U.S. patent number RE32,663 [Application Number 06/699,698] was granted by the patent office on 1988-05-03 for articulated erosion control system.
Invention is credited to Francis S. Atkinson.
United States Patent |
RE32,663 |
Atkinson |
May 3, 1988 |
Articulated erosion control system
Abstract
An articulated erosion control system provides a flexing
articulated mat comprising a plurality of blocks which interlock in
a three dimensional fashion allowing a mat formed of the blocks to
conform to changes in terrain. In the preferred embodiment there is
provided at least one "lock block" (FIG. 1) having a plurality of
open ended sockets spaced about the periphery thereof and at least
one "key block" (FIG. 2) being connectable during operation to the
lock block; the key block providing a plurality of locking arms
spaced about and integrally formed with a central portion of the
key block. Connection of the lock block and the key block can be
achieved by relative vertical movement of the key block towards the
lock block when the key block locking arm is superimposed over the
open ended socket of the lock block--the connection being completed
when a portion of the locking arm occupies at least in part the
space within the socket. The socket is narrowed at its intersection
with the peripheral wall portion of the lock block. The tip portion
of the key block locking arm is enlarged thus disallowing relative
motion between the key block and the lock block in a generally
horizontal direction once the locking integral arm and socket are
connected. In the preferred embodiment, the key block and lock
block are each integrally formed--being, for example, of concrete
or the like material. The blocks may have wave energy absorbing
elements projecting from their upper surfaces.
Inventors: |
Atkinson; Francis S. (Houston,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
26902688 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/699,698 |
Filed: |
February 8, 1985 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
207879 |
Nov 18, 1980 |
04372705 |
Feb 8, 1983 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/19; 404/40;
405/16; 446/124; 52/592.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B
3/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E02B
3/14 (20060101); E02B 003/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;405/15-19,28-34
;404/38-43 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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566937 |
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546700 |
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2025494 |
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Jan 1980 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Taylor; Dennis L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pravel, Gambrell, Hewitt, Kimball
and Krieger
Claims
What is claimed as invention is: .[.1. An erosion control mat
comprising:
a. a plurality of erosion controlling members connected to each
other so that the members form an interconnected network conforming
to the underlying terrain for preventing erosion
b. adjacent member including complementary angularly articulating
connection means for connecting the members and allowing
articulation of the lower surfaces thereof relative to one another
to conform to the underlying terrain; and
c. the articulating connection means including interconnecting
sockets and arms on adjacent blocks, the arms loosely engaging the
sockets so that the adjacent members are capable of articulating
movement relative to each other and at the same time maintaining
their relative spacial
arrangement..]. .[.2. The erosion control mat of claim 1, wherein
at least one of the blocks is a hexagonal block comprising in part
three sockets spaced about the exterior edge protions thereof..].
.[.3. The erosion control mat of claim 2, wherein one of the blocks
has three locking arms..]. .[.4. The erosion control mat of claim
3, wherein the locking arms on the block are equiangularly
spaced..]. .[.5. The erosion control mat of claim 1, wherein each
of the sockets has, at least in part, a recess portion adjacent to
the periphery of the block, the socket being narrowed at its
intersection with the edge of the block, and each of the locking
arms having, at least in part, a locking head portion at its
periphery and a neck, narrower than the head, connecting the
central hub with the head portion, the head portion cooperating to
occupy the recess with the narrowed neck occupying a position at
the narrowed portion of the socket..]. .[.6. The articulated
erosion control mat of claim 1, wherein the blocks comprise an
integral block body defined by upper and lower surfaces and a
peripheral terminal wall, and wherein each of the sockets are
open-ended and communicate with said upper and lower surfaces and
with the terminal wall, and the blocks with locking arms comprise a
central hub with locking arms projecting radially therefrom..].
.[.7. The articulated erosion control mat of claim 6, further
having relieved means on the surface of the blocks for collecting
soil on the surface of the first blocks during use thereof..].
.[.8. The articulated erosion control mat of claim 6, further
having at least one vertical channel formed through each block..].
