# US 2019/0169811 A1 · Systems and methods for forming water barriers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169811 A1 - Document ID: US20190169811A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/149,657 - Filed: 2018-10-02 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Inventors: Phillip M. DeLaine, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169811A1 ## CPC - E02B 3/106: {Temporary dykes} - B61D 1/00: Carriages for ordinary railway passenger traffic (mine cars B61D11/00; tramcars B61D13/00) - B61D 3/00: Wagons or vans (tank wagons B61D5/00; hopper wagons B61D7/00; tipping wagons B61D9/00; mine cars B61D11/00; vehicles specially adapted for animal transportation B60P3/04; {container traffic B65G}) - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) - B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F) ## Abstract The disclosed water barrier systems may include a first mobile water barrier, and adjacent second mobile water barrier, and a translation mechanism for translating the first mobile water barrier and the second mobile water barrier toward each other. Lowering mechanisms may be configured to lower sidewalls of the mobile water barriers. The mobile water barriers may include sealing elements to form water seals between the adjacent mobile water barriers and between the sidewalls and a surface. Related methods of forming a water barrier assembly are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water barrier system, comprising: a first mobile water barrier, comprising: a first sidewall; a first side sealing element positioned along an end of the first sidewall; a first bottom sealing element positioned along a first bottom edge of the first sidewall; and a first lowering mechanism for lowering the first sidewall to abut the first bottom sealing element against a surface to form a first bottom seal between the first sidewall and the surface; a second mobile water barrier, the second mobile water barrier connected to the first mobile water barrier with a coupler, the second mobile water barrier comprising: a second sidewall; a second side sealing element positioned along an end of the second sidewall; a second bottom sealing element positioned along a second bottom edge of the second sidewall; and a second lowering mechanism for lowering the second sidewall to abut the second bottom sealing element against the surface to form a second bottom seal between the second sidewall and the surface; and a translation mechanism for translating the first mobile water barrier and the second mobile water barrier toward each other to abut the first side sealing element against the second side sealing element to form an upper water seal between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first bottom sealing element and the second bottom sealing element comprises a compressible bottom gasket extending along a length of the first sidewall and second sidewall, respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein each of the compressible bottom gaskets has a generally rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall further comprises a flange extending along at least a portion of a vertical wall of the respective compressible bottom gaskets. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the compressible bottom gaskets are sized and shaped to leave a gap between the vertical walls and an inner surface of the flange when the compressible bottom gaskets are in an initial, uncompressed state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein each of the compressible bottom gaskets comprises a rubber material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first side sealing element and the second side sealing element comprises a compressible side gasket extending along at least a portion of a height of the respective first sidewall and second side wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first lowering mechanism and the second lowering mechanism comprises a hydraulic vertical position controlling cylinder for respectively hydraulically lowering the first sidewall and the second sidewall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first lowering mechanism and the second lowering mechanism comprises a vertical guide rail extending vertically upward from a floor of the respective first mobile water barrier and second mobile water barrier, parallel to which the first sidewall and second sidewall move when lowered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first lowering mechanism and the second lowering mechanism comprises a movable interlocking beam positioned to maintain the respective first sidewall and second sidewall in an initial, raised position prior to lowering to form the respective first bottom seal and second bottom seal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first lowering mechanism and the second lowering mechanism comprises a safety block to provide a stop in the event of a failure of other components of the first lowering mechanism and the second lowering mechanism to maintain the respective first sidewall and second sidewall in a raised position, wherein the safety blocks are rigidly attached to a respective floor of the first mobile water barrier and second mobile water barrier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical control system for controlling the lowering of the respective first sidewall and second sidewall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the translation mechanism comprises an inner sill controlling cylinder coupled to the coupler, wherein the inner sill controlling cylinder is configured to longitudinally move the coupler relative to one or both of the first mobile water barrier or the second mobile water barrier to translate the first mobile water barrier and the second mobile water barrier toward each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one locating pin and at least one locating pin bushing configured to align the first side sealing element with the second side sealing element upon translation of the first mobile water barrier and the second mobile water barrier toward each other. ### Claim 15 A method of forming a water barrier assembly, the method comprising: moving a first mobile water barrier and an adjacent, second mobile water barrier to a location in which to form a water barrier assembly, the first mobile water barrier comprising a first sidewall, a first side sealing element, and a first bottom sealing element, the second mobile water barrier comprising a second sidewall, a second side sealing element, and a second bottom sealing element; translating the first mobile water barrier toward the second mobile water barrier; abutting the first side sealing element against the second side sealing element to form an upper water seal between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; lowering the first sidewall of the first mobile water barrier and the second sidewall of the second mobile water barrier; and abutting the first bottom sealing element and the second bottom sealing element against a surface to form a lower water seal between the first sidewall and the surface and between the second sidewall and the surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein translating the first mobile water barrier toward the second mobile water barrier comprises retracting a coupling link between the first mobile water barrier and the second mobile water barrier. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein lowering the first mobile water barrier and the second mobile water barrier comprises hydraulically lowering the first mobile water barrier and the second mobile water barrier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein translating the first mobile water barrier toward the second mobile water barrier comprises hydraulically translating the first mobile water barrier toward the second mobile water barrier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein abutting the first side sealing element against the second side sealing element comprises compressing at least one of the first side sealing element or the second side sealing element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: lifting the first sidewall and the second sidewall to break the lower water seal between the first sidewall and the surface and between the second sidewall and the surface; and translating the first mobile water barrier away from the second mobile water barrier to break the upper water seal between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.