ES3054465A1 - PREFABRICATED BENTHIC HABITAT - Google Patents

Abstract

A prefabricated benthic habitat composed of a plurality of interconnected prefabricated concrete blocks (10), each block (10) comprising a front face (11), a rear face (12), a plurality of perimeter faces (13), and a hollow inner conduit passing through the block (10) from the front face (11) to the rear face (12); each block (10) being supported and connected to adjacent blocks (10) via contact surfaces (14) provided on at least some of its perimeter faces (13); and wherein the contact surfaces (14) of a given block (10) are inclined relative to each other, all converging at a single center (C) located away from the rear face (12); resulting in a hollow dome-shaped benthic habitat around said center (C), accessible at least via the hollow inner conduits of the blocks (10). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0003] PREFABRICATED BENTHIC HABITAT

[0005] Field of technique

[0006] The present invention relates to a prefabricated benthic habitat composed of a plurality of interconnected blocks made of prefabricated concrete.

[0007] A prefabricated benthic habitat is understood to be an underwater structure that provides a substrate to which various forms of marine life, such as algae, mollusks, corals, sponges, etc., can attach, and that also provides crevices and shelters where small animals, such as fish, crustaceans, or larvae, can take refuge from larger predators. These types of structures are also known as artificial reefs.

[0008] State of the art

[0009] Prefabricated benthic habitats composed of a plurality of interconnected blocks made of prefabricated concrete are known.

[0010] For example, document CN110268118A describes prefabricated concrete blocks that have an internal hollow conduit and can be grouped and/or stacked to form a benthic habitat.

[0011] In this document, each block has openings in three distinct orthogonal directions, allowing an accumulation of blocks to maintain passageways through it regardless of its arrangement. However, such blocks with openings in three directions are difficult and expensive to manufacture using molds, which limits their application.

[0012] The use of hollow prefabricated elements, such as concrete pipes, is also known; when stacked, these provide a benthic habitat. However, this solution is not very stable in the face of strong underwater currents and requires a very laborious installation that must be carried out by divers, increasing both the time and cost of installation.

[0013] The present invention proposes solutions to these and other problems.

[0015] Brief description of the invention

[0016] The present invention relates to a prefabricated benthic habitat, as described in claim 1.

[0017] The proposed prefabricated benthic habitat is composed of a plurality of interconnected blocks made of prefabricated concrete.

[0018] Each block consists of a front face, a back face, a plurality of perimeter faces, and a hollow inner channel that runs through the block from the front face to the back face.

[0019] The perimeter faces connect the front face to the back face and surround the hollow inner conduit. Therefore, each block is formed as a tube open at both ends, allowing the passage of water currents and also of small life forms that wish to take refuge in the proposed benthic habitat. This construction is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0020] Each constituent block of the benthic habitat is supported and connected to adjacent blocks via contact surfaces provided on at least some of its perimeter faces. These contact surfaces face and connect to contact surfaces of adjacent blocks.

[0021] The present invention also proposes, in a manner not known by the known state of the art, that the contact surfaces of the same block are inclined with respect to each other, all of them converging at the same center distanced from the rear face.

[0022] That is to say, the contact surfaces of a single block, which are arranged on at least some of its perimeter faces, are not parallel to each other, but rather exhibit a certain convergent inclination towards a single center, external to the block. Therefore, the contact surfaces of a single block define a perimeter whose cross-section, perpendicular to the central axis of the central hollow conduit, decreases from the front face to the back face, in the form of a truncated pyramid, where the aforementioned center would be the apex of the pyramid, where each contact surface would be a facet of the truncated pyramid, and where the front face would be the base of the truncated pyramid. The grouping of these blocks, connected through their respective contact surfaces, produces a benthic habitat in the shape of a hollow dome around this center. The interior of the hollow dome will be accessible at least through the hollow interior conduits of the blocks, offering shelter to benthic beings and allowing the entry of fresh water and sunlight.

[0023] The dome shape is very stable against horizontal forces of any direction, providing a very stable structure in water currents. This geometry provides sufficient stability to allow assembly by simple stacking, without the need for additional fixings to be installed by the divers, thus speeding up and reducing the cost of installation.

[0025] Brief description of the figures

[0026] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as illustrative and not limiting, in which:

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the benthic habitat, according to an embodiment in which the blocks are hexagonal and pentagonal;

[0028] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a single block, according to an embodiment in which the contact surfaces protrude from the perimeter faces;

[0029] Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of a cross-section of the joining area between three adjacent blocks, according to an embodiment in which the perimeter faces are the contact surfaces;

[0030] Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of a cross-section of the joining area between three adjacent blocks, according to an embodiment in which the contact surfaces protrude from the facing perimeter faces, as in Fig. 2;

[0031] Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of a cross-section of the joining area between three adjacent blocks, according to an embodiment in which some of the contact surfaces protrude from the facing perimeter faces and rest on regions of the perimeter faces of the adjacent blocks that function as contact surfaces, with the protrusions also remaining in lateral contact;

[0032] Fig. 6 shows an enlarged view of a cross-section of the joining area between three adjacent blocks, according to an embodiment in which some contact surfaces protrude from some perimeter faces and rest on recessed contact surfaces of the perimeter faces of the adjacent blocks.

[0034] Detailed description of the invention and some examples of its embodiment

[0035] The attached figures show examples of embodiment for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0036] The proposed prefabricated benthic habitat is composed of a plurality of interconnected blocks (10) made of prefabricated concrete.

[0037] Each block (10) consists of a front face (11), a back face (12), a plurality of perimeter faces (13), and a hollow inner channel that runs through the block (10) from the front face (11) to the back face (12).

[0038] Each block (10) is supported and connected to adjacent blocks (10) by means of contact surfaces (14), provided on at least some of its perimeter faces (13), facing and connected to contact surfaces (14) of the adjacent blocks (10). The contact surfaces (14) of the same block (10) are inclined with respect to each other, all of them converging at the same center (C) located away from the rear face (12).

[0039] The benthic habitat resulting from fixing the blocks through their contact surfaces with the described geometry is a benthic habitat with a hollow dome shape around said center (C), the aforementioned hollow interior being accessible at least through the hollow interior conduits of the blocks (10).

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact surfaces (14) can be the perimeter faces (13), with which the blocks will be in contact with each other.

[0041] Alternatively, the contact surfaces (14) can protrude from the perimeter faces (13), defining a separation between the facing perimeter faces (13) of adjacent blocks (10).

[0042] The protruding contact surfaces can rest on other protruding contact surfaces of adjacent blocks, so that the separation created between the facing perimeter faces (13) will be the sum of the height of the protrusions of both contact surfaces.

[0043] Alternatively, the protruding contact surfaces can rest on other coplanar contact surfaces with the corresponding perimeter face of adjacent blocks, so that the separation created between the facing perimeter faces (13) will simply be the height of the protrusion of the contact surface.

[0044] In any case, the separation between the facing perimeter faces will offer refuge to small life forms, increasing the biological function of the benthic habitat.

[0045] According to another alternative embodiment, the contact surfaces (14) may be defined in raised areas and recesses of facing perimeter faces (13), determining a contact by insertion of the raised contact surfaces (14) into the recessed contact surfaces (14).

[0046] Preferably, the protrusions shall have a height, relative to the respective perimeter face (13), greater than the depth of the recesses relative to the respective perimeter face (13), defining a separation between the facing perimeter faces (13) of adjacent blocks (10). This solution, in addition to creating a separation between the facing perimeter faces, provides a much more robust anchoring between adjacent blocks, since the insertion of the protrusions into the recesses ensures correct positioning and prevents accidental displacement.

[0047] It is also proposed that the contact surfaces (14) of the different blocks (10) can be joined together by friction alone, without the need for any other mechanical or chemical anchors, which would require installation on site by the divers.

[0048] According to another embodiment, the facing and joined contact surfaces (14) may include respective complementary retaining reliefs that increase friction between them, preventing relative displacement between the blocks (10).

[0049] The additional retention reliefs may be selected from the following: surface roughness, surface roughness of at least 3mm depth, point protrusion arrays, succession of linear protrusions.

[0050] The point or linear protrusions of one contact surface may be interleaved with the point or linear protrusions of the complementary contact surface, providing an interlock between the two contact surfaces that hinders or prevents relative displacement. Similarly, the surface roughness of one contact surface may interlock with the surface roughness of the opposing contact surface, increasing retention.

[0051] The blocks (10) may have, according to one embodiment, a section, transverse to the hollow inner conduit, decreasing from the front face (11) to the back face (12).

[0052] The blocks (10) may have a polygonal cross-section, transverse to the hollow inner conduit. The combination of the two above characteristics would produce a block with a general geometry in the form of a truncated pyramid, in which the front face will be the base of the pyramid and the perimeter faces will be the facets of the pyramid.

[0053] For example, the blocks (10) of the benthic habitat may include blocks of hexagonal and pentagonal cross-section, perpendicular to the hollow inner conduit. The combination of identical hexagons and identical pentagons allows the creation of a perfect dome with only two different pieces.