.[.9. An articulated erosion control block mat comprising:
a. a first lock block having an upper surface and a lower surface
spaced therefrom with a peripheral terminal wall defining the edge
portion thereof;
b. a plurality of locking sockets spaced peripherally about said
lock block with each of said sockets being open and communicating
respectively to said upper surface, the lower suface and the
peripheral terminal wall, the portion of the wall at the edge of
the socket defining a narrowed portion of the socket; and
c. at least one key block having an upper suface and a lower
surface spaced therefrom and further comprising a central hub with
a plurality of locking arms extending radially from said hub with
each of said arms providing at its terminal end portion an enlarged
head having a thickened portion which is thicker than the narrowed
portion of the sockets, the locking head and the socket being
similarly sized and the locking head being slightly smaller
allowing the placement of the head into the socket and vertical
movement therebetween, but disallowing substantial horizontal
movement once the head is placed within the socket, and wherein the
axis of the sockets and the heads are skewed with respect to the
surfaces of the first block, forming means to connect the first
block and the second block by a helical motion, thereby limiting
further relative vertical movement
between the first block and the second block..]. .[.10. The erosion
control mat of claim 9, wherein the blocks have projections
extending upwardly from the upper surfaces thereof to absorb wave
energy..]. .[.11. The erosion control mat of claim 9, wherein the
blocks are formed of cast concrete and contain wire reinforcing,
the wire reinforcing extending outwardly beyond the walls of the
blocks and forming loop means for joining adjacent blocks..].
.[.12. The erosion control mat of claim 9, wherein the mat is
provided with wire loops supporting the blocks therein and wherein
the loops have eyelets through which may be threaded supporting
cables for lifting and installing the mats..]. .[.13. The erosion
control mat of claim 9, wherein the blocks are mounted on a
water
permeable sheet..]. 14. Th articulated erosion control system of
claim .[.6,.]. .Iadd.18 .Iaddend.wherein the block lower surface
and block terminal wall are beveled with respect to one another.
.[.15. The articulated erosion control mat of claim 6, wherein the
block peripheral wall and lower surface are beveled with respect to
one another..]. .[.16. The articulated erosion control mat of claim
1, wherein each of said block means comprises in part a block
having a lower surface and a peripheral side wall which are beveled
with respect to one another allowing movement of the terminal wall
upper portions with respect to one another in a flexible
articulating fashion..]. .[.17. An erosion control mat
comprising:
a. first erosion controlling block means for conforming to an
underlying terrain to be stabilized, said block means comprising at
least a block member having a plurality of open-ended sockets
spaced about the periphery thereof;
b. second erosion controlling means for conforming to an underlying
terrain to be stabilized and connectable to the first block means,
the second block means comprising a plurality of locking arms
spaced about and integrally formed with a central hub; and
c. angularly articulating connection menas including at least one
of the sockets and a corresponding one of the locking arms for
forming a connection between the first block means and the second
block means, said connection means maintaining horizontal spacing
of the blocks while allowing articulation of the block lower
surfaces with respect to one
another to conform to underlying terrain..]. .Iadd.18. An erosion
control mat comprising:
a. a plurality of lock blocks adapted to be connected to each other
so that said blocks form an interconnected network conforming to
the underlying terrain for preventing erosion, each of said blocks
having at least three edges and three sockets formed in the
respective edges, the sockets being arranged so that an equilateral
triangle is formed by passing a line through the center of each
socket and parallel to the adjacent edge;
b. a plurality of key blocks for connecting said lock blocks to
form said interconnected network, said key blocks having connecting
heads adapted to engage the sockets on adjacent lock blocks, said
lock blocks having a relative spacial arrangement for said
interconnected network such that the apexes of said equilateral
triangles of adjacent lock blocks converge; and
c. said key block connecting heads being shaped and dimensioned to
connect said lock blocks and cooperating so that the lower surfaces
of said key blocks are capable of articulating movement relative to
said lock blocks to conform to the underlying terrain and at the
same time maintaining said relative spacial arrangement. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. An erosion control mat according to claim 18, wherein
each of said lock blocks is a hexagonal block comprising in part
three sockets spaced about the exterior edge portions thereof.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.20. An erosion control mat according to claim 19,
wherein each of said key blocks has three connecting heads.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.21. An erosion control mat according to claim 20,
wherein said connecting heads of said key block are equiangularly
spaced. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. An erosion control mat according to
claim 18, wherein said blocks have channels for collecting soil.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.23. An erosion control mat according to claim 18,
wherein said blocks are mounted
on a water permeable sheet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. An erosion control
mat according to claim 22, further having at least one vertical
channel formed through each block. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. An erosion
control mat according to claim 18, wherein the axis of said sockets
and said connecting heads are skewed with respect to the surfaces
of the respective blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. An erosion control
mat according to claim 18, wherein the peripheral side walls of
said sockets are beveled relative to the peripheral side walls of
said interconnecting heads. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. An erosion control
mat according to claim 18, wherein said socket has a reduced
diameter portion for engaging said head to prevent said connecting
head from passing completely through said socket. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. An erosion control mat according to claim 18, wherein
said interconnecting head has a shorter height than said sockets.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.29. An erosion control mat according to claim 18,
wherein said interconnecting head has the shape of a truncated
cone. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. An erosion control mat according to claim
18, wherein said socket has the shape of an
inverted truncated cone. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A system of soil
erosion prevention blocks positioned upon a surface for controlling
the erosion of soil therefrom, comprising:
a plurality of lock blocks, each lock block having a plurality of
recesses;
each of said recesses on said lock block having a center with an
equilateral triangle being formed by passing a line through the
center of said recess and parallel to the adjacent face of said
lock block;
a plurality of key blocks, each key block having a plurality of
locking arms with heads;
each of said heads forming an equilateral triangle by intersecting
each of said heads at its center with a line perpendicular to the
radial center line of each locking arm;
said plurality of lock blocks and key blocks being assembled with
interlocking connections of adjacent recesses and heads;
said connected blocks becoming a mat forming an array of said
equilateral triangles having the apexes of the triangles
converging. .Iaddend.
