Abstract:
An erosion control method and apparatus provides multiple concrete bodies for erosion control that each include tubular hollow bore sections. Each section has front and rear openings that communicate with the hollow bore. Each body is an elongated tapered pile-like member. The plurality of the concrete bodies can be installed side by side using a jetting pump that preferably occupies the bore, and 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 to protect a shoreline, bank, island or the like.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/106,809 filed Mar. 26, 2002, which 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, issued Mar. 26, 2002, both 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 tubular body section, and an open ended vertical bore that receives sediment carried by waves via front and rear openings. 
     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: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
                 Title 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 6,361,247 
                 Erosion Control and Bulkhead Apparatus 
               
               
                 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 
               
               
                 1,467,470 
                 Concrete Bulkhead or Retaining Wall 
               
               
                   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 of a body of water or an island shoreline. The apparatus includes a concrete body or a plurality of bodies, each having upper and lower end portions. Each concrete body is of a tubular shape with a sidewall or walls and provides front and rear surfaces with flow openings. 
     A vertical bore is preferably open ended and extends between the upper and lower end portions of the body. Inlet and outlet openings define flow intake and flow discharge openings that communicate with the vertical bore portion of the concrete body. The tubular bodies can be jetted into position using a pump that lowers each concrete body into a marine sea bed or water bottom. 
     The apparatus includes preferably a plurality of concrete bodies that extend laterally along any shoreline or bank to be protected. The concrete body includes a front breakwater opening that extends through the concrete body at its front and a rear breakwater opening at its rear. 
     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 tubular concrete bodies along a shoreline to be protected. Each concrete body provides an internal open ended vertical bore. 
     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 a pump that is lowered into the vertical bore of each tubular 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; 
     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; 
     FIG. 17 is a partial front elevation view of a fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 18 is a partial sectional view taken along lines  18 — 18  of FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 19 is a side view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 20 is a front elevation view of a fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along lines  21 — 21  of FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 22 is a side elevation view illustrating the fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 23 is a top fragmentary view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the pump portion thereof; 
     FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along lines  24 — 24  of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 25 is a bottom view taken along lines  25 — 25  of FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken along lines  26 — 26  of FIG. 23; 
     FIG. 27 is a partial elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 28 is a sectional elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 29 is a partial elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing installation; 
     FIG. 30 is a partial elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing installation; 
     FIG. 31 is a partial elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing installation; 
     FIG. 32 is an elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing an installation of several concrete bodies installed side by side; and 
     FIGS. 33-34 are sectional elevation views of the fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating removal of a concrete body for transport to a new location. 
    
    
     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 . 
     The fourth and fifth embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 17-34. The erosion control system  80  is shown in FIGS. 28 and 32 and include a plurality of concrete bodies  81  or  81 A that are installed side by side using a specially configured pump  106  that is shown in FIGS. 23-28 and  33 . 
     Erosion control system  80  employs a concrete body  81  that can be square in transverse cross section as shown in FIG. 18 or circular in transverse cross section as shown in FIG.  21 . Concrete body  81  has an upper end portion  82 , lower end portion  83 , and an open ended vertical bore  84 . A front opening  85  communicates with a open ended vertical bore  84 . A rear opening  86  is positioned about 180 degrees away from front opening  85  as shown in FIGS. 17 and 19. Concrete body  81  thus has a front wall  87 , rear wall  88 , left sidewall  89 , and right sidewall  90 . Vertical groove  91  is provided in left sidewall  89 . A vertical rib  92  is provided in right sidewall  90 . 
     One or more lifting eyes  93  can be provided at the upper end portion  82  of concrete body  81 . 
     A fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 20-22 provides a concrete body  81  that is tubular in shape, having a cylindrically shaped wall  94 , upper end  95  and lower end  96 . 
     Concrete body  81 A has an open ended vertical bore  97 . 
     Front opening  98  is spaced about 180 degrees apart from rear opening  99 . The front opening  98  is preferably at a higher elevational position than the rear opening  99  as shown in FIG.  22 . 
     A vertical groove  100  is provided in the outer surface of cylindrical wall  94 . A vertical rib  101  is spaced about 180 degrees away from the vertical groove  100  as shown in FIGS. 20-22. 
     Tubular concrete body  81 A can be provided with a plurality of lifting eyes  102  that enable it to be lifted by a crane or other lifting device during installation or removal. 
     As with the embodiment of FIGS. 17-19, the tubular concrete body  81 A of FIGS. 20-22 can be installed using pump  106  that is shown in FIGS. 23-27. In FIG. 28, a concrete body  81  or  81 A is shown being installed using pump  106  to define the erosion control system  80 . A selected concrete body  81  or  81 A is installed in water bottom  103 , embedded so that openings  85 ,  86 ,  98 ,  99  are just above water surface  104 . 
     In FIG. 28, arrow  105  schematically illustrates the lowering of a selected concrete body  81  or  81 A into seabed  103  using pump  106  to jet away a material that is under the concrete body  81  or  81 A. 
     In FIGS. 23-28, pump  106  is preferably hydraulically powered, provided hydraulic motor  107  and hydraulic flow lines  108 ,  109  for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to hydraulic motor  107 . Hydraulic motor  107  drives a pump impeller section  120 . When the hydraulic motor is operated, material that is dislodged using jets  118 ,  119  can be pumped away via discharge flow line  111 . 
     Jets  118 ,  119 , include vertical jets  118  and horizontal jets  119 . Flow line  110  carries pressurized fluid such as pressurized water to jets  118 ,  119  via pipe joint  116 . Suction inlet  117  intakes dislodged sediment that is cut away from seabed  103  using jets  118 ,  119 . Arrow  112  in FIG. 28 illustrates the flow of pressurized water in line  110  to pipe joint  116  and jets  118 ,  119 . Arrow  113  illustrates the discharge of sediment to a selected location as it flows through pump discharge line  111 . 
     Pump  106  has a pump body  114  to which impeller section  120  is bolted as shown in FIGS. 23-28. Openings  115  are provided in pump body  114  for enabling a bolted connection to be made between impeller section  120  and pump body  114 . Opening  117  in pump body  114  is an intake opening that aligns with the intake of impeller section  120 , a commercially available hydraulically operated pump. 
     When in use, a crane or the lifting device can be used to raise and lower each selected concrete body  81  or  81 A and put it in a selected position along a shoreline or bank to be protected. As shown in FIG. 32, the concrete bodies  81  or  81 A are positioned side by side with a projecting rib  92  or  101  of one of the concrete bodies engaging a longitudinally extending or vertical groove  91  or  100  of an adjacent concrete body  81  or  81 A. Once a concrete body is lowered by a crane or other lifting device that engages the lifting eyes  93  or  102  of the selected concrete body  81  or  81 A, pump  106  is placed in the vertically extending open ended bore  84  or  97  and lowered to the seabed  103 . As shown in FIG. 28, operation of the pump includes a cutting of the seabed using the jets  118 ,  119  and a simultaneous pumping away of cuttings using hydraulic motor  107  and impeller section  120  of pump  106 . As the material is removed, the selected concrete body  81  or  81 A simply sinks into the opening that is created by the pump  106  and is lowered to a selected elevation. 
     FIGS. 29-30 illustrate the buildup of sediment inside of the selected concrete body  81  or  81 A over time. As wave action illustrated schematically by arrow  121  in FIGS. 29 and 30 engages the concrete bodies  81 ,  81 A, material carried by the waves enters the front opening  85  or  98  and is trapped within the vertical bore  84  or  97 . Rear opening  86  or  99  of each concrete body  81  or  81 A enables some water to flow completely through as illustrated by the arrow  122  in FIG.  30 . However, some sediment carried by the wave action will remain within bore  84  or  97  and settle until the entire bore  84 ,  97  is filled with sediment up to the level of the front opening  85  or  98  as illustrated in FIG.  31 . At this point, water is unable to pass completely through from the front opening  85  or  98  to the rear opening  86  or  99  of the selected concrete body  81  or  81 A. This new buildup of sediment is illustrated by the arrow  122  in FIG.  31 . 
     If an owner wants to move a concrete body  81  or  81 A, the pump  106  can be used to jet away sediment that has accumulated within the bore  84  or  97  of the selected concrete body  81  or  81 A as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. A lifting line  123  of a crane, dragline or the like can then remove the selected concrete body  81  or  81 A as illustrated by the arrow  124  in FIG.  34  and transport it to a new location. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Parts Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                  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 
               
