Apparatus and method for flood control

Abstract

Apparatus and method for flood control. The apparatus comprises at least one expandible compartment that may conform to surfaces against which it rests. The compartment comprises a filler material capable of taking up liquid and expandible upon liquid take-up; an outer skin, at least a part of which is liquid permeable; and means for sealing said skin to contain said filler material therein. The compartments may be dried or purged of liquid after use and retained for subsequent re-use.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An expandible flood control barrier comprising: 
 a filler material capable of taking up liquid and expandible upon liquid take-up;    an outer skin, at least a part of which is permeable to said liquid and impermeable to said filler material, wherein said outer skin is adapted to accommodate expansion of said filler material and    means for sealing said filler material in said skin.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of compartments, each compartment including a quantity of said filler material sealed within said outer skin.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said compartments are joined end-to-end.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of said compartments is adapted to be secured to at least one of another of said compartments and an adjacent structure.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said outer skin is substantially unreactive chemically with and insoluble in said liquid.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said filler material is substantially unreactive chemically with and insoluble in said liquid.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said filler material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of biopolymers, synthetic polymers, polymer gels, copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said filler material comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of growth inhibitors, anti-microbial agents, surfactants, and weighting agents.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said outer skin comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of growth inhibitors, anti-microbial agents, surfactants, and weighting agents.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is re-usable.  
     
     
         11 . An expandible flood control barrier unit, comprising: 
 a filler material capable of taking up liquid and expandible upon liquid take-up;    an outer skin enclosing said filler material, wherein said outer skin is adapted to accommodate expansion of said filler material, and wherein at least a part of said outer skin is permeable to said liquid and impermeable to said filler material.    
     
     
         12 . The flood control barrier unit of  claim 11 , wherein said unit has a pillow-like form and can conform to surfaces against which it rests.  
     
     
         13 . A method for containing and controlling floods, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an expanidble apparatus comprising an outer skin, wherein at least a part of said skin is partially liquid permeable, and a filler material contained within said outer skin, wherein the filler material is capable of taking up liquid and expandible upon liquid take-up, wherein said apparatus is adapted to conform to surfaces against which it rests;    placing said apparatus where said liquid can contact it and where said apparatus can act as a flood control barrier; and    allowing said liquid to penetrate through said outer skin into said barrier and be taken up by said filler material inside said outer skin, thereby causing said barrier to expand.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said placing step comprises securing said apparatus to at least one adjacent structure.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of adding a weighting agent to said apparatus.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein apparatus is modular, and wherein said method further comprises the step of joining a plurality of said modules together.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein apparatus is modular, and wherein said method further comprises the step of selecting a quantity of said modules for use at a desired location.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of removing at least a portion of said liquid which has been taken up by said filler material.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of storing said apparatus for re-use.