DE20021744U1 - Security system - Google Patents

Description

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G4341200

Klaus Röhm

D-72141 Walddorfhäslach

Security system

The invention relates to a security system.

Such safety systems serve to seal a body and/or to maintain the equilibrium state of a body and/or to stabilize the position of a body.

Such security systems are required in a wide variety of industrial applications. One example of such an application is the securing of storage tanks. Such storage tanks are used in particular for storing heating oil and are located in the basements of buildings. The storage tank is located in a collecting room, the side walls of which are at a distance from the storage tank.

If flood water penetrates, there is a risk that the water pressure will damage the pipes leading to the storage tank, which could cause heating oil to leak out of the pipes. There is also a risk that the buoyancy forces exerted on the storage tank by the flood water will cause the storage tank to float and tip over. This poses a great risk of damage to the storage tank.

In principle, such storage tanks can be secured using mechanical systems. In particular, the pipes can be sealed with seals, sleeves and the like. However, the construction effort and thus the cost of such security systems is considerable.

G4341200

Furthermore, mechanical securing systems can also be provided to secure the position of such a storage tank. For example, the storage tanks can be screwed to the floor of the basement. Apart from the fact that such securing systems also require considerable construction effort, another disadvantage is that the mechanical securing systems mean an intervention in the design of the storage tank's bearings. Such changes may require the storage tank to be re-inspected by the approval authority, which entails an undesirable amount of time.

Another disadvantage is that in order to attach such screw connections, holes must be drilled into the walls and floors that border the collection chambers. This means that there is a risk that leaking heating oil will penetrate into the interior of the building's masonry through these holes.

The invention is based on the object of creating a security system that is as universally applicable and reliable as possible and which can be produced easily and inexpensively.

To solve this problem, the features of claim 1 are provided. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are described in the subheadings.

The safety system serves to ensure buoyancy and/or seal and/or maintain the state of equilibrium and/or to determine the position of at least one body by using at least one swelling agent which is in active connection with the body and which can swell by absorbing substances.

In order to stabilize the position of a body and/or to maintain a state of equilibrium of a body, it is particularly exploited that the

G4341200

The active connection between the swelling agent and the body influences the forces acting on the body, in particular buoyancy forces, weight forces and pressure forces.

The influence occurs in particular through swelling of the swelling agents when they come into contact with liquids or liquid-containing substances such as vapours, gases and the like.

For example, the position of a storage tank located in a collection area can be stabilized by introducing unswollen or slightly pre-swollen swelling agents into the space between the walls of the storage tank and the collection area.

When flood water penetrates, the swelling agents swell up considerably, binding the water and conveniently filling the space between the walls of the storage tank and the collection chamber. In this case, there are several active connections between the storage tank forming the body and the swelling agents, which help to secure the storage tank.

On the one hand, the swelling agents located between the walls of the storage tank and the collecting space displace the penetrating water, so that the buoyancy forces acting on the storage tank are reduced. This prevents the storage tank from floating, i.e. the swelling agents stabilize the storage tank, whereby it remains in an installation position that forms an equilibrium position on the bottom of the storage tank or in a predetermined installation position range, in particular in the vertical.

This effect is enhanced by the fact that adhesion forces act between the storage tank and the adjacent swelling agents, which also counteract the buoyancy forces.

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Finally, the swelling agents can also be arranged in such a way that, when swollen, they seal any cavities that may exist between the bottom of the storage tank and the bottom of the collection chamber. This creates suction forces that also prevent the storage tank from floating. Furthermore, swelling agents can be used as shaped bodies, possibly together with mechanical devices such as belts to weigh down the storage tank. The weight exerted by the swelling agent and/or the substances to be absorbed, in particular liquids such as water and fuels, can be used outside and/or inside the storage tank to weigh it down. The weighting can be carried out, for example, using consoles mounted outside the storage containers or plate-shaped bodies next to or under the storage tank. This also leads to a stabilization of the storage tank.

Finally, the contact of the preferably swollen swelling agent with the storage tank creates a sealing effect on the storage tank that forms the body. In particular, the swollen swelling agent can enclose and seal connections on the storage tank that are used to connect pipes. This can also be done specifically by applying swelling agent to the pipes. In this case, console-shaped or plate-shaped bodies that are provided with swelling agents are particularly advantageous.

