Automatic liquid barrier system

A liquid barrier system automatically deploys when a predetermined liquid level is attained, thereby preventing water or other liquid from entering a structure through an accessway, and automatically retracts when the liquid level recedes. The liquid barrier system includes a float housing assembly installed substantially below grade and adjacent an accessway to a structure. The system also includes a float assembly having a float which is positionable within a float housing relative to a liquid level in the housing. A barrier assembly includes a barrier interconnected to the float, and one or more seal members disposed along a periphery of an accessway. In a high water event, the float rises with the liquid level in the float housing thus causing the barrier to automatically deploy into a sealing engagement with the seal member(s) along the periphery of the accessway, thereby preventing the entry of fluid into the structure.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is directed to a liquid barrier system structured to automatically deploy in high water conditions, so as to prevent water from entering a structure through an accessway, and to automatically retract when the high water condition subsides. The system is structured to be installed in conjunction with a new structure, or an existing structure may be retrofitted to incorporate the inventive system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ART

Impending flood conditions may result from extended periods of rainfall which saturates or supersaturates the water table and/or cause rivers to crest and breach their banks, or from sudden torrential downpours as are often associated with tropical weather fronts which have the same impact over significantly shorter timeframes. In either case, a common response to imminent flood conditions is to construct one or more temporary barrier(s) to protect homes, stores, offices, and other structures from rising flood waters in order to prevent damage to personal and/or business belongings inside of such structures. For example, sandbags are often filled and placed along the periphery of a structure, particularly adjacent accessways located at or near ground level, such as windows and doors. Alternatively, or in addition to sandbags, temporary dikes or levees may be constructed outward of the perimeter of a structure so as to prevent flow from reaching the structure and/or to redirect floodwaters around the particular structure to a point downstream. Of course, in the event the water table becomes supersaturated, water may rise up above the ground level inside the perimeter of such a dike or levee, thereby providing a source of liquid to enter and damage the structure.

Yet another problem with reliance upon such a temporary barrier in response to an impending flood condition is that there is often a “run” on materials, i.e., sand and sacks needed to make sandbags, or other materials necessary to construct a temporary dike or levee. Even in the event the necessary materials are readily available, the construction of one or more temporary barriers is labor intensive and, thus, time consuming, such that it may not be feasible to construct a temporary barrier in advance of potential flood conditions. Furthermore, as the presence of such temporary barriers severely inhibits normal ingress and egress from a structure, they are normally removed once flood conditions subside, thus making it necessary to reconstruct anew in advance of each potential flood event. As a result, and as noted above, it may not always be feasible to construct a temporary barrier in time to prevent significant liquid infiltration into a structure and subsequent damage. The time factor is exacerbated in the case of a rapidly moving severe storm front which may cause unexpected flooding in certain areas, i.e. flash floods, in which there simply is not time to construct any temporary barriers in advance of flooding conditions.

As such, it would be beneficial to provide a barrier assembly that is structured to automatically deploy when conditions produce liquid levels above a predetermined level, wherein the barrier is structured to seal an accessway to a structure, thereby preventing infiltration of floodwater or other free flowing liquid into the structure. Further, it would be helpful if such an assembly were structured such that it automatically returned to a retracted, storage configuration once flood conditions subside, and liquid levels recede below the predetermined level. Another benefit may be realized by providing such a barrier assembly which may be installed adjacent an accessway to a structure in a manner that does not impede normal ingress or egress through the accessway, when the barrier assembly is not deployed in a sealing configuration. In addition, it would be preferable for such an assembly to be constructed so as to support heavy equipment traffic thereover when disposed in a retracted, storage configuration, such heavy traffic including, by way of example only, trucks, fork lifts, etc., such as may traverse an accessway at a commercial facility.

SUMMARY

As stated above, the present application is directed to an automatic liquid barrier system for an accessway, such as a door, window, or other opening into a structure located at, near, or below ground level. The present disclosure is intended for use in residential, commercial, manufacturing, or any other structure having at least one accessway which is susceptible to infiltration of liquid in a high water event, such as floodwater.

