GB2483444A

GB2483444A - Rotatable flood prevention device for attachment to a waste water pipe

Info

Publication number: GB2483444A
Application number: GB201014821A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Mullan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-07
Filing date: 2010-09-07
Publication date: 2012-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-07
Also published as: GB201014821D0; GB2483444B

Abstract

The invention relates to a device 1 for preventing the flooding of buildings through a waste pipe 21 having an open tubular arrangement 2. The open tubular arrangement has a connector pipe 3 mounted into/onto the end of the waste pipe and a movable section of pipe 4 is movably coupled to the connector pipe so that waste can be conveyed along the connector pipe and the movable section of pipe during normal use. The movable section of pipe may be a bend which has a waste outlet 9 and is movable relative to the connector pipe during flooding to maintain the waste outlet above the level of the flood water. The open tubular arrangement has a float 7. The connector pipe may comprise a roller bearing 6 to allow the movable section of pipe to rotate around the connector pipe.

Description

A FLOOD PREVENTION DEVICE

The present invention relates to a flood prevention device and in particular to a flood prevention device to be attached to the end of a waste water pipe.

Major flood events are becoming a regular pad of life with the advent of extreme weather conditions attributed to global warming. There are many ways of endeavou ring to prevent the ingress of flood water into a building such as traditional flood barriers like sand bags. Alternatives are available on the market such as barriers mountable on door and window apertures on lower levels of the building. One particularly vulnerable area of buildings to major flood events is the plumbing system pipe work which disposes of sewage and other waste water from the building. The risk of contra flow flood water pouring into a building via this pipe work is particularly high where the outlet of the pipe work is suspended above or proximal to main waterways such as rivers and the like. The problem arises where the water level in the waterways rises up to and above the open end of the outlet of the dispensing pipe. The flood water passes back along the pipe work until it reaches the building where it can gush out over the toilet, basins or baths which are connected to the flooded pipe work.

If the flood water continues to rise the water will continue to backfill into the building flooding the entire building to the level of the flood. The problem is further exacerbated if the building has a basement allowing huge volumes of flood water to pour into the building during a flooding event.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problem of flooding as a result of flood water back filling into a building along plumbing pipes.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for preventing the flooding of buildings through a waste pipe comprising an open tubular arrangement, the open tubular arrangement comprising a connector pipe mountable into/onto the end of the waste pipe and a movable section of pipe movably coupled to the connector pipe so that waste is conveyable along the connector pipe and the movable section of pipe during normal use, the movable section of pipe having a waste outlet and being movable relative to the connector pipe during flooding to maintain the waste outlet above the level of the flood water, the open tubular arrangement having float means.

Preferably, the movable section of pipe is a bend section mounted into/onto the connector pipe.

Ideally, means for facilitating coaxial rotation of the bend section relative to the connector pipe are mounted between the bend section and the connector pipe so that the bend section is rotatable to maintain the waste outlet of the bend section above the level of the flood water.

Preferably, the bend section has float means detachably couplable thereto.

Ideally, the means for facilitating coaxial rotation of the bend section relative to the connector pipe comprises a roller bearing.

Advantageously, the roller bearing allows the bend section to rotate relative to the connector pipe so that as the level of water in the waterway rises up to contact the float means of the bend section, the bend section can rotate about the roller bearing so that a waste outlet of the free end of the bend section floats above the water level. This prevents water filling into the waste outlet of the bend section and flowing back up the waste water pipe into a building.

Ideally, the float means is provided by a tubular float section mountable onto/into the free end of the tubular bend section.

Advantageously, the open tubular member is connectable to the end of a waste pipe at or about the point where the open end of the waste pipe discharges the waste fluid into a waterway. The tubular bend section and appended float section is generally suspended above or floating in the waterway. As the water level rises in the water way as a result of flooding, the open end of the tubular bend section or float section also rises up in the water as a result of the natural buoyancy of the float means.

Preferably, the bend section has a bend angle in the range of 9Q0 to 150°.

Ideally, the bend section has a bend angle of approximately 90°.

Preferably, the roller bearing comprises a plurality of elongate rollers housed between overlapping cylindrical tubular walls of the connector pipe and the bend section.

Ideally, seal means are located on both sides of the roller bearing.

Preferably, the seal means are located between overlapping cylindrical tubular walls of the connector pipe and the bend section.