The swelling agents are preferably formed from superabsorbents. Such superabsorbents store considerable amounts of water. Typically, 1 g of a superabsorbent can store 300 g of water.

In general, swelling agents can absorb substances by swelling, whereby the substances can be in the form of gaseous, gas-containing or gel-like substances in addition to being liquids.

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G4341200

The swelling agents can be used, for example, in an unswollen state in powder form or in another granular or fibrous or macroporous structure. The swelling agents can be stored in casings in particular and form swelling bodies with them. The swelling agents can also be applied to carrier materials such as films, textiles and/or reinforced, rubber-like structures with a high coefficient of friction such as anti-slip mats from the "Black Cat" brand. Finally, the swelling agents can also be designed as molded bodies and/or flat structures.

Furthermore, additives can be added to the swelling agents in order to specifically change the properties and/or behavior of the swelling agents.

In the simplest case, water is added to the swelling agents in a measured manner in order to pre-swell them in a predetermined manner.

Alternatively or additionally, binding agents, in particular aluminium sulphate and/or methyl cellulose and/or glycol, can be added to the swelling agents as additives.

By adding such additives, the properties of the swelling agent are specifically changed. In particular, the absorption capacity of substances, the inherent rigidity and/or the viscosity and/or the sealing effect of the swelling agent can be influenced.

Furthermore, materials that have predetermined mechanical properties, particularly stability properties, can be added to the swelling agent as additives. These include additives such as the material sold under the brand name "Black Cat", which essentially consists of a rubber-like material and a nylon fabric for reinforcement. This material can also be used as a flat structure.

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For all embodiments of the swelling agents, the following applies: they are swollen by absorbing substances. In order to return the swollen swelling agents at least partially to their original, unswollen state, they can preferably be supplied with return agents. The supply of return agents can be designed in the form of an energy supply. For example, these swelling agents can be exposed to a predetermined pressure or negative pressure in order to extract the substances from the swollen swelling agents. Furthermore, the swollen swelling agents can be supplied with electricity, heat or radiation in order to release the substances from the swelling agents.

Furthermore, the return agents can be formed from return substances in order to convert the swollen swelling agents into their unswollen original state. Such return substances are formed in particular from polyelectrolytes such as sodium chloride or acetic acid.

By using the recycling agents, the recyclability of the swelling agents is significantly improved and the energy required for this is reduced.

The invention is explained below with reference to the following figures and exemplary embodiments.

Figure 1: Top view of a storage tank stored in a containment area with swelling bodies inserted into it to secure the storage tank.

Figure 2: Cross section through a section of the arrangement according to Figure 1.

Figure 3: Arrangement according to Figure 2 for swelling bodies swollen by penetrating water.

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example 1

Figure 1 shows a schematic of a storage tank 1 that is stored in a collecting space. In the present example, heating oil is stored in the storage tank 1. The storage tank 1 has a connection piece 2 on its ceiling for filling with heating oil. The storage tank 1 is preferably made of plastic or steel. Pipes (not shown) lead from the connection piece 2 to a heating system (also not shown).

The tank system designed in this way is preferably located in a basement of a building. The collecting space surrounds the storage tank 1 on the sides and at its base 3 and prevents any heating oil leaking from the storage tank 1 from spreading unhindered in the basement.

The collection space is limited to the bottom by the basement floor 3. The collection space is limited to the sides by walls 4, 4', whereby in the present embodiment one wall 4' is formed by the building wall of the building. At least the insides of the walls 4, 4' and the floor 3 of the basement room are made of concrete and are therefore impermeable to escaping heating oil.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, the walls 4, 4' of the collection chamber, with the exception of the wall 4' formed by the basement wall, are only slightly higher than the storage tank 1, so that the collection chamber can be seen by one person.

In the event of a flood, water can penetrate through the basement's doors and windows, which are usually not watertight, and can flood the collection area in particular. The buoyancy forces of the water can cause storage tank 1 to float and become damaged, causing heating oil to leak out of storage tank 1 in an uncontrolled manner.

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In order to secure the storage tank 1 in its storage position, swelling bodies 5 formed from swelling agents are provided, which are introduced into the collecting space.

The principle of securing the position is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The swelling bodies 5 are distributed, as shown in Figure 2, on the floor of the collecting space formed by the basement floor 3 and on the ceiling of the storage tank 1. The swelling bodies 5 are dried and are in their non-swollen initial state. In the non-swollen state, the swelling bodies 5 only take up a small part of the space between the walls 4, 4' of the storage tank 1 and the collecting space.

In the event of a flood, the penetrating water flows in particular into the collection chamber and comes into contact with the swelling bodies 5. The swelling bodies 5 bind the penetrating water and swell up with a very large increase in volume, whereby the swollen swelling bodies 5' have a high viscosity.

By selecting the right amount of swelling bodies 5, it is achieved that, as shown in Figure 3, the swollen swelling bodies 5' fill the entire space between the walls 4, 4' of the storage tank 1 and the collecting chamber. In addition, the top of the storage tank 1 is also covered with the swollen swelling bodies 5'. The water level 6 of the flood can reach up to the upper edge of the collecting chamber or even above it.
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The swollen swelling bodies 5' prevent the collection chamber from being flooded by the penetrating water, which at least greatly reduces the buoyancy forces acting on the storage tank 1. In addition, adhesion forces act at the interface between the walls 4, 4' of the storage tank 1 and the swollen, viscous swelling bodies 5', which counteract the buoyancy forces.

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By reducing the buoyancy forces and the effective adhesion forces, the storage tank 1 is held securely in its storage position and secured against floating.

In addition, the swollen swelling bodies 5' efficiently seal the connection piece 2 and the pipes running along it against the ingress of water and also against any possible leakage of heating oil (secondary protection).

The swelling bodies 5 essentially consist of a swelling agent or a mixture of several swelling agents, whereby superabsorbents are used as swelling agents, which are used, for example, as agents for binding liquids in baby diapers. Swelling agents of this type are sold, for example, under the brands CABLOC, STOCKOSORB and FAVOR. These swelling agents have a granular structure when dry, but have a viscous consistency after absorbing water. By suitably mixing such swelling agents, the time course of the swelling of the swelling bodies 5 and their viscosity in the swollen state can be specified.

It is also advisable to add additives such as granules or graphite to the swelling agents. The capillary effect of the granules ensures rapid and even distribution of the water penetrating the swelling body 5. The addition of graphite prevents excessive dust formation from the swelling agents when dry and reduces the risk of dust explosions.

As further additives, binding agents such as sodium silicates or potassium silicates can be added to the swelling agents, which lead to an increased stiffness of the swollen swelling bodies 5'.
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G4341200

The swelling bodies 5 can in principle consist of swelling agents pressed into plates. In a particularly simple embodiment, the swelling agents 5 are in granular or powdery form and are scattered, blown, injected or trickled into the collecting space. It is also possible in principle for swelling agents 5 to flow into the collecting space.

The swelling bodies 5 or swelling agents are preferably introduced before, but at the latest when, the water enters the collection chamber.

In the embodiment according to Figures 1-3, the swelling bodies 5 are combined in certain pack sizes and housed in water-permeable casings (not shown). The casings can be designed as vessels, plate-shaped containers, carrier materials or bags. The swelling bodies 5 packaged in this way are easy to handle and can be placed at any point in the collection space.

The coverings are preferably made of stretchable, elastic materials such as textile fabrics, with nylon fabrics being particularly suitable. Rubber-like materials are also suitable for this purpose.

In such casings, the swelling body 5 remains in the casing during the initial phase of the swelling process, whereby when the swelling body 5 swells, the casing expands up to a limit volume. In this case, the swelling bodies 5 stored in the casings swell extremely evenly. When the limit volume is exceeded, the casings open by bursting or breaking open, so that the swelling bodies 5' are exposed and can expand freely when they swell further.

Alternatively, textiles, especially coarse-meshed ones such as jute, can be used as a carrier material.

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The described protection and sealing of storage tanks 1 can generally be extended to tanks, in particular to tanks stored underground. In addition, it is also generally possible to protect parts of buildings or buildings in this way. In particular, in the case of tanks stored underground, swelling agents can be introduced between the ceiling and the underside of the tank so that the swollen swelling agents exert pressure on the tank and weigh it down so that the tank remains stable in its installation position.

Example 2

The swelling agents can be used to stabilize and position ships and boats. The swelling agents are used in particular to lift boats in dry docks in a controlled manner, which simultaneously stabilizes the position of the boats and seals their outer walls.

The swelling agents can also be used to ensure the buoyancy of boats, for example to prevent a boat from sinking. In this application, the swelling agents also simultaneously seal the walls of the boats.

Example 3

The swelling agents can generally be used as sealing agents. In this case, they can be used as molded parts in an unswollen state on the body to be sealed or in a cavity enclosed by the body. The molded parts can form a positive connection with the respective body. Alternatively, the swollen swelling agents only form a sealing layer.

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The swelling agents can be used in particular as cable seals, whereby the swelling agents enclose the cables to be sealed in an unswollen and/or swollen state. In particular, the swelling agents can be in the form of inherently stable films.

Furthermore, the swelling agents can be used in the field of flood protection, whereby the swelling agents are used in particular to at least partially seal barriers against flooding or form barriers against flooding themselves. Such barriers can in particular be formed from stacks of sandbags or the like.

Swelling bodies containing swelling agents stored in coarse-pored casings are particularly suitable for such systems. The casings can be made of jute sacks, nylon stockings or the like.

As soon as the unswollen or slightly pre-swollen swelling agents come into contact with water, they swell, causing part of the swelling agent to escape through the pores and form a viscous layer surrounding the casing. Multiple stacks of these swelling bodies with the viscous layers lying on top of each other form an efficient protection against flooding.

Such systems can also be used to seal systems that are relevant to environmental protection. In particular, the swelling agents can be used to collect condensation water that escapes from systems.

The swelling agents can also be used to absorb or contain environmentally hazardous substances, particularly in aqueous solutions. For example, swelling agents can be used to build barriers against oil spills on beaches. In general, swelling agents can be used in the field of cleaning technology, particularly water and wastewater treatment.

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Furthermore, such systems can be used to seal and/or to prevent buoyancy in reservoirs containing groundwater or drinking water. Likewise, swelling agents can be used in flood retention basins and the like as water reservoirs to retain rainwater and floodwater.

Furthermore, sealing elements can be formed using swelling agents and, if necessary, additional coatings or carrier materials.

These sealing elements can be used to close and seal sewers, openings in pipelines and the like.

In particular, sealing by means of swelling agents takes advantage of the fact that, due to their viscous structure, strong frictional forces or even an adhesive effect are obtained at the interfaces between the bodies and the swelling agent, whereby a high sealing effect is achieved in the area of the interface.

On the one hand, the sealing elements can consist entirely of homogeneously or heterogeneously structured swelling agents.

The sealing elements can be designed in particular using layer technology. Hydrophobic materials such as garden fleece are particularly advantageously used as carrier materials. The swelling agents, to which additives may be added, are fixed to the carrier material using binding and/or adhesive agents. The binding and/or adhesive agents are neutral or hydrophobic and can be formed from adhesives, foam adhesives, methyl cellulose or the like.

The sealing elements manufactured using layer technology can be used in unchanged form or in further processed form for sealing windows, doors or similar.

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The carrier material can preferably be wound up in different geometric shapes. Pillow-like designs of such sealing elements are also possible.

Example 4

The swelling agents can be used advantageously in rescue systems, especially water rescue systems.

One example of this is the use of swelling agents for boat and bathing jetties. In particular, the swelling agents can be used to produce floating objects such as lifebuoys and the like.

An example of a rescue system is a diver rescue system. The inside of the diving suit contains a powder consisting of sodium bicarbonate and a swelling agent. In an emergency, the diver can flood his diving suit underwater so that the water comes into contact with the powder. The swelling agent swells and the sodium bicarbonate dissolved in the water releases CC>2 gas. This creates buoyancy forces that bring the diver to the water surface.

Example 5

The swelling agents can be used to produce different components for different applications.

A first example of this is a gel hydraulic component such as a gel hydraulic cylinder. The swelling agent is stored inside the gel hydraulic cylinder. Depending on whether water is added to or removed from the swelling agent, the volume of the swelling agent increases or decreases, which causes the lifting movement to occur.

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In general, the swelling agents can be used to fix components. In particular, the swelling agents can be used as fillers for walls and wall elements constructed using a sandwich construction method. In addition to their stabilizing properties, the swelling agents also have a noise-reducing effect, meaning that such walls can be used as noise barriers. In addition, swelling agents used in this way can also serve as cold or heat storage.

The swelling agents can also form components of components, whereby the swelling agents serve to absorb radiation. The swelling agents can also serve as components of components to increase their conductivity. For example, such components can be formed by carpets and wallpaper.

Furthermore, the swelling agents can be used in the form of molded bodies or flat structures as filling materials for packaging parts. Such packaging parts can advantageously absorb leaking liquids from bottles, containers and the like stored in the packaging.

Finally, the swelling agents can be used to manufacture components that are used to protect facilities against severe weather.

For example, the components can be designed in the form of mats containing swelling agents. The mats can be used as a seal for roofs on buildings. The mats are preferably rolled up on facilities provided for this purpose. When a storm is imminent, the mats are rolled out and cover the roof tiles. In heavy rain or hail, the swelling agents swell, bond with the roof tiles and protect them from detaching from the roof even in strong storms. Such mats can also be used to protect glass parts against hail, particularly in motor vehicles or conservatories.

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Furthermore, flat components formed from swelling agents can be used on the external walls of buildings as flood protection.

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G4341200

Klaus Röhm D-72141 Walddorfhäslach

List of reference symbols

List of reference symbols

(1) Storage tank

(2) Connection pieces

(3) Basement floor

(4) Wall (4') Wall

(5) Source body

(5') Source body

(6) Water level

Claims (22)

1. Safety system for ensuring buoyancy and/or sealing and/or maintaining the state of equilibrium and/or for stabilising the position of at least one body by using at least one swelling agent which is in active connection with the body and which can swell by absorbing substances. 2. Safety system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a stationary, floating, suspended or sinking body. 3. Security system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the swelling agent swells by absorbing liquid, gel-like, gaseous or gaseous substances. 4. Security system according to claim 3, characterized in that the substances consist of water or contain water. 5. Security system according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the swelling agents are formed by superabsorbents. 6. Security system according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the swelling agents have a homogeneous or heterogeneous structure. 7. Security system according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that additives are added to the swelling agent and/or the substance to be absorbed. 8. Security system according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that water is provided as an additive for producing pre-swollen swelling agents and/or binding agents, in particular aluminum sulfate and/or methyl cellulose and/or water are provided as additives. 9. Safety system according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the body is weighted by means of the swelling agent. 10. Safety system according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that a suction force acting on the body is exerted by means of the swelling agent. 11. A securing system according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that adhesion forces act between the body and the swelling agent. 12. Safety system according to one of claims 1-11, characterized in that static or dynamic friction forces act between the body and the swelling agent. 13. Security system according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the swelling agent has an adhesive effect which serves to connect several swelling agents and/or the swelling agent or agents to at least one body. 14. Safety system according to one of claims 1-13, characterized in that buoyancy forces acting on the body are reduced by means of the swelling agent. 15. Security system according to one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the body or several bodies enclose at least one hollow space, which can be at least partially filled or closed with the swelling agents in order to seal it. 16. Safety system according to one of claims 1-15, characterized in that the body and the swelling agent form a positive connection. 17. Security system according to one of claims 1-16, characterized in that the body is partially or completely enclosed by the swelling agent. 18. Security system according to claim 17, characterized in that the body is formed by a porous casing in which an unswollen or swollen swelling agent is stored, and that when swelling occurs, part of the swelling agent penetrates through the pores to the outside of the casing and forms a layer there. 19. Security system according to one of claims 1-17, characterized in that the swelling agents are applied to carrier materials. 20. Security system according to one of claims 1-19, characterized in that by supplying return means to the swollen swelling agents, the substances can be at least partially separated from the swelling agents. 21. Safety system according to claim 20, characterized in that energy is supplied to the swollen swelling agents as a return means. 22. Safety system according to claim 21, characterized in that return substances, in particular polyelectrolytes, are supplied to the swollen swelling agents as return agents.