water the bladder 17 is inflated. The sensor may be a water pressure sensor and may have a shroud 22 overlying it which prevents the water pressure sensor detecting the presence of water flowing from inside the building to the outside. The inflatable bladder 17 may move a barrier 23 into a position which blocks the path of the water. The bladder may be inflated using a replaceable pressurised inflation canister 19.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING To

FLOOD DEFENCE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to flood defence and, more particularly, to a method of andlor apparatus for preventing the ingress of flood waters into buildings.

Background to the Invention

Flooding is a well-known hazard and, almost on a daily basis, there are reports of property damage resulting from flooding.

Early attempts at keeping flood water out of buildings involved using sand bags across doorways to provide a physical barrier to the intrusion of flood water. This method is still used today but has obvious shortcomings. More recently purpose-made barriers have been proposed but these are dedicated items and must be installed in advance of the flood waters rising. Also, these barriers typically require fixings, such as brackets or channels, to be added to the building to allow the barriers to be mounted. These fixings, being provided at or about the doors of the building, can detract significantly from the aesthetics of the structure.

Past attempted solutions have concentrated, principally, on water ingress through doors. It will be appreciated, however, that rising flood waters can also enter through ventilation openings provided in cavity walls, and through soil pipes serving the premises.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus and/or methods which go at least some way to addressing the problems described above; or which will at least provide a novel and useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a method of preventing water flow along a path capable of transferring water between an outside and an inside of a building, said method including the steps of: sensing water presence capable of causing water flow in a direction from the outside to the inside; and in the event water flow from the outside to the inside is sensed, inflating an inflatable bladder to effect blockage of said path.

Preferably a barrier is provided which is moveable into a position blocking said path, said method further including effecting movement of said barrier into a blocking position by inilation of said inflatable bladder.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a sealing facility for preventing water flow along a path capable of transferring water between an outside and an inside of a building, said facility including: a water presence sensor positioned and operable to sense the presence of water capable of generating water flow in a direction from the outside to the inside; and an inflatable bladder which inflates in response to water being sensed by said water presence sensor to effect blockage of said path.

Preferably a barrier is provided which is moveable into a position blocking said path, the inflation of said inflatable bladder effecting movement of said barrier into a blocking position.

Preferably said facility further includes a shroud to prevent said water presence sensor contacting water flowing in a direction from said inside to said outside.

Preferably said path has a defined cross-section said inflatable bladder, when inflated, occupying substantially the entire cross-section.

Preferably said facility further includes a replaceable inflation canister to provide a source of gas to inflate said inflatable bladder.

In a third aspect the invention provides a cavity wall vent including the sealing facility set forth above.

In a fourth aspect the invention provides a pipe sealing device including the sealing facility set forth above.

Many variations in the way the present invention can be performed will present themselves to those skilled in the art. The description which follows is intended as an illustration only of one means of performing the invention and the lack of description of variants or equivalents should not be regarded as limiting. Wherever possible, a description of a specific element should be deemed to include any and all equivalents thereof whether in existence now or in the future.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The various aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1: shows a side view, in section, of a wall cavity vent provided with a sealing facility according to the invention in a first, un-sealed, state; Figure 2: shows a view along the line 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3: shows a view similar to Figure 1 but in a second, sealed, state; Figure 4: shows a view along the line 4-4 in Figure 3; Figure 5: shows a cross-section through a pipe sealing facility according to the invention in an un-sealed state; and Figure 6: shows a view similar to Figure 5 but in a sealed state.

Description of Working Embodiments

The invention provides a method of and/or apparatus for preventing the ingress of flood waters into buildings, particularly water ingress through cavity vents and soil pipes. The characteristic feature of the invention is that an inflatable bladder is provided which inflates in response to rising flood waters and creates a blockage of the water path into a building provided by a cavity vent and/or a soil pipe.

Turning now to Figure 1, a cavity vent assembly 10 is shown, the assembly 10 being configured to replace a conventional cavity brick, and perhaps one or more of the surrounding bricks, in a building structure. The assembly 10 has an inner boundary 11 which faces the wall cavity, and an outer boundary 12 which faces outwardly away from the building wall. A through path 13 connects the inner boundary 11 and the outer boundary 12.

In the form shown, the inner boundary 11 is provided with a series of holes 14.

The outer boundary is an open face against which a removable grill 15 is secured by fixings 16.

Located within the assembly 10, alongside the flow path 13, are an inflatable bladder 17, a water presence sensor 18, and a canister 19 of pressurized gas.

The canister 19 communicates with the interior of the bladder 17 via a release valve 20 and a linking pipe 21. The water presence sensor 18 is preferably located within a shroud 22 which prevents splashed water coming into contact with the sensor 18.