The system comprises a float housing assembly installed adjacent the accessway, the float housing assembly including a float housing having an inlet to permit liquid to enter and an outlet to permit liquid to exit. In the embodiments illustrated in the figures presented herein, the float housing is structured to be installed substantially below grade, however, it is envisioned that the float housing may be installed at least partially above-grade, such as in the instance where the lowest point of entry through an accessway is positioned at an elevation which is also above-grade.

In any event, the system includes a float assembly structured to be moveably received within the float housing. More in particular, the float assembly in accordance with the present disclosure comprises a float which is structured to be positionable within the float housing relative to a liquid level therein. That is to say, as water or other liquid enters the float housing through the inlet at a rate that is greater than the rate of discharge of liquid through the outlet, such as will typically occur when the water table is saturated or supersaturated, liquid will accumulate and rise within the float housing, thereby causing the float assembly, and in particular, the float, to rise relative to the liquid level within the float housing.

The system presented in the present application further comprises a barrier assembly including at least one barrier, the barrier being interconnected to at least a portion of the float assembly and being moveable therewith. In addition, the barrier assembly comprises at least one seal member mounted along at least a portion of a periphery of the accessway of the structure, the seal member being cooperatively structured with the barrier to form a sealing engagement about the portion of the periphery of the accessway. Of course, it is well within the scope and intent of the present disclosure for the barrier assembly to comprise a plurality of seal members to provide a sealing engagement with the barrier about a portion of the periphery of a large or irregularly configured accessway.

As stated above, the float assembly comprises a float which is positionable within said float housing relative to a liquid level therein, and the barrier is interconnected to at least a portion of the float assembly and moveable therewith. As such, the barrier is automatically deployed into the sealing engagement with the seal member along the portion of the periphery of the accessway when the float is positioned at a predetermined elevation within the float housing by a predetermined level of liquid therein. Further, the sealing engagement is at least partially defined by a liquid resistant seal being formed around at least the portion of the periphery of the accessway to prevent a liquid from entering therethrough.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to an automatic liquid barrier system for an accessway, as shown at10throughout the drawings. More in particular, the system10in accordance with the present disclosure is structured to prevent a flow of liquid, such as rain or flood water, into a structure via an accessway such as a door, window, or other opening through an external wall of the structure. Further, the present disclosure contemplates structures such as residential homes or apartments, office buildings, commercial properties, including for example, store fronts, warehouses, etc., as well as various industrial and manufacturing facilities. In fact, the system10is versatile enough to provide an automatic liquid barrier system10to protect any of the aforementioned structured, as well as other structures not specifically discussed herein.

To begin, the automatic liquid barrier system10includes a float housing assembly, as shown at20throughout the figures, installed adjacent an accessway into a structure. Further, and as shown in the illustrative embodiment ofFIGS. 2,3and6, the float housing assembly20comprises a float housing21structured to be installed substantially below grade. As noted above, however, it is within the scope and intent of the system10of the present disclosure for the float housing assembly20and/or the float housing21structured to be installed at least partially above-grade, such as may be necessitated in the case where the lowest point of entry through an accessway into a structure is at an elevation which is above-grade.

The float housing assembly20includes a cover assembly22which is structured to substantially overlay the upper portion of the float housing21, thereby limiting access into the float housing21from the top. The cover assembly22includes at least one inlet22′, however, in at least one embodiment the cover assembly22of the float housing assembly20comprises a plurality of inlets22′, as illustrated best inFIGS. 1 and 5. In one embodiment, the inlet22′ comprises a strainer, screen, or filter member structured to readily permit the passage of liquid, but to prevent the passage of debris into the float housing21which may impede the operation of the system10.

In addition, the float housing21includes at least one outlet26structured to permit liquid to exit therefrom. A strainer, screen, or filter member may be positioned across the outlet26to permit the passage of liquid, but prevent the inflow of underlying sediment or other materials into the float housing21, which may occur in saturated or supersaturated groundwater conditions.

