Hydraulic and earth engineering – Bank – shore – or bed protection – Wave or flow dissipation
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-14
2004-09-07
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Bank, shore, or bed protection
Wave or flow dissipation
C405S030000, C405S275000, C405S286000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786675
ABSTRACT:
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.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 6663321 (2003-12-01), Bisschops
Garvey, Jr. Charles C.
Garvey, Smith, Nehrbass & Doody, L.L.C.
Pechhold Alexandra K.
Pezzuto Robert E.
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