Method and apparatus for using automotive tires as earth engineering devices

Claim 2

An earth engineering apparatus comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; means for interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, said interconnecting means comprising pins projecting through apertures provided in mating deformations of the casings at said contacting locations; said mating deformations including an inwardly directed deformation of one casing and a mating outwardly directed deformation of an adjacent contacting casing; and each of said pins including a shank portion and a hook portion, said casings being interconnected in the horizontal dimension by said shank portions projecting through said mating deformations of the casings and being interconnected in the vertical direction by interengagement of the hook portions of the pins which interconnect in the horizontal dimension casings in adjacent layered planar arrays.

Claim 3

An earth engineering apparatus comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; means for interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, said interconnecting means comprising pins projecting through apertures provided in mating deformations of the casings at said contacting locations; said mating deformations including an inwardly directed deformation of one casing and a mating outwardly directed deformation of an adjacent contacting casing; and each of said pins including a shank portion and a hook portion, said casings being interconnected in the horizontal dimension by said shank portions projecting through said mating deformations of the casings and being interconnected in the vertical direction by the hook portions engaging the casings of adjacent layered planar arrays.

Claim 4

An earth engineering apparatus comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; means for interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, said interconnecting means comprising pins projecting through apertures provided in mating deformations of the casings at said contacting locations; said mating deformations including an inwardly directed deformation of one casing and a mating outwardly directed deformation of an adjacent contacting casing; and each of said pins including a shank portion and a hook portion, said casings being interconnected in the horizontal dimension by said shank portions projecting through said mating deformations of the casings and being interconnected in the vertical direction by the hook portions engaging the casings of adjacent layered planar arrays.

Claim 5

An earth engineering apparatus comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions including plural horizontal connecting means distributed horizontally throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus.

Claim 6

An earth engineering apparatus comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions including plural horizontal connecting means distributed horizontally throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus.

Claim 7

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising no more than a predetermined ballast within said tire casings to provide means for counteracting natural forces tending to cause said casings to be displaced.

Claim 8

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 3 wherein at least some of said planar arrays are offset with respect to adjacent planar arrays forming a step-like arrangement at the extremities of the corresponding planar arrays.

Claim 9

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising: a soil filling disposed in at least some of the tire casings; and vegetation growing upon and within said filling to camouflage exposed portions of said arrays and to provide root structures for assistance in interconnecting said casings.

Claim 10

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said apparatus is positioned at an earth-water interface to control and limit erosion of earth therefrom.

Claim 11

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a ballast filling disposed in at least some of the tire casings below the expected water level, a soil filling disposed in at least some of the casings above the expected water level, and vegetation growing upon and within said soil filling to camouflage exposed portions of said arrays and to provide root structures for assistance in interconnecting said casings.

Claim 12

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 5 wherein each of said planar arrays has substantially no more casings than the planar array located directly therebelow.

Claim 13

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 5 further comprising a ballast filling disposed in at least some of the tire casings disposed in contact with the earth.

Claim 14

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising: anchor means structurally interconnected with at least some of said ballast filled casings and disposed within the mass of the earth to effectively anchor said apparatus to a desired predetermined location.

Claim 15

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising: filter cloth means disposed on the earth side of said array for filtering liquids passing therethrough.

Claim 16

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising: a second orderly array of vehicular tire casings, said second array having a plurality of casings in both vertical and horizontal dimensions and being disposed with said horizontal dimension also substantially aligned with said interface and displaced from said first-mentioned array, and means for interconnecting the casings in said second array in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions to form a second structure defining a marshland area between said structures where littoral drift deposits are accumulated to reclaim land area and to further control erosion of said earth.

Claim 17

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the topmost portion of the structure outermost situated towards the water is lower than the topmost portion of the innermost situated structure.

Claim 18

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said topmost portion of the outermost structure is substantially disposed at the mean low water level of said water.

Claim 19

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a ballast filling within at least some of said tire casings.

Claim 20

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said ballast filling comprises a cement material which is hardened in place.

Claim 21

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a ballast filling between at least some of said tire casings within the interstices therebetween.

Claim 22

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said ballast filling comprises a cement material which is hardened in place.

Claim 23

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a ballast filling within and between at least some of said tire casings.

Claim 24

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said ballast filling comprises a cement material which is hardened in place.

Claim 25

An earth engineering apparatus comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, said interconnecting means comprising pins projecting through apertures provided in mating deformations of the casings at said contacting locations and including plural horizontal connecting means distributed horizontally throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus.

Claim 26

An earth engineering apparatus comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, said interconnecting means comprising pins projecting through apertures provided in mating deformations of the casings at said contacting locations and including plural horizontal connecting means distributed horizontally throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus.

Claim 27

An earth engineering apparatus as in claim 22, wherein: said mating deformations comprise an inwardly directed deformation of one casing and a mating outwardly directed deformation of an adjacent contacting casing.

Claim 28

An earth engineering device comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, including plural horizontal connecting means distributed horizontally throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus; said horizontal and vertical connecting means comprising a plurality of slits in each casing at the contacting locations, and pins projecting through said slits to engage interior surfaces of the casings at said locations.

Claim 29

An earth engineering device comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, including plural horizontal connecting means distributed horizontally throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus; said horizontal and vertical connecting means comprising a plurality of slits in each casing at the contacting locations, and pins projecting through said slits to engage interior surfaces of the casings at said locations.

Claim 30

An earth engineering device comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, including plural horizontal connecting means distributed throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus; said horizontal and vertical connecting means comprising a slot in one of the casings at each contacting location and a tab formed in the other casing at each said location, said tab being in mating relationship and partially disposed within its respective slot.

Claim 31

An earth engineering device comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing within an adjacent layered planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, including plural horizontal connecting means distributed throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus; said horizontal and vertical connecting means comprising a slot in one of the casings at each contacting location and a tab formed in the other casing at each said location, said tab being in mating relationship and partially disposed within its respective slot.

Claim 32

An earth engineering device comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing with an adjacent layered planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, including plural horizontal connecting means distributed horizontally throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus; said horizontal and vertical connecting means comprising double face gang nail plates interposed between the respective casings at said contacting locations, and nails associated with said plates to project through the casing at each of said locations.

Claim 33

An earth engineering device comprising: a plurality of vehicular tire casings arranged in a plurality of planar arrays extending in a substantially horizontal dimension, said planar arrays being layered on top of one another in a substantially vertical dimension whereby each of said casings is in contacting relationship with at least one other casing within its respective planar array and with at least one other casing with an adjacent layered planar array; and means for integrally interconnecting said casings in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions, including plural horizontal connecting means distributed horizontally throughout each of said planar arrays positively locking the tire casings therein one to another at their points of respective contact within each such planar array and plural vertical connecting means distributed horizontally throughout the interface between each pair of adjacent vertically layered planar arrays positively locking one planar array to adjacent planar arrays throughout the entire earth engineering apparatus; said horizontal and vertical connecting means comprising double face gang nail plates interposed between the respective casings at said contacting locations, and nails associated with said plates to project through the casing at each of said locations.