US3503216A - Underwater paving element - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1970 R. M. OQUITA 3,503,216

UNDERWATER PAVING ELEMENT Filed Jan. 29, 1968 Mmvra: KIM/Ia I W/fil United States Patent 3,503,216 UNDERWATER PAVING ELEMENT Ramiro M. Oquita, 547 Greenbank, Duarte, Calif. 91010 Filed Jan. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 701,236 Int. Cl. E02b 3/14; E01e /00 US. Cl. 6137 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A system is disclosed for paving the surface of a stratus, comprising for example a super-saturated, or semiliquid earth, sediment or sludge, which may be covered with water. The system incorporates a plurality of individual elements each of which comprises a paving cap or surface element that is affixed to a hollow shaft to be vacuum-locked into the receiving stratum. A seal is provided to close the exterior end of the shaft (carrying the paving element) after the shaft is substantially filled with the sludge of the stratus. As a result, the element is locked in place by the sludge contained within the shaft and by the abutment of the paving cap against the surface of the stratum.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Over the years it has been necessary to provide underwater paving in various water projects such as water reservoirs, irrigation canals and flood control systems, mostly to minimize water loss through seepage, to avoid erosion or to maintain clean, clear water. Underwater paving has also been used in conjunction with boat-docking facilities, where soft sediments are required to receive temporary loads from vehicles such as trucks, trailers, cranes and so on, that are used to place boats in the water and remove them. In general, concrete has been employed for such underwater paving projects; however, it is expensive, impractical and difficult to install underwater. The need for an improved structure exists.

An accelerated growth of engineering projects within and around estuaries, beaches and the sea floor has created an urgent demand for more stable shorelines and submerged topography. Erosion must be kept at a minimum around these developed areas and some submerged slopes (natural or man-made) should be stabilized. These slopes or sediments need protection from the eroding action of waves, currents, tides, turbulence and so on. The need for submerged paving is definitely present in this field. Specifically, for example, in boat marinas, waterways, shoreline housing or construction, beaches, submerged pipelines, submerged marine platforms or other structures, excavations, such as for submerged traffic tubes or waterways, marine aquariums or other recreational areas which need clear water.

Generally, the present erosion protection or paving of submerged surfaces of these facilities is expensive or found wanting. For example, rip-rap (rock deposit) which is most commonly employed is sometimes more hazardous that it is helpful, particularly in lightweight, soft, fluify muds, where rip-rap boulders sink out of sight or roll into undesirable places or displace mud into unpredictable spots. Furthermore, locations which receive rip-rap are unsightly and left with very restricted usability thereafter. As a result, there exists a need for a system of paving a submerged surface in order to contain and protect the sediments with minimum disturbance; a system which is relatively economical and not inclined to erode away from the slopes or areas.

In general, the present invention resides in a system of paving submerged surfaces which utilizes the sediments ice beneath this surface to actually hold the paving element in position. The individual elements include: a paving cap which may bear a flange and which provides an incremental area of paved surface, which cap is atfixed to an elongated shaft or shafts for placement into the underlying sediments of the submerged surface. The external end of the shaft is forced into the sediments; then after placement, when the shaft is filled with sediments, the shaft is sealed so as to hold the affixed paving cap locked into position over the sediments beneath it. The system contemplates the use of paving elements having a variety of shaft lengths in order to avoid the likelihood of massive shearing by the entire paving system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, which constitute a part of this specification, exemplary embodiments demonstrating various objectives and features hereof are set forth, specifically:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional, fragmentary, perspective view of a paving system incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary and sectional perspective view illustrating one form of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation view of components shown in FIGURE 3 with slight variation; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of paving element representative of the present in vention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS As required, detailed illustrative embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the embodiments merely exemplify the invention which may take many forms that are radically different from those described in detail herein. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims defining the scope of the invention.

Referring initially to FIGURE 1, there is shown a basin floor 10, a portion of which may be continuously or intermittently under a body of water 12. A portion of the floor 10 is shown covered by a paving 14 including a plurality of individual paving elements 16 provided in a substantially-closed array, so as to afford an enduring definitive surface between the sediments or stratum of the floor 10 and the body of water 12. Thus, water 12 is maintained substantially free of flocculating particles from under the paving 14, so as to be clean and clear. Coincidentally, the system inhibits the erosion of the floor 10 by wave or tidal action. Of course, the paving 14 may be variously located as on an ocean floor at considerable depth, on a beach or tidal basin, as well as in association with various inland lakes and waterways. Thus, the paving 14 may be continually submerged, intermittently submerged, or substantially never submerged.

Considering the paving 14 in greater detail, each of the individual paving elements 16 (FIGURE 2) include a paving cap 18 afiixed to an elongate hollow shaft 20. In the orderly array of paving elements 16 comprising the paving 14, the individual shafts 20 extend into the sediments or other stratum 22 to various depths, thereby avoiding the likelihood of creating a shear plane at the coincident ends of the shafts 20. Specifically, as shown, the shafts 20a, 20b, and 200 are each of a length different from the other so as to extend into the stratum 22 to varying depths, thereby affording a more complete engagement between the paving 14 and the stratum 22,

3 and'one which is not inclined toward shear movement.

The elongate shafts 20 (FIGURE 2) are filled with sediments of the stratum 22 and their upper ends are closed by the caps 18. As a result, the caps 18 not only create a compressional force surface which abuts'and contains the stratum 22, but additionally the caps 18 close the shafts 20 so that efforts to withdraw the shafts 20 (raise the caps 18) create suction or tension resistant forces within and beneath the shaft 20. That is, in attempting to lift one of the paving elements 16, it must be drawn from the stratum 22 comprising saturated sediments with which the shaft 20 is filled. As a result, forces tending to lift one of the paving elements 16 encounter a vacuum or resistance which is developed by the exit of sediments from its native position at the interior end of shaft 20 as the shaft is lifted.

As suggested above, those bearing forces that may be exerted upon the paving elements 16 tending to diive them further into the stratum 22 are opposed by compressional forces created on the stratum 22 abutting the under surfaces of the paving elements 16. In this regard, with the installation of the paving 14, the stratum 22 thereunder becomes confined so that displacement by exerting a downward force on one of the paving elements 16 requires a tremendous force. As a result, the paving elements 16, once placed, tend to remain stationary as an integral part of a system of paving 14.

The individual paving elements 16 as considered above may take a variety of different specific forms, one-of which is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, while another is disclosed in FIGURE 5. In general, these structures may be fabricated of different materials, eg plastic or metal. In one embodiment, the utilization of polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene plastics have been found particularly effective, the paving elements being formed, as by injection-molding techniques.

Considering one structural form thereof, reference will now be made to FIGURES 3 and 4 showing the cap 18 somewhat separate from the shaft 20. Specifically, the paving cap 18 (FIGURE 3) defines a polygonal surface 24 which constitutes an incremental surface in a total paving system. The surface 24 is perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 20 and terminates that shaft when the element is installed. As shown in FIGURE 3, the shaft 20 is telescopically received through the paving cap 18 and is forced into the sediments so that the upper end 26 thereof lies on a plane with the cap' surface 24. The elements are locked together in such a position by a set of annular external rings defined on the column shaft 20 matingly engaging a set of internal rings 30 carried on an interior surface of cylinder 32 extending centrally through the paving cap 18 and defining a bore therethrough which telescopically receives the cylindrical column or shaft 20.

Considering the structure as shown in FIGURE 3 in greater detail, the cap 18 defines the cylindrical surface 32, the lower end 34 of which is tapered, while the upper end is somewhat relieved about an annulus 36. On the cap 18, about the edge of the periphery of the surface 24, there is provided a rectangular frame extension or flange 38 which defines a tapered edge 40 and which extends in the same direction as the cylinder '32.

The paving cap 18 as shown in FIGURE 3 may be formed by injection-molding, utilizing polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene, for example, to provide an integral cap of enduring quality.

Considering the shaft 20 (FIGURE 3) in greater detail, the upper closed end 26 is integral with an upper cylindrical section 42 (on which the rings 28 are defined) and a continuous lower section 44. Of course, the length of the cylindrical shaft 20 in relation to the size of the cap 20 is subject to considerable variation depending upon the contemplated use and the nature of the paving element; however, in general, it has been found desirable to provide the cross-sectional area of the shaft 20 at least one- 4 sixth the total area of the surface 24 plus the area of the end 26.

On the external or upper section 42 on which the rings 28 define upward-facing shoulders 46, there is also defined a port 48. The length of the shaft may vary; however, the port 48 is at one end, the other terminating in an end 50. The shaft 20 may be variously provided as by plastic extrusion techniques, molding and finishing techniques. In a compatible and satisfactory exemplary arrangement with the cap 18, the shaft 20 also has been formed of plastic.

A complete understanding of the structure of FIGURE 3 may now best be understood by considering the installation of such an element into the submerged sediments. In this regard, it is to be noted that the structure hereof may be readily handled and installed by divers Without the necessity of moving or diverting water from the area of installation. Such installation may be accomplished simply by laying the cap 18 in position upon the surface of the stratum, then forcing the column or shaft 20 through the cylinder 32 and into the saturated sediments of the stratum. In this regard, the stratum may be any geological formations; however, most normally, the presence of recent sediments which are saturated or supersaturated will be found. As a result, as the shaft 20 is forced into the sediments of the stratum, the lightweight and soft sediments permit easy entrance of the shaft 20 and allows the excess water to be exhausted through the port 48. The final force applied to the end 26 of the shaft 20 sets the shaft in an interlocked relationship with the cap 18. Specifically, the shoulders 26 defined by the rings 42 matingly engage opposed shoulders carried on the rings 30 within the cylinder 32. As a result, the shaft 20 is lockingly engaged to the cap 18. Coincidentally, the port 48 is closed by the cylindrical surface 32, thereby locking the sediments within the shaft 20. Thus, any force to withdraw the shaft 20 from the stratum is opposed by the fact that water may not enter the port 48 to relieve the space therein and permitting such withdrawal.

The installed paving element as described above with reference to FIGURE 3 may also include locking teeth or shoulders 52 (FIGURE 3) formed about the interior of the cylinder 32. Such shoulders afford further locking engagement with the shaft 20.

In still another form of the present invention, the cap 18 may be integrally formed with the shaft 20, as shown in FIGURE 5. In this form, the shaft 20 simply comprises an elongate cylindrical section which terminates at the cap 18 defining a rectangular surface 62 and incorporating a perpendicular frame flange 64. Additionally, the cap 18 includes a threaded central bore 66 affording access to the inside 68 of the cylinder 60 and adapted to be sealed closed by receiving a threaded plug 70.

In using the paving element as shown in FIGURE 5, the shaft 60 is forced into the stratum or sedimentary layer until the surface 62 is at the desired level. Subsequently, the plug 70 is fitted into the bore 66 thereby locking the paving member in position.

It is to be noted that various tools and equipment may be employed to facilitate the installation of individual paving elements as described herein. For example, various mechanical force drivers may be employed or in relatively soft sediments, the individual elements may be simply installed by hand. Of course, individual applications will give rise to a variety of different individual demands.

Of course, as indicated above, the system hereof may be readily adapted to provide a wide variety of different paving structures and specific paving elements; therefore, the system as disclosed herein is to be deemed merely an exemplary embodiment in which specific exemplary structures have been disclosed; however, the scope hereof shall not be restricted accordingly but rather shall be interpreted in accordance with the claims as set forth below.

What is claimed is:

1. An element for paving a surface which is defined by sediments or the like, as at a location of water activity, comprising:

an elongate hollow shaft in tubular form, for placement whereby the lower end thereof extends into said sediments so that said shaft receives a quantity of said sediments in the interior thereof;

a paving cap structure defining a cylindrical opening and including means matingly engaging said hollow shaft within said opening of said cap, said shaft in cooperation with said cap including closure means to close the upper end of said shaft when said quantity of sediments are received therein whereby to suspend said quantity of sediments in said shaft and thereby hold said paving element atfixed in said sediments.

2. A paving element according to claim 1 wherein said paving cap structure comprises two separate elements including a surface cap member defining an area of paving and a seal closure member affixed to said cap member.

3. A paving element according to claim 2 wherein said surface cap member defines an opening matingly receiving said hollow shaft and said seal closure member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 953,051 3/1910 De Muralt 6137 1,352,429 9/1920 Clarke 6137 10 2,026,224 12/1935 Drehmann 9411 2,230,506 2/1941 Vissering 9411 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 65,257 1/1950 Netherlands.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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