Inflatable flood barrier

Abstract

Disclosed is an inflatable flood defence or a water dam, the flood defence structure or water dam includes at least one inflatable chamber ( 12 ) having a front face ( 13 ), a rear face ( 15 ) and a multiplicity of interconnecting members ( 18 ) extending between the front and rear faces. This arrangement provides a rigid inflatable structure which is used as a flood defence and performs a reservoir for retaining water.

1 . A flood defence or water dam including or comprising at least one inflatable chamber providing a front surface and a rear surface, the front and rear surfaces extending generally parallel and being interconnected by a multiplicity of interconnecting members extending across the chamber, and at least one of the surfaces providing a water barrier. 
     
     
         2 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the or each chamber is water finable. 
     
     
         3 . A flood defence or water darn as claimed in.  claim 2 , wherein the or each chamber is not fixed or sealed to the ground. 
     
     
         4 . A flood defence or water darn as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a skirt located at a lower region of the or each chamber, in use extending toward the water or impending flood water. 
     
     
         5 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the skirt is arranged to lie on the ground adjacent the or each chamber. 
     
     
         6 . A flood defence or water darn as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a substantially watertight seal between the chamber and the skirt is provided. 
     
     
         7 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the surfaces, or both surfaces are substantially impermeable to water. 
     
     
         8 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the or each chamber is formed from a drop-stitch material. 
     
     
         9 . A flood defence or water darn as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said drop stitch material has polymer coated fabric sheets separated by a multiplicity of fibres or threads, each being attached to the inner sides of the sheets. 
     
     
         10 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 1  further including a chained series of chambers having a sheet material join between adjacent chambers, acting as a hinge and/or a water seal between adjacent chambers. 
     
     
         11 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the chambers have spacer elements for spacing the chambers from an adjacent wall in use. 
     
     
         12 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said spacers are formed in the same manner as the chambers claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a pair of chambers are arranged, spaced apart at their lower regions and coming together at their upper regions. 
     
     
         14 . A flood defence or water darn as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the chambers are chained together and arranged in a closed polygonal manner when viewed in plan, for example a square or hexagon. 
     
     
         15 . A flood defence or water clam as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the chained chambers form a basin within the polygon which is tillable with water. 
     
     
         16 . A flood defence or water dam as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the floor of the basin has a water impermeable layer sealed to the chambers of the polygon to form a reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . A series of chained polygonal chambers as claimed in  claim 14 , connected together at their edges to form a continuous elongate watertight flood defence wall, or a series of reservoirs. 
     
     
         18 . A water darn comprising a plurality of chambers as claimed in  claim 1 , formed by interconnecting said chambers to form a reservoir for water, optionally having a water resistant base member.