US20020098041A1

US20020098041A1 - Method for making a breakwater

Info

Publication number: US20020098041A1
Application number: US09/767,171
Authority: US
Inventors: Chi-Kuang Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-22
Filing date: 2001-01-22
Publication date: 2002-07-25

Abstract

A method for making a breakwater includes the steps of making cubic blocks each with interlocking grooves and ribs respectively formed on opposite corners of the cubic block; progressively interlocking the cubic blocks from shallow water to deep water by sliding the ribs in the corresponding grooves; flushing the top faces of the interlocked cubic blocks; and securing the engaged cubic blocks. The cubic blocks are placed in position from the land or the previously assembled breakwater, such that no barge is required and thus no water or weather condition needs to be taken into account

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for making a breakwater, and more particularly to a breakwater making method having the steps of making cubic blocks each with interlocking cutouts formed on the corners of one side of the block and ribs formed on the corners of the opposite side of the cubic block, progressively interlocking the ribs on one block with the cutouts on another block from shallow water to deep water, flushing the top faces of the interlocked cubic blocks and securing the interlocked cubic blocks. The user is able to progressively construct a breakwater from the shore to deep water without the assistance of a barge, especially when a road or a track is progressively formed on the assembled cubic blocks.

2. Description of Related Art

Normally, a barge is necessary for workers to place blocks of concrete, concrete forms, boulders, etc. when building a breakwater. Normally, a large crane is provided on the barge so workers can pick up the blocks, forms, etc. one by one and place the blocks, forms, etc. in position. Gradually, after the blocks are stacked one on another, a surface made by the blocks is created flush with the ground. Thereafter, more cubic blocks can be moved from the shore for further construction. Furthermore, divers will level the bottom by placing different sizes of stones, which increases the overall cost.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a method to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide an improved method to build a breakwater. The method comprises the steps of making cubic blocks each with interlocking grooves and ribs respectively formed on opposite side faces of the cubic block, progressively interlocking the cubic blocks from shallow water to deep water with each cubic block interlocked with adjacent blocks by sliding the dovetail ribs in the corresponding dovetail grooves, flushing the top faces of the interlocked cubic blocks and securing the interlocked cubic blocks.

