Concrete Breakwater Cover Element With Reduced-Material Interlocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing breakwater and jetty constructions require significant material consumption and complex interconnection mechanisms, often involving X/H-shaped elements with multiple protrusions, which can be cumbersome and costly.

Innovation Solution

A cover element design with a modified X/H-shape, where diagonally opposite legs are removed, allowing for efficient placement in rows with noses supporting each other, reducing material usage and enhancing stability through interlocking mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If X/H-shaped cover elements with multiple protrusions are used, then stability and interconnection are improved, but material consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidmaterial consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes two diagonally opposite legs from the traditional X/H-shaped cover element, extracting only the essential interconnection features (two adjacent legs and two noses) while eliminating redundant material. This extraction maintains the core functionality of interlocking and stability while significantly reducing concrete consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover element is segmented into distinct functional parts: a plate portion with two adjacent legs for interconnection, two noses for supporting upper elements, and optional anchoring features. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without the need for a complete X/H-shape structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If X/H-shaped cover elements with multiple protrusions are used, then stability and interconnection are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By removing two diagonally opposite legs from the X/H-shape, the patent simplifies the cover element geometry while retaining the essential interconnection capability through the remaining two adjacent legs and two noses. This reduction in complexity facilitates easier manufacturing and placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent concentrates interconnection features at specific locations: two adjacent legs at corners of the plate portion and two noses at opposite edges. This localized distribution of functional features achieves effective interconnection without requiring complex structures throughout the entire element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If diagonally opposite legs are removed from X/H-shape, then material consumption is reduced, but interconnection capability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial consumptionVSAvoidinterconnection

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The remaining two legs and two noses perform multiple functions: the legs provide interconnection with adjacent elements in the same row, the noses support upper rows of cover elements, and they collectively contribute to the overall stability and wave-breaking functionality of the breakwater structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3513005B1Cover element of concrete for a breakwater or jetty construction, as well as breakwater or jetty construction provided with a plurality of such elements

Publication Date: 2025.10.29 KONINKLIJKE BAM GROEP NV

Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a concrete cover element (140) for a breakwater or jetty construction. The cover element (140) comprises a plate portion (16) and two noses (17, 18). The plate portion (16) lies in the xy-plane and has a thickness (T). The two noses (17, 18) project in opposite directions from the plate portion (16) and form a single part with the plate portion. The plate portion (16) is to be imagined as being formed from a quadrangular plate (1) whose two opposite plate edges (8, 10) are incised in the middle to form a plate recess (14, 15), and whose corners (4, 6) located on the first plate diagonal (2) are both cut off along a first secant (22). The plate portion (16) has a first dimension (D1) measured along the first plate diagonal (2) and a second dimension (D2) measured along the second plate diagonal (3). The first dimension (D1) is smaller than the second dimension (D2).