A system is provided for automatic operation and status indication of a marine barrier gate. Embodiments include a system having a buoyant barrier gate that is movable between a closed position and an open position. An actuator moves the gate between the open and closed positions, and a sensor is operably connected to the actuator to generate data relating to a position of the barrier gate between the open and closed positions. A processor receives the data from the sensor and processes the data to move the gate between the open and closed positions, and detect the position of the gate. A human-machine interface is operably connected to the processor for communicating the detected position of the barrier gate to a user.

In order to achieve a swing motion type retractable floodgate using a cost-effective torsion structure, the present invention is provided with a swing pivot support mechanism, a friction shoe, a door bottom support seat, and an operation step during a tidal flow. The support mechanism allows free rotation about three axes and restricts motion in the three axis directions, and a pulling force acts on the support mechanism. The friction shoe dissipates tidal energy during closing operations in a tidal flow to a level that prevents damage to the door. Reactive forces are endured by reducing impact forces with the flexibility and strength of the door bottom support seat. Suitable tidal energy dissipation is performed by selecting friction force strength in the operation step.

The present invention relates to a retractable floodwall system comprising a floodwall panel installed in a housing unit. The floodwall panel is connected with a counter-balance weight. The floodwall panel is capable of being raised from the housing unit and being lowered into the housing unit. The present invention also relates to a method of flood prevention comprising providing a floodwall panel in a housing unit; connecting the floodwall panel with a counter-balance weight; raising the floodwall panel from the housing unit for flood prevention; and lowering the floodwall panel into the housing unit.

The present invention relates to a retractable floodwall system comprising a floodwall panel installed in a housing unit. The floodwall panel is connected with a counter-balance weight. The floodwall panel is capable of being raised from the housing unit and being lowered into the housing unit. The present invention also relates to a method of flood prevention comprising providing a floodwall panel in a housing unit; connecting the floodwall panel with a counter-balance weight; raising the floodwall panel from the housing unit for flood prevention; and lowering the floodwall panel into the housing unit.

To provide a floating flap gate that requires an auxiliary force of a counterweight or the like, and in which bending does not occur in a forward end portion of a door body, even in cases in which an installation site has a wide span. A floating flap gate 1 having a forward end portion 2c of a door body 2 that is configured to rotate around a base end portion serving as a fulcrum at a time of a rising water, so as to float upwards, and provided with an upper beam 2d attached to the forward end portion 2c of the door body 2 and a door body suspension member 3 contained within the upper beam 2d, and having two ends each being connected to one end of a wire rope 4. A counterweight 5 is connected to the other end side of the wire rope 4 as a pulling device. Bolts 6b are used as adjusting members interposed between the upper beam 2d and the door suspension member 3, and are inserted into bolt holes 6a provided on an upper surface of the upper beam 2d, so as to exert an opposing force to the tension of the wire rope 4 resulting from the weight of the counterweight 5 acting on the door body suspension member 3, the opposing force being applied uniformly to the upper beam 2d during ordinary use.

A marine gate has a buoyant variable length barrier and a cable management system employing two cables or lines. An opening line extends through the barrier to move the barrier from an expanded position (gate is closed) to a retracted position (gate is open) via a winch. A closing line moves the barrier from the retracted position to the expanded position using a winch. A weight is attached to the closing line for moving a submerged portion of the line to the seafloor when the barrier gate is retracted and the closing line is payed out by operation of its winch. The weighted line allows a portion or the entire cable system to be under tension at all times. The resulting cable geometry allows vessel operators confidence in knowing the cable location in the water depths at the gate, whether the gate is fully or partially opened.

A marine gate has a buoyant variable length barrier and a cable management system employing two cables or lines. An opening line extends through the barrier to move the barrier from an expanded position (gate is closed) to a retracted position (gate is open) via a winch. A closing line moves the barrier from the retracted position to the expanded position using a winch. A weight is attached to the closing line for moving a submerged portion of the line to the seafloor when the barrier gate is retracted and the closing line is payed out by operation of its winch. The weighted line allows a portion or the entire cable system to be under tension at all times. The resulting cable geometry allows vessel operators confidence in knowing the cable location in the water depths at the gate, whether the gate is fully or partially opened.

A water containment structure that includes at least one flexible sleeve formed from a strong flexible material that will resist puncturing and is formed to contain at least one bladder formed to retain water, and which said sleeve includes center notches formed in the opposite sleeve ends that separate like closed end parallel fingers, which bladder fills the sleeve to the sleeve finger ends so that the bladder ends fit into and against the finger ends, and at least one water fill and drain tube fitted through said sleeve intro said bladder to pass, respectively, water into, and drain water from which bladder, and said bladder includes an air drain to provide for evacuating air from the sleeve during bladder filling. Which sleeve finger ends can be fastened together around a support, and which sleeve finger ends and notches can be secured to one another for connecting a number of sleeves, end to end, into a water containing structure.

A portable ground deployed flood barrier for the protection of a structure against tidal or ground surface flooding provides a lower cylindrical ground tube placed on the ground against the structure base, an upper cylindrical float tube and an intermediate sheet material attaching between the ground tube and the float tube which is presented as folded but readily spread vertically as the flood waters rise, causing the float tube to rise to the water level while leaving the ground tube in contact with the ground surface forming a water proof barrier for the structure against the flood waters.

A self-activating flood barrier includes a chamber (1) having first and second side walls (3, 5), a dam member (9) adapted to self-deploy in the event of a flood to inhibit the passage of water to a region to be protected, and a low-friction device (77, 79) positioned between the dam member and at least one of the first and second side walls of the chamber when the dam member is deployed. The low-friction device prevents jamming between the dam member and the at least one side wall.