JP2011521126A - Self-closing flood barrier and method for protecting hinterland using it - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-closing flood barrier that protects the hinterland from flooding, which flood barrier incorporates a chamber comprising a first side wall (20) and a second side wall (21) and water. A water inlet, a single support block disposed on the first side wall (21), and a dam wall member disposed in the chamber so as to be movable up and down. The dam wall member includes a holding wall (4) that prevents water from flowing into the hinterland, a force generation element (4, 5a, 5b) that causes the dam wall member to move upward, and an obstacle that restricts upward movement. A block element (5b) for providing a block element and a block element comprising an inclined surface (16). The support block comprises an inclined surface (17) that contacts the inclined surface (16) of the block element (5b) with the flood barrier closed. Depending on the direction of the inclined wall of the support block, the block element moves laterally, thereby generating a lateral force that presses the dam wall member against one side of the chamber.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a self-closing flood barrier and a method for protecting hinterland from flooding by means of such a self-closing flood barrier.

  Self-closing flood barriers are known in which the dam wall is pushed up from the chamber each time the chamber is filled with water. Such a flood barrier can be introduced, for example, on a riverbank embankment. This flood barrier rises automatically when a flood occurs, thereby protecting the hinterland. Compared to conventional flood barriers, movable flood barriers, also called movable dams, have the advantage of constructing dams only when really necessary. Under normal circumstances, this dam is underground and cannot be seen from the surroundings.

  The movable dam may include a vertical holding wall provided with a buoyant body housed in the chamber on the lowermost surface. This buoyancy body pushes the retaining wall out of the chamber through an opening in the top of the chamber. The buoyancy body can further function as a block element for restricting upward movement of the holding wall. If the buoyant body is thicker than the upper opening of the chamber, it cannot leave the chamber.

  European Patent Application Publication No. 1950352 (A2) discloses a flood barrier having a rectangular support block attached to one of the chamber walls on one side of the chamber. The buoyant body has a slightly tilted, almost vertical side, which moves the dam wall to the back side of the flood barrier during floods. The buoyancy body further has an extension at the bottom, and comes into contact with the bottom of the rectangular support block during a flood. Since the flood barrier is a special structure, the retaining wall and the buoyant body act like a lever, and water pressing the river side of the retaining wall tends to tilt the levitation part. Due to this inclination, the maximum pressure between the levitation unit and the chamber is generated around the upper part of the chamber on the backland side and between the support block and the buoyant body on the river side. The contact surface is very small on both sides. As a result, flood barriers become unstable when variable water pressure occurs on top of the retaining wall due to waves. Furthermore, this contact surface is susceptible to wear from high and variable pressures.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a flood barrier that is more stable and more durable than state-of-the-art barriers.

This objective is achieved by a self-closing flood barrier that protects the hinterland from flooding, which is:
A chamber comprising a first side wall and a second side wall;
-A water inlet for taking in water;
A single support block arranged on the first side wall;
-A dam wall member arranged in the chamber for movement up and down, said dam wall member:
-A retaining wall to prevent water from flowing into the hinterland;
-A force generating element that causes the dam wall member to move upward;
Providing an obstacle for restricting upward movement, comprising a block element with an inclined surface;
The support block has an inclined surface that contacts the inclined surface of the block element with the flood barrier closed.

  When water flows into the chamber, the dam wall member rises, which eventually pushes the inclined surface of the block element against the inclined surface of the support block. This causes lateral movement until the dam wall member contacts the second side wall of the chamber. In the closed state, the dam wall member has two contact surfaces, so that the pressure is reduced compared to the state of the art barrier. This reduces wear and further stabilizes the entire barrier.

  By using only one support block, the dam wall member is pressed against the backland side wall, and as a result, the sealing of the dam wall member is improved. Furthermore, using only one support block is less expensive than having two support blocks. In addition, the use of one support block is significant if the flood barrier must be serviced or repaired.

  In an embodiment, the dam wall member comprises a substantially flat surface facing the second side wall adjacent to the second side wall. This flat surface is significant to make the closed barrier more stable.

  In the embodiment, the flood barrier includes a sealing member disposed on a substantially flat surface near the lower outer end of the dam wall member, and water flows between the dam wall member and the second side wall. To prevent. Such a sealing member enhances the sealing performance of the flood barrier, and as a result, in the event of a flood, it prevents water from flowing through the flood barrier from the waterside to the hinterland. In addition, the water pressure at the second side surface of the wall member is reduced, and the dam wall member is not inclined so that the dam wall member is separated from the chamber wall at the lower portion. The sealing member preferably includes rubber or the like.

  In a particular embodiment, the inclined surface of the support block and the inclined surface of the block element are at an angle with respect to the vertical direction at least during use, this angle being between 30 ° and 60 °, preferably about 45 °. It becomes equivalent.

  Preferably, the support block is detachably disposed on the first side wall.

  The support block may comprise a bottom that is connectable to the first side wall of the chamber by connecting means.

  The support block may further comprise a lockable inlet that provides access to the coupling means. In this way, the management group can have access to the coupling means in a very simple and effective way. This inlet can be opened after separating the connecting means and removing the support block.

  The inclined surface of the blocking element preferably moves to a surface that is at least inclined away from the first side wall of the chamber, at least in the closed state. In this way, the fixing of the dam wall member is minimal.

  The block element, the force generating element and the holding wall are preferably one integral part. This facilitates manufacture and assembly.

  The self-closing flood barrier chamber may be arranged to be installed underground or partially underground depending on the purpose.

  In an embodiment, the chamber is substantially located underground and communicates with the service pit via a water inlet / outlet.

  Preferably, the flood barrier includes a lid that closes the chamber opening, and the lid is secured to the upper outer end of the dam wall member. The lid may further function as a further extension of the flood barrier in the event of a flood to prevent waves from approaching beyond the outer upper edge of the dam wall member. This lid also functions as a breakwater.

Finally, the present invention also relates to a method for protecting hinterland from flooding by means of a self-closing flood barrier as described above, which method comprises:
Providing a flood barrier as described above;
The steps to bring the flood barrier into operation:
Incorporating water into the chamber to push up the dam wall member.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be illustrated, with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example only, and corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a flood barrier according to the invention in a stationary state. FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the closed state. FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross section of a chamber according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in a flood barrier with two ground load plates attached to the top of the side walls.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a floodwall according to the invention as applied to a dike 1. FIG. 1 shows a stationary flood barrier at a waterside where the river 10 is at a normal water level.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the flood barrier comprises a chamber 3 having a water side wall 20 and a hinterland side wall 21. The chamber 3 further comprises a bottom 22 connected to the two side walls 20, 21 respectively. The walls 20, 21 can be made of wrought iron or can be other suitable configurations known to those skilled in the art, such as concrete. In the chamber 3, there is a holding wall 4 supported on the lowermost surface by a buoyancy body 5. Preferably, the retaining wall 4 comprises polyester. This material reinforcement may be filled with foam, like a sandwich structure, and is very robust and very lightweight. In this embodiment, the flood barrier further comprises a lid 6 fixed on top of the retaining wall 4. The holding wall 4 having the buoyancy body 5 is also called a dam wall member. The buoyant body 5 is composed of two, preferably integrated parts 5a, 5b, which actually function as both a force generating element for moving the dam wall member upward and a block element for restricting upward movement. Please note that.

  Further, the flood barrier may include a support block 7 detachably connected to the water side wall 20 by the method of the connecting means 15. In a very simple embodiment, this connecting means comprises a water body 15. In this embodiment, the support block 7 comprises an inlet 14 that is closed by a cover 23. In the embodiment, the position where the support block 7 is attached to the side wall 20 is adjustable. In this method, the opening of the chamber 3 can be adjusted to a desired size.

  In this embodiment, the flood barrier further comprises a service pit 9 and is connected to the chamber 3 via a water inlet / outlet 24. The water inlet 24 is connected to the vertical pipe 12 in the service pit. The water inlet / outlet 24 comprises a valve 13 and is opened when the chamber 3 is empty. In this case, the water inlet / water outlet functions as the water outlet 24. The service pit 9 communicates with the waterside of the bank 1 shown in FIG. Flood barriers are virtually invisible under normal water level conditions. At the upper part, the lid 6 fixes the space of the groove part under normal conditions.

  FIG. 2 shows the self-closing flood barrier of FIG. 1 in the event of a flood, where a flood has occurred and the water level of the river 10 is high. Only after the water level of the river 10 rises above the inlet height of the pipe 12, the pipe and the water inlet 24 are filled with water, and a water flow toward the chamber 3 is generated. Since the holding wall 4 having the buoyant body 5 can float on the water surface, the water in the chamber 3 moves the holding wall 4 upward. The dam wall member moves upward until the buoyancy body 5 is pressed against the inclined wall 17 of the support block 7 on the upper side surface. This not only limits the upward movement of the dam wall 4 but also presses the dam wall 4 against the back side wall 21 of the chamber 3. As soon as the chamber 3 is completely filled, the closure seal 8 secures the barrier against water. Here, the water level can rise further without flooding in the protected area, ie the hinterland.

  By using the service pit 9, the flood barrier functions fully automatically without having to control the water inlet. Note that the service pit 9 further functions as a kind of water filter. Soil and mud coming from the riverbank accumulate at the bottom of the service pit and do not reach chamber 3.

  Preferably, the sealing member 8 is disposed on or on the flat side surface of the dam wall member and is disposed on the lower end of the dam wall member. In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the sealing member 8 blocks the space between the dam wall member and the backland side wall 21. In this method, the pressure between the back side wall 21 and the dam wall members 4, 5 is significantly lower than the pressure between the water side wall 20 and the dam wall members 4, 5. This pressure difference creates a force that prevents the lever mechanism as described in EP 1950352 (A2).

  Once the water level has dropped to a normal height, the chamber 3 is drained by means of a water outlet 24 having a one-way check valve 13 or by means of a pump (not shown). Once the water exits chamber 3, the dam wall member returns to a rest position within the chamber. The lid 6 at the top of the dam wall 4 is then closed to prevent waste or debris from entering. FIG. 1 shows a state where the dam wall member is not stationary on the floor of the chamber 3. This is caused by the space in which mud and the like can accumulate. Such deposits substantially raise the floor of the chamber 3, but this rise does not affect the rest position of the dam wall member. As a result, the lid always closes the opening of the chamber 3 even when the soil is at the bottom of the chamber 3. Furthermore, due to the weight of the dam wall member, the lid is pressed downward and as a result is closed by gravity.

  Preferably, the lid 6 is arranged to support the vehicle and may be part of a road surface or a sidewalk. The normal numerical value of the height of the holding wall 4 is 50 cm, 100 cm, 150 cm, 200 cm or 250 cm. However, higher flood barriers are possible.

  The flood barrier includes one or more seals 26, 27, as shown in FIG. 2, to prevent debris such as soil or driftwood from flowing into the chamber at the upper inlet when the water level drops. It is preferable that

  FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross section of a chamber according to one embodiment. The support block 7 is attached to the inner side surface of the chamber wall 20. The inclined surface 17 of the support block 7 has an angle α with respect to the vertical direction, preferably 30 to 60 °, more preferably about 45 °. It is preferable to use the same angle α for the inclination of the surface 16 of the buoyancy body 5. By such an angle, there is no risk that the dam wall member stops between the walls, and the vertical movement of the dam wall member becomes smooth. This risk is further limited by the fact that the buoyant body 5 has a surface 19 that is remote from the inner side surface of the wall 20 in the closed state.

  FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a flood barrier comprising two ground load plates 41, 42 attached to the top of the side walls 20, 21. These plates reduce the pressure at the outer surface of the chamber wall, thereby reducing the risk of deformation of the chamber. In particular, the plates 41 and 42 are useful when a large vehicle passes through the flood barrier.

  While specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as described. For example, the present invention can be utilized to provide a door for closing / protecting the entrance of a garage or any other building. It can even be assumed that a wall formed by the flood barrier described above is provided on the water basin.

  The above description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Thus, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention as described without departing from the scope of the claims set out below.

Claims (13)

In a self-closing flood barrier that protects hinterland from flooding, the flood barrier is:
A chamber comprising a first side wall (20) and a second side wall (21);
-A water inlet for taking in water;
A single support block arranged on the first side wall (21);
A dam wall member disposed in the chamber for movement up and down, the dam wall member comprising:
A retaining wall (4) that prevents water from flowing into the hinterland;
A force-generating element (4, 5a, 5b) that provides upward movement of the dam wall member;
A block element (5b) for providing an obstacle to restrict said upward movement, comprising a block element comprising an inclined surface (16);
Self-closing flood barrier, characterized in that the support block comprises an inclined surface (17) in contact with the inclined surface (16) of the block element (5b) with the flood barrier closed.   The self-closing flood barrier according to claim 1, wherein said dam wall member comprises a generally flat surface (18) facing said second side wall (21) adjacent to said second side wall. A self-closing flood barrier characterized by   The self-closing flood barrier according to claim 2, wherein the flood barrier comprises a sealing member disposed on the generally flat surface (18) near the lower outer end of the dam wall member, A self-closing flood barrier, wherein water is prevented from flowing between the dam wall member and the second side wall (21).   The self-closing flood barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inclined surface of the support block and the inclined surface of the block element are provided with an angle with respect to a vertical direction at least during use. Self-closing flood barrier, characterized in that is equivalent to 30 ° to 60 °, preferably about 45 °.   5. The self-closing flood barrier according to claim 1, wherein the support block is detachably disposed on the first side wall. 6.   6. The self-closing flood barrier according to claim 5, wherein the support block includes a bottom portion connectable to the first side wall of the chamber by connecting means.   7. A self-closing flood barrier according to claim 6, wherein the support block comprises a lockable inlet providing access to the connecting means.   The self-closing flood barrier according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the inclined surface (16) of the blocking element (5b) is at least in the closed state the first side wall of the chamber. Self-closing flood barrier, characterized in that it moves to a surface (19) that is far from or at least inclined away from (20).   Self-closing flood barrier according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the block element (5b), the force generating element (5a) and the retaining wall (4) are one integral part. A self-closing flood barrier characterized by   The self-closing flood barrier according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the chamber is arranged to be installed underground or partially underground. Closed flood barrier.   The self-closing flood barrier according to claim 10, wherein the chamber is arranged substantially underground and communicates with a service pit through a water inlet / outlet. Flood barrier.   The self-closing flood barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the flood barrier includes a lid for closing an opening of the chamber, the lid being the dam wall member. A self-closing flood barrier characterized by being fixed to the upper outer end of the. A method for protecting a hinterland from flooding by means of a self-closing flood barrier as claimed in any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises:
Providing the flood barrier;
-Bringing the flood barrier into operation;
Taking water into the chamber to push up the dam wall member.

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