U.S. patent application number 13/492247 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-13 for system for reducing storm run-off erosion and related method.
Invention is credited to Richard Burns.
Application Number | 20120315089 13/492247 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47293325 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120315089 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burns; Richard |
December 13, 2012 |
SYSTEM FOR REDUCING STORM RUN-OFF EROSION AND RELATED METHOD
Abstract
The invention is a system and related method to reduce erosion
caused by storm runoff. Eco-friendly erosion reduction assemblies
help reduce the effects of both sheet and rill erosion. The
assemblies comprise a receptacle housing a perforated water
velocity reduction wall embedded in media. The wall may be
constructed from recycled tires and the media utilized may be from
on-site materials. A series of such assemblies in an erosion zone
limits erosion by reducing water velocity.
Inventors: |
Burns; Richard; (Pembroke
Pines, FL) |
Family ID: |
47293325 |
Appl. No.: |
13/492247 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61494734 |
Jun 8, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/16 ;
405/302.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02W 30/62 20150501;
E02D 31/002 20130101; E02D 29/0208 20130101; E02B 2201/04 20130101;
Y02W 30/687 20150501; E02B 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/16 ;
405/302.6 |
International
Class: |
E02B 3/14 20060101
E02B003/14; E02D 17/20 20060101 E02D017/20 |
Claims
1. A system to reduce water mediated erosion of land comprising: a
plurality of erosion reduction assemblies situated in a region in
need of erosion reduction, each assembly comprising: aggregate
filter media; a perforated water velocity reduction wall having an
exposed portion and a non-exposed portion, the non-exposed portion
embedded in the media and the exposed portion extending outwardly
from the media; and a receptacle having a size and dimension to
substantially surround and maintain the position of the media and
the wall, the receptacle being permeable to water and silt.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the water velocity reduction wall
comprises a plurality of tires.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the water velocity reduction wall
comprises a plurality of approximately "C" shaped tire
portions.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein each tire portion is fastened to a
proximate tire.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is made from a
substantially rigid mesh.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the exposed portion comprises a
substantially arcuate region.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the exposed portion comprises a
substantially cupped region.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein perforations of the perforated
water velocity reduction wall are situated approximately laterally
to the direction of water flow to interrupt downward water
flow.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drainage pipe
embedded in the filter media to increase the rate at which water is
drained from the erosion reduction assembly.
10. The system of claim 1, further comprising textile proximate the
filter media and the receptacle.
11. The system of claim 1, further comprising textile liners
proximate an inner cavity of the perforated water velocity
reduction wall.
12. An erosion reduction device comprising: aggregate filter media;
a plurality of approximately "C" shaped tire portions that are
perforated on a tread surface and side wall surfaces, the
perforations having a size and dimension to allow water to pass
therethrough; a water velocity reduction wall constructed from
attaching the plurality tire portions to each other, wherein each
tire portion is fastened to a proximate tire to form a single "C"
shaped row of tires; a receptacle having a size and dimension to
substantially surround and maintain the position of the media and
the wall, the receptacle being permeable to water and silt, wherein
a non-exposed portion of the wall is embedded in the media and an
exposed portion of the wall extends outwardly from the media.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the receptacle is made from a
substantially rigid mesh.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein the exposed portion comprises a
substantially arcuate region.
15. The device of claim 12, wherein the exposed portion comprises a
substantially cupped region.
16. The device of claim 12, further comprising a drainage pipe
embedded in the filter media to increase the rate at which water is
drained from the erosion reduction assembly.
17. The device of claim 12, further comprising textile proximate
the filter media and the receptacle.
18. The device of claim 12, further comprising textile liners
proximate an inner cavity of the perforated water velocity
reduction wall.
19. The device of claim 12, wherein perforations of the perforated
water velocity reduction wall are situated approximately laterally
to the direction of water flow to interrupt downward water
flow.
20. A method of disposing tires and reducing water mediated erosion
of land comprising the steps of: cutting tires approximately in
half to create two approximately "C" shaped tire portions; placing
aggregate filter media within a receptacle having a size and
dimension to substantially surround and maintain the position of
the media; and placing a plurality of tire portions within the
receptacle; arranging media about the tire portions so that a
region of the tire portions protrudes from the media.
