Abstract
A portable, water-filled barrier system includes a water-fillable module that is internally divided into cells that emulate a section of a sandbag dike or wall, the module being fixed to an underlying base having front and rear boundaries that extend up from base and horizontally restrain the module. The base can be flexible and water filled, or rigid, and can be installed at or below grade. A lid can extend between the front and rear boundaries of a rigid base to cover the unfilled module, enabling the assemblies to be stacked when stored and transported. The lid can be hinged and, when open, can be supported by at least one brace extending from behind the lid to underlying terrain, where it can be wedged or staked in place. Adjacent bases can be joined at the front and rear to maintain contact between adjacent modules.
Claims
1. A water-inflatable barrier system comprising: a first barrier module having: first module flexible walls forming a first module shell configured to contain water within a first module interior of the first barrier module, said first module shell having a first module front, a first module rear, a substantially rectangular first module bottom, a first module length parallel to the first module front, a first module width perpendicular to the first module front, and a first module cross section that is wider at a first module bottom of the first barrier module than at a first module top of the first barrier module; a plurality of substantially horizontal and substantially vertical first module partition walls dividing said first module interior into a plurality of adjacent, water-tight first module cells shaped as rectangular parallelepipeds, front and rear first module partition walls of each first module cell being substantially parallel to the first module front of the first module shell, said first module cells being arranged in a plurality of vertically stacked layers that are offset from each other such that none of the first module front and rear partition walls aligns with a first module front or rear partition wall in a vertically adjacent layer; a first module water inlet in liquid communication with the first module interior; and a plurality of first module passages between the first module cells, said first module passages being configured to allow filling of all of the first module cells with water from the first module water inlet; said first barrier module being fixed to a first base that underlies the first barrier module and is locatable on underlying terrain, said first barrier module being configured, when filled with water, to rise above front and rear boundaries of the first base that extend upward in front of and behind the first barrier module.
2. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the front and rear boundaries of the first base are included in a raised perimeter that surrounds the first barrier module.
3. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the first base is flexible, and is fillable with water.
4. The barrier system of claim 3, wherein the first base is in liquid communication with the first barrier module.
5. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the first base is substantially rigid.
6. The barrier system of claim 5, further comprising a first lid configured to extend between the front and rear boundaries of the first base, thereby covering the first barrier module when it is not filled with water.
7. The barrier system of claim 6, wherein the first lid is attached to the rear boundary of the first base by a hinge, thereby enabling the first lid to be rotated into an open configuration that allows the first barrier module to expand above the front and rear boundaries of the first base as it is filled with water.
8. The barrier system of claim 7, further comprising a brace configured to extend from behind the first lid to said underlying terrain.
9. The barrier system of claim 8, wherein the brace includes an anchor configured to fix a distal end of the brace to the underlying terrain.
10. The barrier system of claim 9, wherein the anchor includes a spike configured for insertion into the underlying terrain.
11. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the barrier system further comprises a second barrier module fixed to a second base, sides of said first and second barrier modules being configured for mutual contact.
12. The barrier system of claim 11, wherein the first and second bases are configured for mutual attachment that maintains the mutual contact between the sides of the first and second barrier modules.
13. A method of constructing a barrier assembly, the method comprising: providing a water inflatable barrier system according to claim 1; placing the barrier system at a desired location; and filling the first barrier module with water.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first base is flexible, fillable with water, and in liquid communication with the first barrier module, and wherein filling the first barrier module with water results in filling the first base with water.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein placing the barrier system at the desired location includes installing the first base below grade at the desired location.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the barrier system further comprises a second barrier module fixed to a second base, and wherein placing the barrier system at the desired location further comprises placing the second base adjacent to the first base, thereby bringing the first and second barrier modules into mutual contact with each other.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second base is substantially rigid, wherein the barrier system further comprises a second lid configured to extend between front and rear boundaries of the second base, and wherein the method further includes placing the second lid onto the second base, the second barrier module not being filled with water, so that the second lid covers the second barrier module, and placing the first base on top of the second lid in a stacked configuration during at least one of storing the barrier system and transporting the barrier system to the desired location.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second lid is attached to the rear boundary of the second base by a hinge, and wherein the method further comprises: rotating the first lid into an open configuration that allows the first barrier module to expand above the front and rear boundaries of the first base as it is filled with water; and fixing a proximal end of a brace to the first lid; and fixing a distal end of the brace to the underlying terrain.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein fixing the distal end of the brace to the underlying terrain includes inserting a stake into the underlying terrain.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising inflating the first barrier module with air before placement of the barrier system at the desired location, and wherein filling the first barrier module with water includes removing said air from said first barrier module.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is perspective view of a sandbag barrier of the prior art having a flat base;
(2) FIG. 2 is perspective view of a sandbag barrier of the prior art having two rows of sandbags at its base that are placed in a trench prepared at the construction site;
(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a single module that is one cell in length in an embodiment of the present invention;
(4) FIG. 4A is a cross sectional view of a module in an embodiment having a water inlet on top, a water outlet near the bottom, and simple passages between tops and bottoms of cells;
(5) FIG. 4B is a cross sectional view of a module in an embodiment similar to FIG. 4A, but including only a water port at the top through which the barrier is both filled and emptied with water;
(6) FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a module in an embodiment having passages between tops and bottoms of cells that are closable by passive valves;
(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing three of the modules of FIG. 3 interconnected using loops and straps to form a partial barrier;
(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment similar to FIG. 6, but wherein a single strap extends through loops positioned on front faces of more than two of the modules;
(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a module in an embodiment where the module has interlocking ends;
(10) FIG. 9A is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention in which the barrier module is fixed to an underlying base, flexible base that can be filled with water, the barrier and base being shown before filling thereof with water;
(11) FIG. 9B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 9A shown after filling of the barrier and base with water;
(12) FIG. 10 is a side view of an embodiment that includes a barrier fixed to a substantially rigid base, where the barrier is not filled with water, and is covered by a lid, the base being installed above grade;
(13) FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment similar to FIG. 10, where the base has been installed below grade;
(14) FIG. 12A illustrates transportation of stacked modules by a flatbed truck;
(15) FIG. 12B is a perspective view of two adjacent modules that are similar to FIG. 9B, the bases of the modules being attached to each other by an attachment mechanism;
(16) FIG. 13A is a side view of an embodiment that includes a substantially rigid base with hinged lid, shown with the lid closed; and
(17) FIG. 13B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 13A, shown with the lid open and supported by a pair of braces and the barrier filled with water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(18) The present invention is a portable, modular, water-inflatable barrier that has a structure similar to a sandbag dike or wall 100 and functions in a similar manner, but does not require delivery of large quantities of heavy materials to the construction site, does not require large amounts of labor to assemble, and is simple and inexpensive to remove when no longer needed. With reference to FIG. 3, the barrier comprises one or more barrier modules 300, each of which is made of a light, flexible material, such as a heavy plastic for nanofiber, and can be transported to the construction site in a deflated state, after which it is positioned and filled with locally available water. In embodiments, the modules 300 are coated with a material such as Tyvek or liquid rubber that will tend to seal any puncture of the material that may occur. In some embodiments, each module 300 weights less than 250 pounds, so that it can be lifted and carried without using heavy machinery.
(19) In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the interior of the module is divided into a plurality of approximately rectangular cells 302. A port 304 for filing and/or emptying the module 300 is provided in the top surface. With reference to FIG. 4A, passages 400 between the tops and bottoms of the cells 302 allow the entire barrier module 300 to be filled from a single water inlet 304. In the illustrated embodiment, a separate water outlet 404 is provided at the base of the structure 300.
(20) With reference to FIG. 4B, in some embodiments a separate water outlet 404 is not included, and instead water is both added and removed through a common port 304 at or near the top or bottom of the barrier module 300. This allows water to be removed from the barrier module 300 without introducing air, so that removing the water causes the barrier module to be collapsed in preparation for packing and transport.
(21) In some embodiments, lateral passages (not shown) are provided at least between adjoining cells in the bottom rear row, so that a single outlet can drain all of the cells 302 in the barrier module 300.
(22) With reference to FIG. 5, in some embodiments 500 the cells 302 include passive automatic valves 500 that seal the passages 400 after the cells 302 are filled with water, so that deflation of one cell due to a puncture or some other cause will not cause the cells beneath it to deflate. In the embodiment 500 of FIG. 5, the valves 502 are flaps of elastic material joined to the upper surfaces of the cells 302 by living hinges 504. A small air bladder 506 is included in the region of the valve 502 that is positioned to cover the passage 400. When the cell 302 is empty, gravity causes the valve 502 to fall away from the passage 400, so that the cell 302 can fill with water. However, once the cell 302 is full of water, the air bladder 506 lifts the valve 502 into place and closes the passage 400. Once the valves 502 are closed, if a cell should develop a leak and deflate, only the cells directly above it will be affected.
(23) In addition, the embodiment 500 of FIG. 5 includes lateral passages 508 between neighboring cells at the lowest level of the barrier, so that the entire barrier can be emptied through a single water outlet 404 located at the lower rear of the structure 500. These lateral passages 508 include automatic valves 510 that will allow water to flow toward the rear as the cells empty from back to front, but will prevent water flowing from rear to front if one of the front cells is damaged.
(24) Typically, the cells in the front row 302, 302A will be the cells that are directly exposed to threats such as debris carried by flood waters. The front cells 302, 302A are therefore the ones most likely to be damaged or punctured. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, if a cell 302A in the bottom front row is punctured, the lateral valve 510 will prevent water from flowing out of the cell next to it 302B and into the damaged cell 302A. However, if the rear cells 302B are drained first during the normal drainage process, then the lateral valves 510 will open and water from the front cells 302A will flow out.
(25) Embodiments of the present invention comprise a plurality of modules 300 that are arranged side-by-side and coupled to each other. FIG. 6 illustrates the interconnection of three of the modules 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 so as to form at least part of a barrier 600. In this embodiment, the coupling mechanism that interconnects the modules 300 comprises loops 604 that are attached to the upper surfaces of the cells, whereby adjacent loops of adjoining modules are attached by straps 602. In similar embodiments, the loops 604 are interconnected by clamps or other fastening means known in the art.
(26) FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of an embodiment 700 similar to FIG. 6, except that the loops 604 are located on both the front-facing and rear-facing surfaces of the modules 300, and a single, continuous strap 702 is passed through the loops 604 and around the modules 300 so as to attach the modules 300 and form the barrier 700. The embodiment of FIG. 7 also includes a manifold 704 that can be used to fill all of the modules 300 simultaneously through fill-ports provided in the bases of the modules 300.
(27) With reference to FIG. 8, in some embodiments the barrier modules 800 have interlocking ends that provide structural cooperation and a water-tight seal between adjacent modules. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a single module 800 that is three cells wide. The module includes alternate rows of cells 802 that extend from the ends by a length of one cell, while the interleaved rows 804 do not. The opposite pattern is provided on the other end of the module 800. It can be seen that a second module of the same configuration can be positioned so that its extended cells fit between the extended cells 802 of the adjacent module 800. In some of these embodiments, as mentioned above, the modules 800 can be initially filled with air and positioned with the ends interlocking, after which the modules 800 are filled with water while the displaced air is allowed to escape through pressure valves 304 provided at the tops of the modules 800.
(28) With reference to FIG. 9A, in embodiments the disclosed barrier 900 is fixed to an underlying base 902 that increases friction with the underlying ground 704 and provides additional horizontal support to the barrier 900, at least due to raised boundaries 904 that extends in front of and behind the barrier 900, and in some embodiments form a rim that surrounds the barrier 900, thereby forming a hollow within which the barrier 900 resides. In the embodiment of FIG. 9A, the base 902 is inflatable with water, and is in liquid communication with the barrier 900, such that the entire assembly of base 902 and modular barrier 900 can be simultaneously inflated with water by applying the water through a fill hose 906 into a fill port 304 that is located on an outer side of the base 902. The filled base 902 and barrier 900 are illustrated in FIG. 9B.
(29) With reference to FIG. 10, in other embodiments the base 902 is substantially rigid. In the illustrated embodiment, a lid 1002 is provided that forms a chamber with the base 902 within which the deflated barrier 900 can be contained when not in use. Depending on the embodiment, the chamber can be open on its sides, or fully surrounded by the rim 904 of the base 902. This approach allows the entire assembly 1000 to be installed either above grade 908, as shown in FIG. 10, or below grade 908, as shown in FIG. 11.
(30) FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment similar to FIG. 10 in which the base 902 of the assembly 1000 has been installed below grade 908 at a site that is susceptible to flooding, such as a seashore or lake shore, with the top of the lid 1002 being at grade 908. When there is a present danger of a flood, it is only necessary to remove the lid 1002 and fill the barrier 900 with water. Being buried below grade 908 and fixed to the barrier 900, the base 902 provides firm resistance to horizontal displacement of the barrier 900 once it is filled with water.
(31) With reference to FIG. 12A, in other embodiments the entire assembly 1000 can be remotely stored, and then brought to the site when needed and deployed above grade 908. In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 1002 enables the barrier modules 900 with their bases 902 to be stacked on top of each other during storage and transportation, for example by a flatbed truck 1200.
(32) With reference to FIG. 12B, in embodiments the front and rear boundaries 904 of the bases 902 of a plurality of assemblies can be attached to each other by front and rear attachments 1202, thereby maintaining the respective barriers 900 in contact with each other.
(33) With reference to FIG. 13A, in some embodiments the lid 1002 is attached by a hinge 1300 to the base 902, such that it can be easily rotated out of the way to allow inflation of the barrier 902 without requiring removal and storage of the lid 1002. FIG. 13B illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 13A after the lid 1002 has been pivoted upward and the barrier 900 has been filled with water. In the illustrated embodiment, braces 1302 are provided that extend from a fitting 1304 provided on the opened lid 1002 to the ground 908 behind the base 902, for example at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, where the braces 1302 can be wedged in place, staked, or otherwise fixed to the ground. In the illustrated embodiment, the braces 1302 are fixed to the ground 908 by stakes 1306.
(34) The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
