Patent ID: 6623209
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: E02B,E06B

Abstract:
A self-actuating flood guard system for refusing admission of rising surface water into a structural opening of a construction, the opening having opening limiting margins including a bottom, said system comprising:a buoyant gate having a base, sides, a front, a back and dimensions occlusive of at least a lower portion of said opening, said base being arranged for location adjacent said bottom of said opening, pivotation members hinging said gate at said base about a pivot axis parallel to said bottom of said opening and allowing said gate to rest substantially parallel and adjacent grade proximately in front of said opening for pivotation upwardly toward and transversely to said opening, a pair of upright walls reaching from grade and extending alongside said sides of said gate at rest, said walls having facing surfaces spaced apart sufficiently to allow the gate to pivot upwardly between them toward said opening with the sides of said gate close enough to the facing wall surfaces to permit hydrostatic pressure of surface water rising from said grade to develop against the back of the gate effective to impart a closing force on the gate after the gate buoyantly has pivoted from rest upwardly about said axis, and jambs adjacent at least side margins of said opening for confronting and stopping rotation of said gate about said axis when said gate is rotated a predetermined extent under said closing force of said rising water hydrostatic pressure, thereby putting said gate in a closed position refusing admission of rising water into at least a lower portion of said opening.