21. The method claim 20 further comprising the step of fastening
the plurality of tire portions to each other to form a continuous
wall of tires.
22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of
perforating the tires.
23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of
perforating the tire portions.
24. A method of disposing tires and reducing water mediated erosion
of land comprising the steps placing an erosion reduction device of
claim 12 on a region of land in an area in need of erosion
reduction.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein a plurality of erosion reduction
devices are situated in a staggered conformation with relation to
each other.
26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of: waiting
for an erosion reduction device to be at least partially covered by
particulate matter; and placing an additional erosion reduction
device proximate the at least partially covered erosion reduction
device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/494,734 filed on Jun. 8, 2011 titled
"System and Method for Reducing Storm Run-off Erosion," which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention is generally directed to controlling ground
erosion and in particular to an assembly having a plurality of
positioned perforated elements to reduce erosion caused by storm
runoff and related methods.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Erosion is the process of weathering and transporting of
solids (including sediment, soil, rock and other particles) from
their natural environment and location. Such transport is caused by
wind, water or ice or by down slope creep of soil and other
materials under the force of gravity.
[0004] Erosion is a natural process, but its effects escalate
dramatically based upon human land use--especially industrial
agriculture, deforestation and urban sprawl. For example, land that
is used for industrial agriculture generally experiences a
significantly greater rate of erosion than land having natural
vegetation. Tilled land is prone to particularly high rates of
erosion due to reduced vegetation cover on the surface of the soil,
perturbed soil structure, and a lack of plant roots that would
otherwise hold the soil in place.
[0005] There are two primary types of water based erosion: sheet
erosion and rill erosion. Sheet erosion is the detachment of soil
particles by raindrop impact and their downslope removal by water
flowing overland as a sheet instead of in definite channels or
rills. The impact of the raindrop breaks apart the soil aggregate.
Particles of clay, silt and sand fill the soil pores and reduce
infiltration. After the surface pores are filled with sand, silt or
clay, overland surface flow of water begins due to the lowering of
infiltration rates. Once the rate of falling rain is faster than
infiltration, runoff takes place. There are two stages of sheet
erosion. The first is rain splash, in which soil particles are
separated by raindrop impact. In the second stage, the loose
particles are moved down slope by broad sheets of rapidly flowing
water that is filled with sediment known as sheet floods. This
stage of sheet erosion is generally produced by cloudbursts; sheet
floods commonly travel short distances and last only for a short
time.
[0006] Rill erosion is the process of developing small concentrated
flow paths, which function as both sediment source and sediment
delivery systems for erosion on hill slopes. Generally, where water
erosion rates on disturbed upland areas are greatest, rills are
active. Flow depths in rills are typically on the order of a few
centimeters or less and slopes may be quite steep. These conditions
constitute a very different hydraulic environment than typically
found in channels of streams and rivers. Eroding rills evolve
morphologically in time and space. The rill bed surface changes as
soil erodes, which in turn alters the hydraulics of the flow. The
hydraulics is the driving mechanism for the erosion process, and
therefore, dynamically changing hydraulic patterns causes continual
changing of erosion patterns in the rill.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for an eco-friendly technology
that helps reduce the effects of both sheet and rill erosion,
especially in areas in which human land use such as industrial
agriculture, has increased the impact of such erosion. Such
technology should be environmentally friendly and should preferably
use recycled materials.
SUMMARY
[0008] The invention helps reduce both sheet and rill erosion
caused in human land use areas, such as industrial agriculture
sites. The invention comprises a system to reduce water mediated
erosion of land. The system comprises a plurality of erosion
reduction assemblies that are situated in a region in need of
erosion reduction. Each assembly comprises aggregate filter media
that is placed in a receptacle having a size and dimension to
substantially surround and maintain the position of the media.
Preferably, the receptacle is made from a substantially rigid
mesh.
[0009] A perforated water velocity reduction wall is embedded in
the media. The wall has both an exposed portion and a non-exposed
portion, the non-exposed portion being that portion embedded in the
media. The exposed portion comprises a substantially arcuate shape
that reduces the velocity of water flowing through the
perforations.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the water velocity reduction wall
comprises a plurality of tires, recycled tires, or similar
structures. These tires are preferably cut in half to form
approximately "C" shaped tire portions. Each tire is fastened to a
proximate tire in order to form the wall.
