A METHOD FOR PROTECTING A BUILDING AGAINST FLOODING

Abstract

A method for protecting a building against flooding by use of a membrane connected along a first side edge to a float, and comprises the steps of arranging the membrane in a packed configuration at a first distance from the building, and fixing the membrane to the ground at a start location along a second side edge, allowing water to unpack the membrane and move the float toward the building to arrange a first portion of the membrane with a lower surface against ground in an area between the start location and the building, allowing water to raise the float a second distance along an outer surface of the building while further unpacking the membrane to arrange a second portion of the membrane with the lower surface against the building. The first portion forms a retention portion which is retained on the ground by water on an opposite upper surface.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. A method for protecting a building against flooding by use of a membrane connected along a first side edge to a float, the method comprising the steps of: arranging the membrane in a packed configuration where the membrane is rolled about the float at a first distance from the building, and fixing the membrane to the ground at a start location along a second side edge, allowing water to unpack the membrane by unrolling the membrane and to move the float toward the building to thereby arrange a first portion of the membrane with a lower surface against ground in an area between the start location and the building, allowing water to raise the float a second distance along an outer surface of the building while further unpacking the membrane to thereby arrange a second portion of the membrane with the lower surface against the building, wherein the first portion forms a retention portion being retained on the ground by water on an opposite upper surface.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the membrane in the packed configuration has a width substantially parallel to the first distance, the first distance being at least 1.5 times the width.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the float comprises rigid sections connected by bendable sections.

23. A building with a flooding protection installation for protection of the building, the installation comprising a membrane connected along a first side edge to a float, the membrane being arranged in a packed configuration where the membrane is rolled about the float at a first distance from the building, and being fixed to the ground at a start location along a second side edge, wherein the membrane is configured to be unpacked by unrolling the membrane, and the float is configured to be moved toward the building by water whereby a first portion of the membrane is configured to be arranged with a lower surface against ground in an area between the start location and the building, and wherein the float is configured to be raised a second distance along an outer surface of the building and a second portion of the membrane is configured to be arranged with the lower surface against the building, wherein the first portion forms a retention portion being retained on the ground by water on an opposite upper surface in an unpacked configuration.

24. The building with a flooding protection installation according claim 23, wherein the membrane is arranged circumferential around the building.

25. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 23, further comprising an encapsulation with space for the membrane and the float, the encapsulation having an opening and a closure movable relative to the opening between an open and closed configuration.

26. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 23, further comprising a release structure configured to release the membrane upon detection of water to thereby enable unpacking.

27. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 25, wherein the release structure is further configured to lift the membrane and the float out of the encapsulation upon detection of water.

28. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 23, wherein the membrane comprises at least one corner section configured to be arranged against a corner of the building by the water.

29. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 28, wherein the corner section has a length of one of the first side edge and the second side edge being at least twice the length of the other one of the first side edge and the second side edge in the unpacked configuration.

30. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 28, wherein at least one corner section comprises a plurality of folds in the unpacked configuration.

31. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 28, wherein at least one corner section is substantially triangular in the unpacked configuration.

32. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 28, wherein the corner section comprising a plurality of flexible elements arranged transverse to the membrane and extending from the first side edge to the second side edge.

33. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 32, wherein the flexible elements form a fan-shape.

34. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 28, wherein the float comprises rigid sections connected by bendable sections, and wherein the bendable sections are arranged at least at the corner sections.

35. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 25, wherein the closure is movable relative to the opening between the closed and the open configuration by air pressure, the open configuration allowing movement of the membrane from the packed to the unpacked configuration through the opening, the device further comprising pressure means for establishing the air pressure upon detection of water.

36. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 35, further comprising an attachment structure configured to form a joint between a second side edge of the membrane and an inner surface of the encapsulation.

