Wave Energy Reduction System

Abstract

A method and apparatus for creating moderately quiescent water in which salt marsh wetland grasses can endure and eventually establish without the need for the total elimination of the energy of occurring waves or the restriction of sediment passage

Claims

1. A wave energy reduction system comprising a geotextile mat, said geotextile mat being rolled into a roughly cylindrical shape and secured to the ground in the water near a shoreline.

2. The wave energy reduction system of claim 1, in which the geotextile mat is substantially devoid of a flocculant.

3. The wave energy reduction system as in either claim 1 or claim 2, in which the geotextile mat has a porosity of at least 95%.

4. The wave energy reduction system as in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising multiple cable ties, said cable ties being wrapped and tied around the circumference of the rolled geotextile mat to maintain the cylindrical shape thereof.

5. The wave energy reduction system as in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising multiple anchors, said anchors being attached to the ground along the rolled geotextile mat.

6. The wave energy reduction system of claim 5 further comprising multiple pieces of rope equal to the number of anchors in use.

7. The energy reduction system of claim 6 further comprising pieces of flexible tubing equal to the number of pieces of rope being used, each piece of said rope being threaded through a corresponding piece of said flexible tubing to form a primary rope-and-tubing combination.

8. The wave energy reduction system of claim 7 further comprising pieces of flexible tubing equal to the number of primary rope-and tubing combinations in use, each primary rope-and-tubing combination being threaded through a corresponding piece of said flexible tubing to form a secondary rope-and-tubing combination.

9. The wave energy reduction system of claim 8, in which each secondary rope-and-tubing combination is wrapped around the circumference of the rolled geotextile mat and tied to an adjacent anchor.

10. The wave energy reduction system of claim 9, in which each rope is wrapped around the circumference of the rolled geotextile mat and tied to an adjacent anchor.

11. A wave energy reduction apparatus comprising: (a) a geotextile mat that is rolled into a roughly cylindrical shape; (b) a multiplicity of cable ties that are wrapped and tied around the circumference of the rolled geotextile mat to maintain the cylindrical shape thereof; (c) a multiplicity of anchors that are attached to the ground along the rolled geotextile mat; and (d) a number of pieces of 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.

12. The wave energy reduction apparatus of claim 11, in which the geotextile mat is substantially devoid of a flocculant.

13. The wave energy reduction apparatus as in either claim 11 or claim 12, in which the geotextile mat has a porosity of at least 95%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, particularly depicting the attachment to the anchor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The preferred embodiment of the invention is described as follows:

[0030] To create the wave energy reduction system 10, assemble 8-feet-by-27 feet (2.44 m8.2 m) of geotextile fabric having a porosity of at least 95% and no flocculant into a cylindrical roll that is 12-14 inches (30-36 cm) in diameter and 8 feet (2.44 m) in length. The roll is 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 -inch (6.35 mm) wide black cable ties. The black cable ties should 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 18 inches (45.72 cm) apart along the roll. Cable ties will be pulled tightly against the geotextile fabric to secure the material into a rolled form.

[0031] When setting the wave reduction system in position, place them in water that is at least 12-14 inches (30-36 cm) deep, 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.

[0032] Steel anchors 12 secured into the soil serve as the method for holding the wave energy reduction system in place. Install the -inch (12.7 mm) diameter steel 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.

[0033] Two sizes of black polyethylene tubing and polypropylene rope are the fastening elements for attaching the wave energy reduction system to the earth anchors. Together these materials create a technology that has proven effective in establishing emergent marsh grasses.

[0034] Attach the roll to each anchor with a 6-foot (1.8 m) long piece of -inch (12.7 mm) polypropylene rope 13 threaded into the polyethylene tubing as further described herein. 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 ID0.71 OD inch (15.7 ID18.0 OD mm) polyethylene tubing 14. Thread the aforementioned tubing into a 21-inch (53 cm) section of 83 ID0.92 OD inch (21.1 ID23.4 OD mm) tubing 15. The combined tubing layers protect the polypropylene rope from abrasion against the steel anchor eyelet. Thread the rope and tubing combination through the eyelet and around the wave energy reduction system. Position the polyethylene tubing in a rough U shape around the roll with the U pointing upward. The tubing will extend approximately 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 rope together, pull the rope ends tightly against the top of the roll and secure the rope to the wave reduction system with 6-8 overhand knots. Secure each knot tightly before tying the next knot.

[0035] The best mode for utilizing the invention is described as follows:

[0036] It is recommended that the invention be used to protect emergent salt marsh wetland grasses by placing the wave energy reduction system out into water that is at least 12-14 inches (30-36 cm) deep as described in the preferred embodiment above. It is further recommended that multiple systems be placed end-to-end, as needed, to protect greater areas of emergent salt marsh wetland grasses.

[0037] The drawings are further described as follows:

[0038] Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the wave energy reduction system. Notice how the roll 10, being comprised of geotextile material having a porosity of at least 95% (preferably ENKAMAT material), is rolled such that the exposed edge of the roll is pointed to the shoreline 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.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment, five cable ties are spaced along the roll with the third cable tie being located at the center. Further notice the anchors 12 that are spaced along the side of the roll. Further notice that rope ties 13 are looped through the anchors and under the rolls. Further notice that these rope ties are tied at the top of the roll, thereby securing the roll to the soil.

[0040] 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 system. 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.

[0041] 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.