.Iadd. . An erosion control mat, comprising:
a lock block having at least three major sides that form at least a
portion of the sides of an equilateral triangle and a recess at
mid-point of each of said sides;
each of said recesses passing through said sides to form a throat
therewith;
a key block having at least one arm with a locking head;
one of said recesses receiving said locking head and said throat of
said one of said recesses receiving said arm; and
said heads and said throat interengaging to interconnect said lock
block and key block whereby the apexes of said triangles of
adjacent lock blocks converge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A matrix system
of soil erosion prevention blocks conforming to the underlying
terrain for controlling the erosion of soil therefrom,
comprising:
a plurality of blocks each having three major sides forming at
least a portion of an equilateral triangle having three equidistant
sides;
adjacent sides of said triangular modules of adjoining blocks
abutting to form a matrix of adjacent equilateral triangular
modules wherein the apex of said triangular modules converge;
and
connectors for interlocking said adjoining blocks. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The matrix system of claim 33, wherein the center of said
connector is on a
line formed by said adjacent abutting sides. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. An
articulated erosion control block mat comprising:
(a) a first lock block having an upper surface and a lower surface
spaced therefrom with a peripheral terminal wall defining the edge
portion thereof;
(b) a plurality of locking sockets spaced peripherally about said
lock block with each of said sockets being opened and communicating
respectively to said upper surface, the lower surface and the
peripheral terminal wall, the portion of the wall at the edge of
the socket defining a narrowed portion of the socket; and
(c) at least one key block having an upper surface and a lower
surface spaced therefrom and further comprising a central hub with
a plurality of locking arms extending radially from said hub with
each of said arms providing at its terminal end portion an enlarged
head having a thickened portion which is thicker than the narrowed
portion of the sockets, the locking head and the socket being
similarly sized and the locking head slightly smaller allowing the
placement of the head into the socket in vertical movement
therebetween, but disallowing substantial horizontal movement once
the head is placed within the socket, and wherein the axis of the
sockets and the head are skewed with respect to the surfaces of the
first block, forming means to connect the first block and the
second block by a helical motion, thereby limiting further relative
vertical movement between the first block and the second block
wherein the blocks have projections extending upwardly from the
upper surfaces thereof to absorb
wave energy. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. An articulated erosion control
block mat comprising:
(a) a first lock block having an upper surface and a lower surface
spaced therefrom with a peripheral terminal wall defining the edge
portion thereof;
(b) a plurality of locking sockets spaced peripherally about said
lock block with each of said sockets being opened and communicating
respectively to said upper surface, the lower surface and the
peripheral terminal wall, the portion of the wall of the edge of
the socket defining a narrowed portion of the socket; and
(c) at least one key block having an upper surface and a lower
surface spaced therefrom and further comprising a central hub with
a plurality of locking arms extending radially from said hub with
each of said arms providing at its terminal end portion an enlarged
head having a thickened portion which is thicker than the narrowed
portion of the sockets, the locking head and the socket being
similarly sized and the locking head slightly smaller allowing the
placement of the head into the socket in vertical movement
therebetween, but disallowing substantial horizontal movement once
the head is placed within the socket, and wherein the blocks are
formed of cast concrete and contain wire reinforcing, the wire
reinforcing extending outwardly beyond the walls of the blocks and
forming
loop means for joining adjacent blocks. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. An
articulated erosion control block mat comprising:
(a) a first lock block having an upper surface and a lower surface
spaced therefrom with a peripheral terminal wall defining the edge
portion thereof;
(b) a plurality of locking sockets spaced peripherally about said
lock block with each of said socket being opened and communicating
respectively to said upper surface, the lower surface and the
peripheral terminal wall, the portion of the wall at the edge of
the socket defining a narrowed portion of the socket; and
(c) at least one key block having an upper surface and a lower
surface spaced therefrom and further comprising a central hub with
a plurality of locking arms extending radially from said hub with
each of said arms providing at its terminal end portion an enlarged
head having a thickened portion which is thicker than the narrowed
portion of the sockets, the locking head and the socket being
similarly sized and the locking head slightly smaller allowing the
placement of the head into the socket in vertical movement
therebetween, but disallowing substantial horizontal movement once
the head is placed within the socket, and wherein the mat is
provided with wire loops supporting the blocks therein and wherein
the loops have eyelets through which may be threaded supporting
cables for
lifting and installing the mats. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. An articulated
erosion control block mat comprising:
(a) a first lock block having an upper surface and a lower surface
spaced therefrom with a peripheral terminal wall defining the edge
portion thereof;
(b) a plurality of locking sockets spaced peripherally about said
lock block with each of said sockets being opened and communicating
respectively to said upper surface, the lower surface and the
peripheral terminal wall, the portion of the wall at the edge of
the socket defining a narrowed portion of the socket; and
(c) at least one key block having an upper surface and a lower
surface spaced therefrom and further comprising a central hub with
a plurality of locking arms extending radially from said hub with
each of said arms providing at its terminal end portion an enlarged
head having a thickened portion which is thicker than the narrowed
portion of the sockets, the locking head and the socket being
similarly sized and the locking head slightly smaller allowing the
placement of the head into the socket in vertical movement
therebetween, but disallowing substantial horizontal movement once
the head is placed within the socket, and wherein the blocks are
mounted on a water permeable sheet. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the control of soil erosion
especially on the sides of rivers, drainage canals and riverbeds,
on levees, beaches and the like. The present invention more
particularly relates to an articulated erosion control system
comprising a plurality of blocks, each of which is connected to the
adjacent block by an interlocking connection provided by the blocks
themselves which interlocking connection maintains horizontal block
placement yet allows articulated movement in all directions of the
blocks with respect to one another allowing conformation of the
overall block system to the underlying terrain.
2. General Background
Erosion of land is a problem generally accompanied by water flow at
the interface of the land and the water such as on the side of a
riverbed or on a beach. Erosion can also occur as a result of
rainfall as it proceeds through a particular basin to the river
which empties that area.
Erosion is prevented in a natural sense by the growth of trees,
grass, vegetation and the like with their root systems functioning
to consolidate the underlying soil and prevent the mechanical
erosion by both water and wind, but mainly water.
The natural vegetation is removed purposefully in many instances as
when streams are channelized, or cleaned, or when levees are
reformed. Other times vegetation removal and resulting erosion is
natural, caused by flooding or the mechanical action of streams,
rivers and generally by natural water flow.
Land which has been stripped of the natural vegetation is highly
susceptible to erosion by wind and rain since the consolidation
provided by vegetation is missing. This occurs on sloped terrain,
as well as on terrain which is flattened.
The erosion problem is compounded by the removal of forrests,
overgrazing of land, burning, construction of highways and the
like, and the channelization of streams.
Planting rapidly growing vegetation on areas which have been
stripped is sometimes successful but usually only where the
vegetation grows rapidly and extensively enough so that the soil is
protected. In areas where water is continually flowing such as on
riverbanks, the growth of vegetation can usually not be done
quickly enough to prevent erosion. Various systems of revetment
have been used to augment or replace vegetation as an erosion
barrier. The art has used loose fill barriers (riprap), continuous
paving mats (some with weep holes to relieve pore pressure) and
porous paving mats to control erosion.
"Riprap" which is known for control of erosion is basically a
barrier or coverage comprising a plurality of large chunks of
concrete (obtained, for example, in salvage operations) which are
dumped in a particular area. The concrete chunks are usually of
random size, with some so large as to not provide protection and
washouts occur underneath. Further, the placement is often random,
not adequately covering the subject area.
Solid continuous paving mats of concrete are highly costly because
of the extensive amount of concrete required, the difficulty and
costs of installation, and the problems of hydrostatic pore
pressure which are created once the concrete is in place.
Paving blocks of concrete and other materials are known. Flexible
porous concrete mats have been used as an erosion controlling
protective surface.
Different patents directed to using revetment blocks and structures
for preventing soil erosion have been issued. U.S. Pat. Nos.
242,689; 306,251; 314,022; 541,815; 572,762; 984,121; 994,999;
1,039,579; 1,162,499; 1,379,440; 1,597,114; 1,636,114; 1,691,848;
1,772,821; 1,822,602; 1,834,060; 1,847,852; 1,927,834; 1,939,417;
1,991,196; 1,993,217; 2,008,866; 2,047,197; 2,143,461; 2,159,685;
2,221,416; 2,295,422; 2,454,292; 2,577,170; 2,662,343; 2,674,856;
2,876,628; 3,096,621; 3,176,468; 3,210,944; 3,301,148; 3,343,468;
3,344,609; 3,386,252; 3,421,417; 3,597,928; and 4,227,829 disclose
blocks and erosion control systems. These disclosures of the above
U.S. patents are incorporated by reference herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,820 discloses a device comprising a matrix of
cellular concrete blocks, each of which has internal passageways
for cables to pass therethrough and interconnect a matrix of
concrete blocks. The free ends of the cables are anchored into the
ground after which operation the soil is spread over the blocks to
reinforce surface thus controlling soil erosion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,875 discloses a ground covering with adjoining
plates which are clamped together by tensioning elements extending
through the plates and parallel to them.
Nijdorn in U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,865 describes a mattress having a
filter cloth with metal bars woven thereinto. Spaced concrete
blocks are connected to these bars.
Appelton in U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,702 teaches the use of a revetment
structure with similar interfitting units which form a flexible
mattress. The units are provided with a series of interconnected
ribs which make opposite sides of the units reflections of each
other.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,928 discloses the use of porous flexible
supporting sheets with mat of blocks which are placed on these
sheets. Each mat consists of a plurality of blocks with drainage
passageways therethrough and the blocks are secured to the sheets
by adhesive means.
Nelson in U.S. Pat. No. 3,386,252 discloses a riprap structure for
waterways, comprising rectangular blocks interconnected by a rod
which extends through the blocks to provide for hooking the blocks
at diagonally opposite corner ends and forming a matrix.
Dixon, U.S. Pat. No. 2,876,628 discloses a rapidly sinking
articulated revetment for riverbanks comprising rigid blocks
interconnected by flexible cables. The upper surface of each block
has recesses from which openings extend through the whole block to
provide for water passageways.
Louckes in U.S. Pat. No. 2,674,856 teaches the use of a similar
flexible revetment mat which flexibility comes from the use of
reinforced wires extending continuously from one concrete block to
another to form a mattress for protection of river banks from
erosion.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,159,685 describes a concrete riprap consisting of
precast units connected by interlocking bars which pass through the
orifices in the body of each unit.
A revetment in U.S. Pat. No. 2,008,866 comprises a number of
rectangular concrete blocks arranged diagonally and hooked together
by crossed rods to form a mat.
Mason in U.S. Pat. No. 1,987,150 teaches the use of a revetment
containing filled asphalt in a certain proportion. A mat of such
asphalt is placed adjacent a mattress consisting of slabs
interlocked by cables or clips passed through the rings at each
corner of a slab.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,359,475 describes a seawall construction comprising
concrete panels with mating tongues and grooves at their edges and
locked together by metal rods passing through the notches in the
tongues and grooves.
Edinger in U.S. Pat. No. 1,164,708 discloses an embankment
protection construction composed of interlocking rectangular
concrete slabs with integrally made hook flanges and interengaging
keys and sockets for locking the slabs in a mattress.
Edinger's U.S. Pat. No. 1,164,707 discloses a flexible concrete
slab revetment construction composed of concrete slabs with
integrally formed concrete joints interlocking the slabs, these
slabs being preferably of a triangular contour.
U.S. Pat. No. 763,171 teaches the use of enbankment linings
consisting of brick or stone blocks interlocked by wires passing
through the perforations in the block bodies.
Villa in U.S. Pat. No. 554,354 discloses a covering for protecting
banks from erosion, this covering comprising cement or terra-cotta
prismatie plates interconnected by wires which pass through the
plates to form rows of units adapted to cover riverbeds and banks,
and free ends of wires are fastened to trees or piles driven into
the bank.
Flexible mats, though generally more expensive than riprap or
continuous paving barriers, are usually more stable. Flexible mats
are not as prone to under-cutting erosion, by water, and provide
greater relief for hydrostatic pressure. Flexible mats do exhibit
failure, however, when individual elements of the mat are displaced
by hydrostatic pressure or wave action, for example.
Applicant has provided an improved flexible mat structure which
relieves hydrostatic pressure, conforms to the underlying surface,
and retains its structural integrity. The noted advantages may be
achieved at a cost which is competitive to known structures.
GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a lock block and key block system
which allows articulated connections to be formed between the lock
block and the key block so that a mat of the key blocks and lock
blocks can be formed in the field by the interlocking of the blocks
themselves without extraneous connectors, wires, cables, and the
like. A mat formed with the preferred embodiment of the apparatus
of the present invention retains its interlocking integrity even
after temporary connections which might be used in placement of a
mat assembly have been eroded or corroded away. The preferred
embodiment provides at least a lock block having sockets spaced
around about the periphery thereof which can be connected in two
radial directions to an adjacent pair of blocks. The connection
between blocks is provided by a socket on one block and an enlarged
head on the adjoining block which occupies the socket and allows
the two blocks to articulate with respect to one another in a
pivotal fashion. The sockets and locking heads provide narrowed
portions which discourage disassembly by horizontal movement once
the blocks are in the position. Sidewalls of the sockets and
locking heads can be bevelled to allow for the surfaces of
adjoining blocks to form angles with respect to one another as when
the blocks occupy a curved contour, dome, valley, or like
irregularity in terrain.
In the preferred embodiment, the lock block is hexagonal having
rounded sockets outcropping on three of the peripheral sides. The
remaining two sides can have immediately inside their surface
vertical openings or passageways which might allow for hydraulic
flow, the passage of vegetation, and the accumulation of soil and
silt. The key block in the preferred embodiment is a three-armed
key block having a central hub with three locking arms projecting
radially (preferably equi-radially-spaced) with enlarged locking
heads being provided at the tip of each arm. The center of each
locking head and the center of each locking arm form respectively
equilateral triangles of identical dimension on each key block and
on each lock block.
In the preferred embodiment, the equilateral triangular geometric
placement of the key block socket centers and the lock block
locking head centers insures interlocking points of articulation
between adjacent blocks. Flexibility in each direction is provided
and in an alternative embodiment a twist-in lock assembly is
provided which allows easy assembly of adjacent blocks yet
discourages substantial vertical relative movement therebetween
thereafter which might result in disassembly.
The present invention provides an articulated erosion control
system having at least one lock block and a pair of key blocks. The
key blocks are connectable to the lock block independently in an
interlocking fashion with each of the lock blocks, with the key
block-lock block connections being in separate directions and in an
articulated fashion. This allows multi-directional flexibility
which allows an entire mat system formed of the blocks to conform
easily to changes in terrain both with regard to curvature and
irregular size.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a three
dimensional interlocking mat assembly for erosion control.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
articulated erosion control system having flexibility in every
direction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an
interlocking mat for use in erosion control system with the
interlocking connections being spaced in an equilateral triangular
fashion.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
twist-in lock for attaching adjacent blocks which allows easy
assembly but discourages disassembly due to relative vertical
movement of adjacent blocks.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an
articulated erosion control mat system which can be easily adapted
to disposable sling type lifting and placement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an
alternative wire interconnecting system for assembling a plurality
of adjacent blocks forming an overall articulated erosion control
system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
articulated erosion control system useful in the controlling of
waves at seashores, surfs, and the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
articulated erosion control system having a plurality of blocks
which can be interconnected on sight without the use of further
connection devices than the blocks themselves.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
overall articulated erosion control system which easily conforms to
changes in terrain relief and shape.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
articulated erosion control system which allows vegetation to grow
through the system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an
articulated erosion control system which can use but does not rely
upon a mat or other interconnection between adjacent blocks for its
long term performance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the
present invention, reference should be had to the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals and
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lock block portion of the
preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the key block portion of the
preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
FIGS. 3A-3C are sequential views illustrating assembly of the key
block and lock block portions of the preferred embodiment of the
apparatus of the present invention and further illustrating the
wave control embodiment of the key block portion;
FIGS. 4A, 4B are sectional schematic views illustrating the
bevelled sidewall portions of the key block and lock block;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the wave control cone embodiment of the
lock block portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of
the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the wave control cone embodiment of the key
block portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the
present invention;
FIG. 5A is a sectional view taken along lines 5A--5A of FIG. 5;
FIG. 6A is a sectional view taken along lines 6A--6A of FIG. 6;
FIG. 7 is a top view of the articulated erosion control mat system
of the present invention illustrating a plurality of key blocks and
lock blocks interconnected;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a plurality of key blocks and lock
blocks interconnected to provide the articulated erosion control
system of the present invention and illustrating the vertical
support system portion thereof;
FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the hanger portion of the
preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention
useful in the embodiment of FIG. 8;
FIG. 9 is a section view of the preferred embodiment of the
apparatus of the present invention during lifting;
FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating lifting of the preferred
embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention using a
flexible mat to lift.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is seen respectively the lock block 20
portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present
invention (FIG. 1) and the key block 50 portion of the preferred
embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention (FIG. 2).
As will be described more fully hereinafter, each block 20, 50 can
be integral and blocks 20, 50 attach together by interlocking. The
blocks 20, 50 so provided interlock to form an enlarged articulated
mat 10 which can be seen in FIGS. 7-8, which mat allows
articulation of the individual blocks and some relative vertical
movement, yet maintains horizontal spacing thus allowing the mat 10
to conform to the underlying terrain.
The assembled articulated erosion control system 10 can be lifted
(as during installation) by a spreader bar or crane and assumes a
curved position characteristic of a flexible sheet supported at its
ends (see FIGS. 9 and 10).