37. The building with a flooding protection installation according to claim 35, further comprising a fixing structure configured to form a fixing between the encapsulation and a ground surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0086] Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0087] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a flooding protection installation,

[0088] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of a flooding protection installation,

[0089] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a flooding protection installation being unpacked,

[0090] FIG. 4 illustrates a flooding protection installation being unpacked,

[0091] FIG. 5 illustrates another view of a flooding protection installation being unpacked,

[0092] FIG. 6 illustrates a view of a flooding protection installation being unpacked,

[0093] FIG. 7 illustrates details of a flooding protection installation before installation,

[0094] FIG. 8 illustrates a flooding protection installation before installation,

[0095] FIG. 9 illustrates details of a flooding protection installation before being unpacked,

[0096] FIG. 10 illustrates a flooding protection installation in a packed configuration, and

[0097] FIG. 11 illustrates a flooding protection installation in an unpacked configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0098] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0099] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a flooding protection installation 1 which is configured to protect a building 2 (see e.g. FIG. 4). The installation 1 comprises a membrane 3 connected along a first side edge 4 (see FIG. 7) to a float 5 (see FIG. 7).

[0100] The membrane 3 is configured to be arranged in a packed configuration at a first distance X (see FIG. 3) from the building 2. Furthermore, the membrane 3 is configured to be fixed to the ground 6 at a start location S (see e.g. FIG. 3) along a second side edge 7 (see FIG. 7).

[0101] The membrane 3 is configured to be unpacked and the float 5 is configured to be moved toward the building 2 by water as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3, whereby a first portion 3A of the membrane is configured to be arranged with a lower surface against ground 6 in an area between the start location S and the building 2. The float 5 is further configured to be raised a second distance Y (see FIG. 4) along an outer surface of the building 2 and a second portion 3B of the membrane is configured to be arranged with the lower surface against the building 2.

[0102] In FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, an upper water level is illustrated by the dotted line w.

[0103] The flooding protection installation 1 further comprises an encapsulation 8 with space for the membrane 3 in the packed configuration and the float. In the illustrated embodiment, the packed configuration defines a configuration in which the membrane 3 is rolled about the float 5.

[0104] As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 5, the illustrated embodiment of the encapsulation 8 is arranged with an upper side surface substantially at ground level.

[0105] The encapsulation 8 has an opening 9 and a closure 10 which is movable relative to the opening 8 between an open and closed configuration. To facilitate unpacking of the membrane 3, the encapsulation 8 is arranged so that the opening 9 is facing upwardly.

[0106] The membrane 3 is attached to an inner surface 8A of the encapsulation 8 along the second side edge 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the membrane 3 is attached by use of an adhesive 11.

[0107] The flooding protection installation 1 further comprises a release structure 12 configured to release the membrane 3 upon detection of water to thereby enable unpacking. The release structure 12 may comprise a water detection element to provide automatic release.

[0108] In the illustrated embodiment, the release structure 12 comprises a tube 12 and pressure means (not shown). Upon detection of water, the pressure means inflates the tube 12 whereby the membrane 3 is lifted out of the encapsulation 8 and is arranged in a position which allows water to unpack the membrane 3 and to move the float 5 toward the building.

[0109] The flooding protection installation 1 further comprises a fixing structure (not shown) configured to form a fixing between the encapsulation 8 and a ground surface.

[0110] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of a flooding protection installation 1 where the membrane 3 is arranged in a rolled; i.e. packed configuration in the encapsulation 8. The closure 10 is in the closed configuration.

[0111] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a flooding protection installation 1 being unpacked. In the right part of the figure, the closure 10 has been removed by the release structure 12; i.e. the tube 12 has been filled with air to thereby lift the membrane out of the encapsulation 8. In the left part of the figure, the membrane 3 has been lifted out of the encapsulation 8, and water is moving the float 5 toward the building 2, whereby the membrane 3 rolls towards the building so that a first portion 3A of the membrane is arranged with a lower surface against ground 6 in an area between the start location S and the building 2. The first portion 3A thereby forms a retention portion which is retained on the ground by water on the upper surface.

