Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
1
DIKE MODULE
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
s The present invention relates to a dike module
fillable with a filling material for the reinforcement,
heightening, repair and/or reconstruction of a dike, with a
container having a :length of between 0,5 m and 500 m and a
height of between 0,25 m and 5 m, said container receiving
to the filling material and being provided with a lower side
resting on the ground and with two front sides orientated
transversely to the water front, and with a supporting
device holding the container ready f_or use, whereas the
lower side of the container is at least partially so
15 flexible that the lower side adapts to the ground.
2. Description of the prior art
Dikes are constructed on the coast, alongside rivers
or on other water shores to prevent flooding in case of
2o spring tides or flood~.s. In practice, these dikes often
proved to be too low, too weak or damaged and could thus
not withstand the water floods.
In order to re:in.force or heighten dikes in an easy and
fast manner, DE 44 17 672 suggested to lay one or several
2s fabric hoses on the dike, said hoses being filled
pneumatically from a central filling station with sand or
the like. Several of these fabric hoses may then be
superposed in the way required by the actual situation"
Such nearly endless hoses are difficult to fill, since the
3o necessary pneumatic filling stations are usually not at.
hand and since the .filling takes up a great amount of t=ime.
US 4,921,373 d:Lscloses a flood retaining dam
consisting in a combination of a multitude of portable
retaining dams filled. with a liquid. Each retaining dam has
35 a front and a rear A-like carrier. A flexible container is
tentered between the two of them, whereas the A-like
carriers are privotabl.e at their peak so that they are
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
2
foldable. To install this flood retaining dam is laborious
and expensive, since lots of individual retaining dams are
required and have to be installed. After the flood barrier
has been erected, it is pumped full of water. Although.
s pumps of appropriate strength can be used herefor, this
results in significant cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
to On these premises, the object of the present invention
is to provide a dike module with the help of which a dike
may be reinforced, heightened, repaired and/or rebuilt in a
fast, easy and cheap manner and which reliably and durably
dams the water up, arid which can be easily filled with.
15 filling material and emptied.
The technical solution provided by the invention is to
develop the above-mentioned dike module i.n equipping it
with a container having an opening which is orientated.
towards the top and/or towards the 'water side for receiving
2o the filling materia:L and by positioning within the
container a carrier device which is a rigid bearing
structure with at least two cross frames and two length
beams. Preferably wager, particularly water from the waters
to be dammed up, sand, gravel, earth, stones, mud, clay,
25 stone chips, rumble, concrete, dross or a combination of at
least some of the previously cited materials may be used as
filling material.
A dike module made according to the teachings of this
invention has the advantage that, thanks to the partial
~o flexibility of the container, the dike module adapts t.o the
given surface outline. and provides a good sealing between
the dike module and t=he ground, in the way sand bags would
do.
Another advantage of the first embodiment of the dike
module according to i=he invention is that the container may
be filled with filling material from the top and that it
has an opening that :is so big that great and efficient:
machines such as bul:Ldozers, diggers, loading tractors,
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
3
wheel loaders, pump dredgers, tractors or trucks may be
used to fill the dike' module with bulk material.
Another advantage of the dike module according to the
invention is that the water which is available in great
quantity on the site may be used as filling material.
Tests proved that the flood may be successfully dammed up
by a water-filled dil~;e module as long as the water level in
the container is corx-esponding at least approximately to
the water level of the waters outside.
to To fill the container with water, it proved efficient
to provide the lowe-~ part of the container with openings
facing the water side through which the water of the flood
to be dammed up may enter the dike module and through which
it may also flow out when the flood level is dropping.
This second embodiment of the dike module according to the
present invention ha~~ the advantage that it not needs t:o be
filled with bulk material, this feature reducing
considerably the costs not only of material but also of
machines and staff otherwise needed to install the flood
2o protection wall. ThE: costs arising for the removal of the
flood protection wall. are also drast=ically lowered since no
bulk material has to be disposed of and since the dike
module may be reused ad lib.
In a preferred development of t:he dike module
2s according to the invention, the supporting device is
designed as a rigid ~~upport with at least two cross frames
and two length beams, the support being located inside the
container. The length beams are thereby preferably
removably held in the: cross frames. The support composed of
3o rigid components is solid, stable and still movable up to a
certain limit so that: the dike module may also be installed
in a slightly twisted or bent way. This makes it possible
to store the dismounted dike module in a space-saving
manner and to transport it easily. To that purpose, the
35 container made of a textile material is rolled up or folded
and the cross frames and the length beams are piled up for
storage and transpo:rt:ation. On the site, the textile
container is first unfolded at the desired place, then" the
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
4
cross frames are inst:ailed on the front side at a
corresponding spacing before the length beams are inserted
into loops provided on the upper side of the container and
are later suspended in corresponding borings in the cross
s frames. A dike module is thus installed in a very short
period of time by means of these component parts. This dike
module may also be filled with a filling material in a.n
easy and fast manner..
In a preferred embodiment of the dike module according
to to the invention, the front wall of the cont=finer is a.t
least partially fle:x~_ble so that it may adapt to
neighbouring surfaces. This has the advantage that the
dike module may for example be installed against a wall or
against a neighbouring dike module and that the cleft
15 remaining between the two bodies may be closed by the
flexible front wall, so that a water-tight sealing is
achieved. Tests have proved that even if the dike module
is not precisely installed, e.g. in a slight angle to the
adjacent module or wall, a water-tight sealing is still
2o possible.
In another, preferred embodiment, cross bulkheads are
provided in the container that are dividing the container
into several chambe~~~. This has the advantage that, if the
container is damaged, only the filling of this particular
25 chamber is washed out:, the other chambers functioning as
usual.
In still another., preferred embodiment the container
and/or the cross bull~:heads are made of a material that is
resistant to tear anc~ textile-like, particularly of
~o geotextile, flexible synthetics, fabric mats coated with
synthetics, tent-cloth, fleece, woven or plaited materials
or of fibres, particularly linen cloth or fibre reinforced
plastic foils. Such a container has the advantage that the
whole lower width and the whole side wall is so flexible
.s that an optimal sealing is achieved between the lower side
of the dike module and the ground, or between the side wall
of the dike module and the adjacent object. This material
is at the same time so robust and resistant to tear that
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
the forces exerted onto the container by the filling
material are buffered without any problem.
Another advantage is that the dike module made of
decay-resistant geotextile or fleece may remain permanently
in a dike or any other earth dam, so that a durable
heightening or reinf=orcement of the dike is possible. A
dike module per_manerxtly inserted in the dike also hinders
moles, voles, badgez:~s or other animals to build their nests
in the dike, since t:he textile container represents an
1~~ insuperable obstaclE, for them. It thus also reliably
prevents an undermining of the dike.
In a preferred embodiment, the cross frame is designed
as a trapezium, whereas the acute angle of the trapezium is
of between 20° and 90°, preferably 60°. This has the
i:~ advantage that the dike module is given, from a static
point of view, an optimal shape with a low centre of
gravity, as this is known of dikes.
An advantageous dike module is approximately between
0,8 m and 3 m wide, approximately between 0,5 and 2 m nigh
2~~ and up to 250 m long. The opening is extending over the:
entire length and has a width of between 0,5 m and 1,5 m.
In still another embodiment, the support may be
provided with a tension belt for. securing the dike module.
This tension belt is fastened in the soil or on the surface
2~ of the street on the water side by means of an earth nail,
a peg or the like and additionally secures the dike module
against slipping off.
In another preferred development, the supporting
device is designed as at least one chamber filled with gas,
3~ particularly filled with air, that i.s located on the upper
edge of the container. In using water as a filling
material, the gas-filled chamber functions as a float and
is swimming on the surface of the water. Hereby, the
container made of textile material is erected and
35 constitutes thus the dike module. In order to prevent the
container to be pressed apart, which would be an unwanted
effect, beam ties are provided at determined intervals
between the chamber: and are linking the chambers to one
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
6
another.
In a preferred embodiment, holding straps are provided
on the container, p:rE:ferably on the lower' edge of the
container, with the help of which the dike module may
s additionally be secured. To this purpose, earth nails or
pegs are driven into the ground and are engaged into the
holding straps in o:rc~er to secure the dike module.
Such a dike module that has to be filled with bulk
material has the advantage that several dike modules may be
to superposed. To this purpose, two or more dike modules are
first of all installE:d side by side and are filled as well
as the interstices or interstice between dike module and
dike with bulk mate:_ri_al. Then, another dike module is
placed onto the space: between two adjacent dike modules or
15 onto the space between dike module and dike and is filled
together with the newly formed interstices. Thus, it is
possible to build a new dike out of several dike modules,
to reinforce existing dikes or to heighten existing dikes.
Further details may be gathered from the description of the
<:o f figures .
In a preferred embodiment, the container that has to
be filled with bulk material is designed so as to be
slightly permeable to water in order to achieve a
condensation of the filling material and thus an optimal
as adaptation to the unE:ven ground when the waters are rising.
This may for example be achieved by making the container of
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
7
water-permeable fleece, of plaited geotextiles or similar
materials or in perfoz.-ating the container if it is made of
fibre reinforced plastic foils, tent-cloth., plastic
reinforced fabric mats or the like.
__ If this dike module with a water-permeable container
is durably remaining ._n the dike, the filling material is
dewatered by the draining effect of the clothing so that
the dike is prevented from diluting or getting marshy. The
same is true with rain water.
to In an alternative: embodiment, ropes are used instead
of the length beams and the container is suspended on them.
Therefor, the rope is anchored in the soil by means of for
example a peg, an earth nail or the like on one end, then
winded around a first cross frame, passed through the long
m~ loop of the container,. winded around the second cross frame
and so cn until the rope is again anchored into the sail.
This occurs on both sides of the container, so that the
container is reliably held open and is ready for filling.
The dike module according to the invention is
2o universally usable and may be used, not only to rebuild,
reinforce, repair or heighten dams or dikes, but also to
advantageously back-f_L:Li broken-off dike sections.
Furthermore, the dike module according to the invention may
advantageously be used to stabilize slopes or inclines, to
2~s cover and/or recultivate dumps, particularly salt dumps,
waste dumps, coal dumps or the like, to dam up artificial
waters, particularly t=o dam up mud-ponds originating from
the processing of ore and pebble stones, as a military
protection wall and/or to erect noise protection walls in
3o the area of airports or traffic routes.
The dike module according ro the invention may also be
used for the temporary or permanent accomodation of
contaminated substan~~es (solid or liquid) on the site.
These contaminated substances may remain i.n the dike module
on the site of use/a~~c:ident until a definitive disposal is
made possible.
The dike module rnay also be used in case of fire or
accident for short-term damming and/or canalisation of
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
8
water for fire fighting and/or of chemicals spilling out.
The dike module according to the invention may also be
used as oil separator in case of tanker accidents or the
like. To this purpose, the spoiled water is filled in the
first chamber of the dike module. The light oil is swimming
on top and is flowing via the cross bulkhead into the next
chamber, the clean water remaining in the first chamber and
so on, so that the separation of the oil from the water is
achieved.
is To use native soil and/or earth as a filling material
has the advantage that. plants may be set in the dike
modules to grow and to green the dike, the dam, the dump,
the noise protection wall, the incline, the slope or the
like.
1=. Further advantages of the dike module according t.o the
present invention wi:L7_ become more clearly in the
description and in the drawing enclosed. The
characteristics mentioned above and those mentioned below
can be carried out ac<:ording to the invention either
2o individually or in any combination. The embodiments
mentioned are only examples and are not limiting the scope
of the invention. The drawing is showing an embodiment. as
an example of a dike rnodule according to the present
invention, with the a_'~d of which the invention will be
2~~ explained in more de'ails, whereas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dike module
according to the present invention filled with water;
3o FIG. 2 is an exp='_oded view of the dike module
according to Fig. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view across a dike being
reinforced by several dike modules according to the present
invention;
__. Fig. 4 is a sec~uonal view across a dike being
reinforced and heightened by several dike modules according
to the present inven~_~~on;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
9
of a dike module according to the present invention which
is filled with the wager of the waters to be dammed up;
Fig. 6 is a top view of still another embodiment of a
dike module according to the present invention;
= Fig. 7 is a sec:s.onal view of the dike module
according to Fig. 6 along line VII - VII in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a top v=~ew of still another embodiment of a
dike module according to the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a sects.onal view of the dike module
lc according to Fig. 8, along line IX - IX in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is a se~~t:ional side view of a further
embodiment of a dike module according to the present
invention along line X - X in Fig. 11;
Fig. 11 is a se~~t:,~onal cross view of the dike module
1~ according to Fig. 10, along line XI - XI in Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a si~ae view of anoth~=r embodiment of a dike
module according to the present invention;
Fig. 13 is a top view of the dire module accordir_g to
Fig. 12;
2c~ Fig. 14 is a sectional partial view of the dike
module according to :Ligs. 12 and 13, along the line XIV -
XIV in Fig. 12.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS)
2~~ Figs 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a dike module
according to the presE:nt invention which is composed of a
textile container 10 and of a support 12 integrated in the
container and made of steel tubes. 'The support 12 includes
several trapezoid cr~:~~~s frames 1.4 made of steel tubes and
3o several length beams 7_6, also of tubular steel
construction. The te~aile container 10 has an accordingly
trapezoid cross section. Holding elements 18 are welded
rectangularly onto the free ends of 'the length beams 16,
whereas said holding Elements may be inserted into
3=_. corresponding opening~~ 20 on the upper side of the cross
frame 14, so that th~~ support 12 is maintaining the textile
container 10 in a cantilevered, ready-to-use position.
The dike module is installed as follows: first of all,
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
the container made of plastic-reinforced fabric mats or of
geotextile is unfolded on the site where the flood
protection wall needs to be heightened or reinforced. Now,
at least two cross frames 14 are inserted into the
_= container 10, whereas one cross frame 14 is flushed against
the front side 22 of container 10. Then, the first two
length beams 16 are guided through loops 24 provided on the
upper side of container 10 and are inserted into the
opening 20 of the cro:~s frame 14 by means of holding
lc elements 18. Now, the second cross frame 14 is erectec and
the other end of the 7_ength beams 16 is inserted with their
holding elements 18 :into the corresponding openings 20 of
the cross frame 14. The first part of the dike module is
now erected and may :be filled with a filling material such
1= as for example sand, vaater or the like. The remaining part
of the dike module is mounted in a similar way.
In the lower area of the container 10, on the water
side, holding straps a?6 are provided in regular intervals
by means of which the dike module may additionally be
2o secured against gliding off-center. To this end, an earth
nail, a peg or the like is driven through the holding
straps into the soil.
In an embodiment not shown, different cross bulkreads
are arranged in the container 10 and are dividing the
2~ container 10 into sewe ral chambers. It is thus possible to
immediately fill the f=first chambers with a filling
material, even if the dike module is not yet completely
installed, so that a very effective method of working a:nd
mounting is achieved.
3o In the embodiment. shown in Fig. 1, the dike module is
filled with water and is additionally secured by the
holding straps 26 and the earth nails 28. First tests
proved that such a dike module filled with water is already
successfully damming up the waters when the water level in
the dike module approximately corresponds with the water
level in the flood.
The dike module :shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a width of
approximately 2 m at its lower side, a height of
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
11
approximately 1 m and a length of about 50 m, whereas cross
frames are provided at a spacing of 5 m. The trapezium
angle is 60°, so that: the filling opening, which is
extending over the entire length of t:he dike module, has a
s width of approximate:l_y 1 m. On the water side as well as on
the land side textil~:e holding straps 26 are also providf~d
at a spacing of 5 m t:c prevent the dike module from
slipping off. That L~~ why it is also possible to insta:Ll
this dike module on <:~r~. inclined ground.
to In other embodiments not shown it is also possible to
make the dike module ~;horter or longer, whereas possiblf=_
lengths may range between 0,5 m and 500 m. In other
embodiments it is also possible to adapt the height of the
dike module to the ac:t.ua1 requirement=s . It is for examp:Le
15 conceivable to build G. dike module having a width of 2 m
and a height of 3 m. Particularly dice modules to be fi:Lled
with water may have a height of up to 5 m, whereas in this
case, their width may be of up to 8 rn.
In Figs 3 and 4, dike modules according to the first
2o embodiment presented i.n Figs 1 and 2 are shown with the
difference that they ~.re now filed with sand or another
bulk material. As may be seen from I~igs 3 and 4, it is
easily possible tc i-m:tall the dike rnodule on the land site
to reinforce and/or heighten the exi:~ting dike. To this
2s purpose, a first dike module is installed in the way
described above at they bottom of the dike and is then
filled with bulk material together w:Lth the interstice
between the dike mod~.zl.e and the dike. A second dike module
is then placed onto the bulk material, whereas here too,
3o the dike module and the new interstice are filled with bulk
material and so on. I:t is thus poss:Lble to reinforce the
existing dike as may be required and even to heighten i~,
if necessary and if there are enough dike modules
available. It is in the same way possible to erect a
3s completely new dike.
In Fig. 5, a sect>nd embodiment of a dike module
according to the present invention is shown which
corresponds to the first embodiment represented in the Figs
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
i2
1 and 2. In addition to the first embodiment shown in Figs
1 and 2, several openings 30 are provided here on the water
side of the dike module through which the water of the.
waters to be dammed ~.zp may enter the container 10. This
__ makes it possible to use the water o:f the waters to be
dammed up as filling material for the dike module.
Unlike the first. embodiment, the embodiment according
to Fig. 5 is provided with tension belts 32 arranged on the
support 12, said tension belts being held by earth nails,
to pegs or the like. T:he tension belts 32 are kept in place
by bars 34 welded onto the cross frame 14 and may be
tentered accurately icy means of ratchet spanners arranged
onto the bars.
The cross frame 14 is consisting of steel tubes welded
1=_. together and having .a diameter of approximately 70 mm to
100 mm. The length beams 16 are also made of steel tubes
having a diameter of 70 mm to 100 mm. The cross frame 14
has got thereby a trapezoid shape, the acute angle of the
trapezium being of 60° to 75°.
2o When using water as a filling material, the container
is made of a water--tight, tear-resistant and textile-
like material, particularly of plastic-reinforced fabric
mats. These fabric mats may for example be obtained under
the trade name Trevira. Wher~ using bulk materials such as
2~~ for example sand for a filling material, the container 10
is made of geotextil:~ or fleece, which is slightly
permeable to water. This quality brings the bulk material
to settle so that an optimal adaptation to the ground as
well as a durable draining is achieved.
3o In Figs 6 and 7, a third embodiment of a dike module
according to the present invention is shown, that is also
filled with water. 'This dike module includes a flexible,
water-tight, textile-7_ike container 40, on each upper edge
of which a chamber 42 to be filled with ai.r is
longitudinally arranged. Several beam ties 44 are arranged
between the chambers, said beam ties having the function to
prevent the container 40 to be pressed apart by the water
pressure. Here too, 7_oops 46 are provided at regular
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
13
intervals in the lowex, area, earth nails, pegs or the like
being guided through them in order to secure the dike
module.
This dike module is transported in a rolled up or
folded state and is unfolded on the site at the required
location. Then, the :chambers 42 are for example filled with
compressed air before the container 40 is filled with
water. The air-filled chambers 42 are now floating or: the
surface of the water in the container 40, so that, as t:he
is container 40 is getting filled, it also gets higher until
it reaches its defin:it:ive size. Such a container, having a
width of up to 3 m, may reach a height of up to 5 m. In an
embodiment not shown, the container 40 has a trapezoid
section in order to be better able to buffer the aggressing
1=_ forces of the flood.
In Figs 8 and 9, a fourth embodiment of the dike
module according to the present invention is shown. Its
functioning is quite similar to the one of the third
embodiment represented in Figs 6 and 7. The only
2o difference is that here, several superposed air chambers 42
are provided that con:~titute the entire wall of the
container on the water side as well as on the land side. In
this embodiment, two rows of beam ties 44 are arranged one
above the other in order to keep the different chambers 42
2~, in the required posit~'_on.
In another embod_'_ment of the dike module accordir_g to
the present invention which is shown in Figs 10 and 11., the
container 50 is desi_~med as a hose or a tube and is made of
water-tight, flexible, plastic-reinforced fabric mats.
3o Rings 52 made of plastic, metal or steel are arranged at
regular intervals in raid container 50. Said container 50
is filled with water either on the front side or via filler
necks not shown provided on the upper side. This dike
module too is secured against sliding off by loops 54.
The heavy weight of the water inside the container is
pressing onto the flexible material of the container 50 and
is pressing it off the steel ring 52 in the lower area, so
that this dike module is given a comparatively big seat on
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
14
the ground. A good sealing of uneven places on the ground
is thus achieved at the same time.
In another embodiment of the dike module according to
the invention that is shown in Figs 12 and 14, the
container 60 has a trapezoid section and is composed of a
shell 62 on its water side and of a shell 64 on its land
side, said shells being made of hard plastic and whereas an
approximately 50 cm wide strip of flexible, tear-resistant
and textile material is provided between the two shells 62,
m 64. The sealing of the container relative to the ground and
to the side surfaces adjacent to the container is achieved
via this strip 66. This container 60 too may be
additionally secured from slipping off via loops 68
arranged in the lower area. It is also possible to install
1~~ on the water side a textile apron 69 that prevents the dike
module from being washed away.
CA 02340349 2001-02-13
List of numerals
LO container
1<? support
14 cross frame
1F> length beam
1F3 holding element
l0 20 opening
22 front side
24 loop
2Fp holding strap
~f3 earth nail
1_== 30 opening
3a? tension belt
34 bar
40 container
42 chamber
44 beam tie
46 holding strap
~0 container
5<'? steel ring
50 container
2~~ 5?. shell
64 shell
56 strip
6f3 holding strap
~9 apron