FIGS. 1 and 2 show more particularly the construction of lock block
20 and key block 50.
In FIG. 1 can be seen lock block 20 which provides upper and lower
coplanar and preferably parallel surfaces which terminate at a
peripheral terminal sidewall. A hexagonal shape is preferable with
hexagon sidewalls 21-26 being shown in FIG. 1.
Three alternate sidewalls 22, 24, and 26 provide sockets 30-32
which are open recesses at surface 20S of block 20 as well as being
open recesses at sidewalls 22, 24, and 26 and at the bottom 20B of
block 20. As will be described more fully hereinafter, each socket
30, 31, and 32 provides a place for the interlocking connection of
key block 50 thereto with three key blocks being attachable
respectively at sockets 30-32 of each lock block 20 to form the
articulated erosion control system 10 as shown in FIGS. 7 and
8.
The upper surface 20S of block 20 provides an etching of radial
V-shaped channels 39 and circular V-shaped channels 40 which
provide recesses that will during operation gether soil allowing
natural vegetation to grow on the surface of block 20 further
enhancing erosion control and aesthetics.
A plurality of vertical preferably cylindrical channels 34-37 are
provided through block 20 which allow hydrostatic flow through
block 20 as well as allowing the growth of vegetation therethrough
which enhances the anchoring of block 20 to its final position.
FIG. 2 shows more particularly the construction of key block 50.
Key block 50 comprises a central hub 52 from which extend radially
a plurality of spaced locking arms 55-57 with three being shown in
the embodiment of FIG. 2.
Each locking arm 55-57 has attached at its outermost tip portion to
an enlarged locking head 60-62 respectively with each being
slightly smaller than but correspondingly sized to register and fit
within one of sockets 30-32 provided on lock block 20. Vertical
channels 65-67 are provided respectively through heads 60-62 to
allow fluid flow therethrough for hydraulic relief. Also vegetation
can grow through channels 65-67 to aid in securement of block 50 to
its underlying terrain. Each socket 30-32 may provide at its
lowermost portion an annular rib 45 with a corresponding annular
recess 68 being provided around the bottom of each locking head
60-62. This combination provides a stop which disallows a drop
through of locking heads 60-62 through its respective socket. This
connection is seen in FIG. 8 and once this assembly is completed
the upper surface 20S of block 20 and the upper surface 51 of key
block 50 would be substantially coplanar as shown in the drawings
in FIG. 8.
An additional feature, not shown in the drawings, may be used to
retain the assembled lock blocks 20 and key blocks 50 joined in the
desired coplanar relationship. A flexible adhesive may be placed in
the joint formed by locking heads 60-62 and sockets 30-32, for
example, at the point of contact between annular ribs 45 and
annular recesses 68. A continuous bead may be used or the
application of adhesive could be discontinuous. Any suitable
rubber-like or flexible adhesive could be used. A one-component
polyurethane adhesive manufactured by Sika Corporation, Lyndhurst,
N.J. under the trademark SIKAFLEX has been found to be
satisfactory.
FIGS. 3A-3C show more particularly the assembly of a single key
block being placed into three lock blocks 20.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 3A-3C and in those sequential views
shown, note the key block being provided as designated by the
numeral 80 with key block 50 having a wave control cone 90 portion
which extends upwardly a distance of, for example, three times the
overall height of the key block 80 itself. Wave control cone 90 can
provide a truncated top 92 which gradually contours to meet locking
heads 95-97 with each locking head being provided with a vertical
channel 100-102. Though the wave control is shown, in FIGS. 3A-3C,
as a truncated cone 90, it will be appreciated that another
equivalent shape could also be used, such as a cone, a cylinder, a
pyramid, a truncated pyramid or other polyhedron.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3C, the axis of each locking head
95-97 is skewed as shown in FIG. 4A. This requires that the
assembly of key block 80 into lock blocks 20 be in downward and
rotational (spiral) fashion which is shown by the curved arrow 81
in FIGS. 3A-3B. Sockets 30-32 of lock block 20 are similarly skewed
with the inner curved sidewall 42-44 of each socket 30-32 being
angularly disposed with respect to the bottom 20B of lock block 20.
The connection between the lock blocks 20 and key block 80 is
accomplished by joining a key block 80 simultaneously to three lock
blocks 20. The three lock blocks 20 are placed in an array having
the proper spacing and key block 80 is positioned over the array
and joined thereto by a vertical helical motion, as shown in FIG.
