Hydraulic dam

Abstract

To facilitate construction of an hydraulic dam, a water fillable barrier has a tubular water fillable portion with a tongue projecting from one end. The tongued end of the barrier may abut the tubular sidewall of a second such water fillable barrier with the tongue wrapped around the second barrier and lashed to the first barrier. This arrangement allows the effective construction of a corner in an hydraulic dam. To extend the length of the dam, opposed ends of each of two end-to-end water fillable barriers may be overlapped within a sleeve. When the barriers are then filled with water, they foreshorten. This pulls the overlapping portions back in order to form a high pressure end-to-end abutment between the barriers.

1 . A water fillable barrier, comprising: 
 a water fillable portion having an impermeable flexible membrane with a tubular sidewall and a pair of opposed end walls;    a flexible tongue extending along and outwardly from one end wall of said pair of opposed end walls.    
   
   
       2 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein said tongue has a length at least as long as a circumference of said water fillable portion when filled with water.  
   
   
       3 . The barrier of  claim 2  wherein said tongue is integrally formed with said water fillable portion.  
   
   
       4 . The barrier of  claim 3  wherein said water fillable portion and said tongue are formed of linear low density polyethylene.  
   
   
       5 . The barrier of  claim 4  further comprising at least one port for admission of water into said water fillable portion, said port flush mounted in said water fillable portion.  
   
   
       6 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein another end wall of said pair of said opposed end walls has no tongue.  
   
   
       7 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein said tongue has a sheet-like configuration and a width approximating a diameter of said water fillable portion when filled with water.  
   
   
       8 . An hydraulic dam, comprising: 
 a first water filled barrier comprising: a first barrier tubular water filled portion and a first barrier flexible tongue extending outwardly from one end wall of said first barrier tubular water filled portion;    a second water filled barrier comprising: a second barrier tubular water filled portion;    said one end wall of said first barrier tubular water filled portion abutting a sidewall of said second barrier tubular water filled portion;    said first barrier tongue extending around said second barrier tubular water filled portion and terminating at a point along said first barrier tubular water filled portion;    a first band surrounding said first barrier tubular water filled portion and said first barrier tongue in order to secure a fee end portion of said first barrier tongue.    
   
   
       9 . The dam of  claim 8  wherein: 
 said second water filled barrier further comprises a second barrier flexible tongue extending outwardly from one end wall of said second barrier tubular water filled portion;    said one end wall of said first barrier tubular water filled portion abuts said side of said second barrier tubular water filled portion proximate said one end wall of said second barrier tubular water filled portion;    said second barrier tongue extends along said first barrier tongue and terminates at a point along said second barrier tubular water filled portion; and    a second band surrounds said second barrier tubular water filled portion and said second barrier tongue in order to secure a fee end portion of said second barrier tongue.    
   
   
       10 . The dam of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a third water filled barrier comprising: a third barrier tubular water filled portion and a third barrier flexible tongue extending outwardly from one end wall of said third barrier tubular water filled portion;    a fourth water filled barrier comprising: a fourth barrier tubular water filled portion;    a sidewall of said fourth barrier tubular water filled portion abutting said sidewall of said second barrier tubular water filled portion;    said one end wall of said third barrier tubular water filled portion abutting said sidewall of said fourth barrier tubular water filled portion;    a sidewall of said third barrier tubular water filled portion abutting a sidewall of said first barrier tubular water filled portion;    said third barrier tongue extending around said fourth barrier tubular water filled portion and overlapping a top of said third barrier tubular water filled portion;    a third band surrounding said third barrier tubular water filled portion and said third barrier tongue in order to secure a fee end portion of said third barrier tongue.    
   
   
       11 . The dam of  claim 10  wherein: 
 said fourth water filled barrier further comprises a flexible fourth barrier tongue extending outwardly from one end wall of said fourth barrier tubular water filled portion;    said one end wall of said third barrier tubular water filled portion abuts said side of said fourth barrier tubular water filled portion proximate said one end wall of said fourth barrier tubular water filled portion;    said fourth barrier tongue extends over said third barrier tongue and terminates at a point along said fourth barrier tubular water filled portion; and    a fourth band surrounds said second barrier tubular water filled portion and said second barrier tongue in order to secure a fee end portion of said second barrier tongue.    
   
   
       12 . The dam of  claim 12  wherein a band surrounds said first water filled barrier and said third water filled barrier and wherein a band surrounds said second water filled barrier and said fourth water filled barrier.  
   
   
       13 . A method of erecting an hydraulic dam, comprising: 
 placing a first water fillable barrier comprising a water fillable portion having an impermeable flexible membrane with a tubular sidewall and a pair of opposed end walls and a flexible tongue extending along and outwardly from one end wall of said pair of opposed end walls;    placing a second water fillable barrier comprising a water fillable portion having an impermeable flexible membrane with a tubular sidewall and a pair of opposed end walls such that said second barrier sidewall abuts said one end wall of said first barrier;    filling said first water fillable barrier and said second water fillable barrier;    wrapping said tongue around said second water fillable barrier and along an end portion of said first water fillable barrier;    affixing a free end portion of said tongue to said first water fillable barrier.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said affixing comprises, before placing said first water fillable barrier, placing a band and, after said wrapping said tongue, wrapping said band around said first barrier fillable portion and said end portion of said tongue.  
   
   
       15 . A method of erecting an hydraulic dam, comprising: 
 in respect of first and second water fillable barriers, each comprising a water fillable portion having an impermeable flexible membrane with a tubular sidewall:    overlapping an end portion of said second of said water fillable barriers with an end portion of said first of said water fillable barriers within a sleeve surrounding said end portions;    filling said first and second water fillable barriers to thereby cause said first and second water fillable barriers to foreshorten and form a high pressure end-to-end abutment between said first and second water fillable barriers.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said second water fillable barrier is filled before said first water fillable barrier.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said end portion of said second of said water fillable barriers is overlapped with said first of said water fillable barriers and subsequently said sleeve is slid over said overlapping portions.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said overlapping comprises aligning an end of said second of said water fillable portion with a visual mark on said first of said water fillable barriers.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 in respect of said first and second water fillable barriers and additional water fillable barriers each comprising a water fillable portion having an impermeable flexible membrane with a tubular sidewall:    placing a ground sheet;    placing a plurality of bands on said ground sheet;    placing said water fillable barriers over said bands;    anchoring at least some of said water fillable barriers with anchors; and    after said filling, securing said water fillable barriers to each other with at least some of said bands.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said water fillable barriers is a first plurality of water fillable barriers and further comprising: 
 after said securing, placing a second plurality of water fillable barriers on said first plurality of filled water fillable barriers;    filling said second plurality of water fillable barriers; and    securing said second plurality of water fillable barriers to said first plurality of water fillable barriers with some of said bands.