Panel system for slope protection

Man portable panels are utilized to provide slope protection to a watercourse, the panels being placed in vertical layers, and being secured in place by deadman elements buried in earth fill behind the panels. In one preferred embodiment the panels are made of weathering steel and are L-shaped in cross-section, and in a second preferred embodiment each panel is comprised of interlocked rectangular sections of extruded plastic.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to a system of slope protection for 
water bearing earthen channels, and more particularly to a system 
employing relatively light in weight panels which are installed on 
watercourse slopes utilizing anchoring means and which protect the slopes 
from erosion. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The need to protect the slopes of earthen channels utilized to handle the 
runoff occurring after rains is common, such channels often being employed 
in residential and other construction. The slopes are protected to prevent 
bank erosion due to stream velocities in the watercourse, and due to 
overland flow approaching the watercourse from directions more or less 
perpendicular to the direction of flow. 
The normally used methods of slope protection require the use of expensive 
materials and extensive construction procedures, resulting in relatively 
large costs. Typically, the contractor will make use of reinforced 
concrete poured on the site, stone riprap, and the like. In addition to 
being costly, watercourses protected by these methods often have a stark, 
regular appearance, which is sometimes undesirable in the natural 
environment. Further, the construction activity involved requires large 
working areas along the channel, and often the heavy equipment utilized 
will itself cause bank damage and damage to the surrounding environment. 
There is need for an improved system for protecting watercourse slopes, one 
that will significantly lower costs over present systems, be easier to 
install, and provide a more sightly appearance. The present invention is 
intended to satisfy that need. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the present invention watercourse slope protection is provided by 
utilizing preformed panels, made of steel, plastic, or other suitable 
materials, which can be easily carried by a workman to the slope area and 
installed without utilizing heavy equipment. In one preferred embodiment, 
the panels are made of so-called weathering steel, which has the 
characteristic of rusting to the point where the steel is protected from 
further deterioration, after which the rusting action ceases. This kind of 
steel is especially adaptable for the slope protection system of the 
invention, and offers the added advantage of being attractive after 
installation is completed and the weathering process ends. 
In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the panels are made up 
at the site from extruded rectangular sections of plastic, designed with 
interlocking longitudinal tongues and grooves so they can be easily 
assembled into different panel configurations. The extruded sections are 
economical, and offer the added advantage of providing interior channels 
that can be used in the manner of conduit to hold electrical wiring and 
the like for facilities located along the watercourse or in the vicinity. 
The panels of both preferred embodiments are placed in vertical layers. The 
bottommost panel is placed first, and specially designed deadman anchor 
devices are secured thereto to extend from its rear face. The area behind 
the lowermost panel is then filled with earth to secure the deadman 
device, and then another panel is placed upon it. This continues until the 
slope is sufficiently protected. Preferably, the vertical panel layers are 
progressively stepped back to provide an attractive slope, and one with a 
proper angle to assure it will function as designed. 
The panels of the first embodiment are generally L-shaped, to assist in 
forming the stepped slope wall. In the second embodiment, the extruded 
rectangular sections with their interlocking tongues and grooves make it 
possible to easily form the stepped configuration. 
It is the principle object of the present invention to provide a system for 
erosion protection of the banks of earthen channels that utilizes panels 
and accessories which are manufactured offsite, and which are easily 
transported to the site by hand and installed with hand tools. 
Another object is to provide an erosion protection system for channel 
slopes wherein the components are light in weight, and can be installed 
without the need for heavy equipment or large work and access areas. 
Yet another object is to provide an erosion protection system for channel 
slopes which is non-corrosive and essentially maintenance free, so as to 
minimize repairs and the need to utilize maintenance easement access 
areas. 
A further object is to provide an erosion protection system that lends 
itself to landscaping purposes, and which is designed to facilitate slope 
plantings. 
It is also an object to provide an erosion protection system wherein the 
anchoring assembly is easily manufactured and installed. 
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention 
will become readily apparent from the following Description of the 
Preferred Embodiments, when taken in connection with the accompanying 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The panel system of the invention can take different forms, and the panels 
can be made of different materials. For example, the panels can be 
constructed of metal, plastic, fiberglass or the like, and can take 
different configurations. The panels can be of one piece, or formed from a 
plurality of sections. However, it has been found that there are two 
preferred embodiments of the invention, which for reasons of economy, ease 
of installation, usefulness, and final appearance are regarded as superior 
to other possible embodiments. 
The first of the two preferred embodiments is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to 
which reference is now made. In this embodiment the panels are shown at 1, 
2, 3 and 4, stacked vertically upon one another to extend between the 
channel bottom and the top of the watercourse bank. Obviously, the number 
of panels actually utilized will vary, depending upon the height of the 
top of the bank above the channel bottom. The panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all 
formed of sheet steel, and preferably of what has come to be known as 
weathering steel, which has the characteristic of forming a rust coating 
which then protects the steel from further deterioration. Panel 1 is a 
flat sheet, whereas the panels 2, 3 and 4 are all generally L-shaped in 
cross-section so that they have horizontal surfaces 22, 32 and 42, 
vertical surfaces 23, 33 and 43, and rounded connecting sections 24, 34 
and 44, respectively. Further, the outer edges of the horizontal surfaces 
22, 32 and 42 have downturned lips 25, 35 and 45, respectively, thereon, 
that engage over the top edge of the panel therebeneath. 
The undersurfaces of the panels 2, 3 and 4 have lugs 28, 38 and 48, 
respectively, secured thereto to project rearwardly from the rounded 
connecting sections 24, 34 and 44, there being a plurality of these on 
each panel in spaced relationship, say several feet apart. The lugs 28, 38 
and 48 are part of the anchoring system for the panels. The panels 2, 4 
and 6 are also provided with weep hole openings 9, to relieve water 
pressure therebehind. 
The bottommost, vertical panel 1 is placed first, with the lower portion 
thereof embedded in the earth so that it extends below the channel bottom. 
The panel 1 is formed at the factory, and carried to the site for 
installation. Usually, installation can be completed with a minimum of 
digging and driving of the panel, using hand tools. Then, the placement of 
panel 2 occurs, the panel being positioned with the lip 25 overlapping 
panel 1. The area behind panel 1 is first filled with earth to the top 
thereof, to the extent required, and an anchor strap 5 is secured at one 
end thereof by a retaining pin 7 or the like to each of the lugs 28 on the 
panel 2. Deadmen 6 in the form of rectangular plates are mounted on the 
other ends of the straps 5, the straps being poised through the plates and 
secured by pins 7. Dirt is then placed on the strap 5 and the deadman 6, 
which serves to anchor the panel 2. 
A further fill to the extent needed is then made behind panel 2, and an 
anchor strap 5 and deadman 6 are attached to each of the lugs 38. The 
panel 3 is then installed, followed by the panel 4. In each case, dirt 
placed on the deadman 6 anchor the panels. 
From FIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that the resultant slope protection system 
provides a stepped slope of attractive appearance. If plantings are 
wanted, holes can be formed in the panels where desired, and the plantings 
made directly into the retained earth. The deadman 6 and anchor straps 5, 
which can be made of a non-corrosive material, will securely hold the 
panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 in place, the straps 5 extending in general alignment 
with the horizontal legs of the panels 2, 3 and 4 which assures the best 
anchoring of each panel, and the downturned lips 25, 35 and 45 retaining 
the top edge of the panel therebelow. The result is a well protected slope 
that is more attractive than in the past, in addition to being much less 
expensive in terms of both cost and environmental damage. 
Turning now to FIGS. 3-5, the second embodiment of the invention is shown 
wherein panels 10, 20, 30 and 40 are shown, each panel being comprised of 
panel sections 50 formed as elongated rectangular extrusions. Referring to 
FIG. 5, each panel section 50 includes a front wall 52, a rear wall 54, a 
top wall 56 and a bottom wall 58. The front wall 52 is plain and 
uninterrupted, and together the front walls 52 of the sections 50 in each 
panel define the surface of the slope protecting system. 
The top and rear walls 56 and 54 of the panel sections 50 have a pair of 
elongated, parallel grooves 60 and 62, respectively, formed therein, and 
the bottom portion 58 carries mating, parallel tongues 64. The sides of 
the grooves 60 and 62 and of the tongues 64 are sloped to form an 
interlock arrangement, as shown in the drawings. To form one of the panels 
10, 20, 30 or 40, sections 50 are assembled to each other by sliding the 
tongues 64 of one section into the grooves 60 of another, a sufficient 
number of sections 50 being employed to provide the height desired. 
Referring in particular to FIG. 4, it is noted that the panels 10, 20, 30 
and 40 are arranged in stepped relationship, much as in FIGS. 1 and 2. To 
achieve this, special connecting panel sections 70 are utilized as the 
bottommost section for the panels 20, 30 and 40. The connecting panel 
sections 70 are similar to the sections 50, and include top, bottom, front 
and rear walls 72, 74, 76 and 78, respectively, the top wall 72 and the 
rear wall 74 having parallel grooves 80 and 82 formed therein, with angled 
sidewalls. 
The connecting panel section front walls 76, however, carry parallel 
tongues 84 thereon, to connect with the parallel grooves 62 in the rear 
wall of the topmost section 50 of the panel therebeneath. This serves to 
permanently interconnect the panels. The bottom walls 74 are shown in the 
drawings not to carry parallel tongues, although these can be placed 
thereon if so desired. However, since the bottom walls of the connecting 
panel sections 70 are not joined to other sections, the tongues are 
usually not needed. 
Anchoring of the panels 10, 20, 30 and 40 is achieved in a manner similar 
to the panels 1, 2, 3 and 4. Again, deadmen 90 in the form of rectangular 
plates are employed, and anchor straps 92, to which the deadmen are 
secured by pins 94. The outer ends 96 of the straps 92 are wedge shaped, 
and are receivable in the rear grooves 62 or 82. While only one anchor 
strap 92 is shown in FIG. 4, it is to be understood that normally a 
plurality will be employed, as required for each panel. Again, the straps 
92 are placed at the bottom of each panel, where a horizontal step is 
formed. 
The panels 10, 20, 30 and 40 are installed in the same manner as the panels 
1, 2, 3 and 4, with the bottommost panel 10 being installed first, after 
which fill to the extent needed is placed therebehind. The interlocking 
tongues and grooves will normally fit with some looseness, so that water 
pressure behind the panels can escape. The hollow panel sections 50 and 70 
assure light weight for the sections, and also provide conduits for 
stringing electrical wires and the like. The sections 50 and 70 are 
extruded from a suitable plastic, and the plastic can be permanently 
colored as desired to provide a maintenance free appearance of the desired 
color. Referring to FIG. 3, the ends of the extruded sections 50 and 70 
are covered with caps 100. It is to be understood that the sections 50 and 
70 can be installed directly in register with each other, or in a 
staggered manner, as desired. It is also to be understood that the 
material used for the sections 50 and 70 can be varied, as can the 
specific arrangement, shape and location of the tongue and groove elements 
provided an interlock is maintained. 
Finally, if desired separately formed sections 110, as shown in FIG. 3, can 
be utilized for the topmost section of each panel 10, 20, 30 and 40, the 
section 100 being identical to the section 50 except that the parallel 
grooves 60 in the top wall 56 of the sections 50 are not used in the 
sections 110. Rather, the top walls 112 of the sections 110 are plain. 
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are 
possible.