EP3469144A1 - Elongate flexible container, use of such a container, structure comprising such a container, and method for installing such a container - Google Patents

Elongate flexible container, use of such a container, structure comprising such a container, and method for installing such a container

Info

Publication number
EP3469144A1
EP3469144A1 EP16744902.4A EP16744902A EP3469144A1 EP 3469144 A1 EP3469144 A1 EP 3469144A1 EP 16744902 A EP16744902 A EP 16744902A EP 3469144 A1 EP3469144 A1 EP 3469144A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
container according
closing member
orifice
filling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP16744902.4A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3469144B1 (en
Inventor
Mink TER HARMSEL
Edwin Lambertus Fransiscus ZENGERINK
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TenCate Geosynthetics Netherlands BV
Original Assignee
TenCate Geosynthetics Netherlands BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TenCate Geosynthetics Netherlands BV filed Critical TenCate Geosynthetics Netherlands BV
Publication of EP3469144A1 publication Critical patent/EP3469144A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3469144B1 publication Critical patent/EP3469144B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
    • E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours
    • E02B3/12—Revetment of banks, dams, watercourses, or the like, e.g. the sea-floor
    • E02B3/122—Flexible prefabricated covering elements, e.g. mats, strips
    • E02B3/127—Flexible prefabricated covering elements, e.g. mats, strips bags filled at the side
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
    • E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an elongate flexible container for use as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway, said container comprising at least one filling orifice for filling the container with a filler material, said filler material for example comprising loose or little coherent solid material, such as sand or other ground material, or any other granular material.
  • Such a container is for example known from WO- A 1-97/29246 and is known by the trademarks Geotube® or Geocontainer®.
  • a filling tube of a pumping means is inserted in the filling orifice for filling the container. After filling the container the filling tube of the pumping means is removed and the filling orifice of the container is closed. It is not easy to fill the container of WO-A 1 -97/29246 exactly to its capacity.
  • This object is achieved by providing a container as defined above, which comprises at least one overflow orifice which is normally closed and which is arranged to be opened when a pressure of the filler material in the container exceeds a predetermined value.
  • the overflow orifice allows filler material to flow out of the container when this has been filled to its maximum capacity - as indicated by an increased pressure inside the container.
  • the at least one overflow orifice may comprise a closing member for closing the respective orifice, said closing member being movable between a steady state position in which the closing member substantially closes the orifice and a pressure relief position in which the closing member at least partially opens the orifice.
  • a movable closing member provides easy opening and or closing of the overflow orifice.
  • the container may comprise a biasing member for biasing said closing member to its steady state position.
  • the closing member is biased or urged to, and held in, its steady state position by a biasing force of the biasing means, thereby automatically closing the overflow orifice.
  • the closing member may be forced out of its steady state position. Only when the pressure inside the container, which acts on the closing member, overcomes the biasing force, will the closing member be moved to its pressure relief position. In this position some filler material may escape from the container, thus reducing the pressure inside the container. In this way the biasing means determines and controls the maximum pressure inside the container.
  • the biasing member may comprise at least one elastic biasing element arranged to cooperate with said closing member.
  • the biasing element may be elastically deformed when the pressure inside the container becomes too high, and may return to its original state after the pressure has been relieved.
  • the at least one elastic biasing element is attached to the container and contacts the closing member. In this way the dimensions and the biasing force of the biasing member are not limited by the dimensions of the closing member.
  • the at least one elastic biasing element is connected to or integrated with said closing member. In this way the impact of the biasing means on the design of the container is minimized.
  • the biasing force may be the result of elastic deformation, it is also conceivable that the biasing member is operable by gravity and comprises a weight acting on said closing member.
  • the closing member itself is operable by gravity and is arranged to move to its steady state position under its own weight.
  • the closing member could be made entirely or partially of a material having a relatively high specific gravity.
  • the closing member may be deformable. This makes it easy to move the closing member to its steady state or closed position.
  • the closing member may comprise a deformable outflow conduit which is connected to the overflow orifice.
  • the at least one elastic biasing element may be arranged to deform at least part of the outflow conduit so as to reduce a cross-sectional area of the outflow conduit to substantially zero. This is a very effective way of closing the overflow orifice.
  • a simple structure is achieved when the deformable outflow conduit is made of a textile material.
  • the deformable outflow conduit may be attached to said container directly or by means of at least one panel, which panel is arranged parallel to an inner surface of said container and attached thereto in an area surrounding the overflow orifice.
  • the container comprises a plurality of panels extending substantially radially outward from the overflow orifice and parallel to said inner surface.
  • the container may be made of a material that is permeable for at least water.
  • a permeable material offers the advantage that the filler material may be supplied to the container in a flow of water, after which the water will permeate through the container wall and the filler material will remain in the container.
  • the invention further relates to a use of a container of the type described above, when filled at least partially with filler material, as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway.
  • the invention also relates to a structure, such as a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty, a breakwater, an onshore dune, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, comprising at least one container of the type described above which is filled at least partially with filler material.
  • a structure such as a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty, a breakwater, an onshore dune, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, comprising at least one container of the type described above which is filled at least partially with filler material.
  • the invention also relates to a method for installing a container of the type described above for use as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway.
  • a method comprises the steps, to be performed in any suitable sequence, of:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container according to an embodiment of the invention in which the overflow orifice is closed by a closing member being in its steady state position;
  • Figure 2 is a view of the container corresponding to Figure 1 , in which the closing member is in its pressure relief position and the overflow orifice is opened;
  • Figure 3 is a top view of the area III of container as shown in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 3;
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the closing member in its pressure relief position; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the closing member in its steady state position.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show an end part of an elongate flexible container 1 resting at the bed of any type of water, such as, but not limited thereto, a sea, lake, river, canal, or the like.
  • the illustrated container 1 is known by the trademarks Geotube® or Geocontainer®. Although in Figure 1 only a small part of the container 1 is shown, this container 1 may be a continuous container with any desired length, for example up to a few kilometers.
  • the container 1 has one or more filling orifices, which are not shown in this drawing.
  • a filling tube of a filling means can be inserted in the filling orifice(s) for supplying a filler material to the container 1.
  • the filler material may for example comprise loose or little coherent solid material, such as sand or other ground material, or any other granular material.
  • the filler material may be supplied to the container 1 together with water.
  • the container 1 is made of a material that is permeable to at least water, such that the water fed to the container 1 together with the filler material may permeate through the container wall, while the filler material remains in the container 1.