3C. To assemble an entire mat 10, two rows of lock blocks 20 are
laid out in an array similar to that shown in FIG. 7, a row of key
blocks 80 is then assembled into the array by helical joining, as
shown in FIG. 3C. An adjacent third row of lock blocks 20 is then
laid and a second row of key blocks 80 is assembled into the lock
blocks 20. Subsequent laying of additional rows of lock blocks 20
and key blocks 80 is repeated until construction of the mat 10 is
complete. In FIG. 4A there can be seen a gap G which is provided
due to the differing angular orientations of the inner curved wall
42 of socket 30 as compared with the angular orientation of the
outer wall portion of enlarged locking head 96. This gap G allows
for adjustment when an entire mat 10 of assembled lock blocks 20
and key blocks 50 are lifted as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Another
embodiment of this adjustable feature when the mat 10 is lifted is
seen in FIG. 4B where the locking head 96 of key block 50 would be
of a shorter height H2 than the height H1 of the lock block 120
with the gaps G being also shown between and arrows 110
illustrating movement of the upper portion of adjacent lock blocks
20 toward the locking head 96 of key block 80. The presence of the
gaps G allow flexible articulated movement of the mat 10 to conform
to the shape of the substrate or support on which the mat 10 is
placed. The mat 10 can often accommodate to hills, curves and
depressions without the necessity of forming special arrays to fill
or fit within spaces in the total array.
FIG. 3C illustrate a completed connection of key block 90 into
three lock blocks 20. Once this combined downward and rotational
connection (actually a spiral or helical movement) is completed, it
will be apparent to one skilled in the art that vertical movement
between key block 80 and lock block 20 will be difficult or at
least discouraged. Arrow 111 in FIG. 4A illustrates the problems
which locking head 96 would have in moving upwardly from socket 30.
The rotational movement as illustrated would be easy to achieve
manually upon assembly, but the same helical movement of locking
heads 95-97 would not normally be duplicated by nature as by
hydraulic action, waves or the like to a mat 10 once it is in
place, In FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrated top views of the wave
control embodiment 125 of lock block 120 as well as the wave
control cone embodiment 90 of key block 80.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6, each recess 30-32 is generally
circular providing a center with an equilateral triangle "T" being
formed by passing a line through the center of each recess and
parallel to the adjacent face 22, 24, 26. The articulated
connections between adjacent blocks 20, 50 or 20, 80 or 120, 80
would also fall on these sides of equilateral triangles. In FIG. 6,
T-2 designates an equilateral triangle formed by intersecting each
locking head 95-97 at its center with a line perpendicular to the
radial center line of each locking arm 82-86. These triangles T and
T-2 will have common sides when the lock block and key block are
assembled with the interlocking connections of an entire mat
forming an array of equilateral triangles.
In FIGS. 5A and 6A are seen sectional views illustrating more
particularly the construction of each of lock block 120 and key
block 80 with lock block 120 in FIGS. 5 and 5A providing a wave
control cone 125 having a truncated top 126.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a connected assembly 10 of articulated
erosion control system 10 with a plurality of lock blocks 20 being
shown assembled with a plurality of key blocks 50. Note that an
articulated erosion control system is formed which allows slight
relative movement of the blocks 20, 50 with respect to one another
allowing it to conform to irregularities in the terrain and
allowing slight degrees of vertical and horizontal movement between
each block. While three-way locking is shown here, two-way and
four-way locking could also be used. For example, lock blocks with
four sockets and key blocks with two locking tips could be
used.
In FIGS. 8-8A there can be seen the use of hangers 150 which are
substantially U-shaped providing parallel side rods 151, 152 each
of which is provided at its upper portion with an eyelet 154, 155
with each eyelet providing an opening 156 through which a suitable
hanger line 200 can be placed with a network of hanger lines being
used to interlace the provided hangers 150 in such a fashion as to
allow the entire mat to be supported as shown in FIG. 9, during
lifting of mat assembly 10. Alternatively, mat 10 could be
supported from below using a continuous flexible sheet or net which
would support mat 10 in a vertical direction with the interlocking
connection taught herein maintaining horizontal spacing. In FIGS. 7
and 10 an underlying supportive sheet (preferably perforated to
allow for fluid flow therethrough) is schematically shown as
210.
FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a support cable 160 attaching to
beam B at eyelet 162 with bottom eyelets 164, 165 also being
provided with side support cables 166, 168 which would attach to
hanger line 200 and thus support mat 10 during lifting and
installation onto an area which needs erosion control.
Since blocks 20, 50 proivde themselves the interlocking necessary
to maintain the integrity and connections of mat 10, erosion
control in a particular area will be maintained even after sheet S
or cable 200 with hangers 150 have corroded away as occurs. Thus,
the utility of sheet S or hangers 150 and cable 200 could be
primarily for installation, assembly, transportation and lifting,
with the interlocking mat above taught serving by itself to control
erosion and wave action.
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within
the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many
modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in
accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be
understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The invention is to be
limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *