Abstract: A revetment block for being coupled with other similar blocks to form a flexible revetment mat for controlling erosion of soil, having a grid having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces, and wherein a tongue extends from at least one of the side surfaces, each tongue having a height and width less than the total height and width of the grid, and wherein each of the side surfaces which has no tongue has a tongue receiving cavity surrounded by a pair of cavity sidewalls, a cavity backwall and a cavity upperwall, the cavity being of a size sufficient to receive and allow limited vertical and horizontal movement of tongues from other blocks within the cavity.

Abstract: A flexible revetment mat used to control soil erosion comprised of a plurality of blocks each having a hexagonally shaped grid held firmly together by tongue and cavity coupling means. The tongues and cavities are shaped to allow limited movement of each tongue within its associated cavity. The blocks may be placed into position with or without connecting cables. The shape of the blocks and location of through tunnels allows the use of cables. The blocks are preferably hexangular to resist horizontal hydraulic forces at various directions.

Abstract: A machine and method for assembling cables and precast grids or blocks into articulated erosion control revetment mats which utilizes a transfer roller conveyor oriented at right angles to a mat receiving belt or roller conveyor and communicating with the mat receiving conveyor by means of a right angle transfer table, together with a hydraulical powered push bar. One embodiment utilizes a belt-type mat receiving conveyor and an automatic push bar position sensing mechanism to activate the mat receiving conveyor and stop the mat and push bar at the proper position and return the push bar after it reaches its extreme of travel. A second embodiment of the invention is designed to be easily transported and assembled at a construction site and to have low power consumption requirements. A cable handling rake utilized with the machine and method is also disclosed.