Hydraulic and earth engineering – Earth treatment or control – Shoring – bracing – or cave-in prevention
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-11-06
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Earth treatment or control
Shoring, bracing, or cave-in prevention
C405S285000, C405S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312196
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Scope of Invention
This invention relates generally to sea wall construction, and more particularly to a sea wall utilizing tubular pilings or members preferably made of p.v.c. plastic and the like.
2. Prior Art
Sea walls are typically constructed utilizing formed or rolled steel or other metallic material which interlock together end to end as each elongated panel of the sea wall is installed and embedded or driven into the ground adjacent a body of water. Each of the interlocking sea wall panels is typically formed of steel and includes some corrosive resistant feature, particularly when deployed adjacent a body of salt water. However, such sea walls are known to be relatively short lived and must be replaced periodically due to rust and electrolysis at considerable expense. Interlocking PVC material is also used, but must be reinforced with pilings and longitudinal members known as whalers.
My previous U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,826 addresses, in part, one of the difficulties of using anything other than the conventional interlocking steel panels to form a sea wall. In this patent, I teach the use and deployment of tubular pilings formed of p.v.c. plastic material. Prior to the teaching in this patent, the use of such plastic tubular material was not well known. Two important aspects facilitating this invention were there disclosed, namely, a method and apparatus for embedding a plastic tubular piling into the water bed and a driving apparatus and method for deploying tubular plastic pilings into the water bottom.
The present invention adds to this teaching and expands it into the area of sea wall construction. By incorporating a tubular member formed of p.v.c. with sufficient strength, the expected service life of such sea walls is greatly extended because of the inert nature of p.v.c. material.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a sea wall anchored into ground adjacent to a body of water comprising a plurality of elongated tubular members arranged in upright side by side relation one to another forming a sea wall section, a lower portion of each tubular member embedded into, and receiving support from, the ground along an edge of the body of water and method of installation thereof. An elongated generally horizontal rebar-reinforced concrete cap extends along, and rigidly interconnects together, each upper end portion of each of the tubular members. The cap is cast formed in place after the tubular members are installed. Each tubular member is preferably rebar-reinforced and substantially filled with a cured aggregate reinforcement. A layer of filter cloth is held in place by fill did placed against the land or dry side of the sea wall to substantially prevent fill dirt placed against the dry side of tubular members from washing into the body of water between adjacent tubular members. A tie back is connected at each end thereof to, and extending between, the cap and a ground anchor spaced from the tubular members.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a sea wall constructed of closely spaced upright tubular members formed of p.v.c. plastic material.
It is another object of this invention to provide a sea wall with a substantially extended life span over those sea walls formed of conventional steel interlocking panels.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a method of constructing a sea wall from tubular members formed of p.v.c. plastic material.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Internet article “Fabriscape”, 1998.
Prescott Charles J.
Singh Sunil
Will Thomas B.
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