AU2016100350B4

AU2016100350B4 - Method and device for reducing sand erosion

Info

Publication number: AU2016100350B4
Application number: AU2016100350A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stuart John Thomson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-01
Filing date: 2016-04-01
Publication date: 2016-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2024-04-01
Also published as: AU2016100350A4

Abstract

A device for reducing erosion of a sand bed comprising: a plug with one or more fronds attached; wherein said plug and fronds being securely planted in the sand bed; and wherein the plug is adapted to receive a water hose and produce a jet of water which facilitates planting the plug and the fronds include a flotation device.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REDUCING SAND EROSION Field of the Invention [0001] This invention relates to methods of reducing sand erosion and devices which achieve this in particular by imitating natural sea grasses and sea weeds.

Background of the Invention [0002] Historically, there have been numerous attempts to prevent sand erosion using large scale structures such as groins, break waters and artificial reefs. These structures are costly, environmentally invasive and have limited success.

[0003] It has been observed that sand erosion is minimised where natural sea grasses and seaweeds are present in moving water such as on beaches and in tidal estuaries. Accordingly the present invention aims to create artificial beds of sea grass in sand subject to erosive water action.

[0004] There have been attempts to prevent sand erosion using artificial seaweed. Some attempts at using artificial seaweed have had the base of the artificial seaweed placed on the sand bed with artificial fronds floating in the sea. As the base of the artificial seaweed sits on the sand bed, the artificial seaweed does not reinforce the sand underneath the sand bed which is vulnerable to movement. As the seabed beneath the artificial seaweed shifts so does the artificial seaweed.

[0005] An alternative type of existing artificial seaweed uses a plug at the base of the artificial seaweed driven into the sand bed so that the plug sits beneath the sand bed’s surface. An example of this type of artificial seaweed can be found in US Patent Application No. 2010/0196102. This type of artificial seaweed requires the plug to be physically driven into the sand bed with a rod. The use of the rod and physical driving means gives rise to safety concerns in aquatic environments during instillation of the plug, requires time and appropriately skilled people to drive the plugs and place the artificial seaweed.

[0006] Reference to cited material or information contained in the text should not be understood as a concession that the material or information was part of the common general knowledge or was known in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention [0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a device for reducing sand erosion of a sand bed in a natural body of water comprising: a plug with one or more fronds attached, said plug and fronds being securely planted in the sand bed; wherein the plug is adapted to receive a fluid passageway and produce a jet of water which facilitates planting the plug; and wherein the plug is arranged to be planted by a person wading in the natural body of water.

[0008] Preferably, the fronds include a flotation device.

[0009] Preferably, the fluid passageway is arranged to snugly fit in the plug.

[0010] Preferably, the fluid passageway is connected to a fluid reservoir adapted to be carried by the person, wherein the fluid reservoir provides the water that is produced as a jet from the plug.

[0011] Preferably, the plug is adapted to receive a water hose and produce a jet of water which facilitates planting the plug.

[0012] Alternatively, a method of reducing erosion of a sand bed comprises planting one or more plugs with fronds in the bed.

[0013] Alternatively, a device for anchoring a tether in sand or soft soil comprises: a plug with the tether attached; and adapted to receive a water hose and to produce a jet of water which facilitates planting the plug and tether.

Brief Description of the Figures [0014] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a first embodiment of an erosion reducing device with water jet planting tool;

Figure 2 is a top view of the plug and fronds of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is bottom view of the plug of Figure 2 with fronds attached;

Figure 4 shows an operator planting the plug with water jet tool of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows the device of Figure 1 functioning in water;

Figure 6 is a view of second embodiment of an alternative erosion reducing device with water jet planting tool; and

Figure 7 is a view of the device of Figure 6 with water jet tool inserted in the device.

[0015] In the drawings like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments [0016] With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the present invention relates to artificial seagrass/seaweed 10 for settling sand particles suspended in fluid, consequently reducing sand erosion. In a first embodiment the artificial seagrass/seaweed 10 includes fronds 1 extending from plug 2. The fronds 1 are attached to plug 2 through apertures 3 in the plug 2. In one embodiment the apertures 3 are arranged to receive the fronds 1 vertically. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the apertures 3 are arranged to receive the fronds 1 horizontally.

[0017] The fronds 1 are made of hemp, cotton, canvas, leather, nylon, or other flexible material as understood by the skilled addressee.

The apertures 3 are arranged as bores through opposite sides of the plug 2. The fronds 1 pass through the apertures 3 so that a portion of the frond 1 extends from each end 13 of the apertures 3.

In one embodiment, the fronds 1 are not fixed to the aperture 3, being left to slide within the aperture 3. In an alternative embodiment, the fronds 1 are fixed to the apertures 3 so that the portion of the fronds 1 that extends from the apertures 3 remain the same length. Where the fronds 1 are fixed to the apertures 3, the fronds are fixed by way of screwing, clipping, bolting, riveting, pressing, adhesive or otherwise as understood by the skilled addressee.

