A knitted spacer fabric has a tightly knitted bottom layer, a more loosely knitted upper layer and linking fibres extending across the space between the lower and upper faces. Settable material, e.g. cement, is introduced into the space between the upper and lower faces and can be caused to set by the addition of a liquid, e.g. water. Until set, the fabric is flexible and can be shaped but after the material in space has set, the fabric is rigid and can be used as a structural element in a wide range of situations. The bottom layer has an extension that extends beyond the upper face and is connected to the upper face by elastic connecting fibres that draw the extension towards the other face, thereby at least partly closing the space at the edge of the cloth and preventing the settable material from spilling out. In addition, the packing of the settable material and maximum space between the faces are such that only a predetermined amount of liquid can be accommodated within the space and that amount is matched to the water required to set the cement.

A swimming pool assembly, including a pool body defining a top edge and an bottom connected by a wall, an access port positioned through the bottom, a first conduit connected to the access port and extending away from the body, a valve connected with the first conduit, a second conduit connected with the first conduit and extending toward the top edge, wherein the second conduit is water permeable. An actuator is positioned in the second conduit and connected to the valve. First and second water level sensors are positioned to measure ground water level and pool water level. A microprocessor is operationally connected to the water level sensors and to the actuator, wherein when the ground water level exceeds the pool water level by a predetermined amount, the microprocessor sends a signal to the actuator to open the valve.

A Composite Filter Sock Assembly includes a Compost Filter Sock and Secondary Tubular Seam Filling Device configured to be wedged beneath the compost filter sock on an upstream water runoff side of the compost filter sock, whereby the compost filter sock provides a pinning pressure to the Secondary Tubular Seam Filling Device and wherein the compost filter sock has a nominal diameter of 2-12 times a diameter of a tubular element of the Secondary Tubular Seam Filling Device. The Tubular Element may be least partially filled with a swell-able material such as sphagnum peat moss and may include a fastening mechanism on an exterior surface configured to facilitate coupling to a mesh tube of a compost filter sock.

The present invention concerns a geosynthetic element for a geotechnical engineering application. The geosynthetic element comprises: bacteria carriers for carrying bacteria arranged to be propagated from the geosynthetic element to a surrounding geomaterial; and a flow network comprising openings on its surface to allow a reactant to escape the flow network to the surrounding geomaterial along the flow network to produce solid calcium carbonate when in contact with the bacteria. The reactant flow network further comprises a set of inlets for feeding the reactant into the flow network, and a set of outlets for recovering at least a part of the reactant from the reactant flow network.

A Composite Filter Sock Assembly includes a Compost Filter Sock and Secondary Tubular Seam Filling Device configured to be wedged beneath the compost filter sock, whereby the compost filter sock provides a pinning pressure to the Secondary Tubular Seam Filling Device and wherein the compost filter sock has a nominal diameter of 2-12 times a diameter of a tubular element of the Secondary Tubular Seam Filling Device. The Tubular Element may be least partially filled with a swell-able material such as sphagnum peat moss and may include a fastening mechanism on an exterior surface configured to facilitate coupling to a mesh tube of a compost filter sock.

A system and method for rolling up a flexible sheet includes a frame; a friction element mounted on the frame and having an endless friction outer surface with a sheet-engaging portion to engage an end of the sheet; and a drive connected to the friction element to move the endless friction outer surface such that the sheet-engaging portions thereof move upwardly to engage the end of the flexible sheet and lift up and roll the end of the flexible sheet over on itself to form a roll. The method for rolling up the flexible sheet includes rotating the friction element and engaging the end of the flexible sheet with the endless friction outer surface such that the sheet-engaging portions move upwardly to engage the end of the flexible sheet and curl the end of the flexible sheet upwardly back over on itself to form a roll.

A system for rolling up a flexible sheet may include a frame; a friction element mounted on the frame, the friction element having an endless friction outer surface with a sheet-engaging portion positioned to engage an end of the flexible sheet lying in a substantially horizontal position relative to the frame; and a drive connected to the friction element to move the endless friction outer surface such that the sheet-engaging portions thereof move upwardly to engage the end of the flexible sheet and lift up and roll the end of the flexible sheet over on itself to form a roll.

The present invention relates to an anti-erosion system made of geo-synthetic material, preferably of polysteel raw material (polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) mixture) instead of only polypropylene or polyester or nylon, resulting in a compromise between the mechanical properties of polypropylene, the chemical properties of polyethylene, and the good resistance to the environmental agents achieved through the incorporation of molecular chain stabilizers. The fraction of PP should range from 50% to 90% and the fraction of PE from 10% to 50%.

A concrete mat apparatus, including a plurality of elongated concrete members, each member being aligned with and next to another concrete member. Each of the concrete members has an upper generally flat surface, a lower generally flat surface, and a plurality of inclined surfaces that each extend away from an upper or lower surface. Reinforcement extends from a first end portion of each concrete member to a second end portion thereof, the reinforcement including a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcement bars and a plurality of encircling tie bars at spaced apart intervals. Cabling connects each of the elongated concrete members to another of the elongated concrete members. The combination of elongated concrete members has a width and a length that is at least twice as long as the width. The upper inclined surfaces of one of the elongated concrete members forms a plane with the lower inclined surface of an adjacent elongated concrete member. A plurality of loops are provided along opposed edges of the mat, each loop formed by a portion of the cabling. The loops can be spaced between about one and three feet (30.5 and 91.4 cm) apart.

The present invention relates to an erosion control apparatus and methods of using and installing the apparatus. The apparatus is constructed to prevent erosion of soil during typical weather or tidal conditions and adverse weather events. The apparatus can include a plurality of anchored rolls and soil lifts operative to stabilize the shoreline.