US 6,957,928 B1 · Portable floodwater barrier system

Abstract

A portable flood water barrier system is disclosed having one or more portable, attachable, flexible modules. Each module comprises an elongated tubular member sealed at either end by rigid, flanged end caps. Each module is provided with one or more openings to permit the introduction of water, sand or similar material into the tubular member interior cavity. Each module is also provided with one or more sealable openings to permit any water, sand or similar material to be removed from the tubular member interior cavity. The material provides weight the module to hold it in position against the force of the moving floodwaters. With the tubular member interior cavity partially filled with the material the portion of the tubular member in contact with the ground substantially conform in shape to the ground contours to minimize any water seepage under the tubular member. Each end cap has a plate with a center section providing shoulders about which a retaining ring can be used to fix the tubular member between the shoulders and the inside surface of the retaining ring. The perimeter section of the end plate forms the flange that is provided with a series of bolt openings to permit end caps from adjacent modules to be bolted together. The outer face of each flange member can be structured to receive a gasket or other sealing member to form a watertight seal between to adjacent attached end caps.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A module for use in forming a floodwater barrier system, the module having an elongated flexible tubular member, the tubular member having a cavity open at its opposite ends, the tubular member having at least one fill opening, the improvement to which comprises:

(a) a first rigid end cap attachable to one of the open ends of the tubular member in a manner to seal the one open end, and
(b) a second rigid end cap attachable to the other end of the tubular member in a manner to seal the other end, each of the first and second rigid end caps comprising:
(i) an end plate having a perimeter section formed at least in part by a flange section, the end plate having a center section having a shoulder member extending outward from the center section, the shoulder being shaped and sized to fit within the cavity of the tubular member, and
(ii) a retaining member having a center opening that is shaped and sized fit about the shoulder to securely retain the tubular member to the flanged end plate when the one of the ends of the tubular member is positioned between the shoulder and the retaining member.

1 more element

A floodwater barrier system comprising two or more modules, each module comprising:

(a) an elongated, flexible tubular member forming a cavity open at opposite ends and having at least one fill opening,
(b) a first rigid end cap attachable to one of the open ends of the tubular member in a manner to seal the one open end, and
(c) a second rigid end cap attachable to the other end of the tubular member in a manner to seal the other end, each of the first and second rigid end caps comprising:
(i) an end plate having a perimeter section formed at least in part by a flange section provided with a series of bolt openings alignable with corresponding bolt openings in an adjacent end plate of an adjacent tubular member, and having a center section having a shoulder member extending outward from the center section, the shoulder being shaped and sized to fit within the cavity of the tubular member, and
(ii) a retaining member having a center opening that is shaped and sized to fit about the shoulder to securely retain the tubular member to the flanged end plate when the one of the ends of the tubular member is positioned between the shoulder and the retaining member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable floodwater barrier system

Life of this patent

Portable floodwater barrier system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11