GB2525382A

GB2525382A - Flood Seal

Info

Publication number: GB2525382A
Application number: GB1406338.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William M Snape
Original assignee: William M Snape Manufacturing Services Uk Ltd
Current assignee: William M Snape Manufacturing Services Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2014-04-08
Filing date: 2014-04-08
Publication date: 2015-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-08
Also published as: GB2525382B; GB201406338D0

Abstract

The flood seal arrangement 500 comprises a closure member 200, a frame 300 and a seal arrangement located on the lower edge of the frame, wherein when the closure member is closed first and second seal portions 600, 700 are arranged to effect a seal with the frame, with an opening 10 between the seal portions whereby, in use, flood water extends into the opening and the greater the water pressure in the opening the greater the sealing effect. The opening may be closed by a resilient member 606 which engages with the closure member and flexes under pressure of flood water. The arrangement may comprise a chamber 12 including a compressible sealant material which is compressed upon closing of the closure member, by water pressure in the opening or by the seal portions. The seal portions may be formed separately or integrally. The closure member may be a door, window or flood barrier. Also claimed is a method of sealing a closure member.

Description

FLOOD SEAL ARRANGEMENT

The present invention relates to an flood seal arrangement and in particular, but not exclusively a door flood seal arrangement.

Door assemblies and, in particular, exterior door assemblies are often formed from a door assembly heaving a moveable door that is hinged to a frame. The door can swing open and closed. When closed, the frame extends about the exterior periphery of the door. Thus, for a standard rectangular door, the frame is also rectangular. Here, it is common for the frame to be fabricated from two uprights and top and bottom cross members.

Extruded frames and doors are well known. For instance, PVC extruded frames and doors.

Here it is common for the same moulding to be used on the uprights and also the cross members. The profile of the mouldings include cavities and channels for thermal insulation, strength and for filling gaskets etc as is required for that particular application. However, often, due to the associated fabrication costs, only a discrete number of mouldings are made and a mix and match of standard mouldings is used to customise each door assembly for the given application.

A problem with known door assemblies is that, in the event of flood water rising against the outside of the door, the water moves relatively freely through passageways between the door and frame and enters the property. This is assisted because a drainage path is deliberately formed in the door assembly, in order to drain, in normal use, any water that works its way between the glazing bead and glazing (or door panel). Thus there is a requirement for door assemblies to be flood resistant to around 0.6 m. It is not thought necessary to go higher as, in this case, it is thought likely that floating debris is likely to cause more damage than the flood water.

It is known to provide exterior shutters, for instance metal plates, that can be fitted to the outside of the door assembly to seal the door and to also protect against floating debris.

However, this relies on the occupier being forewarned about the flood and also requires the occupier to be in a position and to be conscientious enough to fit the plate.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a known door assembly in an open position and, Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the door assembly of Figure 1 in a closed position.

Referring to Figure 1, a door assembly 100 comprises a door 200 that is hinged to a frame 300. The door is hinged so as to open inwardly or outwardly from the frame in any well known manner. In a closed position, the frame surrounds the door such that a substantially continuous periphery of the door is overlapped by the frame. For instance, the overlap may be formed by a thickness of the door or on a front or rear face of the door. In addition to the usual rainwater seals 210 on the door and 310 on the frame, which are fixed to the respective members and arranged to seal to the opposite of the frame or door when the door is closed, a further seal 400 is provided between a sealing member 410 that is fixed to on of the door or frame and a resilient member that is fixed to the other of the door or frame. Advantageously, this seal provides a flood resistant barrier to seal between the overlapping portions of the frame and doors. The flood resistant barrier is formed automatically each time the door is closed. Here, the resilient member is substantially softer than the material used for the door and frame. Suitably, in the Figures, the seal 410 is shown as being sealed to the door and the resilient member sealed to the frame. The resilient member 420 and seal 410 are arranged to extend substantially continuously about the lower periphery of the overlap between the door and frame. Thus, the seal 400 provides an improved resistance to the ingress of flood water through the gap between the door and frame. It is believed that the seal is improved against the existing seals that provide a seal between the frame and door because of the resiliency of the member 420. It has been found that a resilient member having a hardness of around 46 % Shore 00 ± 8% is particularly suitable as a lower limit. As is explained, whilst a soft material assists in the forgiveness of tolerances, it is prone to damage and therefore is particularly suited to inaccessible portions of the gap. As an upper limit, and for areas that are particularly easy to access or that are subject to heavy traffic, a material having a hardness of 65% Shore A ± 5% has been found to be particularly suitable.

Results have found that sealing a standard gasket seal 410 against such resilient members provides the desired resistance to flooding whereas the seals 310 and 210 that are formed against the rigid and non-resilient PVC or other frame/door material do not. The gasket seal 410 can be held to one of the frame or door using any known technique and, if available, may use existing channels in the extrusion (particularly where an un-modified extrusion is being used). Alternatively, it can be sealed to the extrusion using a sealant. Likewise, the resilient member can be sealed to one of the frame ordoorwith sealant.

As well as the additional seal 400, it is also necessary to seal the drainage path that is provided through the door and frame when using existing extrusion profile. The drainage path can be seen more clearly in Figure 2. Here the drainage path through the door has been blocked by silicone at areas 220a, band c and also through the frame at areas 320a, b c and d in order to prevent rainwater from running between a glazing gasket 230 and glazing or other panel 232. Preferably, the cavities 234, 235 and 236 are also filled with sealant.

Consequently, the door and frame are provided as sealed units such that the only remaining path for flood water is between the interface between the frame and door. It will be appreciated that the sealing of the drainage path in the door and frame has been described as an example only and that other extrusion profiles may require other or different areas plugged or Flied with sealant in orderto provide watertight, sealed units. It will also be appreciated that he frame will need to be joined or affixed to the wall in a sealed manner. Also, where the frame sits on a sill (as shown in Figure 2), the frame and sill will need to be sealed to each other and to the floor. Sealant can be used or any other conventional method.

The seal 400 is shown arranged in the Figures on a thickness of the door. However, if the door assembly is such that the door and frame overlap on a front or rear face of the door, the seal 400 maybe arranged accordingly. Importantly, the seal 400 is arranged between an overlapping portion of the frame and door. Suitably, the resilient member extends across at least 40% of the overlap between the frame and door. However, the seal may extend at least 50 % or at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90% or substantially the full width of the overlap between the door and frame. Advantageously, because the resilient member extends a substantial distance across the overlap, any differences in the tolerances (because of manufacture or assembly) of the door assembly are accommodated and a seal between the seal 410 and resilient member 420 is maintained.

As shown in Figure 1, when the door and frame overlap on an edge or thickness of the door, the seal 400 is provided about a substantially continuous outer periphery of the thickness.

Here, because the extruded profile forming the upright to which the door is hinged, remains partially inaccessible when the door is in an open position, a resilient member 420a having a low hardness value can be used as the material is protected from damage due to its inaccessibility. In contrast, the seal and resilient member on the lower cross member and opposed upright are not protected when the door is open and therefore prone to damage from foot traffic or, for example, from abrasion whilst prams or other equipment are brought through the door. Thus, it is preferable for the resilient member here to be formed from a material 420b having a higher hardness value.

With this known door assembly though it is possible that some leakage could occur particularly when the Food water achieves a greater height. For instance the flood water could push past the contact region of the seal 310 and the door and then past the seal 400.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved flood seal arrangement that attempts to overcome at least one of the above or other identified problems.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how embodiments may be carried into effect reference will now be made by way of example with reference to Figures 1 and 2 already described and with reference to the further accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 3 to 5 are detailed views of X of Figure 2 showing an alternative flood seal arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention with the door 200 in a closed position.

The flood seal arrangement 500 includes a pair of strip seals 600 and 700 that are attached to the fixed part of the door frame 300. The first strip seal 600 may be so attached by including an enlarged head 602 located in channel 302 of the frame 300. The head 602 may be attached by the resilient head being pushed through or being slid along an opening 304 leading to the channel, which opening 304 is smaller than the channel 302 and smaller than the head 602 whereby the strip seal 600 is held in place by the resilient face of the head 602.

Alternatively or additionally attachment means may be used such as adhesive.

The second strip seal 700 includes an enlarged head 702, the neck 704 of which may be trapped between a downwardly extending arm 604 of the first seal 600 and the upwardly facing surface of the resilient member 420. Altematively or additionally other attachment means may be used such as adhesive.

A chamber 12 may be formed between the head 702, the arm 604, the resilient member 420 and the frame 300. The chamber 12 may be filled with a sealant such as a resilient sealant which may be a silicon sealant.

When the door 200 is closed the outer region 202 of the door may contact and flex and possibly compress a first arm 706 of the second seal 700 which arm 706 may extend towards the door 200 away from the periphery of the door.

The first arm 706 may be in contact with the first arm 604 of the first seal 600 whereby as the arm 706 is moved upon closure of the dooi from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 3 the arm 604 is moved outwardly towards the frame 300. Closure of the door may cause a second arm 606 of the first seal, which arm may extend outwardly towards the periphery of the door, to come into contact with the outer region 202 of the door. This contact may cause the second arm 606 to be flexed which may form a seal against the outer region.

The second arm may be at least partially caused to move upon closure of the door by the first arm 706 bearing against a third arm 608 of the first seal or by a second arm 708 of the second seal 700 bearing against the second arm 604 of the first seal 600 or by both.

Any of the movements referred to may be about a hinge region of the first or second seal.

In the position shown in Figure 3, normal rain water may collect on the upper surface of the second arm 606 and the outer region 202 of the door frame and may run off the top of the first seal and the frame 300.

In the event that the door becomes at least partially submerged in a flood then water will farce itself between the seal between the second arm 600 and the outer region 202 of the door into a water chamber 10 defined between the outer region 202 of the door, the inwardly facing surface of the second arm 706 of the second seal, the outwardly facing surface of the first arm 706 and the inwardly facing surface of the third arm 608 of the first seal In the position shown in Figure 3 and 4 it can be seen that the water pressure in the chamber urges the arm 706 into greater contact with the outer region of the door. This may be assisted by the inclined outer surface of the arm 706. The innermost extent of the arm 706 with respect to the outer region of the door may be nearerto the periphery of the doorthan the outermost extent of the end of the arm 606.

The seal to the door may be located inwards of the seal to the frame and the seal to the frame may be located outwards of the periphery of the door.

In addition the water pressure in the chamber 10 urges the first arm 604 outwardly away from the door towards or against the inwardly facing surface of part of a portion 610 that connects the arm 604 with the arms 606 and 603 or, alternatively or additionally towards an inwardly extending surface (not shown) of the second arm 708 that faces at least partially towards the door and with which the lower end of the third arm at least partially overlaps.

With such an arrangement the greater the water pressure the greater the sealing between the arms 608 and 708. Figure 5 illustrates the portion of the seals under even greater flood water pressure than the pressure in Figure 4. Alternatively or additionally, the greater the water pressure the greater the force of the first aim 604 on the neck 704 and the greater the sealing effect. Alternatively or additionally, the greater the water pressure in the chamber 10, the greater the force of the arm 604 against the resilient sealant in the chamber 12. Alternatively or additionally the greater the pressure in the chamber 10 the greater the outwards compression of the second seal 700 which may assist in comprising the sealant in the chamber 12 either by directly acting on the sealant or by acting on the sealant via the first arm 604 or both. The force acting on the sealant 12 may be directed outwardly and away from the outer face of the door.