[0054] Preferably, the hollow inner conduit can define inner faces (15) of the block (10) parallel to the perimeter faces (13), defining block walls (10) of constant thickness.

[0055] It is also proposed that the dome-shaped benthic habitat may have a base defined by a plurality of coplanar perimeter faces (13) of different adjacent blocks joined together to form a ring. Since all these perimeter faces are coplanar, they can rest on a flat bottom, such as a sandy bottom, forming a ring of blocks on which to stack the remaining blocks constituting the benthic habitat.

[0056] Optionally, it is contemplated that the concrete constituting the blocks (10) may include an acidic chemical admixture that gives the resulting concrete a pH between 5.5 and 8. Concrete is typically a highly alkaline product, with a pH above 8, which can hinder the settlement of certain pH-sensitive life forms on its surface. The addition of acidic admixtures to the mass concrete, before it sets, allows the pH of the resulting concrete to be reduced. In this case, it is proposed to add acidic admixtures in a sufficient proportion to reduce the pH to a value between 5.5 and 8, which can be considered a neutral pH. The acidic chemical admixture may be present at a percentage of between 5% and 15% of the cement weight to achieve this result.

[0057] It is also proposed that the concrete constituting the blocks (10) may include a lightweight aggregate or a lightweight aggregate made of expanded clay.

[0058] The use of lightweight aggregates reduces the weight of each block, simplifying its handling by the divers and allowing its manual installation.

[0059] In addition, the incorporation of lightweight aggregates or lightweight aggregates made of expanded clay increases the porosity of the resulting block, which facilitates its colonization by benthic life forms.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS 1. Prefabricated benthic habitat composed of a plurality of interconnected blocks (10) made of prefabricated concrete, where Each block (10) is formed by a front face (11), a back face (12), a plurality of perimeter faces (13), and a hollow inner channel that passes through the block (10) from the front face (11) to the back face (12); wherein Each block (10) is supported and connected to adjacent blocks (10) through contact surfaces (14), provided on at least some of its perimeter faces (13), facing and connected to contact surfaces (14) of the adjacent blocks (10); characterized in that The contact surfaces (14) of the same block (10) are inclined with respect to each other, all of them converging at the same center (C) located away from the back face (12); and where The benthic habitat has a hollow dome shape around said center (C), accessible at least through the hollow inner conduits of the blocks (10). 2. The benthic habitat according to claim 1 wherein the contact surfaces (14) are the perimetric faces (13). 3. The benthic habitat according to claim 1 wherein the contact surfaces (14) protrude from the perimeter faces (13), defining a separation between the facing perimeter faces (13) of adjacent blocks (10). 4. The benthic habitat according to claim 1 wherein the contact surfaces (14) are defined in raised areas and recesses of facing peripheral faces (13), determining a contact by insertion of the raised contact surfaces (14) into the recessed contact surfaces (14). 5. The benthic habitat according to claim 4 wherein the ridges have a height, with respect to the respective perimeter face (13), greater than the depth of the recesses with respect to the respective perimeter face (13), defining a separation between the facing perimeter faces (13) of adjacent blocks (10). 6. The benthic habitat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the contact surfaces (14) of the different blocks (10) are joined together only by friction. 7. The benthic habitat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the facing and joined contact surfaces (14) include respective complementary retention reliefs that increase friction between them, preventing relative displacement between the blocks (10). 8. The benthic habitat according to claim 7 wherein the complementary retention reliefs are selected from: surface roughness, surface roughness of at least 3mm depth, point ridge matrices, succession of linear ridges. 9. The benthic habitat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocks (10) have a cross-section, transverse to the hollow inner conduit, decreasing from the front face (11) to the rear face (12). 10. The benthic habitat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocks (10) have a cross-section, transverse to the hollow inner conduit, polygonal. 11. The benthic habitat according to claim 10 wherein the blocks (10) include blocks of cross-section, transverse to the hollow inner conduit, hexagonal and pentagonal. 12. The benthic habitat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hollow inner conduit defines inner faces (15) of the block (10) parallel to the peripheral faces (13), defining block walls (10) of constant thickness. 13. The benthic habitat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the dome-shaped benthic habitat has a base defined by a plurality of perimetric faces (13) coplanar with each other of different blocks. 14. The benthic habitat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the concrete constituting the blocks (10) includes an acidic chemical additive that provides a pH between 5.5 and 8. 15. The benthic habitat according to claim 14 wherein the acidic chemical additive is in a percentage of between 5% and 15% of the weight of the cement. 16. The benthic habitat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the concrete constituting the blocks (10) includes a lightweight aggregate or a lightweight aggregate formed by expanded clay.