US 5,460,462 A · Liquid and flood water barrier wall forming-apparatus

Abstract

A liquid barrier system includes a structure forming a below ground level float-receiving chamber. An inlet passageway for round water or other liquid directs the liquid into the bottom of said chamber to fill the chamber when it is desired that a barrier wall-forming part of the barrier system is to rise above ground level. Where the barrier system is a flood water barrier, the chamber bottom connects with a sewer system so that the chamber does not fill unless flood risk conditions exist, as when sewer back-up occurs. A float structure with which the barrier wall is associated is vertically movable in the chamber from a bottommost position therein when there is no liquid build up therein to an uppermost position when said liquid rises therein where the barrier wall is substantially above ground level. Seals are provided which prevent the liquid from gaining access to said one side of the barrier wall. The seal preferably include surfaces on the housing structure and surfaces on the float structure which surfaces engage and are pressed into sealing relation by the buoyancy forces on the float structure when it reaches its uppermost position.

Claims44

Dependent claims

Liquid barrier-forming apparatus for presenting under flood risk conditions an above ground level liquid barrier wall spanning the space between at least two given spaced points to stop water flow to one side of said wall;

said liquid barrier-forming apparatus comprising:
a housing structure to be buried below ground level to underlie said space between said two points, said housing structure having a float-receiving chamber and at least one ground liquid inlet passageway having an inlet at the top of said housing and extending between the top of said housing structure to the bottom portion of said chamber so that ground liquid can fill said chamber when permitted to do so;
a float structure for said chamber which is sized to be vertically movable therein from a bottommost position therein when there is no liquid build up therein to a given level and to an uppermost position when the liquid rises therein and said chamber fills with liquid;
and there being associated with said float structure for movement therewith a barrier wall-forming means which is initially located at or below ground level when said float structure is in said bottommost position and is fully above ground level to form a barrier wall preventing flow of liquid to the other desired dry side of said wall when said float structure is in said uppermost position.

1 more element

A liquid barrier system which forms an above ground level barrier wall spanning the space between at least two given points to stop liquid flow to one side of said wall, said system comprising:

a structure forming a below ground level float-receiving chamber;
means forming an inlet passageway for ground water or other liquid and directing aid liquid into the bottom of said chamber to fill said chamber;
a float structure for said chamber which is vertically movable therein from a bottommost position therein when there is no liquid build up therein and to an uppermost position when said liquid rises therein when said chamber fills with liquid, there being associated with said float structure a barrier wall-forming means which is initially located at or below ground level when there is no liquid buildup in said chamber and which rises above ground to form a barrier wall when said liquid builds up to a given level in said chamber;
and
seal-forming means which prevents the liquid from gaining access to said one side of said barrier wall, said seal-forming means includes surfaces on said housing structure and surfaces on said float structure which surfaces engage and are pressed into sealing relation by the buoyancy forces on said float structure.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Liquid and flood water barrier wall forming-apparatus

Life of this patent

Liquid and flood water barrier wall forming-apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44