[0011] The invention also contemplates a method for disposing of
tires and preventing water mediated erosion. The method comprises
the steps of cutting tires approximately in half to create two
approximately "C" shaped tire portions; placing aggregate filter
media within a receptacle having a size and dimension to
substantially surround and maintain the position of the media; and
placing a plurality of tire halves partially within the filter
media so that an upper portion of the tires protrudes from the top
portion of the filter.
[0012] In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of
fastening the plurality of tire halves to each other to form a
continuous wall of tires.
[0013] The method also comprises the step of perforating the tires
or the tire portions. The step of placing the assembly on a portion
of land in an area in need of erosion reduction is also
contemplated. A plurality of assemblies is placed on the portion of
land in an area in need of erosion reduction, and preferably the
assemblies are situated in a staggered conformation with relation
to each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is
made to the following detailed description, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of
the present invention, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an erosion reduction
assembly;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a water flow restrictor made
from a perforated tire portion;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a water flow restrictor;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a water flow
restrictor wall made from a plurality of water flow restrictors
illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates placement the erosion reduction assembly
of FIG. 1 without the addition of media;
[0020] FIG. 6 is diagram showing a staggered configuration of a
plurality of erosion reduction assemblies; and
[0021] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a side view of a plurality of
erosion reduction assemblies in a used condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of
Certain Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is
made to particular features (including method steps) of the
invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the
invention in this specification includes all possible combinations
of such particular features. For example, where a particular
feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or
embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the
extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other
particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the
invention generally.
[0023] The term "comprises" is used herein to mean that other
ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. When reference is
made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the
steps can be carried in any order or simultaneously (except where
the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include
one or more steps which are carried out before any of the defined
steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the
defined steps (except where the context excludes that
possibility).
[0024] In this section, the present invention will be described
more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention
to those skilled in the art.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, the invention is directed
to an eco-friendly and biocompatible erosion reduction assembly
100. In a preferred embodiment, the erosion reduction assembly 100
is made of locally harvested items and preferably includes recycled
and rededicated materials to reduce the carbon footprint. By
positioning a plurality of the erosion reduction assemblies 100
throughout a tract of land which commonly suffers from sheet or
rill erosion, the technology helps slow down the flow of the
underlying water and thus reduces the risk of removing valuable
soil and nutrients.
Erosion Reduction Assembly
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the erosion reduction assembly 100
may include a plurality of perforated arcuate water flow
restrictors 200, where these flow restrictors 200 are arranged and
secured to one another in parallel to form a water velocity
reduction wall 300. Each velocity reduction wall 300 can be placed
in a receptacle 400 that is preferably made of wire mesh or
grating. Media aggregate 500 may be positioned within the
receptacle 400 and within the lower portion of the flow restrictor
inner cavities 210. Media aggregate 500 may also be positioned
within the upper portion of the flow restrictor inner cavities 210.
The aggregate 500 functions to both anchor the receptacle 400 and
velocity reduction wall 300, and also creates a water and sediment
filtration layer. In one embodiment, drain pipe 510 is embedded in
the media for the purpose of allowing water to rapidly drain from
the assembly 100. An additional mesh blanket (not shown) can be
placed over or within the media 500 to offer a second filter
layer.
Water Flow Restrictor
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrate an embodiment of a perforated water flow
restrictor 200. FIG. 3 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a
perforated water flow restrictor 201. First turning to FIG. 2, each
individual flow restrictor 200 comprises an inner cavity 210, side
walls 220, an outer wall 230 connecting the side walls 220, which
preferably creates an essentially "C" shaped form. This, shape,
however can be straight, curved, cupped, or any other shape that
effectively reduces the velocity of water.
[0028] With continued reference to FIG. 2, perforations 240 are
positioned on the outer wall 230 and the side walls 220 of the
water flow restrictor 200. The perforations may be holes or slits.
Each perforation 240 forms a conduit between the inner wall 250 and
the outer wall 230 of the water flow restrictor 200 having a
sufficient size and dimension to allow water passage
therethrough.
[0029] Each water flow restrictor 200 is preferably made of a
flexible, biodegradable material, such as a plastic or composite.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the water flow restrictor 200 can be made
from approximately half a tire. Perforations 240 are added with the
tire portions through drilling, sawing, or cutting operations.
Perforations are not limited to round holes, but can be slits or
any other contemplated size and shape of aperture. The tires used,
need not be limited to automobile tires. To accommodate particular
land and erosion reduction requirements, tires ranging in size go
kart and bicycle tires to large equipment off the road tires are
used.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an alternate flow
restrictor 201 made from a piece of molded material such as new or
recycled plastic or composite. This alternate flow restrictor 201
comprises an inner cavity 211, side walls 221, an outer wall 231
connecting the side walls 221, creating an essentially "C" shaped
form. This, shape, however can be straight, curved, cupped, or any
other shape that effectively reduces the velocity of water.
[0031] With continued reference to FIG. 3, perforations 241 are
positioned on the outer wall 231 and the side walls 221 of the
alternate flow restrictor 201. The perforations may be holes or
slits. Each perforation 241 forms a conduit between the inner wall
251 and the outer wall 231 of the alternate water flow restrictor
201 having a sufficient size and dimension to allow water passage
therethrough.
Water Flow Restrictor Wall
[0032] While FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the water flow
restrictor 200, and FIG. 4 offers by way of example one embodiment
of a water velocity reduction wall 300. As shown, each velocity
reduction wall 300 is created by attaching a plurality of
individual water flow restrictors 200, 201 together in parallel to
one another. This can be accomplished through use of fasteners 310.
The fasteners 310 can be plastic or metal tie wraps, metallic
hardware such as nuts and bolts, pins, crimps, and any other
fastening means known in the art. A plurality of fasteners 310
affix the side walls 210, 211 of adjacent water flow restrictors
200, 201 to each other. By repeating this sequence with additional
water flow restrictors 200, 201 the velocity reduction wall 300 is
formed.
[0033] The length of each velocity reduction wall 300 can be
arranged to conform to the unique topography of the terrain. For
example, for more expansive areas, a larger number of water flow
restrictors 200, 201 can be used. However, the structure of the
water flow restrictors 200, 201 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3,
lend themselves to customization and topography-specific
orientations for the velocity reduction wall 300.
The Receptacle
[0034] FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 illustrate, by way of example, one
embodiment of the receptacle 400. As shown, the receptacle 400
forms a perimeter around the velocity reduction wall 300 having a
substantially open top region from where the velocity reduction
wall 300 protrudes. In one embodiment, the receptacle 400 has a
floor region 410. The receptacle 400 can be approximately round,
approximately oval, approximately square, approximately rectangular
or approximately polygonal. While both FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 suggest a
rectangular arrangement, the invention contemplates any shape and
configuration capable of maintaining the water flow restrictor wall
300.
[0035] The receptacle 400 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is
textileated from any variety of materials known in the art.
However, in a preferred embodiment the receptacle 400 is made of
hardware cloth or steel rebar. However, the receptacle 400 can also
be made of a plastic or composite material.
[0036] In one embodiment, the receptacle is lined with a textile
420 for the purpose of additional filtration of silt and sediment
from the assembly 100 and reduces clogging of the assembly 100.
Such textile 420 helps ensure that media 500 does not become
dislodged or and removed from the erosion reduction assembly 100
due to water run-off.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment of textile 420 placement, the
textile 420 follows the perimeter formed by the receptacle 400. The
porosity of the textile 420 is chosen based on the size of silt and
sediment proximate the assembly 100. For example, without
limitation, nonwoven geotextile textile weighing about 2.5 to 20
oz/yd.sup.2 having an apparent opening size of about 30 to 120 US
Sieve and a water flow rate of about 10 to 200 g/min/ft.sup.2 is
utilized. The textile 420 is either woven or nonwoven.
[0038] Turning again to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, one embodiment of the
invention comprises textile liners 430, 431 that are placed in the
flow restrictor inner cavities 210, 211. The porosity of the
textile liners 430, 431 are chosen based on the size of silt and
sediment proximate the assembly 100. For example, without
limitation, nonwoven geotextile textile weighing about 2.5 to 20
oz/yd.sup.2 having an apparent opening size of about 30 to 120 US
Sieve and a water flow rate of about 10 to 200 g/min/ft.sup.2 is
utilized. The textile liners 430, 431 are either woven or nonwoven.
