"An Improved Erectable Apparatus"

This invention relates to an improved erectable apparatus and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an improved erectable apparatus for use as a flood barrier or as a ballast weight for vehicles.

Although it is known in flood conditions to provide a flood barrier around a building or at apertures in the walls of buildings or to increase the height of the banks of rivers, the most usual known flood barrier is formed from sand bags which are assembled to form a wall. Although the use of such a wall of sand bags restricts the ingress of water into, for example a building, it does not provide a water impervious seal and there is seepage through or around the sand bags, particularly through the joins between adjacent sand bags. The use of sand bags also suffers from the disadvantage of being a time consuming and labour intensive way of forming a flood barrier, particularly a barrier of sufficient length to protect a building or raise the level of a river bank against the ingress or over-topping of water in flood conditions.

In other adverse weather conditions, particularly high winds, it is known that high sided vehicles such as unloaded commercial vehicles suffer from the disadvantage of being unsafe to drive as they are prone to being difficult to accurately steer and/or to being over-turned by the force of such high winds.

The object of the present invention is to provide an erectable apparatus for alleviating one or more of the above disadvantages in respect of forming a flood barrier or in respect of a high sided un-loaded commercial vehicle.

According to the invention, an erectable apparatus for use as a flood barrier or as a ballast weight for vehicles comprises one or more hollow units each formed of a flexible water proof material and having a closeable inlet and a

closeable outlet, wherein the or each unit is erectable by filling said unit with water.

The weight of the water filling each unit resists movement of the apparatus by the forces exerted thereon by flood water and also provides stability of a high sided unloaded commercial vehicle against the force of high winds when the apparatus filled with water is positioned on the vehicle's load- carrying platform.

Preferably, the flexible material is an ethylene, propylene diene-monomer rubber material.

Preferably, also, the or each unit is of a hollow cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape in cross-section.

The inlet is, preferably, formed in the upper portion of the or each unit.

Preferably, the inlet in the or each unit is formed by an externally projecting tube.

Preferably, also, the inlet tube of the or each unit is provided with a manually-operable valve.

The or each unit is, preferably, provided at one or both ends with an outwardly projecting outlet.

Preferably, the or each outlet projects for a sufficient length to enable the outlet to be tied and then folded over upon itself and tied again to close said outlet.

Preferably, also, the or each end of the or each unit is gathered into or formed in a frusto-conical shape with the associated outlet being a continuation

of the smaller diameter portion of the frusto-conical shape.

Each unit is, preferably, provided with connection means connecting said unit to a similar unit in close fitting water tight end-to-end relationship.

Preferably, the connection means comprises a skirt extending around the unit at or adjacent to one or each end thereof which is provided with eyelets for receiving tying cords or provided with straps and buckles for enabling the units to be secured together in close fitting water tight end-to-end relationship.

Preferably, also, the or each unit is provided with internal support means for maintaining the shape of each unit when it is filled with water.

The internal support means in the or each unit, preferably, comprises a lattice of support straps extending between opposite internal surfaces of the unit.

Alternatively, the internal support means may comprise a support web in the form of a sheet of material having apertures therein through which the water can flow when the unit is being filled or emptied, said web extending between opposite internal surfaces of the unit.

Preferably, the lattice or web is connected to and extends internally across the central part of the internal surface of the unit.

Preferably, also, the lattice or web is also connected to the lower portion of the internal surface of the unit.

The lattice or web is, preferably, also connected to the upper portion of the internal surface of the unit.

Preferably, the erectable apparatus comprises an assembly of interconnected units in a lower layer with an upper layer of units connected thereon.

Preferably, also, the lower layer comprises two units disposed in parallel side-by-side relationship with an upper layer of a single unit disposed therebetween on top which is connected to both units of the lower layer.

Alternatively, the lower layer may comprise three, five, or more units and a complementary number of upper layers of units are connected thereon.

Preferably, each unit is provided with a closeable overflow through which water escapes when the unit is full.

Preferably, also, a flap of wear resistant material is fitted to the base of the or each unit and extends from one or both sides of the associated unit so as to be capable of being covered by flood water to assist in weighing down the unit and retaining the flood barrier of which the unit is a part in the desired position.

