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US 12,213,462 B2Granted
Mushroom forest artificial reef
AssigneeQatar University
InventorBruno Welter Giraldes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to articles used as an artificial reef and/or used as a part of an artificial reef, methods of making the articles, methods of using the articles, and methods of forming artificial reefs. The articles include a top, at least one support member, and optionally, a base. In some embodiments, the water permeability of the top of the article is greater (and in some embodiments, at least 10% greater) than the water permeability of the support, the water permeability of the optional base, or both. In preferred embodiments, the top, support(s), and optional base are formed of concrete.
Claims14
An article comprising:
- a top, the water permeability of the top being between 1000 to 5000 millidarcy, wherein the top is in the shape of a sphere section, hemisphere, or dome, and wherein the top comprises a U-shaped deployment link;
- one or more support columns, each support column comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the one or more support columns being connected to the top;
- a base comprising at least one of the one or more support columns being connected to the base;
- and
- at least one reinforcement rod at least partially disposed within the base and extending outwardly in a radial direction from a center of the base, wherein:
- the one or more support columns and the base are cast together in concrete as an integral pre-cast concrete unit,
- an outer end of each reinforcement rod comprises a rigid U-shaped anchor point protruding away from the center of the base,
- the base comprises a top surface connected to at least one of the one or more support columns, a bottom surface being configured for contact with a floor, and at least one lateral surface, wherein the U-shaped anchor points protrude outwardly from the lateral surface, wherein at least one of the U-shaped anchor points is configured to be linked to an anchor point of a second article forming a collection of articles, at least one of the one or more support columns comprises a plurality of through holes making right angles with the top and bottom surfaces, and at least some of the through holes are circular or substantially circular with a diameter in the range of 5 cm to 10 cm so as to allow fluid to pass therethrough and reduce hydrodynamic dragging of the article by strong currents,
- the base further comprises one or more of at least one hole or at least one cavity, and
- wherein the base is substantially disc shaped and has a diameter that is substantially larger than the diameter of each of the one or more support columns such that the base is configured to distribute the weight to limit sinking into the floor.
7 more elements
An artificial reef comprising two or more articles, wherein each article comprises:
- a top, the water permeability of the top being between 1000 to 5000 millidarcy, wherein the top is in the shape of a sphere section, hemisphere, or dome, and wherein the top comprises a U-shaped deployment link;
- one or more support columns, each support column comprising a first end connected to the top, and a second end connected to a base;
- and
- at least one reinforcement rod at least partially disposed within the base and extending outwardly in a radial direction from a center of the base, wherein:
- the one or more support columns and the base are cast together in concrete as an integral pre-cast concrete unit, wherein an outer end of each reinforcement rod comprises a rigid anchor point protruding away from the center of the base, wherein the base comprises a top surface connected to at least one of the one or more support columns, a bottom surface being configured for contact with a floor, and at least one lateral surface, wherein the rigid anchor points protrude outwardly from the lateral surface, wherein at least one of the rigid anchor points is linked to an anchor point of a second article forming a collection of articles, at least one of the one or more support columns comprises a plurality of through holes making right angles with the top and bottom surfaces, and at least some of the through holes are circular or substantially circular with a diameter in the range of 5 cm to 10 cm so as to allow fluid to pass therethrough and reduce hydrodynamic dragging of the article by strong currents,
- the base further comprises one or more of at least one hole or at least one cavity, and
- the base is substantially disc shaped and has a diameter that is substantially larger than the diameter of each of the one or more support columns such that the base is configured to distribute the weight to limit sinking into the floor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.