Wave Energy Reduction System

Abstract

A method and apparatus for creating moderately quiescent water in which emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses can endure and eventually establish without the need for eliminating the energy of occurring waves.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/847,342, filed on Mar. 19, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/614,455, filed Mar. 22, 2012, wherein both of these priority applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a wave energy reduction method and apparatus for creating moderately quiescent water in which emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses can endure and eventually become established. To this end, the present invention reduces wave energy without completely eliminating it.

Spartina alterniflora is a perennial deciduous grass that is found in intertidal wetlands, particularly estuarine salt marshes. S. alterniflora is the primary emergent salt marsh wetlands grass in many parts of the United States. S. alterniflora is an emergent grass growing out of the water at the seaward edge of beaches with low wave energy. Ninety percent of its biomass is believed to be underground; as such, S. alterniflora naturally accumulates sediment. Over time, this gradual accumulation of sediment builds the level of the land at the seaward edge of the salt marsh, combating shoreline erosion. S. alterniflora is only one of numerous species of grasses that can be found in intertidal wetlands throughout the world; all of these grasses play an important role in stabilizing shorelines and providing buffers against storm surges and general erosion.

In many coastal locations where S. alterniflora and other salt marsh wetlands grasses once existed, excessive wave energy in coastal waters makes it difficult, if not impossible, for such grasses to be reestablished. Attempts to establish salt marsh wetland grasses along the shoreline typically result in mechanical damage to the plant leaves and, ultimately, death to the plant itself. As a result, the failure to reestablish salt marsh wetlands grasses compounds the problem of shoreline erosion.

Several solutions currently exist for preventing shoreline erosion, but these methods hardly address the issue of protecting emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses. Instead, these solutions tend to focus upon protecting the ground itself from the coastal waters as opposed to protecting the emergent salt marsh grasses from wave energy.

One solution is to utilize barriers, such as concrete, rocks or other non-porous objects, by placing them between the coastal waters and the emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses to block wave energy completely. Such barriers are expensive to purchase, difficult to place, and difficult to remove. Concrete is heavy, and as such, the time and manpower to add these barriers can be prodigious.

Another solution is to place biodegradable fiber logs comprising a quantity of loose fibers retained in a tubular casing end-to-end on the shoreline between the coastal waters and the salt marsh wetlands grasses. One example of this solution is taught by Spangler et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,493). This solution, while capable of abating wave energy, creates the costly step of packing fibers into the tubular casing. Furthermore, such fiber logs are difficult, if not impossible, to reuse since they are biodegradable. Beyond this, the logs restrict the accumulation of sediment around the salt-marsh wetland grasses, thereby undermining the very stability of these grasses. As such, they do not aid in the establishment of emergent salt marsh wetland grasses.

A number of other solutions involve the use of tubing formed from geotextiles. However, these have several disadvantages. Most require the inclusion of some type of fill material, making them relatively complex to construct and often impractical for installation and removal by limited numbers of personnel. Also, the use of fill material will necessarily limit the amount of sediment allowed to pass through the barriers, which in turn will compromise the establishment of emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses. The flow of sediment-filled water in a reduced wave energy environment is necessary for emergent salt marsh wetland grasses to become established. As water with sediment passes over the grasses, the sediment is deposited upon the grasses, strengthening the support structure for the grasses. Unlike other inventions, the present invention slows the velocity of the water across the grasses to allow sediment to be deposited more readily.

Theisen (U.S. Pat. No. 7,883,291) teaches a process/apparatus wherein a mat of natural fibers is wound in the form of a log to form fiber filtration tubes. The Theisen process/apparatus further employs a flocculating agent to flocculate fine particles, thereby accomplishing a high-degree of sediment control. In sharp contrast, the present invention uses no flocculating agent since the flocculation of sediment particles within the apparatus would prevent sediment from accumulating around emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses. The accumulation of sediment particles around emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses is essential for the long-term stability of these plants. Therefore by incorporating the use of a flocculant, the Theisen process/apparatus would compromise the establishment of emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses, which is the stated purpose of this invention.

While Myrowich (U.S. App. 2009/0020639) teaches a rolled erosion control blanket, and a process for manufacturing such a blanket, his process is directed to optimizing the ability of such a blanket to be rolled up for transportation purposes. It envisions the unrolling of the blankets at the work site. This shares the same problem as the teaching of Carpenter (U.S. Pat. No. 7,695,219): a blanket placed flat on the ground is largely useless for protecting salt marsh grasses from wave energy.