A collapsible support frame or open-topped support box is, preferably, provided in which the or each unit is positioned, said frame or box is adapted to be releasably connected to a load-carrying platform of a vehicle, including a trailer to retain the or each unit in position on said platform when the or each unit is filled with water to provide a ballast weight for an unloaded vehicle.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one unit of an erectable apparatus;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic front elevation of one unit of a larger size of an erectable apparatus,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic front elevation of an assembly of units of an even larger size of erectable apparatus.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic front elevation of two modified units of the erectable apparatus disposed in end-to-end relationship,

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a load-carrying platform of a commercial vehicle having retaining means tot the erectable apparatus,

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an alternative retaining means to the retaining means shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the retaining means shown in Figure 9.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, an erectable apparatus for use as a flood barrier or for use as a ballast weight for commercial vehicles comprises a unit indicated generally at 10 which is fabricated from sections of flexible waterproof material secured together by a heat welding or a vulcanising operation or by an adhesive. The flexible waterproof material is an ethylene, propylene diene-monomer rubber material marketed under the acronym EPDM or for example under the Trade Mark "HERTALAN". The unit 10 has a central hollow substantially cylindrical section 12 with frusto-conically shaped end sections 14. Each end section 14 is provided with an outwardly projecting outlet tube 16 which is a continuation of the smaller diameter portion of the frusto- conical shape and projects for a sufficient length to enable the outlet tube 16 to be closed by being tied with a length of cord or a tie such as a known cable tie

(not shown) and then folded over upon itself and tied again with another length of cord or tie to form a secure closure of the outlet tube 16. An inlet tube 18 is formed in the upper portion of the unit 10 and is provided with a manually- operable valve 20. The unit 10 is provided with a lattice of longitudinally spaced- apart internal support straps 22 extending diametrically between opposite sides of the internal surface of the section 12 and also to the internal surface of the upper and/or lower portion of the section 12 to maintain the cylindrical shape of the section 12 when the unit 10 is filled with water. The lattice of support straps 22 can be replaced with a support web (not shown) formed of a sheet of material having apertures through which the water can flow when the unit 10 is being filled or emptied. The cylindrical section 12 of the unit 10 is provided at each end with a skirt 24 having eyelets 26 to enable the unit 10 to be tied in close fitting water tight relationship to a similar unit 10 disposed in end-to-end relationship to form a required length of flood barrier or length of ballast weight for a commercial vehicle.

In operation, a desired number of units 10 are assembled together in end-to-end relationship after the outlet tubes 16 have been tied closed and the assembly of units 10 forming the erectable apparatus is placed in position to form a flood barrier or on the load-carrying platform of an empty high-sided commercial vehicle to provide a ballast weight in adverse weather conditions. Each unit 10 is then simply filled with water through the inlet tube 18 to erect the apparatus and when full, the inlet valve 20 is closed. The flexible nature of the material from which the units 10 are formed and the filling of the units 10 with

water exerts compressive forces between the ends of the units 10 to enhance the water tight seal therebetween. In the case of a flood barrier it will be appreciated the weight of the water in each unit 10 resists the forces exerted on the barrier by the flood water and not only forms the water tight seal between each unit 10 but also forms a water tight seal between each unit 10 and the ground on which the erected apparatus forming the flood barrier is placed. After use the outlet tubes 16 are united and the water drained from the units 10 which can then be folded or rolled into a minimal space for storage for future use as a flood barrier or as a ballast weight for a commercial vehicle.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, where a larger height of flood barrier is required, similar units 10, with the same parts denoted by the same reference numerals, having a larger diameter are provided and erected and dismantled in the same manner. The only changes are in respect of the lattice of support straps 22 or the alternative web (not shown) is the additional connection of straps 22 to the upper portion of the internal surface of section 12 of the unit 10 which are provided to maintain the cylindrical shape of the section 12 when the unit is of larger diameter and contains a larger volume of water to erect the apparatus so as to provide a greater height of the erected apparatus forming the flood barrier.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, when an even greater height of flood barrier is required the units 10 are assembled into layers with two units 10 being disposed in side-by-side relationship to form a lower layer indicated generally at 28 and an upper layer indicated generally at 28A of single

units 10 mounted thereon. The units 10 of each layer 28 and 28A are connected together by straps, cords or ties (not shown) which encircle the units 10 of each layer 28 and 28A30 for the sake of rigidity of this flood barrier which is particularly suitable for use on river banks or to form a desired water course down which flood water flows to be diverted from an area or building which is particularly at risk from flooding. In addition, a multiple layer erectable apparatus (not shown) can be provided with the lower layer formed of three, five or more units 10 connected by means of straps, cords or ties in close fitting water tight side-by-side relationship with a complementary number of upper layers of units 10 similarly connected thereon by means of straps, cords or ties which encircle the entire assembly of layers of units 10.

Referring now to Figure 7 of the drawings, in a modification each unit 30 is of a simple open-ended cylindrical shape and the ends are gathered together and closed by a cord or tie 32 such as a known cable tie. The use of a simple cylindrical shape without frusto-conically shaped ends is easier and cheaper to produce. A sufficient length of the gathered together end of the unit 30 projects beyond the cord or tie 32 to enable it to be folded over upon itself and secured by a second cord or tie (not shown) which extends around the folded end to form a double seal. Each unit 30 is provided with an inlet 34 having a closeable valve through which the unit 30 is filled with water and with an overflow 36 again provided with a closeable valve through which water escapes when the unit 30 is full. The water used for filling the units 30 can, where convenient, be the flood water itself which is pumped into the units 30.

Each unit 30 is provided at one end with a skirt 38 of extended length into which the end of the adjacent unit 30 can be inserted to form a close fitting water tight seal between the units 30 and is secured therein by strap and buckle types of connections 40. Although the ends of the units 30 are shown in spaced-apart relationship in the drawings for the sake of clarity, the ends of the units 30 will be disposed in close fitting end-to-end contact with each other when the apparatus is the erected state. This also applies to the units 10 of the apparatus in the erected state.

A flap 42 of flexible wear resistant material is fitted to the base portion of each unit 30 to protect the underside of the units 30 from being punctured or worn when the units 30 are placed on rough ground. Each flap 42 extends at least beyond the side of the associated unit 30 which is facing the expected flood water so as to be covered by the flood water which assists in weighing the unit 30 down to retain the unit 30 in the desired position on the ground. In a modification, the flap 42 extends from both sides of the associated unit 30 so that the unit 30 is not handed and can be laid without having to consider the expected direction of the flood water which is to be retained by the erected apparatus.

The units 30 in a deflated condition, with the ends closed as described above, are fastened together with the strap and buckle connections 40 in end-to- end relationship and are then folded and located in a pod type of container (not shown). The pod is transported on a vehicle to the desired site where a flood barrier of extended length is required such as a river bank. The units 30 are

unloaded from the pod on the vehicle as it is driven along the length of such a river bank at walking pace so that the flood barrier can be laid at a pace of some 4 miles per hour. Once the units 30 are in place, they are filled with water as described above to erect the required flood barrier.

Referring now to Figure 8 of the drawings, when the units 10, 30 are to be used to provide ballast weight on an unloaded commercial vehicle, the vehicle's load-carrying platform 50 is provided with collapsible metal frames 52 forming upwardly extending supports on each side thereof between which the units 10,30 (not shown) are located and retained so as to extend longitudinally of the platform 50. The frames 52 are adapted to be releasably connected to the platform 50 and can be supported in their upright position with stays (not shown) and when collapsed the frames 52 together with the stays can be stored when not required beneath the platform 50. The space between adjacent frames can be filled in with timber or metal plates to form solid side walls.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, an alternative unit 60 to the units 10,30 is provided in the shape of a cube having an inlet 62 in its top face through which the unit 60 is filled with water and an outlet 64 in its lower portion through which the water is emptied from the unit 60. An open-topped box 66 is releasably connected to the load-carrying platform of the vehicle in which the unit 60 is located. The box 66 and the unit 60 filled with water located on the load-carrying platform provides a ballast weight for the unloaded vehicle. The box 66 is collapsible into a flat shape when not in use which can be stowed beneath the load-carrying platform of the vehicle. The unit 60 can also be

provided with internal straps or webs (not shown) in the form described above in respect of the units 10, 30 to maintain the shape of the unit 60 when it is filled with water particularly when the open-topped box 66 is replaced by a framework with open sides.

It will be appreciated the erectable apparatus formed by the units 10 or 30, can be quickly and easily erected with minimal effort and can not only be used for forming a flood barrier or a ballast weight for empty commercial load carrying vehicles but also for other purposes such as erecting a children's paddling pool without departing from the scope of this invention.