FLOOD CONTROL BARRIER

摘要

A flood control barrier (B) for separating water in a wet area from an area to be maintained substantially dry comprises a flexible exterior membrane (100) made of liquid impervious material and including elongated upper and lower membrane sections (104, 102) joined at a closed longitudinal downstream end or apex (106) of the exterior membrane (100) opposed to an open longitudinal upstream end thereof. The lower membrane section (102) is adapted to be laid on a ground surface (G). The upper and lower membrane sections (104, 102) are displaceable between expanded or deployed and collapsed positions, wherein in the collapsed position, the upper membrane section (104) overlies the lower membrane section (102), whereas in the expanded position, the upper membrane section (104) is spaced from the lower membrane section (102) at the open end of the exterior membrane (100) such that water may flow throught the open end and be received between the upper and lower membranes sections (104, 102) such as to be trapped therein, i.e. by the closed downstream end (106) thereof which prevents the water from flowing past the barrier (B). A float (118) may be provided at an upstream end of the upper membrane section (104) such that, as water flows towards the barrier (B), the upper membrane section (104) rises with a level of water while maintaining this upstream end above the water level (L). Partition walls (108, 110) or cables (108') extend in the membrane (100) between the upper and lower sections (104, 102). Mechanical retention systems (114, 120, 122, 123) may be used in addition to the water pressure acting on the lower membrane section (102) to further assist in preventing the barrier (B) from being displaced downstream along the ground (G). An elongated seal (116) may be provided under the lower membrane section (102) to prevent water from flowing under the barrier (B).