Ideally, the seal means comprises a mutually opposing circular groove in each of the overlapping cylindrical tubular walls of the connector pipe and the bend section on each side of the roller bearing, the circular grooves being in alignment with one another and a compressible ring member being located within the aligned circular grooves.

Preferably, lubricant means is deliverable into the volume defined between the elongate rollers and the overlapping cylindrical tubular walls of the connector pipe and the bend section.

Preferably, the lubricant means is grease.

Advantageously, the bend section causes a reduced force on the joint between the waste pipe and the connector pipe because the major portion of the length of the bend section and preferably the float section lies substantially in the direction of the flow of water in the waterway.

Ideally, the float section or the movable section has float means.

Preferably, the float section or the movable section has float means provided by a buoyancy arrangement.

Ideally, the buoyancy arrangement is provided by an air cavity enclosed within the wall of the float section or the movable section.

Ideally, the air cavity at least partially extends around the circumference of the float section or the movable section.

Preferably, the air cavity encircles the float section or the movable section at or about their open end.

Ideally, the air cavity is provided by a hollow bulbous portion encircling the open mouth of the float section or the movable section. The bulbous portion encircling the open mouth of the section provides a curved surface. Advantageously, the curved surface prevents rodents and the like from getting a foothold/grip on the end of the section and entering a building via the waste water pipe.

Preferably, the circumferential edge of the free end of the section has a curved surface. Advantageously, the curved surface prevents rodents and the like from getting a foothold/grip on the end of the section and entering a building via the waste water pipe.

Ideally, length adjustment means are mountable in/on the free end of the movable section or the float section or mountable between the movable section and the float section.

Preferably, the length adjustment means comprises an open tubular pipe.

Ideally, a range of lengths of open tubular pipes are mountable in/on the free end of the movable section or the float section or between them. Advantageously, connecting additional pipes onto the end of the existing movable section or float section prevents water flowing into the open end of the additional pipes tolerating greater flood heights.

Alternatively, the length of the movable section and/or float section can be adjusted to accommodate various flood heights in specific regions.

Preferably, the portion of the movable section with a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the direction of the flow of the water way can have its length adjusted and preferably increased.

In use, the flood prevention device has a first starting position where the level of water in the river is in a normal condition below the level of the waste pipe outlet. The free end of the movable section or the tubular float section is directed downwards towards the water below.

During a flood event, the flood prevention device has a possible range of positions from six o'clock to twelve o'clock and back to six o'clock as a consequence of ongoing flooding. The open end of the movable section or the tubular float section rises with the water level to retain the open mouth of the movable section or the float section just above water level. Even in severe flood conditions, no flood water flows back up the waste pipe through the open tubular member as the open mouth of the flood prevention device is held above the water line at all times.

Ideally, lock means are provided between the waste pipe and the open tubular member for preventing the movable section or the float section rotating past the upright substantially vertical twelve o'clock orientation in the event of a flood. Alternatively, the lock means are omitted from the flood prevention device so that reverse flow of water in the waterway as a result of the flood water receding or tidal motion allows rotation of the flood prevention device both clockwise and anticlockwise.

Preferably, lock means are provided between the connector pipe and the movable section of pipe for preventing the movable section or the float section rotating past the upright substantially vertical twelve o'clock orientation in the event of a flood.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which shows by way of example only one embodiment of a flood prevention device in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: is Figure 1 is a sectional view of the flood prevention device; Figure 2 is a detail view of the roller arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail view of the seal arrangement; Figure 4 is sectional view of a flood prevention device in situ on a waste water pipe suspended over water in a waterway; Figure 5 is a schematic drawing showing the flood prevention device in two positions in use; Figure 6 is detail sectional view of the float section; and Figure 7 is an end view of the float section.

In the drawings, and referring initially to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a flood prevention device indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The device 1 is provided for preventing the flooding of buildings through a waste pipe 21. The flood prevention device 1 is an open tubular arrangement 2 and the open tubular arrangement 2 has a connector pipe 3 mounted onto the end of the waste pipe 21 using a normal pipe jointing system known in the art. The open tubular arrangement 2 has a bend section 4 and an arrangement 5 for facilitating coaxial rotation of the bend section 4 relative to the connector pipe 3 mounted between the bend section 4 and the connector pipe 3. The arrangement 5 for facilitating rotation of the bend section 4 relative to the connector pipe 3 has a plurality of rollers 6. A tubular float section 7 is mounted on the free end 8 of the bend section 4 using a normal pipe jointing system known in the art. The float section 7 is an essential feature of the invention to ensure the open end of the flood prevention device I always remains above the level of the flood water.

Advantageously, the rollers 6 allow the bend section 4 to rotate coaxially relative to the connector pipe 3 SO that as the level of water in the waterway rises up to contact the free end of the float section 7, the float section 7 can rotate about the rollers 6 50 that the open mouth 9 of the free end of the float section 7 floats above the water level. This prevents water filling into the open mouth 9 of the float section 7 and flowing back up the waste water pipe 21 into a building.

Advantageously, the open tubular arrangement 2 is connected to the end of a waste pipe 21 at or about the point where the open end of the waste pipe 21 discharges the waste fluid into a waterway. The free end of the float section 7 is generally suspended above or floating in the waterway. As the water level rises in the water way as a result of flooding, the open end 9 of the float section 7 also rises up in the water as a result of the natural buoyancy of the float section 7. The bend section 4 has a bend angle in the range of 90° to 1500 and in the embodiment shown in the drawings the bend section 4 has a bend angle of approximately 90°.

The rollers 6 are arranged as a plurality of elongate rollers 6 housed between overlapping cylindrical tubular walls 11, 12 of the connector pipe 3 and the bend section 4 respectively. A lubricant, not shown is delivered into the volume defined between the elongate rollers 6 and the overlapping cylindrical tubular walls 11, 12 of the connector pipe 3 and the bend section 4 respectively. The lubricant is provided by any standard lubricating grease commonly used with moving parts and machinery. A seal arrangement 31, see especially Figure 3 is located on both sides of the rollers 6. The seal arrangements 31 are mounted between overlapping cylindrical tubular walls 11, 12 of the connector pipe 3 and the bend section 4 respectively. The seal arrangements 31 have a mutually opposing circular groove 32 in each of the overlapping cylindrical tubular walls 11, 12 of the connector pipe 3 and the bend section 4 on each side of the rollers 6. The circular grooves 32 are in alignment with one another and a compressible ring member 33 is located within the aligned circular grooves 32.

Advantageously, the bend section 4 allows a reduced force to act on the joint between the waste pipe 21 and the connector pipe 3 because a major portion of the length of the bend section 4 and substantially all of the float section 7 lies substantially in the direction of the flow of water in the waterway.

Referring to the drawings and specifically to Figures 1, 6 and 7, the float section 7 has a buoyancy arrangement 14 provided by an air cavity 15 enclosed within the wall of the float section 7. The air cavity 15 at least partially extends around the circumference of the float section 7 and in the embodiment shown the air cavity 15 encircles the float section 7 at or about the open end 9. The air cavity 15 is provided by a hollow bulbous portion 14 encircling the open mouth 9 of the float section 7 and the hollow bulbous portion 14 encircles the open mouth 9 of the float section 7 providing a curved surface 16. Advantageously, the curved surface 16 prevents rodents and the like from getting a foothold/grip on the end of the float section 7 and entering a building via the waste water pipe 21. The entire circumferential edge 17 of the free end of the float section 7 from the internal diameter 18 of the float section 7 has a curved surface 16. Advantageously, the curved surface 16 prevents rodents and the like from getting a foothold/grip on the end of the float section 7 and entering a building via the waste water pipe.

A length adjustment arrangement, not shown can be mounted in/on the free end of the bend section 4 or the float section 7 or between them. The length adjustment arrangement can be provided by one or more open tubular pipes. A range of lengths of open tubular pipes can be mounted in/on the free end of the bend section 4 or the float section 7

S

or between them. Advantageously, connecting additional pipes onto the end of the existing bend section 4 or float section 7 or between them 4, 7 allows the waterway to flood to a greater height before the water can pour into the open end of the flood prevention device 1.

Alternatively, the length of the bend section 4 and/or float section 7 can be adjusted to accommodate various record flood heights in specific regions.

Referring to the drawings and now to Figures 4 and 5, the flood prevention device I is shown mounted on the end of the waste pipe 21 extending from a location inside the building 26 to a location at the edge of a water way 23.

