Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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FLOOD CONTROL BARRIER
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to flood control equipment and,
more particularly, to flood control barriers.
BACKGROUND ART
Unpredictable environmental conditions and development of
civilization have led to an increase in terrains subject to flooding. High-
yield
crop land, residential and commercial structures, roadways, railroads and
virtually all forms of civilian developments located adjacent bodies of water
such as rivers, lakes and oceans are susceptible to flooding which can
potentially cause enormous material damage and also potentially
life-threatening situations.
Some areas particularly prone to flooding are typically at least
partially protected by permanent earth dikes or levees. However, in certain
circumstances, such dikes or levees may prove to be inadequate and
subsequently breached, causing flooding and the above mentioned results.
The development of efficient communication methods as well as
weather monitoring techniques has led to an increasing number of situations
wherein flooding of particular areas may be anticipated with relative
accuracy.
In such situations, it is typical to attempt to protect flood-prone areas by
using
sand bag barriers or temporary earthen dikes or levees. In situations wherein
permanent earthen levees or dikes are already in place and are being topped by
the rising flood waters, wooden planks sand bags or temporary sand or earth
fills are typically used to increase the height of such levees. Although
somewhat useful, the use of prior art structures such as sand bags for
temporarily providing flood protection has proven to be unsatisfactory.
Indeed,
the erection of sand bags and earth filled barriers are labor and equipment
intensive. Furthermore, they are time-consuming especially when considering
that the time available to provide at Ieast temporary flood protection in
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flood-prone areas may range from hours to several days. Also, such prior art
structures can rapidly become saturated and structurally weakened to the point
of failure. Furthermore, they create a problem with respect to removal after
the
flood waters have subsided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an
improved flood barrier.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a novel
method for containing a body of water.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved flood control
barrier and method. Advantages of the present invention include the fact that
the flood control barrier is easily transportable and deployable. It may be
erected on short notice in the event of rapidly rising flood waters or
threatening
conditions. Furthermore, it may be easily disassembled and removed from the
flood control site. It is also not particularly labor or capital intensive. It
is not
subject to water saturation and subsequent failure. It may be stored for long
terms using relatively small storage space and then used on short notice.
One of the main features of the present invention resides in that it
is typically a self inflated structure that uses the flood-threatening liquid
as a
medium for inflating its structure. Once properly positioned, the
flood-threatening liquid penetrates the barrier as it approaches the protected
area without the need for further intervention, the flood threatening liquid
acts
as an inflatable means.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a water barrier for separating a wet area from an area to be
maintained
substantially dry, comprising membrane means having liquid impervious
elongated upper and lower wall means joined at a closed longitudinal end of
said membrane means opposed to an open longitudinal end thereof, said upper
and lower wall means being displaceable between expanded and collapsed
positions, said lower wall means being laid on a ground, wherein in said
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collapsed position, said upper wall means overly said lower wall means,
whereas in said expanded position, said upper wall means is spaced from said
lower wall means at said open end of said membrane means such that water
may flow into said membrane means through said open end while being
restricted from flowing downstream past said membrane means by said closed
end thereof.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
barrier for retaining a liquid upstream of said barrier, comprising membrane
means having liquid impervious elongated upper and lower wall means joined
at a closed longitudinal end of said membrane means opposed to an open
longitudinal end thereof, said upper and lower wall means being displaceable
between expanded and collapsed positions, said lower wall means being laid on
a ground, wherein in said collapsed position, said upper wall means overly
said
lower wall means, whereas in said expanded position, said upper wall means is
spaced from said lower wall means at said open end of said membrane means
such that liquid may flow into said membrane means through said open end
while being restricted from flowing downstream past said membrane means by
said closed end thereof.
Further in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a water barrier for separating a wet area from an area to be
maintained
substantially dry, comprising liquid impervious elongated upper and lower wall
means joined at a closed longitudinal end of said barrier opposed to an open
longitudinal end thereof, said upper and lower wall means being displaceable
between expanded and collapsed positions, said lower wall means being laid on
a ground, wherein from said collapsed position, said upper wall means raises
with a level of water up to said expanded position with said upper wall means
being spaced from said lower wall means at said open end of said barrier,
water
in said barrier being restricted from flowing downstream past said barrier by
said closed end thereof.
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Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a water barrier for separating a wet area from an area to be
maintained
substantially dry, comprising at least two superposed membrane means each
having elongated upper and lower wall means j oined at a closed longitudinal
end of said membrane means opposed to an open longitudinal end thereof, each
said membrane means being adapted to receive water through said open end
with said upper wall means being spaced from said lower wall means at said
open end of said membrane means in an expanded position of said membrane
means such that water in said membrane means and upstream thereof is
restricted from flowing downstream past said membrane means by said closed
end thereof.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a water barrier for separating a wet area from an area to be
maintained
substantially dry, comprising membrane means having elongated upper and
lower wall means joined at a closed longitudinal end of said membrane means
opposed to an open longitudinal end thereof, said membrane means being
adapted to receive water through said open end with said upper wall means
being spaced from said lower wall means at said open end of said membrane
means in an expanded position of said membrane means such that water in said
membrane means and upstream thereof is restricted from flowing downstream
past said membrane means by said closed end thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of
illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Figure 1 is a partial front perspective view, with sections taken
out, illustrating parts of a flood control barrier in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating the flood
control barrier of Figure 1;
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Figure 3 is a side view illustrating the flood barrier of Figures 1
and 2 anchored to a ground surface and being used for restraining the flow of
a
body of water;
Figure 4 is a side view illustrating the flood barner of Figure 3 in
a collapsed configuration;
Figure 5 is an elevational view illustrating the flood barrier of
Figures 1 through 4 being used to prevent the flow of flood water through a
depression formed in the ground surface;
Figure 6 is a partial elevational view with sections taken out,
illustrating a link formed by a pair of adjacent flood barriers such as the
flood
barrier shown in Figures 1 through 5;
Figure 7 is a schematic side view illustrating in full lines sections
of a flood barrier such as the flood barrier illustrated in Figures 1 through
S that
must be joined with corresponding adjacent sections of another flood barrier
with a sealed type connection when flood barriers are joined to one another,
phantom lines being used to show non-connected sections of the flood barrier;
Figure 8 is a partial front perspective view of a flood control
barrier in an expanded position thereof in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is partial rear perspective view of the flood control
barrier of Fig. 8;
Figure 10 is a schematic side elevational view of the flood control
barner of Fig. 8, shown in an expanded position;
Figure 11 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 10 but showing
the flood control barrier in operation, i.e. restraining the flow of a body of
water;
Figure 12 is a schematic side elevational view showing the flood
control barrier of Fig. 8 in a collapsed position thereof;
Figure 13 is a front elevational view of the flood barrier of Fig. 8,
shown in its expanded position and retaining a body of water as in Fig. 11,
the
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flood control barrier of Fig. 13 extending, as an example, across a depression
such as a stream or a river;
Figure 14 is a partial front perspective view of a pair of flood
control barriers of Fig. 8 which are shown in a connected end-to-end
relationship;
Figure 1 S is a schematic perspective view of a pair of flood
control barriers of Fig. 8 which are shown connected in an angular
relationship;
Figure 16 is a partial front perspective view of a variant of the
flood control barrier of Figures 8 to 13, in an expanded position thereof,
also in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 17 is a partial front perspective view of the flood control
barrier of Figure 16 in a collapsed position thereof;
Figure 18 is a detailed perspective view of the retention member
of Figure 1 l;
Figure 19 is a longitudinal vertical cross setional view of the
retention member of Figure 18; and
Figure 20 is a partial rear perspective view of a flood control
barrier similar to that of Figures 8 to 12 but provided with a variant float.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown, respectively in front
and rear perspective views, part of a flood barrier 10 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. The flood barrier 10 includes a floating
or
buoyant component 12 mounted on top of a flow restricting component 14.
Both the buoyant component 12 and flow restricting component l4~preferably
have generally elongated configuration defining corresponding buoyant
component and flow restricting component longitudinal axis 16 and 18.
The flow restricting component 14 includes at least one and
preferably four collapsible compartments 20. It should be understood that
although Figures I-7 illustrate a flood barrier using four collapsible
compartments 20, the number of collapsible compartments 20 may vary
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depending on the specific need without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
Each collapsible compartment 20 has a generally concave
configuration preferably defining a compartment top wall 22, a compartment
bottom wall 24 and a compartment distal wall 26. Each compartment top wall
22 and compartment bottom wall 24 defines a corresponding top and bottom
wall proximal peripheral edges 28 and 30. Each compartment top and bottom
walls 22 and 24 also defines corresponding longitudinally opposed top and
bottom walls longitudinal edges 32 and 34.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compartment top
wall 22 and the compartment distal wall 26 are formed of an integrally
extending piece of material. The integrally extending piece of material has a
substantially J-shaped cross-sectional configuration. Each integrally
extending
top and bottom wall 22 and 26 integral piece of material is attached by a seal
tight connection to an underlying similar integrally extending piece of
material
forming the top and bottom walls 22 and 26 of the collapsible compartment 20
located thereunder.
Thus, the compartment top wall 22 of the given collapsible
compartment 20 forms part of the compartment bottom wall 34 of the
overriding collapsible compartment 20. This method of manufacturing reduces
the overall material needed to manufacture stacked collapsible compartments
20. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the integrally extending
pieces of material are sealingly attached to adjacent integrally extending
pieces
of material by stitch Iines generally identified by the reference numeral 36.
The collapsible compartments 20 are preferably stacked on top of
each other with their respective proximal edges substantially in register to
one
another while their distal wall section 26 tapers proximally in a direction
leading from the lowermost collapsible compartment 20 to the uppermost
collapsible compartment 20 so as to define a restricting component distal
angle
38 for reasons which will be hereinafter disclosed.
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A set of restricting components 40 is preferably attached to both
the top and bottom comparhnent walls 22 and 24 of each collapsible
compartment 20. Each restricting component 40 preferably includes a main
panel 42 made out of a substantially rigid material having a fold line 44
formed
thereon. Each panel 42 is attached to the top and bottom compartment walls 22
and 24 by integrally extending connecting flaps 46. The connecting flaps 46
are
preferably sewn at stitch lines 48 to the adjacent structure.
A screening means preferably taking the form of a flexible mesh
preferably extends between the proximal edges 28 and 30 of corresponding
adjacent compartment walls 22 and 24. For reasons of clarity, the mesh screen
is not shown in Figures 1 to 7.
The buoyant component 12 preferably includes an elongated
chamber or bladder SO attached to the top compartment wall 22 of the
uppermost collapsible compartment 20 adjacent the top wall proximal edge 28
thereof. The bladder 50 defines an enclosed chamber therein and is provided
with pneumatic and/or hydraulic valve means for allowing selective flow of
fluid therethrough. The valve means (not shown) may take any suitable form.
Both the buoyant and flow restricting components 12 and 14 are
made of a suitable substantially flexible impervious material. Preferably, the
substantially flexible and impervious material is a polymeric or elastomeric
resin that can be transformed using conventional forms of manufacturing.
Typically, the substantially flexible and impervious material is vinyl,
reinforced
neoprene rubber, butyl rubber or any other suitable material. The material
must
be flexible so as to allow the flood barrier 10 to transform itself between
its
collapsed configuration illustrated in Figure 4 and its extended configuration
illustrated in Figure 3 using the liquid flowing into the collapsible
compartments 20. Conversely, the flood barrier 10 must be able to collapse
from its extended configuration illustrated in Figure 3 to its collapsed
configuration illustrated in Figure 4 when the liquid flows out of the
proximal
edges of the collapsible compartment 20 as will be hereinafter disclosed.