A further consideration with respect to the float housing assembly20is that the assembly20comprises a width which is generally about the same as the width of an accessway for which an automatic liquid barrier system10in accordance with the present disclosure is installed. Thus, it will be appreciated that the float housing assembly20comprises a width ranging from essentially the size of a single doorway structured to provide access for person's to enter and exit a structure, to the size of a large garage, loading dock or loading bay entrance designed for cars, trucks, heavy equipment, etc., to enter and exit a commercial, industrial, and/or manufacturing structure.

Yet another consideration with respect to the float housing assembly20is that the assembly20is structured to support at least the design loads expected to pass thereover during normal entry and/or exit of the structure through a particular accessway. Specifically, when an accessway comprises a door, window, or other opening designed primarily for person's to enter or exit the structure, the float housing assembly20, and more in particular the cover assembly22, either alone or in combination with the corresponding float housing21, is structured to support at least the normal design loading associated with such pedestrian traffic through the accessway. As such, the cover assembly22comprises a load bearing member23, such as illustrated inFIGS. 2,3, and6, which overlays the float housing21and is structured to support at least the normal design loading associated with such pedestrian traffic during normal entry and/or exit of the structure via a particular accessway.

As noted above, in at least one embodiment the system10is structured to be installed adjacent a large accessway into a structure, such as, by way of example only, a garage door, a loading dock or loading bay entrance, etc. In such an embodiment, the float housing assembly20, and once again in particular the cover assembly22, must be structured to support at least the normal design loading as would be expected for heavy equipment traffic through such an accessway. For example, when the system10is installed adjacent a loading dock or loading bay entrance, the float housing assembly20must be structured to support at least the normal design loads associated with, by way of example only, cars, trucks, vans, loaded forklifts, fully loaded tractor trailers, and/or heavy construction equipment, which routinely enter or exit through such a loading dock or loading bay. Once again, the cover assembly22comprises at least one load bearing member23to accommodate the loads presented by such heavy equipment traffic. Furthermore, in the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the load bearing member23is structured to overlay and extend beyond the periphery of the float assembly21onto an underlying concrete encasement28which supports the load bearing member23and receives the loading forces transferred therefrom. More in particular, in at least one embodiment, the load bearing member23is substantially supported by the underlying concrete encasement28, such that essentially all of the load applied to the cover assembly22is transferred from the load bearing member23to the concrete encasement28, and not to the float housing21.

In view of the wide range of potential loading requirements of the float housing assembly20, a correspondingly wide variety of materials of construction are available for the same. For example, for smaller accessways, such as are utilized primarily for the entry and exit of personnel, such as through a door16as shown inFIG. 5, the materials of construction for the float housing assembly20include but are not limited to plastic materials, such as, high density polyethylene (“HDPE”) and polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”), fiberglass, poured concrete, prestressed concrete, structural steel, or other metal or metal alloy. Of course, other materials having suitable structural properties can be utilized and remain within the scope and intent of the present disclosure.

In embodiments of the system10installed adjacent a large accessway, such as a garage door, loading dock or loading bay entrance, for example, the corresponding float housing assembly20, and again in particular, the cover assembly22, must be constructed of material having structural integrity to support the significant design loads expected to be placed upon and pass over such a structure. As such, in at least one embodiment, the load bearing member23of the cover assembly22comprises 2-inch thick grating constructed of structural steel. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the float housing21itself is manufactured of poured or pre-stressed reinforced concrete, structural steel, or other metal and/or metal alloys as required to support the expected design loading for the accessway. Once again, the float housing assembly20and the components thereof are constructed of other materials provided the assembly20exhibits the structural integrity necessary for anticipated design loadings. Further, based upon the materials of construction, an appropriate mechanical fastener27is selected to secure the components of the system10to one another, as well as to secure the system in place adjacent an accessway to a structure.

