Patent US4407608A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4407608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for controlling fluid currents
Assignee: SHORE EROSION CONTROL A FL CORP
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Filing: 1981-07-27
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Granted: 1983-10-04
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Expires: 2001-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A unitized modular structure is provided for utilizing the kinetic energy in waves, tides and winds to effect deposits of fluid entrained alluvium. The modular structure is formed of individual modular elements each of which has a sloping rear surface and a generally concave surface along the front thereof. The modular elements are reinforced interiorly, and certain of the elements are provided with integral foot members to position, stabilize and anchor the unitized structure during and after installation.
Inventors
- 👤 Thom W. Hubbard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:20
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B3/00; E02B3/04; E02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A10/00; Y02A10/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, which comprises introducing into the path of an oncoming flowing fluid a shaped object having an interrupted front wall, said interrupted front wall being provided with a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, said sloping and said concave surfaces being so disposed with respect to one another as to reverse the flow path of said fluid upon itself to deposit adjacent one of said sloping surfaces alluvium entrained therein, said object also having a relatively massive rear wall presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall receiving an oppositely flowing fluid and also being effective to cause deposition of alluvium entrained therein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, which comprises introducing into the path of an oncoming flowing fluid a shaped object having an interrupted front wall, said interrupted front wall being provided with a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, said sloping and said concave surfaces being so disposed with respect to one another as to reverse the flow path of said fluid upon itself to deposit adjacent one of said sloping surfaces alluvium entrained therein, said object also having a relatively massive rear wall presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall receiving an oppositely flowing fluid and also being effective to cause deposition of alluvium entrained therein.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, which comprises introducing into the path of an oncoming flowing fluid a plurality of shaped objects in close side-by-side relation, each of said objects having an interrupted front wall, said interrupted front wall being provided with a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, said sloping and said concave surfaces being so disposed with respect to one another as to reverse the flow path of said fluid upon itself to deposit adjacent one of said sloping surfaces alluvium entrained therein, each of said objects also having a relatively massive rear wall presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall receiving an oppositely flowing fluid and also being effective to cause deposition of alluvium entrained therein.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, which comprises introducing into the path of an oncoming flowing fluid a plurality of shaped objects in close side-by-side relation, each of said objects having an interrupted front wall, said interrupted front wall being provided with a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, said sloping and said concave surfaces being so disposed with respect to one another as to reverse the flow path of said fluid upon itself to deposit adjacent one of said sloping surfaces alluvium entrained therein, each of said objects also having a relatively massive rear wall presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall receiving an oppositely flowing fluid and also being effective to cause deposition of alluvium entrained therein.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of controlling current flow of fluid having alluvium entrained therein, which comprises introducing into the path of an oncoming flowing fluid a shaped object having an interrupted front wall, said interrupted front wall being provided with a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, one of said sloping surfaces terminating in an upstanding front wall surface, said sloping and said concave surfaces being so disposed with respect to one another as to reverse the flow path of said fluid upon itself to deposit closely adjacent said upstanding front wall surface alluvium entrained therein, said object also having a relatively massive rear wall presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall receiving an oppositely flowing fluid and also being effective to cause deposition of alluvium entrained therein.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of controlling current flow of fluid having alluvium entrained therein, which comprises introducing into the path of an oncoming flowing fluid a shaped object having an interrupted front wall, said interrupted front wall being provided with a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, one of said sloping surfaces terminating in an upstanding front wall surface, said sloping and said concave surfaces being so disposed with respect to one another as to reverse the flow path of said fluid upon itself to deposit closely adjacent said upstanding front wall surface alluvium entrained therein, said object also having a relatively massive rear wall presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall receiving an oppositely flowing fluid and also being effective to cause deposition of alluvium entrained therein.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, which comprises introducing into the path of an oncoming flowing fluid a plurality of shaped objects in close side-by-side relation, each of said objects having an interrupted front wall, said interrupted front wall being provided with a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, one of said sloping surfaces terminating in an upstanding front wall surface, said sloping and said concave surfaces being so disposed with respect to one another as to reverse the flow path of said fluid upon itself to deposit closely adjacent said upstanding front wall surface alluvium entrained therein, each of said objects also having a relatively massive rear wall presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall receiving an oppositely flowing fluid and also being effective to cause deposition of alluvium entrained therein adjacent the lower end of said uninterrupted surface along the base of said rear wall.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, which comprises introducing into the path of an oncoming flowing fluid a plurality of shaped objects in close side-by-side relation, each of said objects having an interrupted front wall, said interrupted front wall being provided with a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, one of said sloping surfaces terminating in an upstanding front wall surface, said sloping and said concave surfaces being so disposed with respect to one another as to reverse the flow path of said fluid upon itself to deposit closely adjacent said upstanding front wall surface alluvium entrained therein, each of said objects also having a relatively massive rear wall presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall receiving an oppositely flowing fluid and also being effective to cause deposition of alluvium entrained therein adjacent the lower end of said uninterrupted surface along the base of said rear wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, comprising a shaped structure configured to present in side elevation a relatively massive rear wall portion and an interrupted front wall portion, said front wall portion being provided with a pair of spaced-apart forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, said shaped structure being effective when located in opposed paths of fluid flow to interrupt by said front wall portion one of said paths of fluid flow to effect reversal thereof, causing alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said front wall portion, said rear wall portion presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall interrupting an opposed path of fluid flow to cause alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said rear wall portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, comprising a shaped structure configured to present in side elevation a relatively massive rear wall portion and an interrupted front wall portion, said front wall portion being provided with a pair of spaced-apart forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, said shaped structure being effective when located in opposed paths of fluid flow to interrupt by said front wall portion one of said paths of fluid flow to effect reversal thereof, causing alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said front wall portion, said rear wall portion presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall interrupting an opposed path of fluid flow to cause alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said rear wall portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
208 words
Apparatus for controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, comprising a shaped structure which includes a plurality of connected modular elements each of which is configured to present in side elevation a relatively massive rear wall portion and an interrupted front wall portion, said front wall portion being provided with a pair of spaced-apart forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, each of said modular elements also having a base portion connected to said front and rear wall portions, said shaped structure being effective when located upon the base portions of each of said modular elements to interrupt by said front wall portion one of said paths of fluid flow to effect reversal thereof, causing alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said front wall portion, said rear wall portion presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall interrupting an opposed path of fluid flow to cause alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said rear wall portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
208 words
Apparatus for controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, comprising a shaped structure which includes a plurality of connected modular elements each of which is configured to present in side elevation a relatively massive rear wall portion and an interrupted front wall portion, said front wall portion being provided with a pair of spaced-apart forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, each of said modular elements also having a base portion connected to said front and rear wall portions, said shaped structure being effective when located upon the base portions of each of said modular elements to interrupt by said front wall portion one of said paths of fluid flow to effect reversal thereof, causing alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said front wall portion, said rear wall portion presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said rear wall interrupting an opposed path of fluid flow to cause alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said rear wall portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Controlling apparatus of the character defined in claim 6 in which the base portion of certain of said modular elements includes an integral shaped foot portion for positioning, stabilizing and anchoring said shaped structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, comprising a unitary modular structure which includes a plurality of modular elements adapted to be positioned in close side-by-side relation, each of said elements having a base portion, a relatively massive rear wall portion presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said front wall portion contoured to include a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, each of said modular elements being effective when located in opposed paths of fluid flow to interrupt by said front wall one of said paths of fluid flow to effect reversal thereof, causing alluvium entrained therein to be deposited along said base portion of each of said modular elements, said rear wall portion interrupting an opposed path of fluid flow to cause alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said rear wall portion of each of said modular elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for controlling current flow of fluids having alluvium entrained therein, comprising a unitary modular structure which includes a plurality of modular elements adapted to be positioned in close side-by-side relation, each of said elements having a base portion, a relatively massive rear wall portion presenting an upwardly and forwardly directed planar surface, the top longitudinal edge of said rear wall forming a vortex along the top longitudinal edge of said front wall, and said front wall portion contoured to include a pair of spaced-apart, forwardly and downwardly directed sloping surfaces and a connecting concave surface, both of said sloping surfaces being substantially flat and extending across a common plane, each of said modular elements being effective when located in opposed paths of fluid flow to interrupt by said front wall one of said paths of fluid flow to effect reversal thereof, causing alluvium entrained therein to be deposited along said base portion of each of said modular elements, said rear wall portion interrupting an opposed path of fluid flow to cause alluvium entrained therein to be deposited adjacent the bottom of said rear wall portion of each of said modular elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which the base portion of certain of said modular elements includes an integral shaped foot portion for positioning, stabilizing and anchoring said unitary modular structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Controlling apparatus of the character defined in claim 6, which includes reinforcing means interiorly of the shaped structure for rigidifying said front and rear wall portions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
Controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 8, which includes reinforcing means interiorly of each of said modular elements for rigidifying said front and rear wall portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
Controlling apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which the shaped structure includes a base portion having internal passages for forcing fluid therethrough under pressure to force away from the situs of said shaped structure any unwanted particulate material prior to seating of said structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
Controlling apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which the shaped structure includes a base portion having an integral foot member for positioning, stabilizing and anchoring said shaped structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-03 | 1987-04-04 | 1987-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-03 | 1991-04-04 | 1991-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-03 | 1995-04-04 | 1995-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |