WO2014001582A1

WO2014001582A1 - Self-extending flood barrier for an opening in a building

Info

Publication number: WO2014001582A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/063877
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Mcgurk
Original assignee: John Mcgurk
Priority date: 2012-06-29
Filing date: 2013-07-01
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: EP2898168A1; GB201211637D0; EP2898168B1

Abstract

A flood barrier (1) having a plurality of panels (2) joined by at least one flexible joint (3), and an arrangement for deploying the flood barrier (1). The panels being movable relative to one another about the at least one flexible joint by the deployment arrangement. At least part of each panel being adherable to a surface proximal to a building opening (6), each panel in turn being capable of forming a watertight seal with the surface proximal to the building opening as the flood barrier (1) is deployed from a stowed position to an in use position.

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] SELF-EXTENDING FLOOD BARRIER FOR AN OPENING IN A BUILDING

The present invention relates to a barrier apparatus and in particular to an apparatus for preventing ingress of flood waters through an external opening in a building.

Flooding is periodic problem locally, with most regions experiencing some level of flood conditions every few years. Worldwide, some areas can experience severe flooding on an annual basis. While infrastructure improvements in the form of drainage and flood retention measures can help to prevent flood water reaching buildings, these measure can only do so much and once breached, there is often little between the oncoming flood water and the buildings in its path. The UK environment agency predicts that approximately 500,000 UK homes are at significant risk of flooding with the possibility of this figure increasing due to the effects of climate change on sea levels.

When flooding does occur, the cost to rectify the damage caused can amount to billions of pounds. The devastating UK floods of 2007 cost a total of £3.2 billion, including more than £2 billion in costs to homeowners and businesses. While the 2007 flooding was extreme, the average annual bill for flooding has been rising for some years and it is estimated that in 2012 it will amount to over £1 billion for the first time. Moreover, due to the increasing impact and cost of flooding, some homes in England and Wales are coming dangerously close to being labeled as uninsurable because of the risks involved.

Considering the huge impact flooding can have, there are still few options for individual buildings to protect themselves from its effects. Once the infrastructure defenses are broken, individual building defenses mainly consist of sandbags and other such basic barrier methods. While not widely utilized, some additional methods of flood prevention exist which form a watertight barrier across the doorways of a building, preventing access of water. Most of these devices are user initiated either by manual operation or activation of a switch. While these devices may prevent water entering a home through a doorway, the reliance on the occupant or owner of the premises activating the barrier in a timely manner often means that the barrier is raised too late, with the water already having accessed the building before barrier activation.

Many of the existing solutions also require large reservoirs/retraction chambers to be dug beneath the doorway to which the barrier is to be applied. In addition, vertical channels in the doorway are often required to retain the barrier and act as a slidable guide to aid movement and the forming of a seal where the barrier meets the doorway. These methods may be viable for a new build property as this reservoir and slidable guide channels can be created during construction, however retrofitting these devices to existing properties can be difficult, expensive, and detrimental to the aesthetic of the doorway area.

With the previously mentioned issues surrounding flooding of homes considered a serious risk with regards to insurance, it will become increasingly important that individual building owners and occupants can find a better yet cost effective means to protect their assets should a flood occur and the infrastructure defenses be breached. Otherwise, these homes may become uninsurable, and as a result, potentially unmortgagable.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problem of providing a flood defense barrier for openings in a building which can be retrofitted to an existing building with minimal adaptation of the existing structure and which can be activated in a timely manner ensuring erection of the barrier prior to flood waters gaining access through the opening.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a flood barrier comprising a plurality of panels joined by at least one flexible joint, and a means for deploying the barrier, the panels being movable relative to one another about the at least one flexible joint by the deployment means, at least part of each panel being adherable to a surface proximal to a building opening, each panel in turn being capable of forming a watertight seal with the surface proximal to the building opening as the barrier is deployed from a stowed position to an in use position.

Advantageously, the flood barrier adheres to the surface proximal to the building opening one panel at a time in sections as it rises forming a watertight seal of increasing height as it is deployed.

Further advantageously, the movable nature of the panels relative to each other results in a barrier that can be folded or rolled to a shape which is easily storable in a small compartment beneath the building opening in the stowed position.

Ideally, the panels are rigid or semi-rigid.

Preferably, the opening in the building is a doorway.

Ideally, the surface proximal to the building opening has a float engagement means locatable thereon.

Preferably, the float engagement means is locatable on the exterior facing surface of the surface proximal to the building opening.

Alternatively, the float engagement means is locatable on the interior facing surface of the surface proximal to the building opening.

Ideally, the float engagement means extends vertically a distance up the exterior facing surface of the surface proximal to the building opening.

Preferably, there are two float engagement means, one locatable on each side of the building opening.

Preferably, the float engagement means is a channel extrusion.

Ideally, the channel extrusion is a J-Shaped channel extrusion.

Preferably, the float engagement means is integratable with an adhesion surface.

Ideally, the float engagement means and adhesion surface are manufactured as one extrusion.

Preferably, the barrier has at least one float means which has a means for receiving the float engagement means.

Ideally, the barrier has two floats means.

Ideally, the means for receiving the float engagement means is a corresponding channel receiving means.

Ideally, the channel receiving means receives at least a portion of the float engagement means.

Preferably, the floats have mutually opposing faces when attached to each end of a spindle.

Preferably, each float has the channel receiving means formed in their mutually opposing faces.

Ideally, the float engagement means protrude into the mutually opposing faces of the floats through the channel receiving means.

Advantageously, as the float engagement means protrude in to the floats in opposing directions, this restricts the lateral movement of the floats and spindle and forces the floats to rise vertically upwards.

Preferably, the adhesion means are magnetic adhesion means.

Ideally, the magnetic adhesion means are locatable on the barrier.

Alternatively, the magnetic adhesion means are locatable on a surface proximal to the doorway opening.

Preferably, the magnetic adhesion means have a corresponding adhesion surface.

Ideally, where the magnetic adhesion means are locatable on the barrier means, the corresponding adhesion surface is locatable on a surface of the doorframe.

Preferably, where the magnetic adhesion means are locatable on a surface of the doorframe, the corresponding adhesion surface is locatable on the barrier means.

Ideally, the corresponding adhesion surface is manufactured from stainless steel.

Advantageously, the magnetic adhesion means and the corresponding adhesion surface adhere upon contact, forming a watertight seal between the two components which is further strengthened as water rises and hydrostatic pressure increases.

Preferably, the barrier has a watertight seal means locatable between the barrier and the adhesion surface at or about the adhesion means.

Ideally, the watertight seal means is locatable at least at or about the adhesion means.

Preferably, the watertight seal means is a rubber seal means.

Ideally, the barrier is a flexible barrier.

Preferably, the panels of the barrier are joined by a flexible membrane.

Ideally, the joints extend along the longitudinal edges of the panels.

Ideally, the panel joints maintain a watertight seal.

Preferably, the panels are of a honeycomb type construction.

Ideally, the panels are reinforced.

Preferably, the panels comprise a plate having a raised reinforcement structure formed on one side.

Ideally, the panels comprise a flat plate having a raised reinforcement structure formed on one side.

Preferably, the raised reinforcement structure is formed on the side of the panels which face away from the building.

Ideally, the raised reinforcement structure has a trapezium cross section.

Preferably, the raised reinforcement structure extends from both longitudinal edges of the panel and tapers towards the center of the panel starting at or about the panel joints. Advantageously, this creates a wedge shaped gap running along the length of the joint between adjacent raised reinforcement structures when the barrier is in the in use position. Advantageously, the tapered raised surfaces can provide support and alignment for the panels as the panels fold about their joints closing the wedge shaped gap as the panels are rolled back onto the mandrel while still allowing the panels to collapse together in a compact manner around the mandrel.

Ideally, the tapered surfaces of the raised reinforcement structure are truncated prior to the surfaces tapering to a point.

Preferably, the truncated surface extending between the two tapered surfaces of the raised reinforcement structure provides the complementary surface for engaging the corresponding surface of the polygonal mandrel.

Ideally, the panels are manufactured from a thermoplastic material.

Preferably, the panels are manufactured from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene.

Alternatively, the panels are manufactured from a composite plastic material.

Ideally, the barrier including panels and panel joints is manufactured as a one piece component.

Preferably, the one piece component is manufactured by injection moulding.

Preferably the raised reinforcement structure defines cavities.

Ideally, some of the cavities are receiving cavities.

Ideally, the magnetic adhesion means is removably insertable into at least one receiving cavity of a panel.

Preferably, the magnetic adhesion means is held in place by securing means locatable on the walls of the receiving cavity.

Alternatively, the barrier comprises a plurality of flat plate members.

Ideally, the flat plate members have magnetic adhesion means fixably attachable thereto.

Preferably, the flat plate members and fixably attached magnetic adhesion means are incasable in a flexible waterproof material.

Ideally, the incasing waterproof material extends between adjacent flat plate members forming a flexible joint.

Preferably, the barrier has a means for deploying the panels.

Ideally, the means for deploying the panels is a central spindle.

Preferably, the central spindle is fixably attachable to one end of a final panel.

Ideally, the panels of the barrier fold/roll around the central spindle as the barrier moves between a stowed position and an in use position.

Ideally, a lowermost panel is fixably attachable to the surface proximal the doorway opening or to a holding chamber for housing the barrier.

Advantageously, the lowermost panel provides an anchor for the central spindle and panel arrangement, encouraging the central spindle to remain close to the building opening as the barrier moves between a stowed position and an in use position.

Preferably, the panels form a concentric folding/rolled arrangement around the central spindle.

Ideally, the panels form a roll around the central spindle.

Preferably, the panels increase in length with the shortest panel attachable to the central spindle and the longest panel distal the shortest panel at the other end of the barrier. Advantageously, the increasing length of the panels allow these panels to fold around the central spindle initially and each other subsequently in a neat roll fashion without pressure on the joints between the panels.

Alternatively, the spindle is a multi-faced mandrel.

Ideally, the multi-faced mandrel has a polygonal shaped cross section.

Preferably, the cross sectional shape of the multi-faced mandrel ranges from triangular to a decahedron and every number of faces in between.

Ideally, where the cross sectional shape of the multi faced mandrel is triangular, three panels are provided for operable engagement with the mandrel.

Preferably, where the cross sectional shape of the multi faced mandrel is quadrangular, four panels are provided for operable engagement with the mandrel and where a pentagonal cross sectional mandrel is used five panels are provided and so on.

Ideally, each mandrel face has a complementary panel face when in the stowed position.

Preferably, the complementary panel face is a truncated face between the two most tapered points of the tapered reinforcement structure.

Ideally, the tapered surfaces of each adjacent panel reinforcement structure are complementary and in an abutting relationship when in the stowed position.

Advantageously, the panels fit neatly around the spindle.

Preferably, the central spindle has protruding ends which extend beyond the width of the barrier.

Ideally, the central spindle has the float means attachable to each of its protruding ends.

Ideally, the float means has spindle receiving means.

Preferably, the spindle receiving means allows free rotation of the central spindle about the float means.

Advantageously, as the float means rise with the rise of oncoming flood water, the spindle can rotate, and as a result deploy the barrier, laying the panels out one at a time onto the corresponding adhesion surface to which they magnetically adhere.

Preferably, the spindle is also buoyant.

Ideally, the spindle is manufactured from a buoyant material.

Alternatively, the spindle has a central cavity.

Preferably, the central cavity of the spindle is filled with a buoyant material.

Further alternatively, the central cavity of the spindle is filled with a gas and sealed resulting in overall spindle buoyancy.

Ideally, the spindle receiving means is an elongated slot formed for journaling the ends of the central spindle.

Preferably, the elongated slot is rotatably mounted in the float means.

Ideally, the elongated slot has at least two positions.

Preferably, the elongated slot has a stagnant position and a rising position.

Ideally, the stagnant position is substantially horizontal.

Advantageously, the central spindle is allowed to move freely in a horizontal fashion within the confines of the elongated slot when the flood water is no longer rising. This reduces the pulling forces on the already attached panels which may otherwise result in their detachment from the adherence surface.

Preferably, in the rising position, the elongated slot is rotated to an inclined position with the lowest point of the incline closest to the doorway opening.

Advantageously, when the flood water rises and subsequently the float rises, the elongated slot is rotated to the inclined position and the central spindle is forced to follow the incline downwards and towards the doorway opening. This movement encourages the barrier and its panels towards the doorway opening and the associated adherence surface as the barrier rises.

Alternatively, the float means, central spindle, and barrier are manually retractable to a holding chamber when no flood water is present allowing cleaning of the barrier prior to refitting in the stored position.

Ideally, the holding chamber is formed underground, beneath the level of the doorway opening.

Preferably, the holding chamber has three sections, one end section for each float and a central section for the barrier and central spindle arrangement.

Ideally, when the lid is closed, water can flow freely into end sections of the holding chamber.

Advantageously, during flood conditions, the end sections of the holding chamber will fill with water and if the water level continues to rise beyond this point, the float means will rise from the holding chamber, lifting the lid and carrying with them the spindle and barrier means. As the spindle rises, the panels deploy one at a time, adhering to the adhesion surface as they go.

Preferably, the holding chamber is a box with a lid.

Ideally, the lid is locatable across the top face of the box.

Ideally, the lid has means for allowing opening.

Preferably, the means for allowing opening is a hinge.

Ideally, water is directed into the holding chamber by openings in the lid or between the lid and the box of the holding chamber.

Advantageously, as flood water rises and the float means and barrier rise from the holding chamber, the lid will lift open by contact with the barrier/float means to allow free vertical movement of the float means and attached components.

Ideally, during flood free conditions the holding chamber is disposed below ground level providing no obstacle to the doorway opening.

Preferably, all components of the arrangement for preventing ingress of water are re-usable and can be re-set in the holding chamber after utilization.

Ideally, for larger building openings, reinforcement means are insertable behind the barrier between the barrier and a closable door or other structure.

Advantageously, where the building opening spanned by the barrier is a width that would result in bowing of the panels under the hydrostatic pressure, reinforcement means provide support to counteract this bowing effect.

Ideally, the reinforcement means are blocks formed for insertion between the barrier and the door or other structure.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention. In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the doorway and flood barrier apparatus in a partially deployed position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the flood barrier apparatus in a fully deployed position;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the doorway and flood barrier apparatus in a fully retracted position showing a spindle receiving member in two positions;

Figure 4 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view of the holding chamber and the barrier in a partially deployed position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of panel having honeycomb structured panels;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention having a multi-faced mandrel;

Figure 7 is a second perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention mounted on a door opening having a multi-faced mandrel and showing the internal structure of the mandrel; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the J-channel and float detail.

In the drawings, there is shown a flood barrier apparatus indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 comprising a plurality of rigid panels 2 joined by flexible joints 3 and a spindle 15 for deploying the panels 2 which are movable relative to one another. A part of each panel has a magnet 4 attached which adheres to an adhesion surface 5 attached proximal to the building opening 6. Each panel 2 in turn forms a watertight seal with the metallic plate 5 of the building opening 6 as the barrier 1 is deployed from a stowed position to an in use position.

A float engagement J-channel 28 see Figure 8 is located on each exterior side of the building opening 6 and they extend vertically a distance upwards proximal to the building opening 6. The float engagement J-channel 28 is integrated with the adhesion surface 5. The barrier 1 has two floats 19 for receiving the float engagement J-channel 28. Each float has a channel receiving member 29 which receives the float engagement J-channel 28. The floats 19 have mutually opposing faces 30, 31 when attached to each end of a spindle 15 and each float has the channel receiving member 29 formed in their mutually opposing faces 30, 31. As the float engagement J-channels 28 protrude in to the floats 19 in opposing directions, this restricts the lateral movement of the floats 19 and spindle 15 and forces the floats 19 to rise vertically upwards.

The panels 2 magnetically adhere to the adhesion surface 5 one panel 2 at a time in sections as it rises, forming a watertight seal of increasing height as it is deployed. The water tight seal is further strengthened by hydrostatic pressure as the water rises and the barrier 1 is further deployed. The movable nature of the panels 2 relative to each other results in a barrier 1 that can be folded or rolled to a shape which is easily storable in a small compartment 7 beneath the building opening 6. The barrier 1 has a watertight seal member 13 located between the barrier 1 and the adhesion surface 5.

The flexible joints 3 extend along the longitudinal edges 8 of the panels 2 and maintain a watertight seal. In the second embodiment shown in figure 5, the panels 2 are of a honeycomb type construction comprising a flat plate 9 having a raised reinforcement structure 10 formed on the surface of the panels 2 which face away from the building. The raised reinforcement structure 10 is tapered towards the center of the panel 2 at the panel joints 3 providing support while still allowing the panels 2 to fold at their joints 3 and collapse together in a compact manner. The raised reinforcement structure 10 defines cavities 11 into which the magnets 4 are removably inserted and held in place by securing members 12 located on the walls 13 of the receiving cavity 11.

In a first embodiment shown in Figure 1, the barrier 1 comprises a plurality of flat plate members 9 which have magnets 4 fixed to the metallic plate contacting surface 5. The flat plate 9 and magnet 4 arrangement is then incased in a flexible waterproof material 14 which extends between adjacent flat plate members 9 forming a flexible joint 3.

The barrier 1 has a central spindle 15 see Figure 2 fixed to one end of a final panel 16 and the panels 2 fold/roll around the central spindle 15 forming a roll 17 around it.

The panels 2 increase in length with the shortest panel 16 attached to the central spindle 15 and the longest panel 17 distal the shortest panel 16 which allows the panels 2 to fold around the spindle 15 initially and each other 2 subsequently in a neat roll fashion without pressure on the joints 3 between the panels 2. An anchor panel 41 coupled to the longest and lowermost panel 17 is fixably attached to a holding chamber 7 or to the surface 27 proximal the doorway opening 6 and provides an anchor for the central spindle 15 and panel arrangement, encouraging the central spindle 15 to remain close to the building opening 6 as the barrier 1 moves between a stowed position and an in use position in the event of a flood.

The central spindle 15 has protruding ends 18 which extend beyond the width of the panels 2 at each side. These protruding ends 18 have floats 19 attached by insertion of the spindle 15 into spindle receiving members 20 in the floats 18 see Figures 2 and 3. The spindle receiving members 20 allow free rotation of the central spindle 15 so that as the floats 19 rise, the spindle 15 can rotate, and as a result deploy the panels 2 laying them out one at a time onto the adhesion surface 5 to which the panels 2 magnetically adhere. The spindle receiving member 20 is an elongated slot 21 rotatably mounted in the floats 19 and formed for journaling the ends of the central spindle 15. The elongated slot 21 has two positions, a stagnant position as shown in the lowermost float position in Figure 3 which is substantially horizontal and a rising position as shown in the uppermost float position in Figure 3 where the elongated slot 21 is rotated to an inclined position 22 with the lowest point of the incline closest to the doorway opening 6. In the stagnant position, the central spindle 15 is allowed to move freely in a horizontal fashion within the confines of the elongated slot 21 when the flood water is no longer rising. This reduces the pulling forces on the already attached panels 2 which may otherwise result in their detachment from the adhesion surface 5. In the rising position, the elongated slot 21 is rotated to an inclined position 22 with the lowest point of the incline closest to the doorway opening 6. When the flood water rises and subsequently the float 19 rises, the elongated slot 21 is rotated to the inclined position 22 and the central spindle 15 is forced to follow the incline 22 downwards and towards the doorway opening 6. This movement encourages the barrier apparatus 1 and its panels 2 towards the doorway opening 6 and the associated metallic plate 5 as the apparatus 1 rises.

In one embodiment as shown in figures 5 to 7, the spindle is a multi-faced mandrel 32. Each mandrel face 33 has a complementary panel face 34 when in the stowed position. The tapered surfaces 35 of each adjacent panel reinforcement structure 10 are complementary and in abutting face to face relationship when in the stowed position allowing the panels 2 to fit neatly around the mandrel 33. The mandrel 33 is also buoyant as is manufactured from a buoyant material, and/or has a central cavity 36 filled with a buoyant material or with a gas and sealed.

The holding chamber 7 is a box formed underground beneath the level of the doorway opening 6 and has a lid 23 locatable across its top face with a hinge (not shown) for allowing opening of the lid 23. The holding chamber has three sections, two

end sections

24, 25 for each float 19 and a central section 26 for the barrier 1 and central spindle 15. When the lid 23 is closed, water can flow freely into the holding chamber 7 between the lid 23 and the holding chamber 7 and/or through perforations in the lid 23. During flood conditions, the barrier apparatus 1 will rise from the holding chamber 7 under the influence of the floats 19, lifting the lid 23 by contact and carrying with them the spindle 15 and panels 2. As the spindle 15 rises, the panels 2 deploy one at a time, adhering to the adhesion surface 5 as they go. During flood free conditions the holding chamber 7 is disposed below ground level providing no obstacle to the doorway opening 6.

All components of the flood barrier 1 are re-usable and can be re-set in the holding chamber 7 after utilization. For larger building openings, filler sections (not shown) are provided behind the barrier 1 on its side not contactable with the flood water. Where the building opening spanned by the barrier 1 is a width that would result in bowing of the panels 2 under the hydrostatic pressure, filler sections (not shown) provide support to counteract this bowing effect.

In relation to the detailed description of the different embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that one or more technical features of one embodiment can be used in combination with one or more technical features of any other embodiment where the transferred use of the one or more technical features would be immediately apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art to carry out a similar function in a similar way on the other embodiment.

In the preceding discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of the said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

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 as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A flood barrier (1) comprising a plurality of panels (2) joined by at least one flexible joint (3), and a means for deploying the flood barrier (1), the panels being movable relative to one another about the at least one flexible joint by the deployment means, at least part of each panel being adherable to a surface proximal to a building opening (6), each panel in turn being capable of forming a watertight seal with the surface proximal to the building opening as the flood barrier (1) is deployed from a stowed position to an in use position.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flood barrier (1) has a means for deploying the panels.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for deploying the panels comprises a central spindle (15, 32).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central spindle (15, 32) is fixably attachable to one end of a final panel (16).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the panels of the flood barrier (1) fold/roll around the central spindle as the flood barrier (1) moves between a stowed position and an in use position.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the spindle is a multi-faced mandrel (32).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein each mandrel face (33) has a complementary panel face (34) when in the stowed position.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panels comprise a raised reinforcement structure (10) formed on one side of the panel, the raised reinforcement structure (10) extends from both longitudinal edges of the panel and tapers towards the center of the panel starting at or about the panel joints, the tapered surfaces (35) of the raised reinforcement structure being truncated.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 7 and 8, wherein the complementary panel face (34) is the truncated surface between the two most tapered points of the tapered surfaces.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the tapered surfaces (35) of each adjacent panel reinforcement structure (10) are complementary and in an abutting relationship when in the stowed position.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the central spindle has protruding ends (18) which extend beyond the width of the flood barrier (1).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the central spindle (15) has float means (19) attachable to each of its protruding ends.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the float means (19) has spindle receiving means (20).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the spindle receiving means (20) allows free rotation of the central spindle (15) about the float means (19).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein, the spindle receiving means (20) is an elongated slot formed for journaling the ends of the central spindle.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the elongated slot is rotatably mounted in the float means having at least two positions.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of claims 15 or 16, wherein the elongated slot has a stagnant position and a rising position, the stagnant position being substantially horizontal where the central spindle is allowed to move freely in a horizontal fashion within the confines of the elongated slot when the flood water is no longer rising, in the rising position, the elongated slot is rotatable to an inclined position with the lowest point of the incline closest to the doorway opening so that when the flood water rises and subsequently the float rises, the elongated slot is rotated to the inclined position and the central spindle is forced to follow the incline downwards and towards the doorway opening.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface proximal to the building opening has a float engagement means (28) locatable thereon.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the float engagement means (28) is locatable on the interior or exterior facing surface of the surface proximal to the building opening (6).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the float engagement means (28) extends vertically a distance up the interior or exterior facing surface of the surface proximal to the building opening.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein there are two float engagement means (28), one locatable on each side of the building opening.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the float engagement means is integratable with an adhesion surface (5).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 22, wherein the float engagement means and adhesion surface are manufactured as one extrusion.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the flood barrier (1) has two float means which have a means for receiving the float engagement means.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesion means are magnetic adhesion means.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the magnetic adhesion means are locatable on the flood barrier (1).
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein, the magnetic adhesion means have a corresponding adhesion surface and where the magnetic adhesion means are locatable on the flood barrier (1) means, the corresponding adhesion surface is locatable on a surface of the doorframe and where the magnetic adhesion means are locatable on a surface of the doorframe, the corresponding adhesion surface is locatable on the flood barrier (1) means.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flood barrier (1) has a watertight seal means locatable between the flood barrier (1) and the adhesion surface at or about the adhesion means.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flood barrier (1) is a flexible barrier.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panels of the flood barrier (1) are joined by a flexible membrane and the joints extend along the longitudinal edges of the panels wherein the panel joints maintain a watertight seal.
A flood barrier (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a holding chamber (7) is formed underground, beneath the level of the doorway opening, the holding chamber having three sections, one end section for each float and a central section for the barrier and central spindle arrangement.
A flood barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.