U.S. patent application number 15/490786 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-03 for border protection viaduct.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shahriar Eftekharzadeh. Invention is credited to Shahriar Eftekharzadeh.
Application Number | 20170218580 15/490786 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59385448 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170218580 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eftekharzadeh; Shahriar |
August 3, 2017 |
Border Protection Viaduct
Abstract
A viaduct specially configured to secure and protect an
international border.
Inventors: |
Eftekharzadeh; Shahriar;
(Torrance, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Eftekharzadeh; Shahriar |
Torrance |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59385448 |
Appl. No.: |
15/490786 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01D 18/00 20130101;
E01D 2/04 20130101; E01D 19/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E01D 18/00 20060101
E01D018/00; E01D 19/12 20060101 E01D019/12; E01D 2/04 20060101
E01D002/04 |
Claims
1. An apparatus to provide a border with access, surveillance, and
protection capabilities, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of
elevated platforms linearly positioned end to end, said elevated
platforms comprising: a structural deck disposed to support
vehicular traffic; at least one dual-function hollow structural
beam disposed to strengthen said structural deck from below plus
provide a secure conduit for housing communication cables,
electrical lines, utility pipelines, and electronic equipment;
guard rails on longitudinal sides of said structural deck;
supporting columns secured on foundations at opposing distal ends
of said structural beams to maintain design vertical and horizontal
alignments of said elevated platforms; a plurality of surveillance
equipment mounted on said elevated platforms energized by said
electrical lines and connected to said communication cables to
transmit data; a plurality of openings disposed to provide access
to interior of said hollow structural beam.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dual-function hollow
structural beam is replaced with a single-function structural beam
and a separate conduit is secured to said plurality of elevated
platforms for routing of communication cables, electrical lines,
utility pipelines.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said separate conduit is
replaced with a plurality of conduits secured to said plurality of
elevated platforms for routing of communication cables, electrical
lines, utility pipelines.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevated platforms are
also placed adjacent to one another to increase platform width.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elevated platforms are
further equipped with ON and OFF ramps for vehicular access.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is in the field of devices for
protecting international borders. More specifically, the present
invention provides a specially configured viaduct that integrates a
range of functionalities to firmly protect a border and prevent
breach.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Protection of international borders against unauthorized
crossing is of utmost importance for all nations and a pillar of
international law and order. The matter has gained prominence in
recent times with increasing human migration and refugee crises
around the globe.
[0003] A contiguous physical barrier such as a fence, trench, dike,
and wall are the most prevalent and adopted means of protecting
borders against unauthorized crossing. However, these measures are
not fully effective as they can be breached and are not feasible in
rugged, mountainous areas or where the border is marked by a river,
which is common. Furthermore, physical barriers are culturally
undesirable, costly to build, and have a long construction schedule
making them unattractive and politically challenging. In addition,
physical barriers have significant impact as they intrude in
private property and natural habitat and face legal and
environmental challenges.
[0004] Other means of border protection include remote sensing,
watch towers, aircraft and drone surveillance, and buried cables.
However, these methods are not fully effective and do not meet the
requirements of border protection authorities as they can be evaded
with a number of counter measures.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a new type of facility that
is effective in preventing unauthorized border crossings that will
not have unacceptable cost, schedule, constructability issues in
difficult trains, and which will not have excessive land
requirements and environmental impacts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a solution for the above
stated need with a specially configured viaduct to secure and
protect an international border. The apparatus of present invention
is similar to conventional viaducts in that it is basically
comprised of a plurality of elevated platforms made of structural
beams with a roadway on top, supported on columns along its length.
However, the present invention incorporates and integrates a number
of key improvements that result in a specifically configured
apparatus for border protection and security. A key improvement is
to use at least one hollow structural beam as the main structural
member longitudinally supporting the roadway and assign it the dual
functional of serving as secure conduit for routing communication
cables, power lines, and utilities to support the border protection
operation. In addition to providing access and transportation for
border agents on an elevated and commanding roadway along the
border, the object of the specialized viaduct of the present
invention is to provide a means of mounting and maintain advanced
equipment capable of surveilling the entire length of the border
with no blind spots, create a secure conduit along the entire
length of the border for routing communication cables, power lines,
and basic utility services to support border protection, and
clearly mark the border with an imposing structure that alerts and
visually repels potential intruders.
[0007] The specialized viaduct of the present invention is a
modular structure comprised of a multitude of elevated platforms
made of flat decks atop hollow structural beams spanning
consecutive columns, and connected end to end to form a contiguous
space inside and a flat surface on top, with each platform and
supporting columns constituting a single module. The contiguous
space inside serves as a secure conduit for communication cables,
electricity lines, and utility pipes, as well as protective housing
for sensitive surveillance equipment and hardware along the border.
The flat surface on top serves as a roadway for vehicular or rail
access by border agents as well as for supporting guard rails,
mounting of cameras, lighting, flood lights, loud speakers, remote
sensors, radar, and any other specialized equipment.
[0008] As in conventional viaducts, the present invention does not
construct any structures or physical barriers below the platform
other than the supporting columns and periodic on/off access ramps,
and is therefore minimally obstructive. It spans over difficult
terrain and is highly flexible in its vertical and horizontal
alignments. Also, it is rapidly constructible using prefabricated
segments that will only require site assembly rather than heavy
construction.
[0009] The present invention is a specialized security
infrastructure that is far more effective than existing means of
border protection such as physical barriers and other means noted
above. The present invention integrates several proven means of
securing a border into a single apparatus. The roadway provides a
means for rapid physical access of border authorities between
manned stations along the border. The utilities inside the
contiguous hollow beam serve the manned stations with water, power,
and communication. The viaduct also provides around the clock
high-resolution surveillance of not only the border crossing but
also a certain distance away that buys time for response and
intervention in case of any attempted breach. Modern equipment
mounted on the viaduct would be ideally positioned to sense the
approach of potential intruders from considerable distance and
trigger a series of intervention responses that could include
alerting the border agents, illumination with flood lights, zooming
of cameras, issuance of warnings on loud speakers, dispatch of
drones for monitoring of the intruders should they actually cross
the border, and dispatch of border agents from closest manned
station who would rapidly reach the location using the elevated
platform in order to intervene in any ongoing breach.
[0010] It is an object of this invention to provide a new type of
facility that provides rapid access and effective security for
border by integrating a range of utilities that firmly protect and
prevent breach.
[0011] It is an object of this invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements by apparatus for the purposes described
thereof, which is comparable in cost with existing systems,
dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended
purposes.
[0012] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one module of the present
invention showing the major components of the special viaduct.
[0014] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of one module of the
present invention from above showing the access to through the
roadway to the interior of the hollow structural beam of the
viaduct that also serves as the conduit for utility lines.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one module of the present
invention showing the hollow structural beam of the viaduct that
also serves as the conduit for utility lines from below.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled modules of the
present invention which is a border protection viaduct comprised of
a plurality elevated platforms made of hollow structural beams with
a roadway on top connected end to end and supported on a plurality
of columns, said platforms being capable of providing vehicular
access for boarder agents, and securely housing within a plurality
of utility lines such as communication cables, electrical power
lines, and water, compressed gas, and hydrocarbon pipelines, as
well as securing in position a range of electronic surveillance
equipment such as cameras, sensors, scanners, radar, and other
specialized electronic hardware.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of
one module of the present invention 100 comprised of structural
deck 101 strengthened from below by hollow structural beam 102
having guard rails 103 on either side and supported at each distal
end by column 111 on foundation 112, collectively comprising an
elevated platform 100 disposed to enable physical and vehicular
access from one distal end to the other, and securely house a
plurality of utility lines 104 that may include communication
cables, electrical power lines, and water, compressed gas, and
hydrocarbon pipelines below deck 101 inside hollow beam 102, with
access to utility lines made possible by removal of access hatch
cover 105.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one module of the present
invention 100 from above with access hatch cover 105 removed
exposing utility lines 104 below deck 101 inside hollow structural
beam 102, thus serving as conduit for utility lines 104 In addition
to providing structural support for deck 101.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one module of the present
invention from below showing hollow beam 102 strengthening deck 101
supported on columns 111, with access hatch cover 105 removed.
Structural beam 102 also serves as conduit for utility lines
104.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of modules of
the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, assembled and connected
end to end, and intermittently placed side by side to increase
width, constituting a border protection viaduct apparatus 100
disposed to provide access and security for the border, capable of
providing border agents with vehicular access 121 with passing and
turn-around possibility at preassigned wider width locations, and
securely housing a plurality of utility lines 104 that run
continuously below deck 101 along the length of a border to provide
vital communication and utility services, as well as securing in
position a range of electronic surveillance equipment 131 that may
include cameras, sensors, scanners, radar, and other specialized
equipment. There will also be ON and OFF ramps (not shown) at
designated locations to said viaduct.
[0021] The main components of the present invention 100, namely
deck 101, hollow beam 102, railings 103, access hatch cover 105,
and columns 111 may be prefabricated in segments at a factory,
using high strength materials such as steel, special plastics, and
carbon fiber to minimize weight, and transported to site for rapid
assembly on foundation 112, in lieu of heavy onsite construction
which is required by present art. During prefabrication, the
interior of hollow beam segments 102 may be compartmentalized or
fitted with conduit segments that upon assembly onsite form a
plurality of contiguous conduits within the hollow beam 102 to
accommodate various utility service lines 104.
[0022] The only heavy onsite construction requirement for the
present invention 100 is for foundations 112, which may be located
at maximum economical spacing to minimize their numbers,
collectively requiring only a fraction of the heavy construction of
a contiguous physical barrier. The minimized heavy construction
requirement of the present invention 100 is a significant
improvement feature that distinguishes it from present art in terms
of cost, schedule, and constructability.
[0023] An advantageous feature of the specialized viaduct of the
present invention 100 over conventional border protection solutions
is that it brings forth the main utility of a viaduct, which is to
span over obstacles such as rocks, rivers, wetlands, critical
habitat, and other sensitive and difficult terrain features that
may be prevalent along a border, to border protection. Building a
physical contiguous barrier in such terrain would require special
and costly construction technologies and materials that entail
significant cost, increase schedule, thus making the design
alignment difficult and in many instances infeasible.
[0024] Another significant improvement feature of the present
invention 100 is its multi-functionality. In addition to serving as
a deterrent to potential intruders contemplating unauthorized
border crossing, which is the only function of physical barriers,
the present invention 100 also provides continuous access to the
entire length of a border, furnishes a protected conduit to route
vital utility service lines for communication, power, water, gas,
and hydrocarbons, and provides secure platform for permanent
positioning of surveillance equipment.
[0025] The utility conduit functionality of the present invention
100 is a valuable asset that brings about potential for significant
added benefits. The viaduct's utility conduits is strategically
located between neighboring countries and has special utility
spanning the entire country. It would be highly sought after for
housing and routing transnational communication lines such as fiber
optics cables for various sectors in both the host country as well
as the neighboring countries. Such an asset has significant
strategic and commercial value for a number of purposes, especially
for economic development, and can be used to increase international
cooperation and attract private capital. The conduit can also serve
as a local and regional connector for various utility service lines
extending services to remote locations and spurring
development.
[0026] The present invention is susceptible to modifications and
variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from
the inventive concepts and the object of the invention. Beam and
column geometries and configurations other that those disclosed may
be used to provide access and utility service line connectivity.
Communication cables, electrical lines, and utility pipelines may
be placed outside the structural beams secured to either the
surface roadway railing, or directly to the columns. Also,
vehicular access includes all modes of transportation on the
elevated platform including rail, magnetic levitation, robots, and
other mobile equipment.
[0027] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is
not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to
cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and
scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended
claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent
arrangements which are possible.
* * * * *