With such a method, a road or tracks can be formed or mounted on the top face of the stacked and interlocked blocks of concrete so that trucks or a train can move more blocks to the edge of the stacked and interlocked blocks for further construction.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram of the method for making a breakwater in accordance with the present invention; [0009]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled cubic blocks in accordance with the invention; [0010]
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side plan view of the assembled cubic blocks by taking the line [0011] 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an operational side plan view of the movement of the cubic blocks from the shore to installation at the seaward end the breakwater in accordance with the present invention; and [0012]
FIG. 5 is a side plan view of an application of the method used as a retaining wall.[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the method for making a breakwater has the steps of: [0014]
(1). making cubic blocks with interlocking grooves and ribs respectively formed on opposite side faces of each cubic block; [0015]
There is a 4 m increase in depth for every 100 m away from the shore line. That is, the average slope of the sea bottom near the shore is about 4%. To cope with the slope of the sea bottom, each cubic block ([0016] 10) is made 16 m in length, 4 m in width and 3 m in height. Each cubic block (10) has compartments (12), a pair of dovetail cutouts (13) and a pair of dovetail extensions (14) Baffles (11) in conjunction with the sidewalls and end walls form the compartments (12) inside the cubic block (10). The dovetail cutouts (13) are defined in opposite outside corners on the same side of the cubic block (10). The dovetail extensions (14) are formed on opposite outside corners on the side of the cubic block (10) opposite to the side with the dovetail cutouts (13). Furthermore, the cubic block (10) has a vertical dovetail key (17) formed on a side face of the cubic block (10) and a dovetailed keyway (16) formed on the opposite side face with respect to the dovetail keyway (17).
When the cubic blocks ([0017] 10) are assembled to make the breakwater according to the method in accordance with the present invention, a first line of cubic blocks (10) are placed on a bottom of the water as a base with the dovetail extensions of one cubic block (10) engaged with the dovetail cutouts (13) the adjacent cubic block (10).
(2). progressively interlocking dovetail extensions and cutouts of the cubic blocks from shallow water to deep water by sliding the extensions into the corresponding cutouts; [0018]
The cubic blocks ([0019] 10) are placed on the bottom of the water one by one. During the placement of the cubic blocks (10), workers can move the cubic blocks (10) from the shore to the water. That is, from shore along the assembled portion of the breakwater directly to deep water at the end of the assembled portion of the breakwater, such that no terrain barrier or water condition needs to be taken into account, because the method in accordance with the present invention is implemented on land and the assembled portion of the breakwater.
(3). flushing the top faces of the interlocked cubic blocks; [0020]
Because each cubic block ([0021] 10) has compartments (12) and the same dimension, when the cubic block (10) is placed on the bottom of the water, a plan surface can be achieved by the assembly of the cubic blocks (10). The engagement of cubic blocks (10) further includes the capability of interlocking corresponding dovetail keys (17) and dovetail keyways (16) of adjacent blocks (10) to make the breakwater wider. That is, when the dovetail key (17) of one cubic block (10) rests in the dovetail keyway (16) of another cubic block (10), the overall length of the assembled cubic blocks (10) is extended.
(4). securing the engaged cubic blocks. [0022]
After the cubic blocks ([0023] 10) are assembled in the foregoing manner, a steel bar (15) is used to secure the engagement between adjacent cubic blocks (10), as shown in FIG. 3.
With reference to FIG. 4, the cubic blocks ([0024] 10) are moved to the shore by a mobile crane (21) moved on a track (20). That is, the crane (21) on the shore arranges the first line of cubic blocks (10), the second line of cubic blocks (10) etc. Then, a road or track (20) can be formed on the stacked and assembled cubic blocks (10). In this manner, the crane (21) can keep on working on the breakwater without having to accommodate interference from the weather and terrain, which greatly reduces the cost and time when compared with the conventional method.
With reference to FIG. 5, the method in accordance with the present invention can also be implemented to build a retaining wall on a hill ([0025] 30) to prevent landslides or to build a new road along the inclined surface after a severe landslide, which also saves a lot of time and money.
When implementing the method in accordance with the invention, the weather and the water condition can be overlooked, such that workers can still work despite bad weather conditions. Therefore, a delay in the work schedule or a large sum of meaningless wages from the suspension of work due to bad water condition can be avoided. [0026]
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. [0027]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for making a breakwater comprising:

making cubic blocks each with a pair of dovetail cutouts formed on opposite outside corners of one side of the cubic block and a pair of dovetail extensions formed on opposite outside corners of opposite side of the cubic block;

progressively interlocking the dovetail extensions on one cubic block with the dovetail cutouts on an adjacent cubic block from shallow water to deep water;

flushing a top face of the interlocked cubic blocks; and

securing the interlocked cubic blocks.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a step of forming a dovetail key and a dovetail keyway on opposite side faces of a cubic block so that one cubic block is able to be engaged with one another by the engagement between the dovetail key and the dovetail keyway.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a step of forming a track on the leveled surface of the interlocked cubic blocks.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a step of forming a track on the level surface of the interlocked cubic blocks.

5. A cubic block as claimed in the method of claim 1 comprising:

compartments divided by baffles;

a cutout defined in a corner of the cubic block; and

an extension oppositely formed with respect to the cutout.

6. The cubic block as claimed in claim 5, wherein a dovetail key and a dovetail keyway are defined in opposite side faces of each cubic block, thereby allowing one cubic block to interlock with another cubic block by the engagement between the dovetail cutout and the dovetail extension and with yet another block on the end by the dovetail key and the dovetail keyway.