[0018] In one embodiment, the fronds 1 have floats 4 at their free ends that cause the fronds 1 to float in water. The floats 4 are pumice stone, polystyrene, cork, air filled sealed containers or otherwise as understood by the skilled addressee.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment the fronds 1 include at least one float positioned along the length of the fronds 1.

[0020] In one embodiment, the floats take the form of sealed air spaces within the material of the fronds 1 themselves.

[0021] Plug 2 includes a recess 6 extending downwards from the top of the plug 2. A bore 7 extends from the base of the recess 6 to the base of the plug 2.

[0022] Water jet planting tool 5 fits snugly into recess 6. The end of tool 5 distal the recess 6 has connection means 8 for connecting fluid passageway 9. Fluid passageway 9 is connected to fluid reservoir 11 that is arranged to be transported and held by a user 10. A fluid inlet 12 is connected to the fluid reservoir to supply fluid to the fluid reservoir 11.

[0023] In one embodiment, the fluid reservoir 11 includes a pump arranged to draw water into the fluid reservoir via fluid inlet 12. The pump also supplies fluid from the fluid reservoir 11 to the fluid passageway 9 and water jet planting tool 5.

[0024] Figure 4 illustrates the installation of this artificial seagrass/seaweed by a user 10. The user 10 wades in water wearing the fluid reservoir 11 with inlet hose 12 in the water. The fluid passageway 9 is connected to water jet planting tool 5 which is engaged in the recess 6 of the plug 2. Water is pumped from the fluid reservoir 11 through fluid passageway 9 and water jet planting tool 5 into plug 2. The velocity and pressure of the water increases via the venturi effect as it passes through bore 7 which is narrower than recess 6. The water is pumped out of the plug via the bore 7 into the sand bed the user is standing on. The water ejected from bore 7 applies force to the sand, blasting a hole in the sand allowing the plug to be placed in the hole. As more sand is displaced the plug is buried along with part of the length of the fronds 1. The portion of the fronds 1 extending above the sand bed float in the water above the sand bed.

[0025] When water jet planting tool 5 is removed as shown in Figure 5, fronds 1 float freely in the water. Accordingly the suspended sand in the moving water collides with fronds 1, reducing the horizontal velocity of the suspended sand falling to the sea bed. Banks of this artificial seagrass/seaweed 10 therefore cause sand to amass around the artificial seagrass/seaweed 10 reducing erosion and under favourable currents can even enlarge sand deposits.

[0026] In one embodiment the fronds 1 extend upwards from the sand bed about 60% of the water depth.

[0027] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, an artificial seagrass/seaweed 20 second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The artificial seagrass/seaweed 20 uses a hollow truncated conical plug 22 in place of plug 2 from the first embodiment. Nylon tubes 21 are attached to top rim of hollow truncated conical plug 22 and form fronds that extend from the hollow truncated conical plug 22. The nylon tubes 21 are designed to float in the water when the artificial seagrass/seaweed 20 is installed in the seabed. During installation of the artificial seagrass/seaweed 20 jet nozzle 23 of fluid conduit 24 is inserted through hole 25 in truncated base of plug 22 and water is pumped through nozzle 23. Accordingly plug 22 is buried with tubes 21 in the sand bed to reduce erosion.

[0028] Water is pumped through fluid conduit 24 and nozzle 23 using a pump. In one embodiment the water is pumped from a water reservoir 11 as for the first embodiment.

Alterations and Modifications to the Embodiments [0029] It will be realised that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth. For example plug 2 could be moulded as a conical plastic plug with attached air filled nylon tubing as fronds 1.

[0030] It will also be apparent that the subject device could be used in soft soil in place of sand as an anchor for tether ropes attached to plug 2. Thus the water jet tool 5 would remove the need for hammering plug 2 into the ground and possibly damaging it.

[0031] Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, formulations and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

[0032] Reference to positional descriptions, such as lower and upper, are to be taken in context of the embodiments depicted in the figures, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention to the literal interpretation of the term but rather as would be understood by the skilled addressee.

[0033] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0034] Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for reducing sand erosion of a sand bed in a natural body of water comprising: a plug with one or more fronds attached, said plug and fronds being securely planted in the sand bed; wherein the plug is adapted to receive a fluid passageway and produce a jet of water which facilitates planting the plug; and wherein the plug is arranged to be planted by a person wading in the natural body of water.
2. The device of Claim 1, wherein the fronds include a flotation device.
3. The device of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the fluid passageway is arranged to snugly fit in the plug.
4. The device as claimed in any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the fluid passageway is connected to a fluid reservoir adapted to be carried by the person, wherein the fluid reservoir provides the water that is produced as a jet from the plug.
5. A method of reducing sand erosion comprising planting one or more of the devices of Claim 1 in the sand bed, wherein a jet of water is passed through the plug into the sand bed to create a space in the sand bed.