  • the thus filled container 1 may be used, for example, as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway.
  • each of these overflow orifices 2 is normally closed, but will be opened when an internal pressure in the container 1 exceeds a predetermined value.
  • Each overflow orifice 2 comprises a closing member 3 which is movable between a steady state position (Fig. 1) in which the closing member closes the orifice 2 and a pressure relief position (Fig. 2) in which the orifice is at least partially opened.
  • a biasing member 4 biases the closing member 3 to its steady state position in which the overflow orifice 2 is closed.
  • the overflow orifice 2 is formed in a separate insert panel 8 that forms part of the wall of the container.
  • the closing member 3 is deformable, and is formed by an outflow conduit which is connected to the overflow orifice 2.
  • the biasing member 4 comprises two elastic biasing elements 5 which are arranged to cooperate with the closing member 3.
  • these elastic biasing elements 5 are two lengths of elastic stretch band, which are both attached to the container 1 at their opposite ends 6.
  • the elastic biasing elements 5 contact the closing member 3. In this embodiment, they are each kept in place by a guide member or loop 9 which is attached to the closing member 3 and through which each elastic stretch band 5 is guided (Fig. 3).
  • the biasing force exerted by the elastic biasing elements 5 deforms the outflow conduit which forms the closing member 3 in such a way, that its cross-sectional area is essentially zero.
  • the deformable outflow conduit 3 is urged to lie flat on the outer surface 11 of the container 1.
  • the biasing force of the two elastic biasing elements 5 prevents any filler material from entering the outflow conduit 3 and exiting the container 1 through the outflow conduit. Only when the pressure inside the container 1 becomes too high will the elastic biasing elements 5 yield and allow the deformable outflow conduit 3 to assume a shape in which its cross-sectional area is no longer zero. In that case filler material F may flow out of the outflow conduit 3 to relieve the pressure within the container 1 (Fig. 2).
  • the outflow conduit 3 is attached to the container directly or 1 by means of one or more panels 10 which are arranged parallel to an inner surface 12 of the container.
  • the panel or panels 10 is/are attached to the container 1 in an area surrounding the overflow orifice 2.
  • the or each panel 10 is connected both to an edge 15 of the overflow orifice 2 and to an edge 13 of the outflow conduit 3 by means of an inner 2 x 2 needle connection 14i.
  • the or each panel 10 is attached to the container 1 also by an outer 2 x 2 needle connection 14o at a somewhat greater distance from the overflow orifice 3, close to an outer edge 16 of the panel 10 (Fig. 4).
  • This double connection 14i, 14o ensures that loads which are exerted on the outflow conduit 3 by the filler material F flowing from the container 1 are properly transferred to the container wall and uniformly distributed throughout the container 1.
  • the biasing member 4 comprises two elastic biasing elements 5 in the form of stretch bands, which are integrated in the wall of the deformable conduit which forms the closing member 3 (Fig. 5). In this way a higher closing force is achieved, since the elastic biasing elements 5 need to be deformed relatively farther in order to change the cross- sectional area from zero to a value that is sufficient to relieve the pressure in the container 1.
  • the biasing member 4 may be operable by gravity.
  • the biasing member 4 may comprise one or more weights 17 acting on the closing member 3.
  • these weights 17 may be arranged on one side of the deformable outflow conduit 3 (Fig. 6). Due to the presence of these weights 17, the outflow conduit 3 will sink back onto the outer surface 11 of the container 1 as soon as the pressure within the container 1 drops below a predetermined value.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Revetment (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an elongate flexible container for use as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway. The container comprises a filling orifice for filling the container with a filler material. The filler material may for example comprise loose or little coherent solid material, such as sand or other ground material, or any other granular material. The elongate flexible container comprises an overflow orifice which is normally closed and which is arranged to be opened when a pressure of the filler material in the container exceeds a predetermined value. The invention further relates to the use of such a container, to a structure comprising such a container, and to a method for installing such a container.

Description

ELONGATE FLEXIBLE CONTAINER, USE OF SUCH A CONTAINER, STRUCTURE COMPRISING SUCH A CONTAINER, AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING SUCH A
CONTAINER The invention relates to an elongate flexible container for use as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway, said container comprising at least one filling orifice for filling the container with a filler material, said filler material for example comprising loose or little coherent solid material, such as sand or other ground material, or any other granular material.
Such a container is for example known from WO- A 1-97/29246 and is known by the trademarks Geotube® or Geocontainer®. A filling tube of a pumping means is inserted in the filling orifice for filling the container. After filling the container the filling tube of the pumping means is removed and the filling orifice of the container is closed. It is not easy to fill the container of WO-A 1 -97/29246 exactly to its capacity.
It is an object of the invention to improve the container described in WO-A 1-97/29246. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide an easy way to fill the container to its capacity. This object is achieved by providing a container as defined above, which comprises at least one overflow orifice which is normally closed and which is arranged to be opened when a pressure of the filler material in the container exceeds a predetermined value. The overflow orifice allows filler material to flow out of the container when this has been filled to its maximum capacity - as indicated by an increased pressure inside the container. Thus an easy way is provided to fill the container exactly to its capacity.
In an embodiment of the container according to the invention, the at least one overflow orifice may comprise a closing member for closing the respective orifice, said closing member being movable between a steady state position in which the closing member substantially closes the orifice and a pressure relief position in which the closing member at least partially opens the orifice. Such a movable closing member provides easy opening and or closing of the overflow orifice.
In an embodiment of the container according to the invention, the container may comprise a biasing member for biasing said closing member to its steady state position. In this embodiment the closing member is biased or urged to, and held in, its steady state position by a biasing force of the biasing means, thereby automatically closing the overflow orifice. For opening the overflow orifice, the closing member may be forced out of its steady state position. Only when the pressure inside the container, which acts on the closing member, overcomes the biasing force, will the closing member be moved to its pressure relief position. In this position some filler material may escape from the container, thus reducing the pressure inside the container. In this way the biasing means determines and controls the maximum pressure inside the container.
The biasing member may comprise at least one elastic biasing element arranged to cooperate with said closing member. The biasing element may be elastically deformed when the pressure inside the container becomes too high, and may return to its original state after the pressure has been relieved.
In one embodiment the at least one elastic biasing element is attached to the container and contacts the closing member. In this way the dimensions and the biasing force of the biasing member are not limited by the dimensions of the closing member.
In another embodiment the at least one elastic biasing element is connected to or integrated with said closing member. In this way the impact of the biasing means on the design of the container is minimized.
Although the biasing force may be the result of elastic deformation, it is also conceivable that the biasing member is operable by gravity and comprises a weight acting on said closing member.
It is also conceivable that the closing member itself is operable by gravity and is arranged to move to its steady state position under its own weight. To that end the closing member could be made entirely or partially of a material having a relatively high specific gravity.
In an embodiment of the container according to the invention, the closing member may be deformable. This makes it easy to move the closing member to its steady state or closed position.
In that case, the closing member may comprise a deformable outflow conduit which is connected to the overflow orifice. In addition, the at least one elastic biasing element may be arranged to deform at least part of the outflow conduit so as to reduce a cross-sectional area of the outflow conduit to substantially zero. This is a very effective way of closing the overflow orifice.
A simple structure is achieved when the deformable outflow conduit is made of a textile material.
In order to achieve a strong yet simple connection between the outflow conduit and the container, the deformable outflow conduit may be attached to said container directly or by means of at least one panel, which panel is arranged parallel to an inner surface of said container and attached thereto in an area surrounding the overflow orifice.
An even stronger connection and a more uniform load transfer is achieved when the container comprises a plurality of panels extending substantially radially outward from the overflow orifice and parallel to said inner surface.
In an embodiment of the invention, the container may be made of a material that is permeable for at least water. Such a permeable material offers the advantage that the filler material may be supplied to the container in a flow of water, after which the water will permeate through the container wall and the filler material will remain in the container.
The invention further relates to a use of a container of the type described above, when filled at least partially with filler material, as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway.
The invention also relates to a structure, such as a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty, a breakwater, an onshore dune, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, comprising at least one container of the type described above which is filled at least partially with filler material.
The invention also relates to a method for installing a container of the type described above for use as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway. In accordance with the invention, such a method comprises the steps, to be performed in any suitable sequence, of:
(a) providing a container of the type described above;
(b) laying said container on a bed of any type of water, such as a sea, lake, river, canal, or the like;
(c) connecting a filling means to said filling orifice;
(d) supplying a flow of filler material, if desired in combination with water, to said container via said filling orifice;
(e) monitoring the at least one overflow orifice; and
(f) interrupting the supply when filler material starts to flow out of the at least one overflow orifice.
The invention will be further elucidated by way of some exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which like elements are identified by the same reference numerals, and in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container according to an embodiment of the invention in which the overflow orifice is closed by a closing member being in its steady state position;
Figure 2 is a view of the container corresponding to Figure 1 , in which the closing member is in its pressure relief position and the overflow orifice is opened;
Figure 3 is a top view of the area III of container as shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the closing member in its pressure relief position; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the closing member in its steady state position.
Figures 1 and 2 show an end part of an elongate flexible container 1 resting at the bed of any type of water, such as, but not limited thereto, a sea, lake, river, canal, or the like. The illustrated container 1 is known by the trademarks Geotube® or Geocontainer®. Although in Figure 1 only a small part of the container 1 is shown, this container 1 may be a continuous container with any desired length, for example up to a few kilometers. The container 1 has one or more filling orifices, which are not shown in this drawing. A filling tube of a filling means can be inserted in the filling orifice(s) for supplying a filler material to the container 1. The filler material may for example comprise loose or little coherent solid material, such as sand or other ground material, or any other granular material. The filler material may be supplied to the container 1 together with water. In the illustrated embodiment the container 1 is made of a material that is permeable to at least water, such that the water fed to the container 1 together with the filler material may permeate through the container wall, while the filler material remains in the container 1. The thus filled container 1 may be used, for example, as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway.
In order to allow the container 1 to be filled exactly to its maximum capacity, the container is provided with one or more overflow orifices 2. Each of these overflow orifices 2 is normally closed, but will be opened when an internal pressure in the container 1 exceeds a predetermined value. Each overflow orifice 2 comprises a closing member 3 which is movable between a steady state position (Fig. 1) in which the closing member closes the orifice 2 and a pressure relief position (Fig. 2) in which the orifice is at least partially opened. A biasing member 4 biases the closing member 3 to its steady state position in which the overflow orifice 2 is closed. Here the overflow orifice 2 is formed in a separate insert panel 8 that forms part of the wall of the container.
In the illustrated embodiment, the closing member 3 is deformable, and is formed by an outflow conduit which is connected to the overflow orifice 2. In this embodiment the biasing member 4 comprises two elastic biasing elements 5 which are arranged to cooperate with the closing member 3. In this embodiment, these elastic biasing elements 5 are two lengths of elastic stretch band, which are both attached to the container 1 at their opposite ends 6. The elastic biasing elements 5 contact the closing member 3. In this embodiment, they are each kept in place by a guide member or loop 9 which is attached to the closing member 3 and through which each elastic stretch band 5 is guided (Fig. 3).
The biasing force exerted by the elastic biasing elements 5 deforms the outflow conduit which forms the closing member 3 in such a way, that its cross-sectional area is essentially zero. In this embodiment, the deformable outflow conduit 3 is urged to lie flat on the outer surface 11 of the container 1. The biasing force of the two elastic biasing elements 5 prevents any filler material from entering the outflow conduit 3 and exiting the container 1 through the outflow conduit. Only when the pressure inside the container 1 becomes too high will the elastic biasing elements 5 yield and allow the deformable outflow conduit 3 to assume a shape in which its cross-sectional area is no longer zero. In that case filler material F may flow out of the outflow conduit 3 to relieve the pressure within the container 1 (Fig. 2).
In order to maintain a strong connection between the outflow conduit 3 and the overflow orifice 2, the outflow conduit 3 is attached to the container directly or 1 by means of one or more panels 10 which are arranged parallel to an inner surface 12 of the container. The panel or panels 10 is/are attached to the container 1 in an area surrounding the overflow orifice 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the or each panel 10 is connected both to an edge 15 of the overflow orifice 2 and to an edge 13 of the outflow conduit 3 by means of an inner 2 x 2 needle connection 14i. Moreover, the or each panel 10 is attached to the container 1 also by an outer 2 x 2 needle connection 14o at a somewhat greater distance from the overflow orifice 3, close to an outer edge 16 of the panel 10 (Fig. 4). This double connection 14i, 14o ensures that loads which are exerted on the outflow conduit 3 by the filler material F flowing from the container 1 are properly transferred to the container wall and uniformly distributed throughout the container 1.
In an alternative embodiment the biasing member 4 comprises two elastic biasing elements 5 in the form of stretch bands, which are integrated in the wall of the deformable conduit which forms the closing member 3 (Fig. 5). In this way a higher closing force is achieved, since the elastic biasing elements 5 need to be deformed relatively farther in order to change the cross- sectional area from zero to a value that is sufficient to relieve the pressure in the container 1.
Instead of using elastic biasing elements, which may age over time and thus loose part of their elasticity, it is also conceivable for the biasing member 4 to be operable by gravity. In that case the biasing member 4 may comprise one or more weights 17 acting on the closing member 3. For instance, these weights 17 may be arranged on one side of the deformable outflow conduit 3 (Fig. 6). Due to the presence of these weights 17, the outflow conduit 3 will sink back onto the outer surface 11 of the container 1 as soon as the pressure within the container 1 drops below a predetermined value.
It is further noted that the invention is not limited to the shown embodiments, but also extends to variants. For example, it is clear for the skilled person, that any number and/or shape of overflow orifices, closing members and/or biasing members may be provided. Consequently, the scope of the invention is defined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims
1. Elongate flexible container for use as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway, said container comprising at least one filling orifice for filling the container with a filler material, said filler material for example comprising loose or little coherent solid material, such as sand or other ground material, or any other granular material, characterized by at least one overflow orifice which is normally closed and which is arranged to be opened when a pressure of the filler material in the container exceeds a predetermined value.
2. Container according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one overflow orifice comprises a closing member for closing the respective orifice, said closing member being movable between a steady state position in which the closing member substantially closes the orifice and a pressure relief position in which the closing member at least partially opens the orifice.
3. Container according to claim 2, characterized by a biasing member for biasing said closing member to its steady state position.
4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that said biasing member comprises at least one elastic biasing element arranged to cooperate with said closing member.
5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one elastic biasing element is attached to the container and contacts said closing member.
6. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one elastic biasing element is connected to or integrated with said closing member.
7. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that said biasing member is operable by gravity and comprises a weight acting on said closing member.
8. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that said closing member is operable by gravity and is arranged to move to its steady state position under its own weight.
9. Container according to any of claims 2-8, characterized in that said closing member is deformable.
10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that said closing member comprises a deformable outflow conduit which is connected to the overflow orifice.
11. Container according to claims 4 and 10, characterized in that the at least one elastic biasing element is arranged to deform at least part of the outflow conduit so as to reduce a cross- sectional area of the outflow conduit to substantially zero.
12. Container according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the deformable outflow conduit is made of a textile material.
13. Container according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that the deformable outflow conduit is attached to said container by means of at least one panel, which panel is arranged parallel to an inner surface of said container and attached thereto in an area surrounding the overflow orifice.
14. Container according to claim 13, characterized by a plurality of panels extending substantially radially outward from the overflow orifice and parallel to said inner surface.
15. Container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is made of a material that is permeable for at least water.
16. Use of a container according to any of the preceding claims as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, a jetty, an onshore dune, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway.
17. Structure, such as a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, comprising at least one container according to any one of claims 1-15.
18. Method for installing a container according to any one of claims 1-15 for use as a core or base of a dam, a quay, a bank reinforcement, an onshore dune, a jetty, a breakwater, a tidal energy enclosure structure, or an off shore storm surge protection structure, or for filling holes or trenches, e.g. in the bed of a waterway, said method comprising the steps, to be performed in any suitable sequence, of:
(a) providing a container according to any of the claims 1-14; (b) laying said container on a bed of any type of water, such as a sea, lake, river, canal, the like;
(c) connecting a filling means to said filling orifice;
(d) supplying a flow of filler material, if desired in combination with water, to said container via said filling orifice;
(e) monitoring the at least one overflow orifice; and
(f) interrupting the supply when filler material starts to flow out of the at least one overflow orifice.
EP16744902.4A 2016-06-08 2016-06-08 Elongate flexible container, use of such a container, structure comprising such a container, and method for installing such a container Active EP3469144B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/NL2016/050409 WO2017213489A1 (en) 2016-06-08 2016-06-08 Elongate flexible container, use of such a container, structure comprising such a container, and method for installing such a container

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3469144A1 true EP3469144A1 (en) 2019-04-17
EP3469144B1 EP3469144B1 (en) 2020-03-18

Family

ID=56551493

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16744902.4A Active EP3469144B1 (en) 2016-06-08 2016-06-08 Elongate flexible container, use of such a container, structure comprising such a container, and method for installing such a container

Country Status (3)

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EP (1) EP3469144B1 (en)
DK (1) DK3469144T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2017213489A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK121080C (en) * 1969-12-03
NL8602875A (en) * 1986-11-12 1988-06-01 Nicolon Nv METHOD FOR FORMING A BODY, FOR EXAMPLE, A BILD BODY, A PIPE BODY INTENDED FOR IT, AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A PIPE BODY.
NL1002277C2 (en) 1996-02-08 1997-08-11 Nicolon Nv Elongated flexible holder.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2017213489A1 (en) 2017-12-14
DK3469144T3 (en) 2020-05-25
EP3469144B1 (en) 2020-03-18

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