               
                   
                  21 
                 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 channei 
               
               
                   
                  39 
                 Seabed 
               
               
                   
                  40 
                 water surface 
               
               
                   
                  41 
                 New accretions 
               
               
                   
                  42 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                  43 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                  44 
                 bridle 
               
               
                   
                  45 
                 crane lift line 
               
               
                   
                  46 
                 bose bundle 
               
               
                   
                  47 
                 derrick barge 
               
               
                   
                  48 
                 supply barge 
               
               
                   
                  49 
                 pump 
               
               
                   
                  50 
                 manifold 
               
               
                   
                  51 
                 crane 
               
               
                   
                  52 
                 boorn 
               
               
                   
                  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 
                 rod 
               
               
                   
                  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 
               
               
                   
                  80 
                 erosion control system 
               
               
                   
                  81 
                 concrete body 
               
               
                   
                  81A 
                 concrete body 
               
               
                   
                  82 
                 upper end 
               
               
                   
                  83 
                 lower end 
               
               
                   
                  84 
                 open ended vertical bore 
               
               
                   
                  85 
                 front opening 
               
               
                   
                  86 
                 rear opening 
               
               
                   
                  87 
                 front wall 
               
               
                   
                  88 
                 rear wall 
               
               
                   
                  89 
                 left sidewall 
               
               
                   
                  90 
                 right sidewall 
               
               
                   
                  91 
                 vertical groove 
               
               
                   
                  92 
                 vertical rib 
               
               
                   
                  93 
                 lifting eye 
               
               
                   
                  94 
                 cylindrical wall 
               
               
                   
                  95 
                 upper end 
               
               
                   
                  96 
                 lower end 
               
               
                   
                  97 
                 open ended vertical bore 
               
               
                   
                  98 
                 front opening 
               
               
                   
                  99 
                 rear opening 
               
               
                   
                 100 
                 vertical groove 
               
               
                   
                 101 
                 vertical rib 
               
               
                   
                 102 
                 lifting eye 
               
               
                   
                 103 
                 water bottom 
               
               
                   
                 104 
                 water&#39;s surface 
               
               
                   
                 105 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 106 
                 pump 
               
               
                   
                 107 
                 hydraulic motor 
               
               
                   
                 108 
                 hydraulic flow line 
               
               
                   
                 109 
                 hydraulic flow line 
               
               
                   
                 110 
                 flow iine 
               
               
                   
                 111 
                 pump discharge 
               
               
                   
                 112 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 113 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 114 
                 purnp body 
               
               
                   
                 115 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 116 
                 pipe joint 
               
               
                   
                 117 
                 suction inlet 
               
               
                   
                 118 
                 vertical jet 
               
               
                   
                 119 
                 horizontal jet 
               
               
                   
                 120 
                 impeller section 
               
               
                   
                 121 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                 122 
                 sediment 
               
               
                   
                 123 
                 lift line 
               
               
                   
                 124 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     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.