Flood barrier

A flood barrier to protect an area of land from floodwaters, the flood barrier having a waterside to be placed adjacent a body of water and a protected side opposing the waterside, the flood barrier comprising a plurality of supports spaced apart from one another; at least one intermediate barrier section supported to extend between a pair of neighbouring supports when assembled, the intermediate barrier section comprising at least a first beam arrangeable such that it is supported to extend between the corresponding pair of neighbouring supports and a water impermeable membrane sheet attachable to said first beam via a mechanical connection to form a skirt extending from said first beam, outwardly from the waterside of the flood barrier onto the ground.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is the U.S. national stage application of International Application PCT/GB2017/052099, filed Jul. 17, 2017, which international application was published on Jan. 18, 2018 as International Publication 2018/011605 A1. The International Application claims priority to Great Britain Application 1612363.0 filed Jul. 15, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flood barrier and in particular a portable flood barrier. The invention also relates to kits for flood barriers and methods for erecting such flood barriers.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Portable flood barriers come in a number of forms each with its own set of relative advantages and disadvantages. Tubes and flexible membranes are known for use in portable flood barriers but have limited life and demonstrate vulnerability to floating debris, high flow currents and waves. Membranes may be prone to sliding if anchoring is not undertaken, tubes may be vulnerable to sliding, rolling and collapse.

In contrast portable flood barriers of metal may be more resistant and offer a degree of self-anchoring due to the inclination of the supporting stanchions, usually at 45 degrees. A disadvantage with these type of barriers is that they are generally reliant on a membrane to be draped over the system. This means that they are not sufficiently water-tight until the entire system is erected and covered by the membrane. This significantly impacts their effectiveness as deployment time renders their application inappropriate due to lack of manpower or available warning time.

The use of a membrane is also a problem in its extension of the required footprint with no resultant increase in stability. These systems remain prone to sliding especially on surfaces such as wet concrete or asphalt. This is because hydrostatic pressure applied onto this sheet will act on the ground where it is transferred down, and onto the face of the barrier where it will increase the sliding potential. The result is a separation of the barrier structure from the membrane.

These problems can be overcome by anchoring the stanchions, however this is resisted by many highways authorities and municipalities, or by loading with weight such as sandbags, however this increases the deployment time for the system and requires further manpower.

Another major problem with metal flood barriers is the requirement of operatives to carry out operations on the flood-side of the barrier. This is caused by the requirement for the barrier to be fully erected before the membrane can be unfurled, draped and secured at the top edge of the barrier. In instances of deployment in rising water, this causes a significant problem in getting the membrane into position on the ground with anchor chains or sandbags on top. This can produce a significant health and safety risk and one which is exacerbated by isolation of the flood-side of a barrier extending perhaps many hundreds of metres. For this reason, it is good practice for operatives deploying such barriers to wear wet gear including life-jacket and hardhat

To provide a stronger barrier and to remove this risk of isolation, superior products have reverted to aluminium stop logs or cross-breams to seal in between the stanchions reflecting the historic use of timber stop logs.

The beams require compression vertically to the ground or to the beam below in order to seal along the horizontal joints. This downward pressure is typically exerted by complicated components which provide adjustable tension along the vertical plane.

The bottom beam also requires horizontal compression to ensure a good seal as floodwater rises and to ensure that the beam is not easily displaced. Current systems have U-channels in the sides of the stanchions in which the beams are slotted. However, there is a great deal of friction as the beam is slid against a vertical gasket, making the beams hard to install. This U-channel is typically only to the height of the bottom beam on a portable inclined barrier however the mobility of the stanchions and the frictions and tight tolerances against the vertical gasket make this operation problematic. Removal of the beam during disassembly is even more difficult than installation of the beam.

Despite the use of soft thick gaskets on the bottom beam they fail to adequately seal on uneven ground. The use of a membrane draped over the system would solve this but present the same disadvantages which are inherent in the panel systems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a flood barrier to protect an area of land from floodwaters, the flood barrier having a waterside to be placed adjacent a body of water and a protected side opposing the waterside, the flood barrier comprising a plurality of supports spaced apart from one another; at least one intermediate barrier section arrangeable to be supported to extend between a pair of neighbouring supports, the intermediate barrier section comprising at least a first beam arrangeable such that it is supported to extend between the corresponding pair of neighbouring supports and a water impermeable membrane sheet attachable to said first beam via a mechanical connection to form a skirt extending from said first beam, outwardly from the waterside of the flood barrier onto the ground.

The skirt allows sealing against uneven ground by the hydrostatic load imparted onto the ground by floodwater. The mechanically connected membrane sheet is integral with the first beam once connected. The mechanical connection ensures the skirt and structural elements of the barrier act as one and in doing so reduce the risk of sliding of the membrane sheet. The present invention is stable through reduced sliding risk, the elements allow rapid deployment from the protected side of the barrier, therefore it is more efficient and safer than prior art systems.

Suitably the flood barrier comprises connection means which forms the mechanical connection of the membrane to the first beam. Preferably the first beam comprises a connecting portion and the membrane comprises a connecting portion attachable to the connecting portion of the first beam. The connection means preferably consists essentially of the connecting portion of the first beam and the connecting portion of the membrane. In other words the flood barrier is configured such that the membrane sheet is attachable to the first beam without requiring any additional fixings. Preferably the connecting portion of the first beam comprises an elongate slot disposed at or near the bottom side of the first beam. Preferably the connecting portion of the membrane comprises an expanded tubular edge arranged longitudinally along the top edge of the membrane sheet. The expanded tubular edge is arranged such that the expanded tubular edge is receivable in the elongate slot.

Preferably the mechanical connection of the membrane to the first beam is a non-compressing connection. In other words, the connection between the membrane and the first beam is formed without any means compressing the membrane and the beam together to form the connection.

Preferably said first beam of the or each intermediate barrier section has first and second ends and first and second elongate sides, and wherein each support in each pair of neighbouring supports includes a retaining plate for fastening an end of said corresponding first beam to the support, each retaining plate having a fastening configuration, in which said beam end is compressed between the retaining plate and the corresponding support, and a release configuration, in which the beam may be inserted/withdrawn from between the retaining plate and the corresponding support.

Preferably each retaining plate is hingedly connected to the corresponding support.

Preferably each retaining plate includes compressible securing means for compressibly securing the end of a beam to the corresponding support.

Preferably said compressible securing means is a locking pin.

Preferably said first beam has first and second ends and top and bottom elongate sides, the mechanical connection of the membrane to the first beam comprising an elongate slot disposed at or near the bottom side of the first beam.

Preferably said first beam has first and second ends and top and bottom elongate sides, the mechanical connection of the membrane to the first beam comprising an expanded tubular edge arranged longitudinally along the top edge of the membrane sheet.

Preferably said first beam has first and second ends and top and bottom elongate sides, the mechanical connection of the membrane to the first beam comprising an elongate slot disposed at or near the bottom side of the first beam and an expanded tubular edge arranged longitudinally along the top edge of the membrane sheet, the elongate slot and expanded tubular edge being arranged such that the expanded tubular edge is receivable in the elongate slot.

Preferably the mechanical connection of the membrane to the first beam is via kader connection. Alternatively the mechanical connection of the membrane to the beam is via mechanical connection means such as bolts, rivets or screws.

Preferably each support comprises a first post and an elongate base, wherein the first post can be fixed at an incline relative to the base and wherein the at least one beam rests against the first post when assembled. With the first post being at an incline relative to the base, the beam or beams supported by the supports are also at an incline relative to the support bases.

Preferably each support further comprises a second post which can be fixed to the first post and the base. The first post, second post and base suitably form the three sides of a triangle.

Preferably the second post of each support is four sided hollow tubular post. Suitably the tubular post has a square cross-section i.e. it is a box beam

Preferably each support has an open configuration, in which the first and second posts and the base are arranged to support said at least one beam, and a folded configuration, in which the first and second posts and the base are in a folded state relative to one another for ease of storage or transportation.

Preferably the elongate base of each support is U-shaped such that it can receive the second post therein when the support is in its folded configuration.

Preferably the underside of the first post of each support has a U-shaped configuration such that it can be received over the base when the support is in its folded configuration. The first post preferably has a double flange on its underside and a single, central flange on its upper side, such that the cross-section of the first post forms a cruciform type shape.

Preferably each membrane sheet, when attached, extends laterally beyond each end of the first beam to which it is attached to form first and second extension portions, whereby each extension portion can be retained between the corresponding retaining plate and support adjacent said extension portion.

Preferably the extension portions of each membrane extend such that each can overlap the extension portion of any neighbouring membrane, the overlapping extension portions being retained between the corresponding retaining plate and support adjacent said overlapping extension portions.

Preferably the intermediate barrier section comprises at least a second beam arrangeable such that it is supported to extend between the corresponding pair of neighbouring supports, the first and each further beam being stacked one above the other when assembled, to form a continuous barrier surface. Each intermediate barrier section preferably comprises a plurality of beams. In this case the membrane sheet is attached to the first beam of the plurality of beams of each intermediate barrier section, the first beam preferably being the bottom beam, closest to the ground.

Preferably the first beam of each intermediate barrier section to which the membrane sheet is attached is the beam which is closest to the ground when the flood barrier is erected.

Preferably the beams in each intermediate barrier section are configured to interlock with one another when assembled. In such embodiments the beams can interlock via suitable means such as tongue and groove joints. Each tongue and groove joint may include a sealing member to provide a seal between each adjacent beam.

Preferably the first beam of each intermediate section has a sealing member disposed on the elongate side of the beam that is to be arranged adjacent the ground such that a seal may form between the beam and the ground when the flood barrier is erected.

Preferably the flood barrier comprises a plurality of said intermediate barrier sections, the intermediate barrier sections being arrangeable side by side in a row such that each is supported to extend between a pair of neighbouring supports of said plurality of neighbouring supports, the supports and intermediate barrier sections forming a continuous barrier surface.

Preferably the skirt formed by the membrane extends outwardly from said first beam by at least a predetermined length that is sufficient such that hydrostatic forces acting upon the skirt will overcome sliding forces imparted on the flood barrier by floodwaters. The inventors have realised that by providing a skirt that is sufficiently long, it can not only provide a seal against the ground, but also to reduce the risk of sliding of the flood barrier due to the action of floodwaters on the barrier. The predetermined skirt length is preferably equal to or above the length at which the force from the mass of water acting on the skirt will overcome sliding forces on the flood barrier.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for assembly into a flood barrier according to any aspect of the invention as previously described, wherein the kit comprises the parts for said flood barrier.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing a flood barrier, the method comprising providing a flood barrier according to any aspect of the invention as previously described, erecting a plurality of supports and placing an intermediate barrier section to extend across the space between each neighbouring pair of supports.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present embodiments represent currently the best ways known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But they are not the only ways in which this can be achieved. They are illustrated, and they will now be described, by way of example only. Like reference numerals are used to refer to like components.

Referring toFIG. 1, an assembled flood barrier10is shown. Although an assembled flood barrier will be described, it will be understood that it can be provided as a kit such that it can be assembled/disassembled as required so that the barrier can function as a portable flood barrier. The flood barrier has a waterside to be placed adjacent a body of water and a protected side opposing the waterside. The flood barrier10has a plurality of stanchions or supports12and a plurality of intermediate barrier sections14, one intermediate barrier section14disposed between each pair of neighbouring supports. InFIG. 1, two supports12, one whole intermediate section14and part of an adjacent intermediate section14are shown, however it will be understood that a continuous barrier wall can be formed of multiple supports12and intermediate barrier sections14connected together.

A portion of the barrier formed by a pair of neighbouring supports12and an intermediate barrier section14will now be further described and it will be understood that further sections of the barrier will be alike. The intermediate barrier section14has a first beam16arranged between the pair of neighbouring supports12. Referring toFIG. 6, the intermediate barrier section14also has a water impermeable membrane sheet18attached to the first beam16via a mechanical connection to form a skirt or apron extending, from the first beam16, outwardly from the waterside of the flood barrier (the membrane sheet18is not shown inFIGS. 1 to 5).

Referring toFIG. 1, the intermediate barrier section14has a plurality of further beams17horizontally placed between the pair of neighbouring supports12. The beams16,17of the intermediate barrier section14are arranged stacked one above the other and are configured to interlock with one another, such as via tongue and groove joints, to form a continuous barrier between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the flood barrier. The join between each beam16,17preferably includes a sealing member (not shown) to form a seal between adjacent beams. The beams16,17may be any suitable crossbeam, panel or stop log. The beams16,17may be made of metal or any other suitable material capable of resisting hydrostatic and/or hydrodynamic loads. The beams16,17are designed to resist the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads likely to be imparted during a flood event. The beams can be put in place, one at a time, whilst the installer is standing on the protected side of the flood barrier. Instead of the intermediate barrier section comprising multiple beams stacked one above the other, it may simply comprise a single panel or beam to which a membrane sheet is mechanically attached, the single panel or beam being supported by a neighbouring pair of spaced apart supports. In that case, the first beam16would be the only panel of the intermediate barrier section.

In the intermediate barrier section14shown in the figures, the first beam16has first and second ends16a,16band first and second elongate sides16c,16d. Each support12has a retaining plate20for fastening an end of a beam16between the retaining plate20and the support12. In this embodiment each retaining plate20is a hinged pressure plate which is hingedly connected to the corresponding support12and has a fastening configuration in which said beam end16a,16bis compressed between the retaining plate20and the support12and a release configuration in which the beam16may be inserted/withdrawn from between the retaining plate20and the corresponding support12. Each retaining plate20has a hinge21connecting it to the corresponding support12. Each retaining plate20is secured in its fastening configuration in which it compresses the beam end16a,16bby a locking pin mechanism22, although other means for compressibly securing the retaining plate20to the support12with a beam end therebetween could be provided. The locking pin mechanism22comprises an upstand23which is upstanding from the support12and passes through a hole24in the retaining plate20. The upstand23has a transverse hole25for receiving a locking pin26therethrough.

Referring toFIG. 2, each support12comprises a first post30, a second post31and an elongate base32which are rigidly attachable to one another such that they form the sides of a triangular shaped support. The first post30is inclined relative to the base32such that the beams disposed on the supports12are also arranged at an incline relative to the base32. The first post30is inclined such the angle between the first post30and the ground is preferably less than 90 degrees, and preferably around 45 degrees. The first post30of each support12has an upperside and an underside, the upperside having a single elongate flange30arunning along its axis, midway between the long sides of the post. Each of the first posts has a pair of elongate sealing members34, such as gaskets, disposed on its upperside, one on either side of the flange30a. When the beams16,17are arranged to span between the corresponding neighbouring pair of supports12, the beam ends rest on a sealing member34. The retaining plate20compresses the first beam16against the sealing member34, forming a tight seal. The beams16,17are compressed against the ground in the direction of the plane of the beams16,17, in order to seal the horizontal joints between the beams, by a compression device36which will be described in more detail later. In the event of flooding, hydrostatic pressure applied to the panel formed by the beams16,17will press the beams17against the sealing members34, forming a seal between the beams17and the supports12.

In a preferred embodiment the mechanical connection of the membrane sheet18to the first beam16is via “kader” connection (also known as “keder” connection), in which a fabric with an expanded, tubular edge, typically called kader or keder is secured in a slot or channel via sliding. Referring toFIG. 7, the membrane sheet18has a longitudinal kader rod37arranged along the edge of the membrane sheet18to be attached to the first beam16, the kader rod37being receivable in an elongate slot38disposed at or near the bottom side16cof the first beam16.

FIGS. 8 and 9show some preferred features regarding the membrane sheet18with integral kader rod. Referring toFIG. 8, preferably the kader rod37is hollow. In preferred embodiments the kader rod37has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. Preferably the membrane sheet18has an elongate thickened section of planar fabric19adjacent the kader rod37and arranged parallel with the kader rod37. The thickness of the thickened section19is only slightly greater than that of the main section of the membrane sheet18.

In other embodiments, instead of connecting the membrane sheet18to the first beam16via kader connection, the mechanical connection may be via other suitable means such as bolts, rivets or screws (not shown in the figures). In such an embodiment the top edge of the membrane sheet18to be attached to the first beam16is bolted, riveted or screwed onto the first beam16at or near its bottom side16c.

Referring toFIG. 6, the membrane sheet18extends laterally beyond the ends16a,16bof the first beam16to form first and second extension portions18a. The extension portions18aoverlap with adjacent extension portions18aof neighbouring intermediate barrier sections, allowing the overlapping extension portions18ato be secured by compression by the hinged compression plate20. In preferred embodiments, the kader rod37extends only along the portion of the top edge of the membrane sheet18that is received by the elongate slot38(i.e. the kader rod37does not extend along the first and second extension portions18a, as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9).

The skirt formed by the individual membrane sheets18may require a mass such as sandbags or a tube of water (not shown in the figures) to weigh down and seal the leading edge to ensure the floodwater does not pass under the skirt. Preferably this may be provided by a series of metal weights, such as lead weights (not shown in the figures) sewn into or near the leading edge of the skirt.

Referring toFIG. 2, the first beam16has a sealing member39arranged at its bottom side16csuch that a seal may form between the first beam16and the ground when the flood barrier is erected. The sealing member39is preferably a neoprene gasket. The sealing member39is compressed vertically towards the ground by the compression device36and compressed perpendicularly to the plane of the panel formed by the beams16,17by the retaining plate20, enhancing the seal.

Another embodiment of the kader connection is shown inFIG. 10. As in theFIG. 7embodiment, the membrane sheet18has a longitudinal expanded tubular edge in the form of a kader rod37arranged along the top edge of the membrane sheet18. The first beam16′ has an elongate slot38′ disposed near the bottom side16c′, arranged so that the membrane sheet18extends from the waterside of the first beam16′ when attached to the first beam. The elongate slot38′ is a substantially circular channel with an opening at the waterside of the first beam16′. Once the kader rod37has been inserted in the elongate slot38′ via sliding therein, the membrane sheet18extends over the waterside of the sealing member39′ which is received in an elongate recess39ain the bottom side16c′ of the first beam16′. A portion15of the first beam16′ projects over the edge of the membrane18that attaches to the first beam16′. In use, the skirt formed by the membrane sheet18is pressed advantageously against the ground and against the waterside face of the sealing member39′ by floodwater.

Referring toFIG. 11, in preferred embodiments the skirt formed by the membrane sheet18extends outwardly from the first beam16by at least a predetermined length. The predetermined skirt length L1is selected to be long enough such that hydrostatic forces acting upon the skirt during flooding will overcome sliding forces imparted on the flood barrier by floodwaters. InFIG. 11the symbols used are as follows:F1=Mass of water acting directly above systemF2=Hydrostatic force acting on systemF3=Mass of water acting upon skirtμN=Friction and force vector to overcome

F1and F2generate a force in the horizontal direction μN. F3acting on the skirt creates a mechanical advantage to overcome μN and reduce slippage. The mechanical advantage provided depends on the length of the skirt L1. The skirt length L1can be predetermined depending on the height of water that the barrier is intended to withhold. For example, a flood barrier that is intended for withholding up to 2.5 m may have a skirt length of around 3 m, whereas a flood barrier that is intended for withholding a smaller height of water may have a shorter skirt length. In the close-up view of the bottom edge of the first beam inFIG. 11, the skirt18is shown as connected at the back of the first beam, whereas it may of course be connected at the front of the first beam (i.e. at the waterside of the first beam).

The supports12will now be further described. The supports12are preferably made of metal or some other suitable rigid material. The supports12have an open configuration, as shown in the figures, in which the first and second posts,30,31and base32are arranged to support the beams16,17and a folded configuration (not shown in the figures), in which the first and second posts,30,31and base32are in a folded state so that the supports12pack to a smaller size for ease of storage or transport. Referring toFIG. 3, the base32is secured to front and rear feet41,42, one at each end of the base32, each foot41,42having a double flange for receiving the elongate base32therebetween. The base32has a U-shaped cross-section such that it can receive the second post31therein when in the folded configuration. The second post31is a box beam, which provides suitable rigidity to the support12. The underside of the first post30has a U-shaped profile (i.e. a double flange profile), such that it can be received over the base32with the base32received within the U-shaped channel of the first post30when the support12is in the folded configuration. Each side flange of the U-shaped channel of the underside of the first post30has a recess43therein to receive the pivot pin44which passes through the rear foot42, the rear end of the base32and the bottom end of the second post31. Each side flange also has a locking hole45which can receive a locking pin (not shown) therethrough and through a corresponding locking hole46in the base32to lock the support12in the folded configuration.

Referring toFIG. 1, the compression device36that compresses the beams against the ground will now be described. The compression device36includes a sprung loaded screw pin51which is received in a threaded recess52attached to the first post30. The screw pin51may therefore be threadedly adjusted to compress against the top beam in order to compress the set of beams against the ground, thus forming a watertight barrier. The threaded recess52can be secured at different positions along the length of the first post30to accommodate different numbers of beams and then to allow threaded adjustment of the screw pin51to provide compression to the beams.

The support12may be extended by connecting an additional post extension (not shown) to the first post30(and adding a further supporting post behind the second post31and an extension to the rear of the base32) so that further beams17may be supported, allowing the flood defence height of the barrier to be increased.

A recurve wall (not shown) may be connected to the top panel17at the apex of the flood barrier to reduce wave overtopping.

In operation, in order to erect the flood barrier10, first a plurality of supports12are deployed along the ground, distanced from one another. If the supports12are still in their folded configuration, they are unfolded into their open configuration and the posts30,31and base32are fixed into their triangular open configuration. To install each intermediate barrier section14, a first beam16is installed to rest on the bottom of the first posts30of a pair of neighbouring supports12and the retaining plates20are compressed against the beam ends16a,16busing the locking pins. The first beam16preferably has a membrane sheet18attached to it before it is installed on the supports12, however the membrane sheet18may be attached to the first beam16after the first beam16has been installed to rest on the supports12. Further beams17are stacked one by one above the first beam to create a continuous panel up to the required flood defence height. The compression devices36at each end of the intermediate barrier section14are actuated to compress the beams16,17against the ground. The process of installing the intermediate barrier section is repeated for each space between neighbouring pairs of supports12.