[0112] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate different views of a flooding protection installation 1 being unpacked. The float 5 is moved toward the building 2 by water as indicated by the arrow A, whereby a first portion 3A of the membrane is arranged with a lower surface against ground 6 in an area between the start location S and the building 2. The float 5 is further raised a second distance Y along the outer surface of the building 2, whereby a second portion 3B of the membrane is arranged with the lower surface against the building 2.

[0113] FIG. 6 illustrates a flooding protection installation 1 being unpacked where ground level varies around the building 2. A the left side of the building 2, ground level is lower than ground level at the right side of the building 2. At both sides of the building 2, a first portion 3A of the membrane is arranged with a lower surface against ground 6 in an area between the start location S and the building 2. As the rising water determines the height Y to which the float is raised, a second distance Y where a second portion 3B of the membrane is arranged with the lower surface against the building 2 is smaller at the right side of the building than at the left side of the building.

[0114] FIG. 7 illustrates details of a flooding protection installation 1 before installation, and FIG. 8 illustrates a flooding protection installation 1 adapted to be arranged circumferentially around a building before installation. The membrane 3 comprises a plurality of membrane sheets 3 being adhesively joined.

[0115] The float 5 comprises rigid sections 5A connected by bendable sections 5B. The bendable sections are arranged at the corner sections of the membrane. The membrane 3 is at a first side edge only connected to the rigid sections 5A of the float.

[0116] The membrane 3 comprises corner sections 13 configured to be arranged against a corner of the building by the water. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the corner sections 13 are substantially triangular when unpacked. The triangular shape facilitates adaptation of the membrane 3 to the shape of the building at corners of the building. In the illustrated embodiment, the triangular shape is obtained by folding parts of the membrane 3. By folding the membrane 3, more membrane material is present at corners of the building thereby ensuring sufficient material to protect the building also at the corners.

[0117] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the triangular shape at the corners is obtained by a plurality of folds 14 thereby forming a fan-shape when the membrane 3 is in the unpacked configuration.

[0118] Thus, the corner sections 13 each comprises a membrane section being substantially rectangular and comprising a plurality of folds 14 to thereby form a substantially triangular shape, where the folds extend in the unpacking direction (being opposite to the direction Z).

[0119] I.e. each corner section is substantially triangular when unpacked. As the substantially triangular corner sections 13 are formed by folding the membrane, the folds 14 are not parallel to each other, as the distance between two neighbouring folds 14 increases from one side edge to the opposite side edge. At an outer corner, the distance between two neighbouring folds 14 increases from the first side edge to the second side edge. At an inner corner of a building, the distance between two neighbouring folds 14 increases from second side edge to the first side edge.

[0120] In the illustrated embodiment, the corner sections 13 are formed of substantially rectangular membrane sections comprising a plurality of folds 14 to thereby form a substantially triangular shape of each of the corner sections in the unpacked configuration.

[0121] The corner sections may comprise a plurality of flexible elongated elements (not shown) arranged transverse to the membrane 3 and extending from the first side edge 4 to the second side edge 7.

[0122] When preparing the flooding protection installation, the membrane is arranged in the packed configuration by rolling the membrane 3. The membrane 3 is rolled around the float 5 from the first side edge 4 toward the second side edge 7 in the direction of the arrows Z.

[0123] FIG. 9 illustrates details of a flooding protection installation 1 before being unpacked; i.e. in a packed configuration, and FIG. 10 illustrates a flooding protection installation 1 in a packed configuration where the membrane 3 is rolled around the float 5 from the first side edge 4 toward the second side edge 7 seen from above. It should be understood that the size of the corner sections 13 relative to the membrane 3 is not to scale, but for illustration only.

[0124] FIG. 11 illustrates a flooding protection installation 1 in an unpacked configuration. The membrane 3 has been lifted out of the encapsulation 8, and the float 5 is moved toward the building 2 by water, whereby a first portion 3A of the membrane is arranged with a lower surface against ground 6 in an area between the start location S and the building 2 with water on the upper side surfaces to retain the membrane at ground.

[0125] The float 5 will further rise a second distance Y along the outer surface of the building 2, whereby a second portion 3B of the membrane will be arranged with the lower surface against the building 2.