The textile liners 430, 431 are held in place with fasteners,
adhesive, or merely by being held in place by the weight media
500.
The Media
[0039] FIG. 1 offers, by way of example, one embodiment of the
erosion reduction assembly 100 comprising aggregate filter media
500. Such media 500 can be any loose rock roughly between about 0.5
to about 12 inches in diameter. The media 500 is preferably local
to the area in order to reduce logistical costs. Alternatively,
such media could be made from a polymer, polystyrene, composite,
brick, concrete, rubber, and any other media known in the art.
[0040] The media 500 has two primary functions within the erosion
reduction assembly 100. First, the media 500 is placed over a
portion of each water flow restrictor 200, 201 to secure and anchor
the water velocity reduction wall 300. The portion of the water
velocity reduction wall 300 covered by media 500 is referred to as
the non-exposed portion, and the portion of the water velocity
reduction wall 300 not covered by media 500 is referred to as the
exposed portion. The weight of the media 500 stabilizes the water
flow restrictor wall 300 within the receptacle 400. FIG. 5
illustrate the position of the water velocity reduction wall 300
positioned in the receptacle 400 in the absence of any media
500.
[0041] The second function of the media 500 is to act as a
filtration layer. Such a filtering layer helps to create a
sufficient number of pathways and obstacles for water run-off to
slow down to reduce both sheet and rill erosion. The slowed run-off
is then capable of passing through the various perforations 240,
241 of the water flow restrictors 200, 201.
[0042] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 5, to aid in draining water
from the media 500, a drain pipe 510 is placed under the media 500.
The drain pipe 510 is made of metal, plastic, PVC, or any other
material known in the art. The pipe 510 defines a plurality of
drainage holes or slits to allow water to enter the pipe 510. In a
preferred embodiment, at least one pipe is placed under the media
500 approximately parallel to the long axis of the assembly 100.
The diameter of the pipe is between about 2 inches and 18 inches.
The pipe 510 protrudes through holes in the receptacle 400 of a
size and dimension to accommodate the pipe 510. In a similar
embodiment, the pipe 510 abuts the receptacle 400, but does not
protrude outside the receptacle 400.
Positioning of the Erosion reduction Assembly
[0043] The invention further contemplates a method of reducing
erosion through the positioning of a plurality of erosion reduction
assemblies 100 to form an erosion reduction system 600. FIG. 6
offers, by way of example, a contemplated arrangement of the
various erosion reduction assemblies 100 over terrain. As shown, it
is preferable to place several erosion reduction assemblies 100 in
a row, but in order to maximize the effectiveness of the system,
secondary rows 610 are staggered behind the primary row 620. This
helps increase the effectiveness of all of the erosion reduction
assemblies 100, and such positioning helps to prevent sheet erosion
by reducing the velocity of flowing water and reducing the volume
of particulates eroded.
[0044] Now referring to FIG. 7, in one embodiment of the method to
reduce erosion, additional erosion reduction assemblies 630 are
placed on or near an existing erosion reduction system 600. In
particular, silt and sediment accumulate, over time, on and around
the erosion reduction assemblies 100 of the erosion reduction
system 600. However, as the silt and sediment accumulate, erosion
reduction assemblies 100 may be obstructed or even totally buried.
Therefore, the erosion reduction system 600 is augmented with
additional erosion reduction assemblies 630 by positioning these
assemblies 630 proximate obstructed or buried erosion reduction
assemblies 100.
[0045] Turning again to FIG. 1, the erosion reduction assembly 100
is preferably situated in an orientation wherein water flows in a
direction toward the flow restrictor inner cavities 210 as
indicated by the direction indicated by water flow arrows 110. The
velocity of the water that exits the assembly 100 is reduced
relative to the velocity of the water entering the assembly
100.
[0046] In the specification set forth above there have been
disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention, and
although specific terms are employed, the terms are used in a
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The
invention has been described in some detail, but it will be
apparent that various modifications and changes can be made within
the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the foregoing
specification and as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *