Prefabricated levee apparatus and system

Abstract

A levee apparatus and system for impeding and controlling the flow of fluids, primarily the flow of water as experienced in a flood or storm surge consisting of a light weight concrete structure with reinforcing steel rebar depending on the application. It is constructed from prefabricated sections with the tongue and groove ends designed to fit together which, when used in conjunction with a rubber gasket, will produce a water tight seal. The structure would be hollow with an opening along the unprotected face to provide a location for the surge water to enter. The structure would have flap-gates on the protected side and on the unprotected side. This would allow flood waters from the protected side to push open the flap-gate and exit the protected side based on the pressure equalization of the flood waters. Once inside the structure any water would then drain from the structure through the flap-gate on the unprotected side when the surge water diminishes. The structure could be placed simply on top of the existing soils or anchored in place to prevent potential changes in alignment. Two main modifications to this design include utilization of a rubberized base which would allow the top portion of the structure to rise into position, and the adjustment of the flap-gate position to change the use of the structure from solely a flood protection system to a retention control system.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 898,853 (“the '853 application”) filed Feb. 1, 2007. The '853 application is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]In general, the present invention relates to a levee apparatus and system for impeding and controlling the flow of fluids, primarily the flow of water as experienced in a flood or storm surge.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The currently available levee designs are limited. The main designs in use are earthen levees or piling supported panels. Earthen levees require large quantities of specific material types for which the source can be difficult to find near the areas of construction, thus in significantly increasing costs of the structure. These earthen levees also require large land acquisitions and can take multiple years for construction. Maintenance will also be required for the structure to continue providing consistent levels of protection. This maintenan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present inventive levee apparatus and system allows for the product to be manufactured at a location offsite and then transported to the construction site using traditional shipping methods. This process is faster and doesn't require the complications of specialized equipment. This design also addresses the need for water to be removed from the protected side without mechanical pumps, electricity, or personnel. It addresses the need for protection in areas of poor quality soils and incorporates the water that would surge from the unprotected side by providing a temporary storage area for the water during critical storm times.

[0012]An alternative embodiment of the invention includes utilization of a rubberized base which would allow the top portion of the lightweight concrete structure to rise into position providing additional levels of protection without affecting the aesthetics of the location or increasing the footprint of the structure. This design would also allow the lightweight concrete structure to provide a larger reservoir for surge waters.

[0013]A further embodiment would be alternative placement of the protected side flap gate. The flap-gate position can change the use of the lightweight concrete structure from solely a flood protection system to a retention control system. The retention control applications could be use for dredging material during marsh creation projects. The lightweight nature of the structure would be useful in areas which the soils cannot provide the same amount of stability for the retention levees as it can for the placement of the dredge material.

[0014]The physical design of the lightweight concrete structure can be altered to provide maximum scour protection from the unprotected side or to minimize the footprint. When compared to the existing systems, this lightweight concrete structure provides both function and stability without additional costs or land acquisition. It is a structure with unmatched versatility.

Problems solved by technology

The currently available levee designs are limited.

Earthen levees require large quantities of specific material types for which the source can be difficult to find near the areas of construction, thus in significantly increasing costs of the structure.

These earthen levees also require large land acquisitions and can take multiple years for construction.

A piling supported design reduces the footprint of a levee, however the costs for construction increase due to the large equipment required for installation.

The underlying soils can also affect the design by not providing enough friction to offset the uplifting forces.

The friction needed increases pile lengths translating into additional construction and installation costs.

This type of structure can also fail when repeatedly hit by strong waves during storm events.

The inadequacies of piling supported design have been made evident during recent catastrophic flooding in the Southern United States following severe hurricanes.

Both of these types of design limit the amount of water that can be removed from the protected side.

The use of pumps becomes critical during storms as there must be personnel available to service the pumps during their pumping cycles and areas of diminished protection, reducing safety levels for surrounding property.

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