Scour Protection System

Abstract

A scour protection system comprising one or more bags placed in an underwater location to prevent scour caused by the flow of water, wherein the bags can be filled with matter in situ to form interconnecting blocks, and the visible upper surfaces of the bags resemble rocks or other features.

1 . Scour protection apparatus, said apparatus comprising one or more containment means, said containment means placed in a location to prevent scour, each of said containment means substantially filled with matter to form blocks, wherein at least a portion of all outer surface of said containment means is adapted to have an appearance sympathetic with at least one feature of the location. 
   
   
       2 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said containment means are bags with a specific base shape. 
   
   
       3 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said bags are formed from fabric with connecting seams. 
   
   
       4 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said bags include one or more reinforced sections, stiffeners, and/or flame sections to help form and/or maintain shape of the block. 
   
   
       5 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said bags are formed to foldable sheet material to allow the bags to be moved between a flattened folded configuration and an erect configuration. 
   
   
       6 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the specific base shape is square. 
   
   
       7 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said matter is selected from a group consisting of grout, concrete, sand, stones and/or other aggregate material. 
   
   
       8 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein valve means and/or filter means are provided to prevent escape of the matter placed in said containment means. 
   
   
       9 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a hose can be provided to connect to said containment means, to fill the same with matter and/or release trapped air, water and/or matter. 
   
   
       10 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said containment means is provided with an outer layer and one or more inner layers. 
   
   
       11 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said outer layer is permeable and one or more of said inner layers is impermeable. 
   
   
       12 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said apparatus further includes regular blocks and deep blocks, the deep blocks for placement around the edge of the location. 
   
   
       13 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said containment means are substantially filled with said matter after being placed in the location. 
   
   
       14 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said location is under water. 
   
   
       15 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one feature is rock. 
   
   
       16 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said at least a portion of the outer surface is colored and/or textured to resemble said at least one feature. 
   
   
       17 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said containment means is adapted by physical or mechanical impact and/or by application of heat such that a top surface of said blocks has a rough irregular shape. 
   
   
       18 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least a pair of said containment means is formed from elasticated or deformable fabric that is adaptable such that a top surface of said blocks has a rough irregular shape. 
   
   
       19 . The scour protection apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein connection means are provided to connect adjacent containment means. 
   
   
       20 . A scour protection apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
 one or more containment means placed in an underwater location to prevent scour, each of the containment means substantially filled with matter after being placed at the underwater location to form blocks.   
   
   
       21 . Scour protection apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
 at least one containment means formed by a sheet material defining a cavity into which matter is placed to substantially fill the same and having at least one surface if the containment means is adapted so as to have a higher mannings ‘n’ value than the remainder of the containment means' surfaces.   
   
   
       22 . A method of providing scour protection to a location, said method comprising the steps of:
 placing containment means in a location to prevent scour;   substantially filling said containment means with matter to form blocks; and   adapting at least a portion of an outer surface of said containment means to have an appearance sympathetic with at least one feature of the location.