The flood prevention device 1 has a first position shown in Figures 4 and 5 where the level of water 22 in the waterway 23 is in a normal condition below the level of the waste pipe outlet 25. The bend section 4 and the tubular float section 7 are directed downwards towards the water 22 below.

During a flood event, the flood prevention device 1 has a second position, not shown where the level of water in the waterway is in a partial flood condition proximal to the level of the waste pipe outlet 25. The longitudinal axis of the free end portion of the bend section or the float section is substantially parallel to the main plane of the surface of the rising water maintaining an open mouth of the bend section or the tubular float section just above water level.

During a flood event, the flood prevention device 1 has a possible range of positions from six o'clock to twelve o'clock and back to six o'clock as a consequence of ongoing flooding. An eleven o'clock position is shown in the dotted lines in Figure 5 where the level of the water 22 begins to rise above the outlet 25 of the waste water 21 as a consequence of ongoing flooding. The open end of the bend section 4 or the tubular float section 7 rises with the water level to retain the open mouth of the bend section 4 or the float section 7 just above the new flood water level 28. Even in severe flood conditions, no flood water flows back up the waste pipe 21 through the open tubular member 2 as the open mouth of the flood prevention device 1 is held above the water line 28 at all times by its own buoyancy.

A lock arrangement, not shown can be provided between the waste pipe 21 and the open tubular member 2 to prevent the bend section 4/float section 7 rotating past the upright twelve o'clock position in the event of a flood. Alternatively, the lock arrangement is omitted from the flood prevention device 1 so that reverse flow of water in the waterway as a result of the flood water receding or tidal flows allows rotation of the flood prevention device I clockwise and anticlockwise.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the following drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing a disclosed function, or a method or a process of attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for preventing the flooding of buildings through a waste pipe comprising an open tubular arrangement, the open tubular arrangement comprising a connector pipe mountable into/onto the end of the waste pipe and a movable section of pipe movably coupled to the connector pipe so that waste is conveyable along the connector pipe and the movable section of pipe during normal use, the movable section of pipe having a waste outlet and being movable relative to the connector pipe during flooding to maintain the waste outlet above the level of the flood water, the open tubular arrangement having float means.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable section of pipe is a bend section mounted into/onto the connector pipe.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein means for facilitating coaxial rotation of the r bend section relative to the connector pipe is mounted between the bend section and C) O 15 the connector pipe so that the bend section is rotatable to maintain the waste outlet of N. the bend section above the level of the flood water.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the bend section has float means detachably couplable thereto.
5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the means for facilitating coaxial rotation of the bend section relative to the connector pipe comprises a roller bearing.
6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the float means is provided by a tubular float section mountable onto/into the free end of the tubular bend section.
7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the bend section has a bend angle in the range of 900 to 1500.
8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the roller bearing comprises a plurality of elongate rollers housed between overlapping cylindrical tubular walls of the connector pipe and the bend section.
9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein seal means are located on both sides of the roller bearing.
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the seal means are located between overlapping cylindrical tubular walls of the connector pipe and the bend section.
11. A device as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the seal means comprises a mutually opposing circular groove in each of the overlapping cylindrical tubular walls of the connector pipe and the bend section on each side of the roller bearing, the circular grooves being in alignment with one another and a compressible ring member being located within the aligned circular grooves.
12. A device as claimed in claim 8 to 11, wherein lubricant means is deliverable into the volume defined between the elongate rollers and the overlapping cylindrical tubular walls of the connector pipe and the bend section.
13. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable section r has float means. C)

O 15
14. A device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the float section or the movable section has float means provided by a buoyancy arrangement.
15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the buoyancy arrangement is provided by an air cavity enclosed within the wall of the float section or the movable section.
16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the air cavity at least partially extends around the circumference of the float section or the movable section.
17. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein length adjustment means are mountable in/on the free end of the movable section or the float section or mountable between the movable section and the float section.
18. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein lock means are provided between the waste pipe and the open tubular member for preventing the movable section or the float section rotating past the upright substantially vertical twelve o'clock orientation in the event of a flood.
19. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein lock means are provided between the connector pipe and the movable section of pipe for preventing the movable section or the float section rotating past the upright substantially vertical twelve o'clock orientation in the event of a flood.
20. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings. r a)N