It would be desirable to have a method and/or apparatus that will enable emergent salt marsh wetlands grass to establish and grow without totally eliminating the energy of occurring waves or blocking the flow of sediment-rich water across the grasses. Furthermore, it would also be desirable to have a method and/or apparatus that are inexpensive to utilize. Still further, it would be desirable to have a method and/or apparatus that are simple to relocate and reuse. Therefore, there currently exists a need in the industry for an inexpensive method and/or apparatus that can (A) protect emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses from excessive wave energy while concomitantly allowing sediment to deposit onto these grasses, and (B) be relocated to other shores when these grasses become stable enough to withstand incoming wave energy.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a wave energy reduction method and apparatus for creating moderately quiescent water in which emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses can endure and eventually establish without the need for total elimination of the energy of occurring waves.

Geotextile materials (such as, but not limited to, ENKAMAT fabric) are assembled into rolls. These rolls are bound with cable ties, preferably ties that can withstand ultraviolet light, to maintain their cylindrical shape. The rolls are placed into the water on the soil, end to end without space between them, forming a line of geotextile material rolls.

Multiple anchors, preferably comprised of steel, are then placed into the soil on one side of the line of rolls, preferably on that side closest to the coastal waters. These anchors are referred to throughout this specification as “wave energy reduction anchors” or simply “steel anchors.” However, the use of the word “steel” or any other description thereto should not be deemed as limiting the composition of the anchors to any one type of material.

Multiple strands of rope, preferably comprised of polypropylene, are inserted into multiple layers of tubing, preferably polyethylene tubing. Each rope-and-tubing combination is inserted, yet again, into another layer of tubing, preferably polyethylene tubing, to form multiple “rope ties.”

Each “rope tie” is then looped through a unique anchor and underneath the line of rolls to form the shape roughly similar to that of the letter “U” such that both ends of each “rope tie” are pointing straight up. The ends of each “rope tie” are then tied together, thereby securing the line of rolls to the anchors.

Although the preferred embodiment for this invention utilizes polypropylene rope combined with polyethylene tubing, the invention may use any type of rope, with or without polyethylene tubing. Likewise, the invention may use any type of tubing to cover the rope, regardless of whether the same is made of polyethylene, or no tubing at all. Furthermore, the invention may use any type of cable ties, whether or not they can resist ultraviolet light. Still further, the invention may use any type of anchor, regardless of its composition.

This method and/or apparatus reduce the size and force of incoming waves as the waves pass through the line of geotextile material rolls. As a result, moderately quiescent water is created whereby salt marsh wetlands grasses can be established and endure. After these grasses have been established, the user may then remove the rolls of geotextile material, along with the steel earth anchors and the “rope ties,” and place them elsewhere.

This invention is functionally different from other solutions because it attempts to abate wave energy, not eliminate it altogether. Moreover, by allowing water to pass through the wave energy barrier, sediment returning from the coastal waters is not inhibited from attaching to the emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses, further aiding in the prevention of shoreline erosion.

This invention is structurally different from other solutions because it comprises materials that are readily accessible and cost-effective to utilize. These lightweight materials are easy to transport and are inexpensive to obtain. As such, it only takes one person a short time to install, and later remove, a wave energy reduction roll.

Among other things, it is an object of the present invention to protect emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses from wave energy without incurring any of the problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions.

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. 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 by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, particularly depicting the attachment to the anchor.

FIG. 3 shows the steps to implement the method of utilizing the preferred embodiment apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows the steps to implement the method of utilizing the apparatus without polyethylene tubes covering the “rope tie” system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a wave energy reduction method and apparatus for creating moderately quiescent water in which emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses can endure and eventually establish.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is described as follows:

To create the wave energy reduction roll 10, assemble 27 linear feet (8.2 m) of the geotextile fabric into a cylinder form, or roll, that is 12-14 inches (30-36 cm) in diameter. The rolls are tied together with black cable ties 11 to maintain the cylindrical shape of the roll. Tie the roll together with 48-inch (1.22 m) long and ¼-inch (6.35 mm) wide black cable ties. The black cable ties will have ultraviolet light inhibitors and a 175 psi (1.21 MPa) tensile stress rating. Locate the two end-of-the-roll cable ties 12 inches (30.5 cm) from each end of the roll. Evenly space the remaining cable ties 2 feet (61 cm) apart along the roll. Cable ties will be pulled tightly against the geotextile fabric to secure the material into a rolled form.

When setting the wave reduction rolls in position, place them in the water, on the soil, so the exposed cut edge is beneath the roll and facing toward the mainland. This will protect against the possibility of wave action forces opening up the roll.

Steel earth anchors 12 secured into the soil serve as the method for holding the wave energy reduction rolls in place. Install the ½-inch (12.7 mm) diameter steel earth anchors with tensile strength of 1400 psi (9.65 MPa) into the soil to the point where the eye of the anchor is just above the soil level. Use three 30-inch (76 cm) long anchors for each 8-foot (2.4 m) long roll. Locate the anchors 24 inches (61 cm) from each end of the roll and the third anchor at the center of the roll.

Two sizes of black polyethylene tubing and polypropylene rope are the fastening elements for attaching the wave energy reduction rolls to the earth anchors. Together these materials create a technology that has proven effective in establishing emergent marsh grasses.

Attach the roll to each anchor with a 6-foot (1.8 m) long piece of ½-inch (12.7 mm) polypropylene rope 13 threaded into the polyethylene tubing. The rope will have a tensile stress of 425 pounds per square inch (2.93 MPa). The ends of the rope will be heat treated to resist fraying and becoming unraveled. Thread the 6-foot long piece of rope through a 24-inch (61 cm) long section of 0.62 ID×0.71 OD inch (15.7 ID×18.0 OD mm) polyethylene tubing 14. Thread the aforementioned tubing into a 21-inch (53 cm) section of 0.83 ID×0.92 OD inch (21.1 ID×23.4 OD mm) tubing 15. The combined tubing layers protect the polypropylene rope from abrasion against the steel earth anchor eyelet. Thread the rope and tubing combination through the eyelet and around the wave energy reduction roll. Position the polyethylene tubing in a rough “U” shape around the roll with the “U” pointing upward. The tubing will extend about half way up the sides of the roll and the rope will extend to a point above the roll where it can be pulled tightly and tied. When tying the 6 foot long rope together, pull the rope ends tightly against the top of the roll and secure the rope to the wave reduction roll with 6-8 overhand knots. Secure each knot tightly before tying the next knot.

The best mode for utilizing the invention is described as follows:

It is recommended that the invention be used to protect emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses by placing the wave energy reduction rolls into the water, just off the shoreline, as described in the preferred embodiment above.

The drawings are further described as follows:

Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, which is a wave energy reduction roll. Notice how the roll 10, being comprised of geotextile material (preferably ENKAMAT material), is rolled such that the exposed edge of the roll is pointed to the beach and away from the incoming waves. The cylindrical shape of the roll is maintained by cable ties 11 that are wrapped and tied around the roll at periodic intervals. In the preferred embodiment, five cable ties are equally spaced along the roll with the third cable tie being located at the center. Further notice the wave energy reduction roll anchors 12 which are spaced evenly along the side of the roll. Further notice that “rope ties” 13 are looped through the anchors and under the rolls; notice that these “rope ties” are tied at the top of the roll, thereby securing the roll to the soil.

FIG. 2 shows the cross-section view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10. Notice that the cross-section is cut where a “rope tie” 13 is looped through a steel anchor. Further notice that the preferred embodiment uses a “rope tie” mechanism that comprises a rope, which is fed through a 24-inch (61 cm) length of polyethylene tube 14, which is further fed through a 21-inch (53 cm) length of a larger-diameter polyethylene tube 15. The ends of the rope are tied together at the top of the wave energy reduction roll. The multiple layers of polyethylene tubing serve to insulate the rope from fraying the geotextile mat. Please note that the polyethylene tubing is optional, and as such, the specification is understood to describe the apparatus without the tubing.

FIG. 3, when viewed in conjunction with this description, depicts the method for creating and utilizing the preferred embodiment of the apparatus. The user starts 30 by assembling geotextile material (such as, but not limited to, ENKAMAT fabric) into cylindrical rolls that are 12-14 inches (30-36 cm) in diameter and 8-feet (2.4 m) long 31. The user then ties each roll with multiple 48-inch (1.22 m) long and ¼-inch (6.35 mm) wide black cable ties 32, locating the two end-of-the-roll cable ties 12 inches (30.5 cm) from each end of the roll and evenly spacing the remaining cable ties 2 feet (61 cm) apart along the roll. The user then places the rolls in the water, on the soil, end to end without space between them, between the coastline and the coastal waters, with the exposed cut edge of each roll facing the coastline, to form a line of geotextile material rolls 33. The user then installs ½-inch (12.7 mm) diameter steel earth anchors, having loop-shaped eyelets and a tensile strength of 1400 psi (9.65 MPa), into the soil to the point where the eye of the anchor is just above the soil level, using three 30-inch (76 cm) long anchors for each 8-foot (2.4 m) long roll and placing the anchors 24 inches (61 cm) from each end of the roll and the third anchor at the center of the roll; the anchors should align along the side of the line of rolls that is closest to the coastal waters 34. For each anchor, the user will utilize one 6-foot (1.8 m) strand of ½-inch (12.7 mm) polypropylene rope, having a tensile stress of 425 pounds per square inch (2.93 MPa) and heat-treated ends, threading each strand of rope through a 24-inch (61 cm) long section of 0.62 ID×0.71 OD inch (15.7 ID×18.0 OD mm) polyethylene tubing; the user will then thread each unique rope-and-tubing combination into a 21-inch (53 cm) section of 0.83 ID×0.92 OD inch (21.1 ID×23.4 OD mm) polyethylene tubing to form a composite rope-and-tubing combination for each anchor 35. The user will thread each unique composite rope-and-tubing combination through the eyelet of a unique anchor and then underneath the adjacent wave energy reduction roll, positioning each rope-and-tubing combination in a rough “U” shape underneath the roll with the “U” pointing upward 36. For each composite rope-and-tubing combination, the user will pull the rope ends tightly against the top of the roll and secure the rope to the wave reduction roll with 6-8 overhand knots, 37, thereby finishing the preferred method, 38.

FIG. 4, when viewed in conjunction with this description, depicts the method for creating and utilizing the apparatus, without the addition of polyethylene tubing to the “rope tie” system. The user starts 40 by assembling geotextile material (such as, but not limited to, ENKAMAT fabric) into cylindrical rolls 41. The user then ties each roll with multiple black cable ties 42. The user then places the rolls in the water, on the soil, end to end, between the coastline and the coastal waters, with the exposed cut edge of each roll facing the coastline, to form a line of geotextile material rolls 43. The user then installs steel earth anchors, having loop-shaped eyelets, into the soil, aligning the anchors along the side of the line of rolls that is closest to the coastal waters 44. For each unique anchor, the user will thread a unique strand of rope through the eyelet of the anchor and then underneath the adjacent wave energy reduction roll, positioning each strand of rope in a rough “U” shape underneath the roll with the “U” pointing upward 45. The user will pull the rope ends tightly against the top of the roll and tie the rope, 46, thereby finishing this alternate method, 47.

While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.

Claims

1. A wave energy reduction system devoid of a flocculant comprising:

(a) one or more wave energy reduction rolls, each roll comprising a geotextile mat rolled into a roughly cylindrical shape and placed in or at the edge of water near a shoreline;

(b) a multiplicity of cable ties, with the cable ties wrapped and tied around the roll at periodic intervals along its length in order to maintain its cylindrical shape;

(c) a fastening means comprised of a multiplicity of anchors spaced evenly along the length of the roll, with each anchor made of a hard material, attached to the substrate of the shore, and also comprising an eyelet allowing it to be further secured to another object with a rope, cable, or other means; and

(d) a number of pieces of water-resistant rope equal to the number of anchors used, each piece of rope being wrapped around the roll, inserted through the eyelets of the anchors, and securely tied at the top of the roll.

2. The wave energy reduction system of claim 1, wherein the anchors comprise steel.

3. The wave energy reduction system of claim 1, wherein multiple wave energy reduction rolls are placed end-to-end in or at the edge of water near a shoreline.

4. The wave energy reduction system of claim 1, further comprising a multiplicity of pieces of water-resistant flexible tubing of sufficient diameter to allow a rope or a second piece of water-resistant flexible tubing to be threaded through.

5. The wave energy reduction system of claim 4, wherein each rope is threaded through a piece of flexible tubing to form a rope-and-tubing combination.

6. The wave energy reduction system of claim 5, wherein the rope-and-tubing combination is threaded through a second piece of flexible tubing to form another rope-and-tubing combination.

7. The wave energy reduction system of claim 6, wherein the rope-and-tubing combination is threaded through the eyelet of the anchor and securely tied at the top of the roll.

8. A wave energy reduction apparatus devoid of a flocculant comprising:

(a) a geotextile mat rolled into a roughly cylindrical shape;

(b) a multiplicity of cable ties wrapped and tied around the roll at periodic intervals along its length in order to maintain its cylindrical shape;

(c) a fastening means comprised of a multiplicity of anchors spaced evenly along the length of the roll, with each anchor made of a hard material, attached to the substrate of the shore, and also containing an eyelet allowing it to be further secured to another object with a rope, cable, or other means; and

(d) a number of pieces of water-resistant rope equal to the number of anchors used, each piece of rope being wrapped around the roll, inserted through the eyelets of the anchors, and securely tied at the top of the roll.

9. The wave energy reduction apparatus of claim 8, wherein the anchors comprise steel.

10. The wave energy reduction apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a multiplicity of pieces of water-resistant flexible tubing of sufficient diameter to allow a rope or a second piece of water-resistant flexible tubing similar in diameter to said rope to be threaded through, with each piece of tubing inserted through the eyelet of said anchor.