GB2382613A - Flood protection barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

The barrier comprises a plurality of free-standing posts 10 on bases and panels 12 to be secured between adjacent posts 10. The posts 10 and panels 12 include inter-engaging formations 20 to allow the panels 12 to be secured to the posts 10 in a substantially watertight manner. Between a pair of spaced posts 10 three superposed panels 12 can be provided, interengaging by horizontal tongue and groove connections, the lowermost having a base portion extending between the post bases. Ballast weights 50 aid retention. Each base has a bottom layer of compliant, e.g. semi-hard foamed, material.

Description

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Flood Protection Barrier This invention relates to a flood protection barrier, and in particular to a flood protection barrier which can be erected quickly and easily at a chosen location.

A number of flood protection barrier systems are known in which supports for the barrier are permanently installed, the barrier being fitted to the supports to provide protection against flooding, for example after a flood warning has been issued. As such systems require the supports to be permanently mounted in position, the system can only be erected at one location. Further, a significant expense will be incurred in installing the supports.

The supports may comprise posts permanently mounted in position and to which barrier panels may be secured. Alternatively, the supports may comprise sockets to which suitable posts and barriers can be secured.

It is an object of the invention to provide a flood protection barrier which is portable and can be installed quickly and easily at a chosen location.

According to the present invention there is provided a flood protection barrier comprising a plurality of free-standing posts and a plurality of panels, the panels and posts being provided with co-operating formations to allow each panel to be secured to at least one of the posts in a substantially watertight manner.

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As the posts are free-standing, it will be appreciated that the system can be erected at any chosen location.

Conveniently the co-operating formations comprise a re-entrant groove formed in one of the panel and the post and a correspondingly shaped projection formed on the other of the panel and the post.

Each panel may be composed of several components, each component having formations co-operable with the formations of at least one of the posts. The lowermost component is preferably provided with a base, the underside of which is provided with a compliant material. Likewise, each post is preferably provided with a base, the underside of which is provided with a layer of a compliant material.

The use of the compliant material allows the system to be used on uneven surfaces, the compliant material deforming to comply with the surface upon which the system is used.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating part of a flood protection barrier in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the barrier shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line X-X of Figure 2; and

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Figures 4 to 7 are perspective views of the components of the barrier.

The flood protection barrier illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a plurality of free-standing posts 10 between which panels 12 are securable. The drawings show two posts 10 between which a panel 12 is mounted. However, in practice, further panels will be secured to each of the posts to form an elongate barrier wall which in practice will surround or partially surround an area to be protected against flooding.

As shown in Figure 5, each post comprises an upright 14 secured to a base 16. The base 16 is of substantially square form and includes, on its underside, a layer 18 of a compliant material. The upright 14 is provided with four equiangularly spaced grooves or slots 20, each of which is of re-entrant, generally circular cross-section.

The panel 12 is formed in a number of components each of which extends between two adjacent posts 10. As shown in Figure 2, the panel 12 comprises three components 22,24, 26. The lowermost component 22 is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 6 and comprises a base 28 of generally rectangular form, the underside of which is provided with a layer 30 of compliant material. Integrally formed with the base 28 is an elongate member 32 having formed at the ends thereof projections 34 of generally cylindrical form shaped to be receivable within the slots 20 of the posts 10. The upper edge of the member 32

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carries a tongue 38 of reduced thickness compared to the member 32.

The components 24, 26 are substantially identical to one another and comprises a main portion 40 intended to extend between two adjacent posts 10, each end of the main component 40 being provided with a cylindrical projection 42 intended to be received within an associated one of the slots 20 of the posts 10. The main component 40 is formed, along its lower edge, with a groove 44, and the upper edge of the main portion 40 is formed with a tongue 46 of dimensions similar to the tongue 38 of the component 22. The dimensions of each groove 44 are such as to permit the groove 44 to receive either the tongue 38 or the tongue 46 of another of the components in a substantially watertight manner, the fit of the cylindrical projections 34, 42 within the slots 20 of the posts 10 being such as to form a substantially watertight seal between the components of the panel 12 and the posts 10.

In order to assist in handling of the components 24, 26, handles 48 are formed on these components.

In use, in order to assemble a barrier using the components described hereinbefore, a pair of posts 10 are spaced apart from one another and a component 22 is pushed into position between the posts 10 by locating the projections 34 within the slots 20 of both posts and then applying a downward force to the component 22 to drive the component 22 to the position shown in

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Figures 2 and 3. Once this position has been reached, components 24,26 may be added using a similar technique, the handles 48 being used, if desired, to assist in handling of the components 24,26. In each case, the downward force applied to the components should be sufficient to allow the slot 44 to receive the tongue 38,46 of the component which has already been positioned. After construction of the barrier, ballast weights 50 are positioned on the bases 16,28 of the post 10 and components 22 to reduce the risk of the barrier being pushed over, in use, by the weight of water against the barrier.

It will be appreciated that once one section of the barrier has been completed, a further post 10 will be positioned and a panel constructed between one of the posts 10 of the already constructed barrier and the additional post 10.

If desired, in addition to positioning ballast weights 50 upon the bases 16, 28, further weights may be secured to or supported by the handles 48 to further assist in ensuring that the barrier is capable of withstanding the weight of water applied thereto, in use.

By positioning ballast weights 50 on the barrier, it will be appreciated that a significant downward load is applied to the bases 16,28, compressing the compliant material 18,30 provided on the undersides of the bases, causing the compliant material to deform to take the shape of the surface upon which the barrier is positioned thereby reducing the risk of water escaping beneath the

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barrier.

It is currently envisaged that the components 22,24, 26 should be manufactured in dimensions such that the posts 10 should be positioned 60,120 or 180 em apart. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to these dimensions. Further, it is currently envisaged that the dimensions of the posts should be such as to permit the components 22,24, 26 to be secured thereto. However, depending upon the intended use of the flood protection barrier, the posts may be manufactured to be able to receive a greater or fewer number of components. It is envisaged that the posts 10 and panels 12 should be manufactured from a hard plastics or rubber-like material, but that other materials could be used, if desired. Further, the compliant material is likely to be of a semi-hard foamed material, but other materials could be used if required.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement described hereinbefore is merely an embodiment of the invention and that modifications to the arrangement described hereinbefore may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, one or more of the components 22,24, 26 may be permanently secured to one of the posts 10, or could be integral therewith, thereby reducing the number of joints in the assembled wall or barrier and reducing the risk of leakage. Further, in the arrangement described hereinbefore, each post 10 is formed with four equi-angularly spaced slots 20 allowing the formation of

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barriers which are substantially straight, or barriers containing 900 angled bends. It will be appreciated, however, that the posts 10 could be formed with a greater or fewer number of slots 20, if desired.

Claims (7)

1. A flood protection barrier comprising a plurality of free-standing posts and a plurality of panels, the panels and posts being provided with co-operating formations to allow each panel to be secured to at least one of the posts in a substantially watertight manner.

2. A barrier according to Claim 1, wherein each panel comprises a plurality of components each of which extends, in use, between two posts.

3. A barrier according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the panels and posts are provided with bases, each base being provided on its underside, with a layer of a compliant material.

4. A barrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cooperating formations comprise elongate re-entrant slots formed on the posts and correspondingly shaped projections formed on the panels.

5. A barrier according to Claim 4, wherein the projections are of generally cylindrical form.

6. A barrier according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein each post is provided with a plurality of slots.

7. A barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.