The invention pertains to a liquid-fillable barrier comprising a tubular member having a base and, when deployed, two upwardly tapering sidewalls, an elongated cavity having a central axis, at least a first partition wall fixed inside the tubular member and dividing the cavity in at least two compartments, and at least one spout for the introduction of a liquid, preferably water, into the cavity.

Such barriers are known e.g. from US 5,040,919, which relates to a containment structure for controlling flood water or spilled liquids comprising an elongated, triangular flexible container to be placed where needed to form a stable, water-tight barrier. The containment structure has a spout for introduction of water into the container, a front flap for anchoring the container, and has end pieces adapted to be used for sealing the end of the container against irregular objects or another container. A floating pump assembly can be provided for filling the container with flood waters. The triangular shape is maintained by (vertical) gussets (14) of flexible material, attached by welding or adhesion to the inside of the container (tube) .

US 5,865,564 relates to a fluid-fillable barrier includes a tubular, impermeable membrane and at least one tension member. The membrane has a first attachment area and a second attachment area. The tension member secures between, and extends from, the first attachment area to the second attachment area. When in tension, the tension member may pivot with respect to the membrane, and has a taut length which is less than one-half of the perimeter of a cross section of the membrane, the length and perimeter being measured at a common cross-section taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the membrane.

In practice, liquid-fillable barriers, when actually being filled, do not assume the shape contemplated

in theory and the side walls will extend (far) beyond the boundaries of the base. Also, the width to height ratio of the filled barriers is generally (too) high and stability is poor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid-fillable barrier.

To this end, the first partition wall, when deployed, extends parallel to the central axis, preferably horizontally, dividing the cavity of the member into a lower compartment and at least one upper compartment.

By dividing the cavity into horizontally extending compartments, a stable basis can be provided prior to filling the other compartment (s) . Favourable (low) width to height ratios, e.g. of about 1.2, can be obtained at good or at least adequate stability, and the volume of cavity can be kept relatively small allowing relatively rapid filling and emptying of the barrier.

To facilitate the filling of the lowest compartment, it is preferred that at least one spout is positioned in one of the sidewalls of the barrier, just below the (first) partition wall.

By providing at least a second partition wall fixed inside the member and dividing the upper compartment into at least two further compartments, a stable barrier can be erected gradually from the ground up.

It is preferred that the height of at least the lowest compartment, but preferably most or all compartments is in a range from 15 to 60 cm, especially from 25 to 50 cm thus allowing an appropriate balance between, on the one hand, the number of compartments that must be filled and, on the other hand, the stability provided by each of the compartments .

It is preferred that the barrier comprises at least one tension member or group of tension members fixed between

a sidewall and the base. Such tension members suppress bulging of the base, i.e. keep the base level.

It is further preferred that the far ends of the tubular member are closed, e.g. by the same material used for the tubular member itself, and a fastening means, preferably one of the constituent parts of Velcro, is provided at or near at least one of these ends along the greater part of the circumference . With such fastening means and an cover, preferably made of the same of a similar material as the barrier itself, adjoining barriers can be connected to one another so as to provide continuity.

By providing barriers according to the invention with inclined ends, the course of the barrier can be adapted to e.g. the course of a river or the boundaries of the premises of a chemical plant without compromising the water tightness of the barrier.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, which show various preferred embodiments of the barrier in hand. Figures 1 and 2 show respectively a side view and a cross-section (A-A) of a barrier according to the present invention.

Figures 3A and 3B show two different variants of one aspect of the barrier according to Figures 1 and 2. Figures 4 and 5 show respectively a second (B-B) and a first partition wall (C-C) of the barrier according to Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 6 shows one of the two tension member (D-D) of the barrier according to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 7 show the forces exerted on the barrier when installed.

Figure 8 shows abutting ends of two adjoining barriers.

Figure 9 shows a connection between the ends according to Figure 8 with a fastening means.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fastening means as used in Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a connection between barriers having oblique ends. Figure 12 shows a cross-section of a barrier according to the invention installed at sea.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a fastening system for connecting a plurality of the barriers according Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a side view of the barrier according to Figure 12.

Within the framework of this invention, the words ^x up' , 'upper', ^Λ low', 'lower' and the like refer to a deployed barrier, either on land or in water. Further, identical parts and parts performing the same function or substantially the same function are denoted by the same numeral .

Figures 1 and 2 show respectively a side view and a cross-section (A-A) of a preferred liquid-fillable barrier 1 according to the present invention deployed on land and including a tubular member, in this case a tube 2 comprising a base 3 and tapering side walls 4a, 4b. In this particular example, the deployed barrier 1 has a length in a range from 10 to 30 m, e.g. 20 m, a triangular cross-section, a width at the base 3 of about 1,2 m and a height of about 1 m. The centre of gravity is located at roughly one-third of the total height, resulting in good stability. Other suitable configurations included trapezium and wedge-shaped cross- sections .

The tube 2 is made of a flexible and impermeable material, e.g. a woven polyester cloth made impermeable by impregnating it with a PVC coating on either side, yielding a laminate of 670 g/m ² . The ends 5 of the tube 2 are sealed by means of triangular sheets of the same material, which have been welded ultrasonically or glued to the circumference of the tube 2. The lower surface of the base 3

can be provided with friction enhancing features, such as protruding dots or ribs embossed in the outer PVC coating.

Two horizontal baffles 6, 7 have been welded ultrasonically or stitched and sealed to the inner surface of the side walls 4a, 4b and divide the cavity of the tube 2 into three compartments 8, 9, 10 of substantially equal height, e.g. 35 cm, and extending parallel to the ground on which the barrier has been deployed. The baffles 6, 7 are provided with a staggered pattern of small holes 11, having a diameter in a range from 1 to 5 mm, e.g. 3 mm, at a mutual distance of less than 50 cm, for instance 30 cm. As will be explained below, these holes allow air to vent from a lower compartment to an upper compartment during filling and prevent air pockets from forming between each of the baffles and the rising water in the compartment beneath it.

Each of the compartments 8, 9, 10 is provided, near its top, with a filling valve 12, preferably a self-sealing quick release coupler, and an additional outlet, e.g. a screw cap 13, for emptying the compartments after use. The upper compartment is further provided with a manually operated shut-off valve 14.

As shown in Figures 2, 3A and 3B, the tube 2 comprises an extension, e.g. a flap 15, on its front side, i.e. the side facing the water to be stopped. As shown in Figure 7, this flap 15, during use, will be forced to the ground by the column of water on top of it and will thus increase the water-tightness of the seal between the base 3 of the tube 2 and the ground as well as the stability of the tube 2 itself. To prevent the flap 15 from being lifted by e.g. gusts of wind before water reaches the tube 2, it can be nailed to ground or preferably held down by an auxiliary liquid-fillable tube 16 (Figure 3A) or by concrete girders 17 (Figure 3B) , which is/are part of the flap 15 or attached thereto.

It is preferred that the barrier 1 comprises e.g. two sheet-like tension member 18 or groups of tension members fixed, again by ultrasonic welding or stitching and sealing, between the sidewalls 4 and the base 3. Such tension members 18 suppress bulging of the base 3, especially during filling, and hence keep the base 3 level. The tension members 18 are provided, near the base 3, with a plurality of semicircular holes 19 having a diameter of e.g. 8 cm to prevent the tension members 18 from obstructing the flow of water within the lowest compartment 8.

Adjoining tubular members are preferably connected to one another by fastening means located at or the near the ends of these members. In Figures 8 to 11, one of the constituent parts 2OA of Velcro is glued, e.g. by means of an acrylate glue, to the side walls 4a, 4b at a distance of 10 cm from ends of the tube 2. Two strips of the remaining constituent part 2OB of Velcro are glued to a rectangular cover 21, parallel to the relatively long sides. As shown in Figure 10 the length of the cover 21 can be selected such as to extend over the sidewalls 4 of the tubes 2 and optionally over the flaps 15 or over the entire circumference of the tubes 2, as indicated by the dotted lines.

By providing barriers according to the invention with inclined ends, i.e. ends that build an angle other than 90 degrees with the central axis of the tube 2, can be adapted to e.g. the course of a river or the boundaries of the premises of a chemical plant without compromising the water tightness of the barrier. The number and length of the barriers required as well as the inclination of the ends of the barriers needed to follow the shape of a river or the boundaries of premises along or around which the barrier should be deployed during an emergency, can be established by means of e.g. aerial photography.

The barrier according to the invention can be stored, e.g. near a river, chemical plant or other facility that may require containment of water or another extinguishing agent, folded or rolled-up on trolleys, trailers or the like. During a drill or an emergency, the barrier 1 is transport to the site in question and deployed by unfolding or unrolling along a required course and filling the lowest compartment of the barrier, through the filling valve, with water, e.g. taken from a river or provided by a fire department. During filling, the lowest compartment takes the shape of a trapezium with the other, still empty, compartments stacked on top of it, and forms a stable basis for filling further compartments. Since the surface on which the barrier is placed often is not flat, air pockets may form between the rising water in the lowest compartment and the lowest baffle. The air in these pockets will vent through the holes and into the compartment directly above the lowest compartment, thus further increasing the amount of water contained in the lowest compartment, preferably to 100%, and further increasing its stability. As soon as the lowest compartment is sufficiently filled, the filling valve is closed and the compartment above it is filled, and so on. Adjoining barriers are subsequently connected by means of covers, such as the one shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11.

Figures 12 to 15 show an embodiment of the barrier 1 intended for use in water, e.g. at sea to contain an oil spill. The tube 2 of this barrier 1 is identical to the tube of the barrier shown in Figures 1 and 2 , except for the absence of a flap (15), a width to height ratio of about 0.7 and a height of the compartment 8 just below the base 3 less than that of the other compartments. Further, this barrier 1 is provided with loops 22 along the edges of the base 3 and along the bottom edge of the lowest compartment 10. The spouts 12 are located in the base 3 and provided with ducts

22, 23 that extend passed or through one or more of the baffles 6, 7 and into the respective compartments 9, 10.

The barrier can be stored on a roll, which, in case of an emergency, such as an oil spill, can be placed in the hold of a ship. It can be deployed e.g. by unrolling a section of the barrier or one entire barrier of relatively limited length at a time, on the deck of the ship and e.g. confined between inclined rollers. The lowest compartment is subsequently filled with sea water through the said duct(s) 23. As soon as this compartment 10 is filled, the compartment 9 directly above it is filled. In order to provided sufficient buoyancy, the upper compartment 8 remains empty through the other duct(s) 22. Cables 24 comprising eyes 25 on either end are inserted in the loops 20 and the barrier 1 is lowered into the sea. Adjoining barriers can be firmly connected to one another by means of the eyes 25.

As a matter of course, the invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments. E.g. other suitable materials for the tubular member and preferably also for the partition walls, tension member and/or flap include woven or nonwoven sheets or grids of e.g. polyester, nylon or aramid rendered sufficiently impermeable by means a single or double sided coating of e.g. PVC. Such sandwich structures preferably have a weight in a range of from 300 to 1500 g/m ² .

Further, instead of sheet-like tension members between the sidewalls and the base of the tube, it is possible to use rods, cords, ribbons or the like. The width of base of the barrier according to the present invention can be freely selected. The width of the base is usually in a range from 0.5 to 3 m, preferably less than 2.4 m.