Deployable dam comprising non-rectilinear portions

Abstract

The invention relates to a deployable dam (10) arranged to contain the rising of a watercourse (40). The deployable dam (10) comprises at least one rectilinear portion (12) and at least one curved portion (13a, 13b). Each of said rectilinear and curved portions comprises a frame (14) defining a housing (16) and leaves (18a, 18b, 18c) pivotably mounted relative to the frame (14) in order to move from a folded position against the frame (14) above the housing (16) to a raised position. Each leaf (18a, 18b, 18c) comprises a panel (20a, 20b, 20c) and a float (22a, 22b, 22c) secured to the panel and arranged inside the housing (16) when the leaf (18a, 18b, 18c) is in said folded position. The housing (16) is in fluidic communication with at least one underground pipe (50) intended to bring water, coming from the watercourse (40), into the housing (16) when the water level (42) of said watercourse (40) rises, so that the rising of the water level in the housing (16) acts on the floats (22a, 22b, 22c) to bring the leaves (18a, 18b, 18c) into the raised position. The leaves (18b, 18c) of the curved portion (13a, 13b) and the leaves (18a) of the rectilinear portion (12) are adapted such that the movement of the leaves (18a) of the rectilinear portion (12) is initiated before or after the movement of the leaves (18b, 18c) of the curved portion (13a, 13b) as the water level in the housing rises.

Description

Deployable dike with non-straight sections Domain

[0001] The present invention relates to a continuous deployable dike extending along a sinuous path and comprising non-straight sections. The dike notably includes gates whose shape differs according to their positions along the dike and which are equipped with floats to move from a folded position against a frame to a raised position to contain the rise in water level of a body of water during a flood event. State of the

[0002] Deployable dike systems with flaps equipped with floats already exist in the state of the art.

[0003] As an example, GB2450875 discloses a deployable dam system comprising one or more barriers. Each barrier comprises a tank and a wall, movable between a first position in which the wall is substantially contained within the tank and a second position in which the wall extends substantially vertically from the tank. The wall comprises a flexible barrier membrane having a first portion fixed at the tank or vertically adjacent to it and one or more floats that cooperate with the flexible barrier membrane so that the membrane is under tension when the wall is in the second position.

[0004] Another example of this type of deployable dike is disclosed in publication CH718746. The dike comprises a frame with a housing, a hinged flap mounted on the frame to move from a folded position against the frame above the housing to a raised position, and a float arranged inside the housing and attached to the flap. The float is arranged to push against a lower part of the gate, under the action of the increase in the water level in the housing, to move the deployable dike from a first configuration, in which the gate rests on the frame, to a second configuration in which the gate is in the raised position to contain the rise in the water level.

[0005] These deployable dikes are most often configured to extend along a straight path. Consequently, these dikes are not always suitable for certain areas along a body of water that may present obstacles preventing the installation of straight dikes extending continuously along a path. Furthermore, these dikes are not always suitable for the perimeter of the area to be protected. Brief summary of the invention

[0006] One aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a deployable dike which addresses the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0007] More specifically, one aim of the invention is to provide a continuous dike comprising non-straight sections in order to bypass obstacles and / or to adapt as best as possible to the perimeter of the area to be protected.

[0008] This goal is achieved in particular through a deployable dike designed to contain the rising water level of a watercourse. The deployable dike comprises at least one straight section and at least one curved section. Each of these straight and curved sections includes a frame defining a housing and hinged gates mounted to pivot relative to the frame to move from a position folded against the frame above the housing to a raised position. Each gate has a panel and a float attached to the panel and arranged inside the housing when the gate is in the lowered position. The housing is connected to the watercourse by means of at least one underground pipe designed to bring water from the watercourse into the housing when the water level of the watercourse rises, so that the rise in the water level in the housing acts on the floats to bring the gates from the lowered to the raised position. The gates of the curved section and the gates of the straight section of the dike are adapted so that the movement of the gates of the straight section is initiated before or after the movement of the gates of the curved section when the water level in the housing rises.This prevents contact between adjacent leaves of the straight part and the curved part which could hinder their deployment in the raised position.

[0009] In one embodiment, the structure of the straight part of the dike includes a straight portion, while the structure of said curved part of the dike includes a curved portion following the curvature of said curved part of the dike.

[0010] In one embodiment, the frames of said straight part and said curved part are of a single piece.

[0011] In one embodiment, the deployable dike comprises at least one curved section with positive curvature and one curved section with negative curvature. Each leaf of the curved section with positive curvature has a different shape from each leaf of the curved section with negative curvature.

[0012] In one embodiment, the panel of each leaf of the negatively curved section includes a fixing part Pivoting mounting relative to the frame. The panel is tapered in shape, extending from the fixing part to a distal part.

[0013] In one embodiment, the float of at least one leaf of the curved section with negative curvature has a smaller volume than the float of at least one leaf of the straight section. This allows the movement of the latter leaf to begin moving from the lowered position to the raised position before the movement of the leaf of the curved section with negative curvature begins when the water level in the housing rises.

[0014] In one embodiment, the panel of each leaf of the positively curved section includes a fixing portion mounted pivotally relative to the frame. The panel is flared, extending from the fixing portion to a distal end.

[0015] In one embodiment, the float of at least one flap of the positively curved section has a larger volume than the float of at least one flap of the straight section. This allows the latter flap to initiate movement from the lowered position to the raised position after the movement of the flap of the positively curved section is initiated when the water level in the housing rises.

[0016] In one embodiment, each panel has two walls on its underside arranged on either side of the float. One of the walls has a through opening, while the other wall has a connecting element partially arranged in the through opening of one of the walls of the adjacent leaf panel so that the leaves are connected to each other by a mechanical link.

[0017] In one embodiment, the connecting element is mounted pivotally around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the panel.

[0018] In one embodiment, the deployable dike further includes a sealing membrane comprising a primary part and secondary parts. The primary part of the membrane is arranged to cover an upper portion of the frame and a portion of each gate leaf at its attachment point. The secondary parts of the membrane are configured to connect the lateral edges of each panel to the lateral edges of adjacent panels.

[0019] In one embodiment, the secondary parts of the waterproofing membrane are dimensioned to allow a clearance between two adjacent panels perpendicular to the plane of the panels.

[0020] In one embodiment, each float is in the form of a buoyant block made of cork or polystyrene.

[0021] In one embodiment, the structure is fully buried in the ground so that an upper face of each panel of each leaf is at ground level in said folded position.

[0022] In one embodiment, the upper surface of each panel has a non-slip coating. Brief description of the figures

[0023] Examples of implementation of the invention are given in the description illustrated by the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a schematic plan view of the deployable dike arranged between an inhabited area and a watercourse, and in a non-deployed configuration, according to one embodiment; Figure 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a curved section with negative curvature arranged between two straight sections of the deployable dike of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the gates of the curved and straight sections of Figure 2 in a raised position with part of the waterproofing membrane and without the representation of the floats; Figure 4 illustrates an enlarged schematic perspective view of the gates of Figure 3; Figure 5 illustrates a schematic perspective view similar to Figure 3 with the representation of the floats; Figure 6 illustrates an enlarged schematic perspective view of the gates of Figure 5; Figure 7 illustrates a view similar to Figure 5 during a flood event;Figure 8 illustrates a view similar to Figure 2 at the beginning of the movement of the flaps of the straight parts of the deployable dike during a flood event; Figure 9 illustrates a view similar to Figure 8 during a greater increase in the water level; Figure 10 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a tapered-shaped gate of the negatively curved section of Figure 2; Figure 11 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the gate of Figure 10 in a different orientation and without the float; Figure 12 illustrates a schematic perspective view of three straight gates of a straight section of the breakwater illustrated in Figure 1 without the floats; Figure 13 illustrates a schematic perspective view of one of the three gates of Figure 12 with the float; Figure 14 illustrates plan and side views of one of the straight gates without the float; Figure 15 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a positively curved section arranged between two straight sections of the deployable breakwater of Figure 1;Figure 16 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the leaves of the curved portion of Figure 15 in a raised position without the representation of the floats; Figure 17 illustrates an enlarged schematic perspective view of the leaves of Figure 16; Figure 18 illustrates a schematic perspective view similar to Figure 16 with the representation of the floats; Figure 19 illustrates an enlarged schematic perspective view of the leaves of Figure 18; Figure 20 illustrates a view similar to Figure 18 during a flood event; Figure 21 illustrates a view similar to Figure 15 at the beginning of the movement of a flap of the curved part of the deployable dike during a flood event; Figure 22 illustrates a view similar to Figure 21 during a greater increase in the water level in the dwelling, and Figure 23 illustrates a view similar to Figure 22 during an even greater increase in the water level in the dwelling. Examples of embodiments of the invention

[0024] According to one embodiment and with reference in particular to Figure 1, the deployable dike 10 is erected between a residential area and a watercourse 40. The dike 10 extends continuously along a sinuous path to adapt to the geographical extent of the residential area and, for this purpose, comprises straight sections 12 and several curved sections 13a, 13b connecting the different straight sections. Some curved sections 13a have a positive curvature, while other curved sections 13b have a negative curvature.

[0025] The deployable dike shown in Figure 1 is in a non-deployed configuration where numerous gates are folded against a structure buried in the ground, defining a housing, as described later. The housing is designed to receive water from the body of water 40 during a flood event by means of one or more underground pipes 50. Each underground pipe 50, in the illustrated example, has one end opening into the housing, while the other end is located near the watercourse when it is within its bed. According to an unillustrated variant, this other end can be located closer to the dike, for example, a few meters away. In this case, the shape of each pipe is such that this other end opens onto the ground surface. Thus, during a flood, the rising water level will progress across the ground and then enter each pipe through this other end before flowing into the dwelling.

[0026] With reference in particular to figures 3, 16 and 17, the leaves are mounted pivoting relative to the frame 14 to move from a position folded against the frame 14 (figure 2 and 15) above the housing 16, in which an upper surface of the leaves are at ground level, to a raised position to contain the rise in the water level of the watercourse 40 (figure 1) during a flood event.

[0027] For this purpose, each leaf has a fixing part which is for example in the form of hinges mounted directly on an edge of the frame and a float so that the rise in the water level in housing 16 acts on the float of each leaf so that it can be brought from its folded position to its raised position.

[0028] The shape of the gates differs depending on their position along the dike. The gates 18a are rectilinear for the straight sections 12 of the dike, as illustrated in particular by Figure 13. This type of gate comprises a panel 20a, essentially rectangular in shape, and a float 22a including a rectangular face fixed to an underside of the panel 20a. An upper face of each rectangular panel 20a is at ground level 60 in its folded position, as illustrated in particular by Figure 2.

[0029] The rectangular panel 20a also includes two longitudinal walls 21a, illustrated in particular by figure 14, which are arranged on either side of the float 22a and which extend parallel to each other and in a plane substantially orthogonal to the plane of the panel 20a. One of the walls 21a has a through opening 23a while the other wall 21a has a connecting member 24a (figures 13 and 14) arranged partially in the through opening of one of the walls of the panel of the adjacent leaf so that the leaves 20a are connected to each other by a mechanical link as illustrated by figure 12.

[0030] The opening 23a is elongated in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the panel 20a in order to allow some clearance between two adjacent straight panels when the latter are actuated by the floats 22a from their folded position to their raised position.

[0031] The gates 18b are tapered for the negatively curved sections 13b of the dike, as illustrated in Figure 2. This type of gate comprises a tapered panel 20b extending from its attachment point 25b to its distal end, as shown in particular in Figures 10 and 11, and a float 22b with a triangular face attached to the underside of the panel 20b. The panel 20b has two oblique walls 21b arranged on either side of the float 20b in a plane orthogonal to the plane of the panel 20b.

[0032] Like the straight-shaped leaf 18a, one of the walls 21b has a through opening 23b, while the other wall 21b has a connecting element 24b (Figure 11) partially arranged in the through opening of one of the walls of the adjacent leaf panel (Figure 10). This allows a mechanical connection between the various tapered leaves, also permitting some movement between two adjacent panels when the latter are actuated by the floats from their lowered to their raised positions.

[0033] The gates 18c are flared for the positively curved sections 13a of the dike, as illustrated in particular by Figures 15, 18, and 20. This type of gate 18c comprises a flared panel 20c extending from its attachment point 25c (Figure 17) to its distal end, and a float 22c with a flared face attached to the underside of the panel 20c. The gates 18c of the third type are connected to each other by a mechanical link identical or similar to that connecting the gates 18a and 18b of the first and second types.

[0034] The mechanical links between adjacent leaves of the deployable flood barrier provide increased safety for the protection and durability of the membranes, which are not subjected to tensile stress during the opening and closing of the leaves. These mechanical links are not essential, but they maintain flexible mechanical continuity between the leaves, thus increasing longevity and resilience in the event of turbulent flooding. Furthermore, the force of impacts from tree trunks or other floating debris is distributed between the adjacent leaves.

[0035] According to Figure 2, each curved part 13b with negative curvature comprises a portion of the frame 14, tapered leaves 18b whose panels 20b are essentially triangular in shape and straight leaves 18a whose panels 20a are rectangular in shape and which are arranged on either side of the triangular panels for the straight portions of the dike.

[0036] With reference in particular to Figures 4, 6, and 17, the dike also includes a waterproofing membrane comprising a main part 30a arranged to cover an upper portion of the frame 14 and a portion of each gate leaf 18a, 18b, 18c at their fixing points 25a, 25b, 25c, and secondary parts 30b connecting the lateral edges of each panel to the lateral edges of the adjacent panels. The secondary parts 30b of the sealing membrane are dimensioned to allow a clearance between two adjacent panels perpendicular to the plane of the panels.

[0037] In order to avoid any contact between adjacent leaves of a straight part and a curved part which could hinder their deployment in the raised position, the leaves 18b, 18c of the curved parts 13a, 13b and the leaves 18a of the straight part 12 are adapted so that the movement of the leaves 20a of the straight part 12 to go from the folded position to the raised position is initiated before or after the movement of the leaves 13a, 13b of the curved part 12a when the water level rises inside the dwelling caused by the influx of water from the underground pipes 50 during a flood event.

[0038] For the curved sections 13b with negative curvature of the dike, the movement of the straight gates 18a must be initiated before that of the tapered gates 18b, as illustrated by figures 8 and 9. The floats 22b of the gates 18b of the curved section 13b therefore have a smaller volume than the floats 22a of the gates 18a of the straight section, as can be seen in particular in figure 6.

[0039] On the other hand, for the curved parts 13a with positive curvature of the dike (figure 1), the movement of the straight gates 18a must be initiated after that of the flared gates 18c, as illustrated by figures 21 to 23. In this case, the floats 22c of the gates 18b of the curved part 13a have a greater volume than the volume of the floats 22a of the gates 18a of the straight part as can be seen in particular in figure 19.

[0040] Each float 22a, 22b, 22c is preferably made of cork or polystyrene.

[0041] In one embodiment, one upper side of each panel 20a, 20b, 20c has a non-slip coating.

[0042] It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements, obvious to a person skilled in the art, can be made to the dike according to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the attached claims. For example, the dike may comprise only curved sections with negative curvature interspersed between straight sections or only curved sections with positive curvature interspersed between straight sections. List of references Deployable dikeW Straight sections 12 Curved sections with positive curvature 13a Curved sections with negative curvature 13b Building 14 Apartment 16 Battant 18a, 18b, 18c Rectangular panels 20a Longitudinal walls 21a Opening 23a Connecting element 24a Fixing portion 25a 20b tapered panels Oblique walls 21 b Opening 23b Connecting element 24b Fixation portion 25b 20cm flared panel Floats 22a, 22b, 22c Waterproofing membrane Main section 30a Secondary parts 30b Body of water 40 Water level 42 Underground pipeline 50 Plot 60

Claims

Demands 1. A deployable dike (10) arranged to contain the rise in the water level (42) of a watercourse (40), the deployable dike (10) comprising at least one straight section (12) and at least one curved section (13a, 13b), each of said straight and curved sections (13a, 13b) comprising a frame (14) defining a housing (16) and gates (18a, 18b, 18c) mounted to pivot relative to the frame (14) to move from a folded position against the frame (14) above the housing (16) to a raised position, each gate (18a, 18b, 18c) comprising a panel (20a, 20b, 20c) and a float (22a, 22b, 22c) integral with the panel and arranged inside of the dwelling (16) when the leaf (18a, 18b, 18c) is in said folded position, the dwelling (16) being in fluidic communication with at least one underground pipe (50) intended to bring water, from the watercourse (40), into the dwelling (16),during the rise of the water level (42) of said watercourse (40) so that the rise of the water level in the housing (16) acts on the floats (22a, 22b, 22c) to bring the flaps (18a, 18b, 18c) into the raised position, characterized in that the flaps (18b, 18c) of the curved part (13a, 13b) and the flaps (18a) of the straight part (12) are adapted so that the movement of the flaps (18a) of the straight part (12) is initiated before or after the initiation of the movement of the flaps (18b, 18c) of the curved part (13a, 13b) during the rise of the water level in the housing (16).

2. Deployable dike (10) according to claim 1, wherein the frame (14) of the straight part (12) comprises a straight portion, the frame (14) of said curved part (13a, 13b) comprising a curved portion following the curvature of said curved part (13a, 13b) of the dike (10).

3. Deployable dike (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the frames (14) respectively of said straight part (12) and of said curved part (13a, 13b) are of a single piece.

4. Deployable dike (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one curved part (13a) with positive curvature and one curved part (13b) with negative curvature, each flap (18b) of the curved part (13a) with positive curvature having a different shape from each flap (18b) of the curved part (13b) with negative curvature.

5. Deployable dike (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the panel (20b) of each leaf (18b) of the negatively curved part (13b) comprises a fixing part (25b) mounted pivotally relative to the frame (14), the panel (20b) being tapered from the fixing part (25b) to a distal part.

6. Deployable dike (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the float (22b) of at least one flap (18b) of the negatively curved part (13b) has a volume less than the volume of the float (22a) of at least one flap (18a) of the straight part (12a) so that the movement of the latter to go from the folded position to the raised position is initiated before the movement of said at least one flap (18b) of the negatively curved part (13b) during the raising of the water level in the housing (16).

7. Deployable dam (10) according to claim 4, wherein the panel (20c) of each leaf (18c) of the curved part (13a) with positive curvature comprises a fixing part (25c) mounted pivotally relative to the frame (14), the panel (20c) being flared from the fixing part to a distal part.

8. Deployable dike (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the float (22c) of at least one flap (18c) of the curved part (13a) with positive curvature has a volume greater than the volume of the float (22a) of at least one flap (18a) of the straight part (12) so that the movement of the latter to go from the folded position to the raised position is initiated after the movement of said at least one flap (18c) of the curved part (13a) with positive curvature during the rise of the water level in the housing (16).

9. Deployable dike (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each panel (20a, 20b, 20c) has on an underside two walls (21a, 21b) arranged on either side of the float (22a, 22b, 22c), one of the walls having a through opening (23a, 23b), the other of the walls having a connecting member (24a, 24b) arranged partially in the through opening (24a, 24b) of one of the walls of the panel of the adjacent leaf so that the leaves are connected to each other by a mechanical link.

10. Deployable dike (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the connecting member (24a, 24b) is mounted pivotally about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the panel (20a, 22b, 20c).

11. Deployable dike according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sealing membrane including a main part (30a) arranged to cover an upper portion of the frame (14) and a portion of each leaf (18a, 18b, 18b) at the level of their fixing part (25a, 25b, 25c) and secondary parts (30b) connecting the lateral edges of each panel to the lateral edges of the adjacent panels.

12. Deployable dike (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the secondary parts (30b) of the sealing membrane are dimensioned to allow clearance between two adjacent panels perpendicular to the plane of the panels.

13. Deployable dike (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each float (22a, 22b, 22c) is in the form of a block of cork or polystyrene.

14. A deployable dike (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (14) is fully buried in the ground such that an upper face of each panel (20a, 20b, 20c) of each gate (18a, 18b, 18c) is at ground level.

15. A deployable dike (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper face of each panel (20a, 20b, 20c) has a non-slip coating.

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