Also,
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fluid must be able to inflate the bladder 50 and the latter must be able to
collapse when fluid is removed therefrom. It should be understood that other
materials could be used without departing from the scope of the present
invention. It should also be understood that other methods of joining such
materials such as heat welding or the like may be used instead of the
above-mentioned stitch lines without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
The flood barrier preferably further includes a sealing skirt 52
mounted underneath the compartment bottom wall 24 of the lowermost
collapsible compartment 20 adjacent the bottom wall proximal edge 30 thereof.
The skirt 52 has a loose section thereof formed of a substantially flexible
material adapted to conform to the contour of a ground surface used for
supporting the flood barrier 10. The sealing skirt 52 is specifically provided
for
forming a water-tight seal so as to prevent liquids from flowing underneath
the
flood barner 10.
The flood barrier 10 preferably further includes anchoring means
for releasably anchoring the flood barrier 10 to the ground surface 54. The
anchoring means preferably include an anchoring mat 56. The anchoring mat
56 has a set of spikes 58 extending from its Iower surface. A mat connecting
means 60 is mounted on the upper surface of the anchoring mat 56. In a
preferred embodiment of the invention, the mat connecting means 60 takes the
form of strips of miniature hook and loop-type fibers commonly referred to by
the trademark VELCROTM with corresponding miniature hook and loop-type
fiber strips on the lower surface of the bottom wall 24 of the lowermost
collapsible compartment 20.
The anchoring means may further include anchoring pegs 62
adapted to be inserted through corresponding peg apertures 64 provided in the
flood barrier 10 and into the ground surface 54.
In use, the flood barrier 10 is positioned between incoming
flooding liquid 66 and an area needing to be protected from the incoming
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flooding liquid 66. The flood barrier 10 may be easily carried to a suitable
location since, once in the collapsed configuration illustrated in Figure 4,
it may
be easily rolled up to facilitate manipulation and transportation. Once
transported to a suitable location prior to contact with the incoming flooding
liquid, the flood barrier 10 is deposited on the ground surface 54 in a
collapsed
configuration such as illustrated in Figure 4. When needed, such as when the
flood barrier 10 is installed on relatively slippery terrain such as ice, mud
or the
like, the anchoring means 62 may be used for anchoring the flood barrier 10 to
the ground surface 54. When the anchoring mat 56 is to be used, it is
initially
anchored to the ground surface 54 prior to mounting the flow restricting
component 14 thereon. The anchoring mat 56 is installed by inserting the
spikes
58 in the ground surface 54 at a suitable location. The miniature hook and
loop-type fiber strips 60 of the anchoring mat 56 are then put into register
with
the corresponding miniature hook and loop-type fiber strips 60 attached to the
lowermost collapsible compartment 20. If further anchoring support is needed,
the anchoring pegs 62 may be used by inserting the latter through
corresponding apertures 64 provided in the flood barrier 10 and then driving
the
pegs 62 into the ground surface 54.
As illustrated in Figure 5, the flood barrier 10 is preferably
positioned so that its longitudinal ends 68 are positioned above an
intermediate
section 70 thereof. In order for the flood barrier to work adequately, the
longitudinal ends 68 of the flood barrier 10 must be positioned so as not to
come into contact with the incoming flood water for reasons which will
hereinafter become obvious.
Once the flood barrier 10 is properly positioned at a suitable
location, the bladder 50 may be inflated using any suitable inflation means
such
as an air compressor or ventilator. It should be understood that other fluids
may
be used without. departing from the scope of the present invention as long as
the
fluids being used to inflate the bladder 50 allows the latter to float on top
of the
incoming flooding liquid 66.
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Once the bladder SO is properly inflated, the incoming flooding
water 66 will itself raise the flooding barrier 10 from its collapsed
configuration
illustrated in Figure 4 to its raised configuration illustrated in Figure 3.