The water presence sensor 18, canister 19 and release valve 20 are preferably provided as a sub-assembly which may be of a similar form to the apparatus used to inflate lifejackets upon contact with water. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 4, the sub-assembly is preferably located at one edge of the interior of the assembly 10. As rising flood water passes into the assembly 10 through the grill 15, the water enters the shroud and contacts the water presence sensor 18. The sensor 18 then triggers the release valve 20 causing pressurized gas to pass from the canister 19, through pipe 21 and inflate the bladder 17. As can be seen from Figure 3 the bladder, once inflated, occupies substantially the entire interior of the assembly 10.

Preferably also located within the assembly 10 is a movable barrier 23. The barrier preferably comprises a simple rectangular flap pivoted along one edge on pivot axis 24. As shown in Figure 1, the flap 23 normally lies on the deflated bladder 17, adjacent to the flow path 13. When rising flood water is sensed and the bladder 17 is inflated, the inflating bladder displaces the flap upwardly so that it overlies the holes 14 in the inner boundary 11. This situation is shown in Figures 3 and 4. It will be appreciated that, once the flap has been moved to the closed or blocking position shown in Figures 3 and 4, not only does the inflated bladder enhance the seal provided by the flap but also the rising flood water will add to this effect.

After the sealing facility has been deployed, and the water level has fallen, the interior of assembly 10 can be accessed by removing the grill 15. Thereafter the canister 19 can be replaced and the bladder 17 and flap 23 folded for subsequent use, if necessary.

Turning now to Figures 5 and 6, a similar arrangement is shown for use in sealing off a soil pipe 29 leading waste out of a building. In this embodiment assembly 30 is fitted within a vertical pipe 29 by any suitable pipe-joining technique. The assembly 30 has a normal entry side 31, a normal exit side 32, and a through path 33 linking the entry to the exit.

Located in a recess bordering an edge of the through path 33 is a sub-assembly of a folded inflatable bladder 34, water presence sensor 35, pressurized canister 36 and release valve 37. This sub-assembly is mounted substantially vertically with the sensor 18 being at the lower edge. Again a shroud 38 overlies the sensor 35 and prevents the contact between the sensor and water passing vertically down through the pipe in the direction of arrow 39.

In the event water rises up the pipe 29 in the direction opposite to arrow 39, the water will pass behind the shroud 38 and contact sensor 35. This, in turn, causes the valve 37 to trigger, releasing the contents of canister 36 into bladder 34. As can be seen in Figure 6, as the bladder 34 inflates, it deploys across the path 33 and creates a blockage in the pipe 29.

The entry side 31 of the assembly 30 may be provided with an open grill structure to provide a barrier against which the bladder 31 may inflate, and to prevent the bladder from being displaced upwardly and aside by rising water.

Further, a membrane 40 may be provided which overlies the bladder when the assembly is in the state shown in Figure 5, the membrane serving to prevent the ingress of water into the recess containing the inflation assembly. Upon inflation of the bladder 34, the membrane 40 is ruptured or displaced aside.

It will thus be appreciated that the present invention, at least in the case of the working embodiments herein described, provides a form of flood defence which is not only highly effective but has no negative visual impact and is triggered automatically, without the need for human intervention.

Claims

Claims A method of preventing water flow along a path capable of transferring water between an outside and an inside of a building, said method including the steps of: sensing water presence capable of causing water flow in a direction from the outside to the inside; and in the event water flow from the outside to the inside is sensed, inflating an inflatable bladder to effect blockage of said path.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a barrier is provided which is moveable into a position blocking said path, said method further including effecting movement of said barrier into a blocking position by inflation of said inflatable bladder.
3. A sealing facility for preventing water flow along a path capable of transferring water between an outside and an inside of a building, said facility including: a water presence sensor positioned and operable to sense the presence of water capable of generating water flow in a direction from the outside to the inside; and an inflatable bladder which inflates in response to water being sensed by said water presence sensor to effect blockage of said path.
4. A sealing facility as claimed in claim 3 wherein a barrier is provided which is moveable into a position blocking said path, the inflation of said inflatable bladder effecting movement of said barrier into a blocking position.
5. A sealing facility as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 further including a shroud to prevent said water presence sensor contacting water flowing in a direction from said inside to said outside.
6. A sealing facility as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein said path has a defined cross-section said inflatable bladder, when inflated, occupying substantially the entire cross-section.
7. A sealing facility as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 further including a replaceable inflation canister to provide a source of gas to inflate said inflatable bladder.
8. A cavity wall vent including the sealing facility as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7.
9. A pipe sealing device including the sealing facility as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7.