As shown inFIGS. 2,3, and6, the float housing assembly20includes a concrete encasement28disposed in a substantially surrounding relation to the float housing21so as to provide further structural integrity and stability to the float housing21and the cover assembly22as required to accommodate specific design loads for a particular accessway.FIGS. 2,3, and6, further illustrate that in at least one embodiment, an underlying gravel bed29is installed under the float housing21, so as to provide support for the aforementioned concrete encasement28, as well as to facilitate drainage of liquid from the float housing21through outlet26, when the surrounding soil18is not saturated or supersaturated. Also, as noted above, and as illustrated best inFIGS. 2 and 3, in at least one embodiment, the load bearing member23is structured to overlay and extend beyond the periphery of the float housing21onto the underlying concrete encasement28, such that the concrete encasement28, and not the float housing21, supports the load bearing member23and receives the loading forces transferred therefrom.

The automatic liquid barrier system10further comprises a float assembly, shown as30throughout the figures. The float assembly30is structured and disposed to be positionable within the float housing21. More in particular, in at least one embodiment, the float assembly30comprises a float32which is specifically structured to be positionable within the float housing21relative to a liquid level within the float housing21, as discussed in further detail below. As the name implies, the float32comprises a buoyant structure which will float on liquid, for example, rain or flood water, which enters the float housing21via one or more inlet22′ through cover assembly22. In at least one embodiment, the float32comprises one or more supports35, such as are shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, which are structured to maintain the float32a spaced apart distance above the bottom of the float housing21, thereby permitting liquid entering the float housing21to flow under the float32, causing the float32to float upwardly as liquid accumulates thereunder.

Further, the float32comprises a substantially sealed structure so as to prevent the liquid, such as water, from entering the float32thereby causing it to sink or otherwise impeding its ability to float within float housing21. For example, in the illustrative embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 3, the float32comprises float caps34affixed at either end which are structured to substantially close and seal the float32, to assure it does not take on water or other liquid which would diminish or eliminate the buoyant properties of the float32. As best illustrated inFIG. 4, in at least one embodiment, the float housing21comprises a substantially cylindrical configuration, and the float caps34comprise a plurality of guide members33extending outwardly therefrom being structured to insure that the float32remains in a concentric relationship with the circular cross-section of float housing21. Also as shown inFIG. 4, the body of the float32is spaced apart from the periphery of the float housing21so as to allow liquid entering the float housing21to flow to the bottom of the housing21underneath the float32, and to elevate the float32relative to the level of liquid in the float housing21.

A further component of the automatic liquid barrier system10is a barrier assembly, as shown at40throughout the figures. More in particular, the barrier assembly40comprises at least one barrier41, wherein the barrier41is interconnected to at least a portion of float assembly30, and is structured and disposed to be movable therewith.

In the illustrative embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 3, the barrier41is interconnected to the float assembly30via an interconnect member42. Further, and also as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, float assembly30comprises interconnect mount36, and barrier41includes interconnect mount43securely attached thereto. Additionally, in this embodiment, interconnect pins36′ and43′ are utilized to securely yet movably attach interconnect member42to each of the float assembly30and barrier41, respectively. In at least one embodiment, interconnect mounts36and43comprise truions and interconnect pins36′ and43′ comprise pivot axles, thereby securely and pivotally attaching interconnect member42between the float assembly30and the barrier41. In this manner, interconnect member42is permitted to pivot relative to both float assembly30and barrier41during an automatic deployment of the barrier41of the present system10from the retracted configuration ofFIG. 2to the fully deployed configuration ofFIG. 3. The interconnect member42also pivots relative to both float assembly30and barrier41during an automatic retraction of the barrier41from the fully deployed configuration ofFIG. 3to the retracted configuration ofFIG. 2. As further illustrated in the embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 3, cover assembly22includes interconnect aperture24structured to permit at least a portion of interconnect member42to pass freely therethrough.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 8, the float32is rigidly affixed to barrier41and, in at least one embodiment, the float32and barrier41are integrally constructed with one another so as to form a unitary construction.FIG. 8further illustrates that in this embodiment, the vertical edges of barrier41serve as guides33to maintain the float assembly30in alignment with one or more seal channel25of the float housing21, as discussed further below.

Looking further toFIGS. 1 through 3, barrier assembly40comprises at least one seal member46structured to be mounted along at least a portion of a periphery of an accessway, in accordance with the present disclosure. Of course, it will be appreciated, that the system10may comprise a plurality of seal members46each structured to be mounted along a different portion of the periphery of an accessway, particularly when the system10is installed to protect a large accessway such as, by way of example, a garage, loading dock or loading bay. More in particular, and with reference to the illustrative embodiment ofFIG. 1, the system10includes a plurality of seal members46each mounted along opposite portions of door jamb15which frame an accessway into a structure through wall12. The seal members46are secured along the periphery of the accessway in a liquid resistant manner, specifically, so as to prevent the infiltration of liquid between the seal member46and the structure to which is affixed. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, mechanical fasteners27may be utilized to secure the seal members46in a stationary manner along the portion of the periphery of the accessway, however, it will be appreciated that other methods of securing the seal members46in a stationary manner may be employed in the present system10including, at least, liquid resistant adhesives, hook and loop type fasteners, etc. Further, and as illustrated inFIG. 3, the seal members46are secured to the portion of the periphery of the accessway to a height which is greater than the vertical height of barrier41when disposed in a deployed configuration.

The operation of the automatic liquid barrier system10of the present disclosure will now be discussed in view of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 4. To begin, in a severe storm or other high water event, liquid, for example, rain or flood water, will enter the float housing21through inlets22′ in cover assembly22, and more specifically, the liquid will enter the float housing21at a rate greater than it is discharged from the float housing21through outlet26. As will be appreciated, in the event of a significant rain storm or other high water condition, wherein the water table is saturated and/or super saturated, the interstitial spaces in the gravel bed29will fill with ground water, thereby impeding the flow of liquid through outlet26and, thus, allowing for the accumulation of liquid within float housing21. It is this accumulation of liquid in the float housing21which triggers the automatic deployment of the barrier41in accordance with the system10of the present disclosure. Specifically, as a level of liquid in float housing21increases, buoyant forces will cause the float assembly30, and in at least one embodiment the float32, to automatically rise vertically within float housing21from the fully retracted position illustrated inFIG. 2to the fully deployed position illustrated inFIG. 3. Conversely, when the rain stops and groundwater levels subside, the level of liquid in float housing21will decrease and the float32is automatically lowered vertically within the float housing21from the fully deployed position illustrated inFIG. 3to the fully retracted position illustrated inFIG. 2.

More in particular, and again as illustrated inFIG. 3, when liquid, such as rain water, accumulates in the float housing21to a predetermined liquid level, thereby positioning the float32of float assembly30at a predetermined elevation within the float housing21, the barrier41will be deployed and disposed into a sealing engagement with seal member46as shown.FIG. 3further illustrates the interconnection of barrier41to hinge plate44, which is secured along the length of a lower periphery of an accessway, by a hinge member45as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3. Hinge member45comprises a flexible and liquid resistant material, so as to prevent the passage of liquid between the barrier41and hinge plate44thereby preventing the infiltration of liquid into the structure across the lower periphery of the accessway.

Looking further toFIGS. 2 and 3, we also see that interconnect member42at least partially passes through interconnect aperture24in a pivotal relationship between float32and barrier41during deployment of the barrier41into sealing engagement with seal members46, as the float32rises vertically within float housing21relative to the rising liquid level therein. As used in the present disclosure and as recited in the claims which follow, “sealing engagement” is at least partially defined by a liquid resistant seal being formed around at least a portion of the periphery of an accessway to prevent a liquid from entering therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 3, the liquid resistant seal is formed by virtue of direct physical contact between the portions of barrier41and seal members46disposed vertically along the portion of the periphery of the accessway. Further, in this embodiment and as noted above, hinge member45extends along the length of the interface of hinge plate44and barrier41, and is formed of a resilient liquid resistant material so as to provide a liquid resistant seal therebetween and, thus, along the lower periphery of the accessway.

In one alternate embodiment, barrier assembly40comprises at least one seal channel25disposed in a sealing relation along at least the portion of a periphery of the accessway, however, and as illustrated inFIGS. 5-9, the barrier assembly40of this embodiment comprises a plurality of seal channels25disposed along opposite portions of the periphery of the accessway. In order to ensure the sealing relation between the exterior of the seal channels25and the periphery of the accessway, one or more seal members46are secured between the exterior of the seal channels25and the periphery of the accessway to assure that liquid is not able to infiltrate between the exterior of the seal channel25and the periphery of the accessway. As illustrated in the embodiment ofFIG. 7, float housing21comprises a plurality of seal channels25extending upwardly along opposite ends thereof. In this manner, each seal channel25is disposed in a sealing relation along opposite portions of the periphery of the accessway.

Further, in the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 5-9, the barrier assembly comprises a channel seal assembly47. More in particular, the channel seal assembly47is structured to be disposed in a sealing association with at least one seal channel25, however, in at least one embodiment, the channel seal assembly47is structured to be disposed in a sealing association with each of a plurality of seal channels25. Looking toFIG. 9, the channel seal assembly47comprises a channel seal track48having a channel seal member49disposed therein. More in particular, in the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 9, the channel seal track48comprises a generally U-shaped configuration having a corresponding generally U-shaped channel seal member49removably secured therein. Further, with continued reference toFIG. 9, the seal channel25of float housing21also comprises a generally U-shaped configuration structured to removably yet securely receive channel seal track48, and the corresponding channel seal member49, therein.FIG. 9, further illustrates that to assure the sealing association between channel seal assembly47and seal channel45, one or more seal members46are secured between the interior of the seal channel25and the exterior of the channel seal assembly47, thereby preventing infiltration of liquid between the seal channel25and the channel seal assembly47. Also as shown inFIG. 9is seal channel stop25′ secured in an upper portion of seal channel25, such as by fastener27, the seal channel stop25′ acting to limit the travel of the barrier41within the seal channel25, as will be appreciated better in view of the discussion below. It is to be understood that the generally U-shaped configuration of the illustrative embodiments may be altered within the spirit and intent of the present disclosure so long as the required sealing relation and sealing association as described above are maintained between the corresponding components of the barrier assembly40to prevent the infiltration or other flow of liquid through or around the components of the barrier assembly40.

As shown inFIG. 8, the barrier41of this embodiment is structured to extend outwardly from the vertical sides of the float32and into the generally U-shaped channel seal member49of the channel seal assembly47, such that a sealing engagement is established between the barrier41and channel seal assembly47along at least a portion of the periphery of the accessway when float assembly30is positioned at a predetermined elevation within the float housing21, as illustrated inFIG. 6. To further establish the sealing engagement between the barrier41along at least a portion of the periphery of the accessway, seal channel assembly47further comprises a channel seal track48secured horizontally along the upper rear portion of float housing21, such as is illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 9, comprising a corresponding channel seal member49structured to establish a sealing engagement with the portion of the barrier41opposite the float32. As it will be appreciated from the foregoing, in the alternate embodiment ofFIGS. 5 through 9, a “sealing engagement” is established between barrier41and channel seal assembly47, along at least a portion of the periphery of an accessway along its lowermost elevation and extending upwardly along each side therefrom, when a predetermined liquid level is present in the float housing21such that float32is positioned at a predetermined elevation within the float housing21. As before, the “sealing engagement” is at least partially defined by preventing or at least minimizing infiltration of liquid through or around the barrier41and the channel seal assembly47, thereby preventing the infiltration of liquid into the accessway of the structure.

Now that the invention has been described,