BREAKWATER

Abstract

A breakwater comprising a base member having an outer surface, and a plurality of elongate members is disclosed. An end region of each of the plurality of elongate members is coupled to the outer surface of the base member. The base member and/or at least one of the elongate members has a textured surface for the attachment of marine life. The breakwater may be located on a seabed, a riverbed, an ocean floor or a floor of a waterway, to protect a coast or riverbank from coastal erosion.

Claims

1. A breakwater comprising: a base member having an outer surface; and a plurality of elongate members, wherein an end region of each of the plurality of elongate members is coupled to the outer surface of the base member, wherein the base member and/or at least one of the elongate members has a textured surface for the attachment of marine life, wherein a plurality of flanges adjoin an edge of the base member, wherein each of the plurality of flanges are spaced apart from each other.

2. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein the base member is hollow.

3. The breakwater of claim 2, wherein the base member comprises a plurality of apertures in the outer surface.

4. The breakwater of claim 3, wherein at least one of the elongate members extends through a respective one of the plurality of apertures in the outer surface.

5. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elongate members is hollow.

6. (canceled)

7. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flanges are a plurality of chevrons, each chevron having a triangular or trapezoidal shape and a base which adjoins the edge of the base member.

8. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongate members are arranged in a plurality of rows along a length of the base member.

9. The breakwater of claim 8, wherein a width of the elongate members in adjacent rows are different.

10. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the base member comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the plurality of elongate members are coupled to the first portion, and no elongate members are coupled to the second portion.

11. The breakwater of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of elongate members adjacent to the second portion is stronger than other elongate members.

12. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein the base member has a length of 1 to 20 meters.

13. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein the base member has a width of 1 to 10 meters.

14. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of elongate members has a length of 0.5 to 20 meters.

15. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of elongate members has a width of 0.1 to 1 meters.

16. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein the total surface area of the plurality of elongate members is at least 300 times that of the surface area of the base member.

17. The breakwater of claim 1, wherein the marine life compensates for wear-and-tear of the breakwater.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further details, aspects and embodiments of the disclosure will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

[0024] FIG. 1(a) shows a front view of a breakwater having a base member and a plurality of elongate members;

[0025] FIG. 1(b) shows a side view of the breakwater of FIG. 1(a);

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the base member of FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b);

[0027] FIG. 3 shows wave attenuation of the breakwater of FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b);

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a breakwater;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a front view of a breakwater;

[0030] FIG. 6(a) shows a top view of a breakwater having a base member and a plurality of elongate members;

[0031] FIG. 6(b) shows a side view of the breakwater of FIG. 6(a);

[0032] FIG. 7(a) shows an anchor for the breakwater of FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b); and

[0033] FIG. 7(b) shows the base member of the breakwater of FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) installed on the anchor of FIG. 7(a).

[0034] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Like reference numerals have been included in the respective drawings to ease understanding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] With reference to FIGS. 1(a), 1(b) and 2, a breakwater 100 is arranged on a seabed 102. The breakwater 100 comprises a base member 110 and a plurality of elongate members 120. The base member 110 is tubular and has a circular cross section. In other examples, the cross section of the breakwater may be a prism having a regular or irregular polygonal cross section such as triangle, rectangle, hexagon, octagon, or decagon.

[0036] The base member 110 comprises a plurality of apertures 112 in its outer surface, ie through the wall of the base member, and a plurality of flanges 114 adjoining the edges of the base member 110. The plurality of flanges 114 may be attached to or integrally formed with the base member 110. In some examples, the breakwater may not comprise flanges 114. The flanges 114 are spaced out around the edges of the base member 110 and each have a trapezoidal shape. In other examples, the flanges may have a triangular or rectangular shape. The spacing and shape of the flanges 114 is arranged such that the trapezoidal shapes tessellate with corresponding flanges on another base member, enabling the base members to interlock with each other.

[0037] Each of the plurality of elongate members 120 is tubular and has a circular cross section. The breakwater 100 comprises five different diameters of elongate member. In other examples, the cross section of the plurality of elongate members may be a prism having a regular or irregular polygonal cross section such as triangle, rectangle, hexagon, octagon, or decagon. In other examples, the diameters of all the elongate members may be the same, or there may be a plurality of different diameters of the elongate members on the breakwater.

[0038] An end region 122 of each elongate member 120 is coupled to the base member 110 on a portion of the base member 110. The coupling between each end region 122 and the base member 110 may be use fasteners and/or through an interference fit (ie friction fit) between the outer diameter of the elongate member and the inner diameter of the respective aperture. A portion of one or more of the elongate members 120 may pass into the hollow centre of the base member 110.

[0039] The portion of the base member 110 to which the elongate members 120 are coupled is not near the seabed 102 so that the base member 110 sits directly on the seabed 102. The end region 122 of each elongate member 120 is located in a respective aperture 112. The elongate members 120 closest to the seabed 102 contact the seabed 102 thereby anchoring the breakwater 100. In addition, the base member 110 may be secured to the seabed 102 using anchoring means such as piles, pitons, chains, or anchors.

[0040] The base member 110 and the elongate members 120 may be comprised of one or more of concrete, metal, plastic such as polyethylene, wood, and bamboo. The surface of the base members and the elongate members may be textured, rather than smooth, to encourage attachment of marine life.

[0041] With reference to FIG. 3, in use, the breakwater 100 is submerged near a coast 302 to protect the coast 302 from approaching waves by attenuating energy of the waves. A wave 304 approaches the coast 302 and as it approaches the breakwater 100, the wave crests reduce in region 306 due to absorption and reflection of the energy of the wave 304 by the breakwater 100. Energy and velocity of the wave 304 has an effect below the surface, and a subsurface part 308 of the wave 304 contacts the breakwater 100, causing turbulent flow and dispersal of the energy of the subsurface part 308. As a result, only a fraction of the energy of the wave 304 reaches the coast 302. The wave energy may be attenuated from 20% to 90% with a corresponding loss in wave height by 20% to 60% depending on the depth of the water.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 4, a breakwater 400 is arranged on a seabed 102. The breakwater 400 comprises a base member 410 and a plurality of elongate members 420. The breakwater 400 is substantially the same as the breakwater 100. However, the base member 410 of the breakwater 400 is a hollow prism with a substantially triangular cross section with a rounded upper vertex. The breakwater 400 may also comprise flanges on the edges of the base member 410 similar to the breakwater 100.

[0043] With reference to FIG. 5, a breakwater 500 is arranged on a seabed 102. The breakwater 500 comprises a base member 510 and a plurality of elongate members 520. The breakwater 500 is substantially the same as the breakwater 100. However, the base member 510 of the breakwater 500 is a hollow prism with a triangular cross section. The breakwater 500 may also comprise flanges on the edges of the base member 510 similar to the breakwater 100.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), a breakwater 600 is arranged on a seabed 102. The breakwater 600 comprises a base member 610 and a plurality of elongate members 620. The breakwater 600 is substantially the same as the breakwater 100. However, the breakwater 600 is arranged to rest of the seabed 102 on an edge of the base member 610 and accordingly, the base member 610 of the breakwater 600 does not have flanges for interlocking with other breakwaters. In some examples, the base member 610 may comprise flanges on its edges, for example on the edge resting on the seabed 102, to provide a more secure foundation with the seabed.

[0045] With reference to FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), an anchor 700 for the breakwater 600 comprises a base portion 702, a lower middle portion 704, an upper middle portion 706 and a top portion 708. The anchor 700 is arranged to slot into the base member 610 of the breakwater 600, thereby securing it to the seabed. Note that in FIG. 7(b), the breakwater 600 is illustrated without the elongate member 620.

[0046] The base portion 702 is arranged to be fastened to the seabed and has a disc or ring shape with a diameter that is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the tubular base member 610. The base portion 702 also comprises feet for engagement with the seabed 102. The lower middle portion 704 has a frustoconical shape in which the largest diameter is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the tubular base member 610, in order to seat the base member 100 on the anchor 700. The upper middle portion 706 has a cylindrical shape with a diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular base member 610. The top portion 708 has a frustoconical shape in which the largest diameter is the same as the diameter of the upper middle portion 706. The top portion comprises an aperture 710 in the side for engagement by a lifting hook. The base portion 702, the lower and upper middle portions 704, 706 and the top portion 708 are integrally formed, and are coaxial.

[0047] The base members and elongate members of breakwaters 100, 400, 500 and 600 are hollow but the skilled person would recognise that they may also be solid. The base members of breakwaters 100, 400, 500 and 600 may have a width of 1 to 10 metres, and a length of 1 to 20 metres. The width and length may be increased for applications where breakwaters are fabricated in long sections. Hollow base members may have a wall thickness of 0.1 to 1 metres. The plurality of elongate members of breakwaters 100, 400, 500 and 600 may have a diameter of 0.1 to 1 metres, and a length of 0.5 to 20 metres. In other words, the elongate members on a base member may have different widths and lengths. Hollow elongate members may have a wall thickness of 0.01 to 0.5 metres.

[0048] The elongate members of breakwaters 100, 400, 500 and 600 are arranged in rows, but the skilled person would recognise that elongate members may be arranged in any pattern on a base member.

[0049] Breakwaters 100, 400, 500 and 600 are described as being arranged on a seabed 102 but the breakwaters 100, 400, 500 and 600 are also arrangeable on a riverbed, an ocean floor or a floor of a waterway in use.

[0050] Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also, the inclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply a limitation to this category, but rather indicates that the feature is equally applicable to other claim categories, as appropriate.

[0051] Furthermore, the order of features in the claims does not imply any specific order in which the features must be performed and in particular the order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that the steps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. Thus, references to ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘first’, ‘second’, etc. do not preclude a plurality.

[0052] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognise that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims, the term ‘comprising’ or “including” does not exclude the presence of other elements.