Abstract: A beach building block which is formed with a single passageway extending in a vertical inclination therethrough and which presents a solid wall at the rearward side of the block for containment of sand and the like behind the block and thereby build a beach. The blocks are positioned in row parallel to the shoreline, and while they permit the wave to flow through the block, they dissipate the energy of the wave, and they also retard the return flow of the water with the suspended sand, and thus the beach is built behind the block by the deposit of the sand.

Abstract: A construction element for forming breakwaters. The element includes a massive inner core that is trapezoidal in configuration with the longest base of the trapezoid disposed downwardly. The inner core is supported by four legs. The legs extend above the upper surface, below the lower surface and beyond the outer periphery of the inner core so that the core will be spaced apart from any surface on which it rests, regardless of which face of the construction element is disposed downwardly. The longitudinal cross section of the legs is also trapezoidal with the longest base downward so as to enhance stability. Construction elements may be arranged in either patterned or random array to form breakwaters.

Abstract: An erosion control structure having a plurality of undivided flow passages. The structure may be constructed from concrete block bonded together, a single cast module, a plurality of pipes bonded together or other suitable construction materials.

Abstract: Blocks for constructing a breakwater substantially comprises a front wall, a rear wall disposed in parallel and spaced-apart relationship relative to the front wall, and at least one partition wall disposed perpendicular to the front and rear walls and integrally connecting the above two walls to form at least one vertical open-ended chamber between the front and rear walls, wherein the improvement is characterized in that at least one vertical open-ended hole is formed on each of the front and real walls of the block such that the vertical open-ended hole can be in alignment with corresponding vertical open-ended holes formed in the same manner on front and rear walls of the blocks in upper and lower rows when the blocks are arranged in rows and stacked vertically.

Abstract: This invention relates to a V-Block and an underwater construction comprising said V-Block which is capable of forming an undersea platform construction system. The V-Block is comprised of an elongated lower anchor member, two legs of unequal length contiguous with and extending upwardly and outwardly from said anchor and upper arms contiguous with the terminous of each of the two legs. The elongated lower anchor member has means for interlocking with adjacent anchor members and the two arms also have means of interlocking with adjacent arms of the other V-Blocks. A more complex underwater platform construction system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid wave energy dissipating and absorbing structure having at least one surface exposed to fluid wave action, said surface comprising an array of alternating three-sided pyramidal protuberances and triangular flat spaces, said protuberances and spaces being alternating in both rows and columns. Erosion caused by fluid wave action may be prevented or mitigated by erecting on a surface subject to such erosion a fluid wave energy dissipating and absorbing structure, and forming on said structure at least one surface exposed to the eroding fluid wave action, said surface comprising an array of alternating three-sided pyramidal protuberances and triangular flat spaces as above described.

Abstract: A barrier block for defences protecting coastal and riverside structures, aracterized in that it is constituted by a central core (1) of substantially cubic shape having firstly top and bottom faces (12) provided with respective top and bottom anvil-shaped legs (2), the anvil-shaped legs having respective top and bottom surfaces (20) disposed parallel to one another and to said top and bottom faces of the core, the anvil-shaped legs further including inclined flats (22) stemming from opposite unhidden side faces (11) of the core; the core having secondly opposite front and back faces (13) provided with respective front and back legs (3) in the form of four-sided truncated pyramid, one pair (31) of opposite sides of the pyramid-shaped legs stemming from the sides (21) of the anvil-shaped legs and the other pair of opposite sides (32) having their bases at least partially in common with one edge of the adjoining un-hidden side faces of the core.

Abstract: An offshore reef assembly having rows of reef members of concrete or similar material with the configuration of each of the reef members providing inclined side faces arranged in grooves and ribs. The reef members may be formed by stacking blocks in the form of frustums of pyramids or cones. The interaction of the inclined side faces of the adjacent reef members with the vertically moving water caused by waves dissipates kinetic energy of the water and results in the deposition of sand and particulates on the bottom around the reef assembly.

Abstract: An improved revetment construction is provided. Each individual revetment unit has a base section and legs extending from its corners, the legs and base sections are so constructed and arranged that the individual units when placed in array interlock with each other, yet permit water inflow and outflow. The interlocking action is provided even though the individual units are not contacting each other. A variety of arrangements may be provided on the base section to control wave action. The units may also be inverted to further provide wave control action.

Abstract: For use as a structural unit in a variety of coastal and other civil engineering works, a formed block or pile of concrete or other material is provided which comprises a conical body and a cylindrical leg extending coaxially from the vertex of the body. Offshore breakwaters can be built by laying a multiplicity of such funnel-shaped blocks into one or, usually, two or more superposed horizontal layers, with each block having its leg oriented downwardly. At least the lowermost layer of blocks are buried directly into the seabed, and the upper layer or layers of blocks are installed with or without use of a support structure serving to prop up each block.

Abstract: An improved structure adapted for undersea construction is described comprising a plurality of foundation blocks, each foundation block comprising a rectahedral parallelepiped opposite faces of which are concave and convex, respectively, the opposite faces being sized and shaped to interengage matingly, such foundation blocks being interfitted into a three-dimensional array; a plurality of base pad units supporting said foundation blocks, each base pad unit comprising a rectahedral parallelepiped one face of which is convex, the opposite face of which has a plurality of protruding lugs, and the intermediate faces of which have T-shaped slots extending the length of each side, such base pad units being interfitted into a two-dimensional array by means of I-shaped keys which fit into adjacent T-shaped slots; a plurality of leg blocks supporting said base pad units, each of said leg blocks comprising a rectangular parallelepiped one face of which is convex, the opposite face of which is concave, the opposite fac

Abstract: A block of this invention for constructing a breakwater is characterized by having a front wall provided with a horizontal hole, an intermediate wall, a rear wall and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal walls which are disposed perpendicular to the above three walls for integrally connecting the three walls.Due to such construction, when the blocks are stacked up in rows to form a breakwater, the breakwater can have a first chamber which effects the dissipation of wave force and a second chamber which effects the firm integration of blocks along with the packing of a block uniting material therein.

Abstract: A breakwater, or similar structure, comprising a core of rubble, and an armouring layer overlying said core, said armouring layer being composed of individual armour units of hexagonal outer cross-section arranged in a honeycomb array, each of said armour units having an elongated, concrete body with longitudinal through water-passage means so that the porosity of the exposed face of the armouring layer is solely determined by the ratio of the cross-sectional area of said water passage means to the cross-sectional area of the concrete body.

Abstract: An interconnecting device for use with a plurality of spaced floating breakwater columns comprising a plurality of spaced spherical elements wherein each element is encompassed by a pair of flanged hemispherical plate members. A hollow rubber spherical member is secured to the interior surface of the hemispherical plate members and abuttingly engages the spherical element. A pair of plate members interconnect the flanged hemispherical plate members to provide an integral assembly unit with the rubber element providing resiliency. Each spherical element has an outwardly projecting hub that is flanged to permit its attachment to the breakwater columns.