Abstract:
An integral concrete body for erosion control includes three separate sections of differing configuration. The sections include a lower tapered section that is in the form of an elongated tapered pile-like member. The upper section of the concrete body is generally rectangular. A transitional section that is also tapered forms a connection between the upper and lower portions of the concrete body. The plurality of the concrete bodies can be installed side by side with tongue and groove connections interlocking the bodies upon assembly. A plurality of the concrete bodies can be placed side by side to form a bulkhead or breakwater. In one embodiment, each concrete body can be comprised of separate connectable members. Anchors can be used to support the concrete bodies laterally, to prevent tilting or tipping when exposed to erosion, wind, or wave action.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/426,206, filed Oct. 25, 1999 Now U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,247 and entitled “Erosion Control and Bulkhead Apparatus”, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to erosion control and bulkhead systems designed to protect shorelines and to encourage the retention of accretions in order to help build new shorelines. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved erosion control system and breakwater apparatus that features individual precast concrete members having a lower elongated tapered section, a middle tapered section and a upper generally rectangularly section and wherein conduits that flow through the block from top to bottom can be used to transmit pressurized fluid to the lower and middle tapered sections for jetting away surrounding soil mass during installation of each individual block. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     The loss of shoreline is a chronic problem in many coastal areas. Wave action can destroy shorelines and adjacent homes or building especially during storm conditions. 
     One of the often suggested solutions to the problem of coastal erosion control has been the formation of a bulkhead or breakwater in the suspect area. 
     Bulkheads can take from of elongated networks of pilings, either round or sheet pile type construction. Various systems have been patented that relate generally to erosion control. The following list of patents are examples of systems that are used for bulkheading and/or erosion control at shorelines: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Patent No. 
                 Title 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 6,102,616 
                 Wave Break 
               
               
                   
                 5,536,112 
                 Breakwater Generating Apparatus and Process 
               
               
                   
                   
                 for Controlling Coastal Erosion 
               
               
                   
                 5,507,594 
                 Method and Apparatus for Constructing an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Artificial Reef 
               
               
                   
                 5,441,362 
                 Concrete Armor Unit for Protecting Coastal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and Hydraulic Structures and Shorelines 
               
               
                   
                 5,393,169 
                 Breakwater 
               
               
                   
                 5,259,696 
                 Means for and Method of Beach Rebuilding and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Erosion Control 
               
               
                   
                 5,246,307 
                 Submerged Breakwater and Barrier Reef 
               
               
                   
                 5,178,489 
                 Hydrodynamic Control System 
               
               
                   
                 5,123,780 
                 Precast Permeable Breakwater Unit 
               
               
                   
                 5,120,156 
                 Submerged Breakwater and Barrier Reef 
               
               
                   
                 5,102,257 
                 Breakwater 
               
               
                   
                 4,978,247 
                 Erosion 
               
               
                   
                 4,913,595 
                 Shoreline Breakwater 
               
               
                   
                 4,790,685 
                 Shoreline Breakwater for Coastal Waters 
               
               
                   
                 4,767,235 
                 Prefabricated Composite Element for Building 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of a Sea Wall 
               
               
                   
                 4,715,744 
                 Floating Breakwater 
               
               
                   
                 4,502,816 
                 Shoreline Breakwater 
               
               
                   
                 4,498,805 
                 Breakwater Module and Means for Protecting 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a Shoreline Therewith 
               
               
                   
                 4,130,994 
                 Artificial Reef to Prevent Shoreline Erosion 
               
               
                   
                 4,047,389 
                 Precast Concrete Pile, and Cofferdams 
               
               
                   
                 3,733,831 
                 Method and apparatus for Preventing Erosion 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and for Conveying 
               
               
                   
                   346,140 
                 Breakwater 
               
               
                   
                   315,384 
                 Jetty, Breakwater, or Similar Structure 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved breakwater apparatus for protecting and building a shoreline. The apparatus includes a concrete body or a plurality of bodies, each having upper and lower end portions. Each concrete body provides front and rear surfaces that are flat and generally parallel in the preferred embodiment. Side surfaces of the concrete body are provided that define a variable width. The concrete body includes three sections. The three sections include a lower pile-like section that can be cylindrical or square or rectangular in transverse cross section and can be tapered. A middle or transitional section is tapered to form an interface between the lower pile-like section and an upper generally rectangular section. The upper section is the widest section of the concrete body and is the portion that is exposed during use. 
     A flow channel extends between the upper and lower end portions of the body. the flow channel having inlet and outlet openings. The outlet openings define jetting openings for aiding in placement of the concrete bodies during use. The outlet communicates with the lower end portion of the concrete body to provide a jetting means for transmitting fluid under pressure to the lower end portion of the concrete body during installation of the concrete body into a marine sea bed or water bottom. 
     The apparatus includes preferably a plurality of concrete bodies that extend laterally along a shoreline to be protected. The concrete body includes at least one breakwater opening that extends through the concrete body in between the front and rear surfaces of the concrete body. 
     In the preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of flow channels that extend from the upper end portion to the lower end portion of the concrete body as an aid to jetting during installation. 
     The present invention provides a method of erosion control for controlling erosion at a shoreline next to a sea bed and for accumulating accretions that help build shoreline. The method includes the placing of a network of concrete bodies along a shoreline to be protected. Each concrete body provides an internal flow channel. 
     The method includes the jetting of each of the concrete bodies into a partially embedded position that places a lower end portion of each concrete body in the sea bed using pressurized fluid that flows through flow channels within the concrete body. A plurality of the concrete bodies are closely positioned one adjacent another to form a wall or breakwater. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view illustrating the method of installation of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6A is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the geometry, configuration and placement of a few of the concrete bodies used in the method of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 7A,  7 B and  7 C show the apparatus of the present invention during use and over time during reformation of new shoreline; 
     FIG. 8 is perspective view illustrating installation of the apparatus of the present invention using a derrick barge positioned near a shoreline; 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B are fragmentary side views that illustrate the openings that communicate between the front surface and the rear surface of a concrete body; 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the lower tip of the apparatus during jetting; 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing return flow during jetting; 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the horizontal connecting beam; 
     FIG. 13 is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing installation of the cover beam; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing a network of perpendicularly arranged concrete bodies; and 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention in the form of a pier or wharf. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Erosion control apparatus  10  is shown generally in FIGS. 6 and 8. The apparatus  10  can be in the form of one or more concrete bodies  11  that are typically placed next to a shoreline to be protected. Concrete body  11  can include three integrally formed sections. These sections  12 - 14  include a lower pile-like section  12  that can be cylindrical or rectangular in transverse cross section (and preferably tapered), a middle transition section  13  and an upper generally rectangular section  14 . Reference line  74  in FIG. 6A separates middle transition section  13  from upper section  14 . Reference line  75  in FIG. 6A separates middle transition section  13  from lower section  12 . The lower section  12  can be tapered to include angled sidewalls  15 ,  16 . The middle transition section can provide diagonally extending sidewalls  18 ,  19 . The concrete body  11  provides a bottom surface  17  at the lower end of lower tapered section  12  and a flat upper surface  24  at the top of upper rectangular section  14 . The upper rectangular section  14  includes generally vertical sidewalls  20  and  21 . 
     Each concrete body  11  has a generally flat front surface  22  and a generally flat rear surface  23 . A plurality of openings  25 ,  26  extend through concrete body  11 , each opening  25 ,  26  communicate between surfaces  22 ,  23 . Each opening  25 ,  26  is valved with valve plate  27  that can be pivotally attached at hinge  28  to rear surface  23  of body  11  using hinge  28 . In FIG. 14, correction  4 , arrow  29  indicates schematically the pivotal movement of valve plate  27  or hinge  28  with respect to body  11  during use. In FIG. 6A, the geometry, configuration and installed position of a concrete body  11  can be seen. In FIG. 6A, the transition section  13  has inclined walls or surfaces  18 - 19 , each of length L. The upper section  14  is preferably generally square or rectangular, having a width W and a height H. Width W is preferably about equal to or greater than height H. The width W can be much wider than the height H. Width W can be less than height W, but not less than one half the height H. The height H is preferably not more than twice the dimension of the width so that a broad surface area extends above seabed  39  to face incoming waves, maximizing the area that receives wave action per each concrete body to provide erosion control. 
     In order to present a large surface area to incoming wave action, only the lower  12  and transition  13  sections are imbedded in the soil and/or sand  76  mass below seabed  39 . A majority and preferably all of upper section  14  extends above seabed  39  during use. 
     Each concrete body  11  can be lifted during installation using a crane  51  (see FIG. 8) or like lifting apparatus. One or more lifting eyes  30  can be provided on the body  11 , such as, for example at upper surface  24  as shown in FIGS. 1,  4 ,  9 A,  9 B. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, the openings that communicate between the front surface  22  and rear surface  23  of concrete body  11  can alternatively be diagonal openings  31 ,  32 . 
     In FIGS. 6 and 8, a concrete body  11  is shown being lifted by a crane  51  having boom  52  and crane lift line  45 . The crane  51  can be part of a larger lifting apparatus used in the marine environment such as a derrick barge  47 . The derrick barge  47  can carry a plurality of concrete bodies  11 . Alternatively, a separate supply barge  48  can be provided carrying a plurality of concrete bodies  11  in order to create a bulkhead as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. In FIG. 6, crane lift line  45  is shown attached to bridle  44 . The bridle  44  connects to a pair of spaced apart lifting eyes  30 . 
     In order to install one or more of the concrete bodies  11 , a jetting arrangement has been provided that enables fluid to be pumped through each concrete body  11  during installation. When a concrete body  11  has been lifted by crane  51  and positioned in a desired location as shown in FIG. 8, pumps  49  and manifold  50  on derrick barge  47  can be used to pump fluid under pressure through the hoses of hose bundle  47  to the plurality of inlet fittings  33 . Fluid inlet fittings  33  can be placed on the flat upper surface  24  of each concrete body  11 . The fluid inlet fittings  33  preferably are quick release type fittings that enable the hoses of hose bundle  46  to be connected and disconnected quickly to a particular concrete body  11  during installation. Once the hose bundle  46  is connected to inlet fittings  33 , a series of flow channels is provided internally of concrete body  11  for channeling flow to a number of different flat surfaces of concrete body  11 . In the preferred embodiment, these surfaces include bottom surface  17 , and the two diagonally extending surfaces  18 ,  19  of middle tapered section  13 . An outlet  35  is provided at each of the surfaces  17 ,  18 ,  19  where a flow channel communicates with the surface  17 ,  18 , or  19 . 
     In FIGS. 1 and 2, the plurality of flow channels can include, for example, a central flow channel  34 A, a pair of lateral flow channels  36 , and branch channels  38 . There can be a return flow path for each flow channel, such as return channel  34 B that is positioned next to flow channel  34 A. In some situations, it may be necessary to return flow during jetting, as shown by arrows  58  in FIGS. 10-11. The branch channels  38  communicate with wye  37  as shown in FIG.  1 . Whereas three inlet fittings  33  are provided in the drawings for adding fluid under pressure to the channels of concrete body  11 , five different outlets  35  are provided in the drawings for jetting purposes at bottom surface  17  and at diagonally extending side surfaces  18 ,  19 . These are examples of the number of inlets  33 , channels  34  and outlets  35 . 
     During installation, fluid is pumped under pressure through hose bundle  46  to inlet fittings  33  and then into channels  34 ,  36 ,  38  as shown in FIG.  6 . Arrows  53  in FIG. 6 schematically indicate the direction of fluid flow during installation. This afore described jetting arrangement enables soil to be chewed away from the area to be occupied by a concrete body  11  as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     Each of the concrete bodies  11  can provide a tongue and groove interlocking connection for connecting a plurality of the bodies  11  together as shown in FIG.  6 . In FIG. 1, a tongue portion  54  is shown extending vertically along side  20 . A groove  55  is shown communicating with vertical sidewall  21 . Tongue  54  and groove  55  provide an interlocking connection between the generally vertical sidewalls  20 ,  21  of adjacent concrete bodies  11  as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     In each of the FIGS. 1-4 and  6 - 7 , a cable anchor can be used to restrain each concrete body  11  from lateral movement during use. The cable anchor can be in the form of a padeye  56  mounted at the upper end portion of each concrete body  11 . If desired, padeyes  56  can be placed on both sides,  22  and  23  as shown in FIG.  2  and at spaced apart locations as shown in FIG.  1 . Each padeye can have one or more cable anchors  57  attached thereto. Each cable anchor  57  can be of wire rope, for example, and attached to a suitable anchor in the surrounding earth such as for example, piling or a group of piling (not shown). 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 shown a beam  60  that can be used to form a cap or cover to align a plurality of concrete bodies  11  as shown in FIG.  13 . Beam  60  provides a recess  61  that fits the upper end portion of each concrete body  11 . The beam  60  can be placed at intervals as shown by arrow  59  in FIG.  13 . 
     In FIG. 14, an extension  62  is shown for increasing the overall height of a concrete body  11 . Extension  62  provides one or more openings  63  through which water can flow carrying sand or other solid material that will aid in the build up of shoreline. As with the concrete body of FIGS. 1-3 and  9 A- 9 B, the openings can be either straight and linear or diagonally extending as shown in FIG.  9 A. For purposes of illustration, extension  62  provides left and right openings  63 ,  64 . A pair of spaced apart vertical rod openings  65  are provided, each receiving a rod  66 . Similarly, vertical openings are provided in concrete body  11  for receiving the lower end portion of a rod  66 . Vertical openings  67  are receptive or rods  66  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 14. 
     In FIG. 15, concrete bodies  11  are shown in position wherein some of the concrete bodies form an angle with other concrete bodies. For example, a concrete body can be placed perpendicular to other concrete bodies  11 . In  15  as an example, two concrete bodies  11  are shown placed perpendicular to a plurality of four other concrete bodies. In placing such a perpendicularly oriented concrete body  11 , the perpendicular body  11  is preferably placed at the tongue and groove  54 ,  55  joint as shown. 
     In FIG. 16, the concrete bodies  11  are shown in a spaced apart position for the purpose of supporting a pier  70 . Pier  70  as shown in FIG. 16 during construction, including four spaced apart concrete bodies  11 , a pair of longitudinal beams  71 , and decking  72 . Hand rails  73  can optionally be provided to decking  72  in order to complete pier  70 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 erosion control apparatus 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 concrete body 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 lower tapered section 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 middle tapered section 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 upper rectangular section 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 angled sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 angled sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 bottom surface 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 diagonal sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 19 
                 diagonal sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 vertical sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 vertical sidewall 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 front surface 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 rear surface 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 flat upper surface 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 plate 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 hinge 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 lifting eye 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 diagonal opening 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 diagonal opening 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 inlet fitting 
               
               
                   
                 34A 
                 central flow channel 
               
               
                   
                 34B 
                 central return channel 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 outlet 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 lateral flow channel 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 wye 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 branch channel 
               
               
                   
                 39 
                 Seabed 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 water surface 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 New accretions 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 43 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 bridle 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 crane lift line 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 hose bundle 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 derrick barge 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 supply barge 
               
               
                   
                 49 
                 pump 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 manifold 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 crane 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 boom 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 tongue 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 groove 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 padeye 
               
               
                   
                 57 
                 cable anchor 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 59 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 beam 
               
               
                   
                 61 
                 recess 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 extension 
               
               
                   
                 63 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 64 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 65 
                 rod opening 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 rad 
               
               
                   
                 67 
                 vertical rod opening 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 pier 
               
               
                   
                 71 
                 longitudinal beams 
               
               
                   
                 72 
                 decking 
               
               
                   
                 73 
                 hand rail 
               
               
                   
                 74 
                 reference line 
               
               
                   
                 75 
                 reference line 
               
               
                   
                 76 
                 soil and/or sand mass 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.