Indeed,
as the incoming flooding water 60 reaches the bladder 50, the latter will have
a
tendency to float and thus displace upwardly, thus stretching the collapsible
compartments 20 to their configuration illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 while
simultaneously unfolding the restricting components 40 previously folded about
their fold lines 44. The incoming flow of flooding water 66 will eventually at
least partially fill some of the collapsible compartments 20. While they are
being filled, any air contained therein is vented through their respective
longitudinal ends. Once the collapsible compartments 20 are filled with
liquid,
their respective front walls 26 prevent further flow of the incoming flooding
water towards the terrain being protected by the flood barrier 10, as
illustrated
in Figure 3. It should be appreciated that the restricting components 40
prevent
adjacent collapsible compartments 20 from rolling on each other as they are
being filled by incoming flooding water. Thus, preferably, the lowermost
collapsible compartments 20 are provided with a greater number of restricting
components 40 since they are subjected to greater hydraulic forces.
As the collapsible compartments 20 are filled with incoming
flooding liquid, the hydraulic pressure formed by the column of water
contained within the stack of collapsible compartments 20 exerts a downward
pressure on the sealing skirt 52, thus ensuring that the latter provides a
liquid-tight seal with the ground surface 54. Positioning of the bladder SO
adjacent the proximal edges 28 and 30 of the top and bottom walls 24 and 26 of
the uppermost collapsible compartments 20 ensures a proper pulling action of
the bladder 50 on the adjacent collapsible comparhnent 20 and thus ensures
proper filling of the latter by incoming flooding water or liquid 66. As
liquid
flows into the collapsible compartments 20, the mesh screen (not shown)
prevents debris such as branches, rocks and the like from penetrating within
the
collapsible compartments. The mesh screen thus prevents potential damage to .
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the membrane forming the collapsible compartments 20 and facilitates
emptying of the latter.
As mentioned previously, the flow restricting component distal
angle 38 is steeper distally in a direction from top to bottom. Tapering of
the
flow restricting component distal angle 38 ensures that any liquid flowing
over
the flood barrier 10 will not merely drop over the top of the barrier 10 but
rather
flow smoothly along the distal configuration of the barrier 10 thus reducing
the
risk of hydraulically digging the surface adjacent the distal section of the
barrier
10. By preventing such hydraulic digging action, the risk of destabilizing the
flood barrier 10 is reduced.
Preferably, the width or transversal length of the lowermost
collapsible compartment 20 has a value substantially in the range of one and a
half times the height of the flood barrier 10 in its expanded configuration as
shown in Figure 3.
In situations wherein more than one flood barrier 10 may be
needed to cover a relatively long distance, flood barriers 10 may be jointed
in
an end-to-end sealed relationship as illustrated in Figure 6. In such
situations,
the adjacent end sections remain collapsed and a water-tight sealing means is
used for sealing the end sections of the adjacent flood barriers 10 together.
Figure 7 illustrates in full lines sections of the flood barrier 10 that must
be
provided with water-tight sealing connections so as to ensure proper working
of
flood barrier combinations.
Although the flood barriers illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 have a
generally linear elongated configuration, it should be understood that they
could also be formed with other configurations such as generally angled
configurations so as to provide efficient barriers in various settings such as
when angles must be formed to adequately protect flood-prone areas. For
example, a series of flood barriers 10 may be interconnected to form a
continuous barrier enclosing a predetermined area to prevent flooding thereof.
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In accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention, Figures 8 to 13 show a flood control barrier B displaceable between
its collapsed position of Figure 12 and its deployed or expanded position of
Figures 8 to 11 and 13. The present flood control barrier B constitutes a
system
for preventing floodings, wherein generally when the water of the flooding
reaches the barrier B, the barner B displaces from its collapsed position
gradually to its expanded position such as to form an elongated barrier
separating a flooded area from an area to be protected from flooding.
More particularly, the flood control barrier B comprises a
substantially V-shaped unitary exterior membrane 100, made of a flexible
material and including a lower section 102 and an upper section 104 joined at
an apex 106 of the exterior membrane 100. The barrier B also comprises a
series of first and second flexible partition walls 108 and 110 (for instance
made of fabric) extending substantially vertically between the lower membrane
section 102 and the upper membrane section 104 when the barrier B is in its
expanded position. The first partition walls 108 extend forwardly from the
apex
106 further than the second partition walls 110. The first and second
partition
walls 108 and 110 are alternately distributed in parallel and spaced apart
relationship along the longitudinal direction of the exterior membrane 100.
Depending on the height of the barrier B and of the water
pressure to be sustained thereby, the number, the sizes and the separation
between the partition walls 108, 110 may be varied. Some barriers may not
include any such partition walls (e.g. see barrier B' of Figures 16 and 17),
and
others may have partition walls of two distinct sizes, such as barrier B,
although
there could be three, four, five, etc., such distinct sizes. Typically the
shorter
partition walls reinforce the barrier where pressure is greatest.
The exterior membrane 100 may be made of two pieces joined,
for instance, at location 111 in Figure 10, whereby the apex 106 is part of
the
upper section 104. Using a seam to effect this connection, the upper and lower
sections 104 and 102 could define outwardly of the seam a pair of bands
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extending exteriorly and rearwardly of the location 111 such as to generally
overlie the ground G in a bib-like way. These bands are useful in preventing
erosion of the ground under the rear end of the lower section 102 in the event
that water flows above the barner B, along the upper section 104, including
the
apex 106, and finally up to location 111.
The height of the exterior membrane 100 in its deployed position
will depend on the amount of water to be contained by the barrier B. The
exterior membrane 100 will have a sufficient length such as to appropriately
contain the interrupted water flow. For instance, in the event that the flood
control barrier B is laid across a stream or a river, as in Figure 13, the
barrier B
will extend across the stream or river and will have its ends lying on the
ground
located on each side of the stream or river.
The exterior membrane 100 is made of a material which is supple,
flexible, liquid impervious and restraint to tearing.
The first and second partition walls 108 and 110 are used or
provided for retaining the upper membrane section 104 in its uppermost
position shown in Figure 8. Without the partition walls 108 and 110, the water
pressure could exert a thrust which could cause the upper membrane section
104 to be forced onto the ground, behind the lower membrane section 102 and
substantially coplanarly therewith. The number of partition walls 108 and 110
depends on the size of the barrier B. The partition walls 108 and 110 will
typically be made of a material which is supple, resistant to tearing and
unextendable.
The partition walls 108 and 110 may be provided with fold
creases 112 to facilitate the return of the barrier B to its collapsed
position of
Figure 12. The folds 112 may structurally result from each partition wall 108
or
110 including two wall sections which are each first assembled, e.g. by
sewing,
to a respective one of the upper and lower membrane sections 104 and 102, and
which are then assembled together at fold 112. This facilitates the initial
construction of the barner B.
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A front end of the lower membrane section 102 defines an
elongated flange or a bib 114 which extends basically forwardly from the front
ends of the first partition walls 108. The bib 114, which could also be made
from another material than that of the exterior membrane 100 and which would
then be attached to a front end of the lower membrane 102, is used to prevent
water from the flooding from passing under the flood control barner B due to
the water pressure exerted thereon. Indeed, the water pressure will act on the
bib 114 as well as on the lower membrane section 102 and thus against the
ground G underlying the lower membrane 102 and the bib 114 so as to retain
the flood control barrier B in position on the ground G.
A further membrane or an elongated sponge member 116 may be
secured to the underside of the bib 114 in order to provide a tighter seal
between the bib 114 and the ground G in view of the imperfections that may be
defined by the ground G supporting the flooding control barrier B. With the
water pressure, this sponge member 116 will become more or less at least
partly
embedded in the ground G or the soil such as to in fact substantially merge
therewith.
The flood control barrier B also comprises an elongated float 118
(made, for instance, of a lightweight material, such as polyethylene) which is
located at a forward end of the upper membrane section 104, for instance as a
bead within an elongated opening defined by a folded back portion of the upper
membrane section 104, sewn or otherwise secured to the main portion of the
upper membrane section 104. The float 118 may also take the form of an
inflatable balloon. The float 118 is thus positioned on the side of the
flooding
area and is used to intercept the initial water flow for then assisting in the
upward deployment of the upper membrane section 104 and the partition walls
108 and 110 such that the cavities defined in the flood control barrier B,
vertically between the upper and lower membrane sections 102 and 104 and
horizontally between the partition walls 108 and 110, may become filled with
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water. The float 118 is basically located forwardly adjacent to the front ends
of
the first partition walls 108.
The float 118 may take a flattened configuration, such as the form
of an ovum, as seen at 118" in Figure 20. Such a configuration improves a
reaction time of the float, thus facilitating the deployment of the flood
barrier B
when it receives a flow of water. This flattened shape of the float 118" also
allows to better roll up the flood barrier B fox storage thereof.
A flexible mesh (not herein shown) extending between the upper
and Iower membrane sections 104 and 102 and in front of the fast partition
walls 108 may be provided in certain applications. Such a mesh would extend
substantially the length of the exterior membrane 100 and would act to prevent
pieces of ice, branches, rocks and other debris from accessing the cavities
defined between the upper and lower membrane sections 104 and 102 such as
to prevent such debris from becoming attached to the flood control barrier B
and possibly cause the water current of the flooding to sweep the barrier B.
Such a mesh may also prevent the debris from damaging the flood control
barrier B.
One or more anchors, such as stakes or pegs 120 (see Figure 11)
may be engaged through the lower membrane section 102, for instance through
the bib 114 thereof, for further retaining the flood control barner B in
position
on the soil. Such pegs 120 may be distributed in a spaced apart relationship
along the bib 114 and would most likely be used in the event that the barrier
B
has to be positioned on a slippery surface (e.g. ice, mud, sand, etc.). The
pegs
120 would be located at a front end, i.e. at an upstream end, of the lower
membrane section 102.
Also with reference to Figure 11, spikes 122 may be positioned
underneath the lower membrane section 102, near a downstream end thereof.
The spikes 122 which may be made of a metallic material are used to further
retain the flood control barrier B in position on the ground G or soil by
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providing an abutment, in the form of a hump, under a rear portion of the
barrier B. The spikes 122 may be used with or to replace the pegs 120.
In addition to, or in lieu of, the pegs 120 and the spikes 122, a
further retention member 123 may be positioned behind the barrier B, in a
somewhat partly wedged relationship between the apex 106 and the ground G,
while outwardly following the contour of the apex 106. Figures 18 and 19 show
a more elabotae retentin member 123' comprising a tongue member 150
adapted to be wedged under the rear end of the lower membrane section 102
and an abutment member 1 S2 extending upwardly behind the apex 106 of the
exterior membrane 100. The tongue member 150 defines a short tubular
downwardly extending element 1 S4 adapted to dig in the ground G. The
abutment member 152 defines a concave front surface 1 SS that conforms with
the exterior membrane 100. The abutment member 152 defines a pair of semi-
cylindrical grooves 1 S6 which serve as guides along which nails or spikes
(not
shown) may be driven in the ground G to better anchor the retention member
123'. The abutment member 1 S2 is provided with a pair of spaced protrusions
158. As the retention members 123' are stackable in a nested relationship, a
carrying belt (not shown) is used to hold the retention members 123' together
for transportation purposes, the belt extending through the tubular element 1
S4
and between the protrusions 158, i.e. against a flat surface 160.
With reference to Figure 10, a depth 124 of the barrier B should
preferably be at least twice a height 126 thereof at float 118. The number of
partition walls 108 and 110 varies depending on the level of the flooding to
be
retained by the barrier B. When considered longitudinally, the barrier B is
typically exempt of closed ends, whereby the barrier B must be deployed such
that the ends thereof are at least at the highest expected level of flooding.
Figure 13 shows an example of this configuration wherein reference numeral
128 denotes a beginning of the barrier B, reference numeral 130 denotes the
end of the useful portion of the barrier B, and reference numeral 132 denotes
an
unused portion of the barrier B. Reference numeral G indicates the ground upon
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which the flood control barrier B is laid. In Figures 11 and 13, reference
character L indicates the level of the flooding.
Figures 14 and 15 show the connection of two flood control
barriers B respectively in an end-to-end aligned relationship and in an angled
relationship. In Figure 14, a lefthand barrier 134 has its end 136 inserted
within
an end 138 of a righthand barrier 140. VelcroTM is used to attach the two
barriers 134 and 140 together as follows. The ends 136 and 138 of the barriers
134 and 140 are provided with female strips 142, i.e. the loop section of the
VelcroTM, with a single wider male strip 144 (i.e. the hook section of
VelcroTM)
extending on and connecting both female strips 142 such as to securely attach
the barriers 134 and 140 together. Other attachment mechanisms or systems
may be used instead of VelcroTM, such as MaxigripTM plastic zipper-like
closures where hooked ribs engage, in an uninterrupted way, in correspondingly
configured grooves to secure two panels together with a tight seal. These
closures can be used with plastic, woven and non-woven materials and be
attached by heat seal, RF welding, stitching or bonding. They can be with two,
three, or more, tracks/grooves.
Figure 15 shows two barriers B connected together at the ends
thereof but in an angular relationship as opposed to the aligned relationship
of
the barriers 134 and 140 of Figure 14. A lefthand barrier 146 is shown with
its
end positioned under an end of a righthand barrier 148. As in Figure 14,
VelcroTM-type attachments (or other suitable attachment systems) may be used
to secure the lefthand and righthand barriers 146 and 148 together.
Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a flood control barrier B' which is a
variant of the barrier B of Figures 8 to 13 and which differs therefrom in the
way that upper and lower sections 102' and 104' of an exterior membrane 100'
thereof are retained at a maximum limited distance from each other, when
expanded. More particularly, the partition walls 108 and 110 of the barrier B
have been replaced by ropes or cables 108' extending between the upper and
lower sections 102' and 104'.
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As seen in Figure 17, the number of cables 108' is greater (e.g.
per unit of length of the barrier B') at the rear of the barrier B', i.e. near
the apex
106' thereof, than forwardly thereof as the water pressure increases from the
bib
114' towards the apex 106'. The cables 108' may be, as illustrated, disposed
in
rows parallel to the longitudinal direction of the barrier B'. As the water
flows
out of the barrier B', the cables 108' may be pulled outwardly of the upper
section 104' (see Figure 17) such as to facilitate the rolling up of the
barrier B'
for storage purposes. This also prevents the cables 108' from becoming
entangled during the collapsing and the storage of the barrier B'.
Alternatively,
the ends of the cables 108' may be affixed to the upper and lower sectons 102'
and 104' of the barrier B' such that, when the barrier B' is collapsed, the
cables
108' are loosely folded within the exterior membrane 100'.
Other systems which limit the opening up, during deployment of
the barrier, of the upper section 104' with respect to the lower section 102'
may
obviously be contemplated as variants to the partition walls 108 and 110 of
barrier B and the ropes or cables 108' of barrier B'. Typically, these systems
are
also capable of being collapsed.
Therefore, with the flood control barrier B of the present
invention, it is readily understood that a more efficient barrier is provided
than
that resulting from the accumulation of thousands of bags of sand. Here, the
bags of sand are replaced by "bags" of water, using the water from the
flooding
to inflate the present flood control barrier B such that the latter acts as a
wall
separating a flooded area from an area to be protected. By laying the barrier
B
before the water reaches it, the gradual increase in the level of the water
will
cause the barrier B to elevate therewith in a simple and efficient manner.
Obviously, the laying of the present barrier B is much quicker than the
accumulation of bags of sand or the like.
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