Alternatively or additionally the greater the pressure in the chamber 10 the greater the outward force on the second seal and the first arm 604 against the resilient sealant in the chamber 12.

The first seal may be made of more yielding material than the second seal. Alternatively or additionally the arm 608 of the first seal 600 may be thinner than the arm 706 of the second seal (not shown).

Alternatively or additionally the first and second seals may be integrally formed. In such an integrally formed seal the free end of the arm 608 may connect with the outwardly facing surface of the arm 706.

The resilient member 420 may be replaced by a non resilient member.

The seal may extend around the corners of the door and frame. The seals may extend at least partially up the sides of the frame and may surround the frame.

The door may be arranged to open inwardly or outwardly.

Whilst sealing has been referred to it is possible that a very small leakage may occur.

However tests have shown that there is no, or virtually no leakage when the water is at a depth of 600mm.

Whilst the present invention has been described in relation to doors it is also applicable to other structures movable from an open to a closed portion such as, but not limited to, windows or flood barriers.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Consequently, there is provided a door assembly that provides an automatic flood resistant seal each time the door is closed. Thus, fore-warning and operator dependency have been removed and therefore greater protection afforded to properties.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), orto any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

SClaims 1. A flood seal arrangement including a closure member that is connected to a frame such that, in the closed position, the member and the frame overlap to form a substantially continuous overlap over the lower edge region of the member and at least partially up each side region of the member from the lower region, with a seal arrangement being provided on the frame at the lower edge region of the frame and at least partially up each side region of the frame from the lower edge region of the closure member whereby, when the member is in the closed position a first seal portion of the seal arrangement extends inwardly of the periphery of the member with at least a part of the surface of the first portion facing away from the member being inclined inwardly towards the inner most extent of the first seal portion and a second seal portion arranged to effect a seal with the frame with an opening being formed between the first seal portion and the second seal portion whereby, in use, when flood water is against the member that flood water extends into the opening to urge the first seal portion into sealing engagement with the door and to urge the second seal portion into sealing engagement with the frame whereby the greater the water pressure in the opening the greater the sealing effect of the first and second seal portions.
2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which the opening is closed by a resilient member engaging with the closure member when the door is closed and in which flood water is arranged to enter the opening between the closure member and the resilient member as a result of the pressure of that flood water causing the resilient member to flex away from the closure member over at least part of its extent.
3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in which the resilient member is arranged to close the opening at an extent inwards of the inner most portion of the first sealing portion.
4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the resilient member is integrally formed with the second sealing portion.
5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim including a chamber including compressible sealant material.
6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 in which the sealant material is arranged to be compressed upon closing of the closure member.
7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which the sealant material is arranged to be compressed by water pressure in the opening.
8. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 in which the sealant material is arranged to be compressed by an extension of the first seal portion.
9. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8 in which the sealant material is arranged to be compressed by the second seal portion.
10. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 5 to 9 in which at least part of the sealant material is located outwardly of the periphery of the closure member when the closure member is closed and when viewing the closure member from the front of the door.
11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 in which the sealant material is located completely outwards of the periphery of the door.
12. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first seal portion is formed of resilient material.
13. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the second seal portion is formed of resilient material.
14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12 and 13 in which the first seal portion is less resilient than the second seal portion.
15. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first seal portion and the second seal portion are formed as separate portions.
16. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14 in which the first and second seal portions are integrally formed.
17. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the force exerted on the second seal portion by flood water is arranged to be exerted outwardly and away from the closure member.
18. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the closure member is a door or a window or a flood barrier.17. A method of sealing a closure member with a floor sealing arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim comprising causing flood water to enter the opening and causing the first seal portion to bear against the closure member to form a seal therewith at least partially as a result of the water pressure in the opening and causing the second seal portion to effect a seal with the frame at least partially as a result of the water pressure in the opening.