The present invention relates to a self-raising wave barrier for providing an alleviation of a load due to wave action from a body of water, such as sea, on the side of the wave barrier remote from the body of water. The pre ^¬ sent invention also relates to a barrier assembly arrange- able in a body of water as protective barrier against floating objects, such as drifting objects. The present invention also relates to a flood barrier system for arranging thereof on a body of water, such as a sea, comprising a wave barrier according to the present invention and a self-closing flood barrier. The present invention further relates to a method for providing protection against wave action.

Wave action and current cause a number of problems. One problem is that wave action can damage a shore or that wave action can damage objects constructed on the shore. A further problem is that wave action can damage a self- closing flood barrier or can at least exert a load thereon which can limit the reliability of such a self-closing flood barrier. A further problem is that wave action has a direct effect on a shore or objects on or at the shore. Even though such problems can be solved by erecting large engineering structures close to shore which can withstand wave action, such a solution only solves the problem at high cost or with the drawback that such engineering structures are visible and for instance detract from the way in which the shore is perceived.

In order to obviate such drawbacks the present in ^¬ vention provides a self-raising wave barrier for providing an alleviation of a load due to wave action from a body of water, such as a sea, on the side of the wave barrier re- mote from the body of water, the wave barrier comprising:

- a series of barrier assemblies for providing the alleviation of the load due to the wave action, each barrier assembly comprising:

- a holder for holding a wave barrier element which is anchored to a bottom of the body of water or a surface adjacent to the body of water,

- a wave barrier element arrangeable movably over a path of movement in the holder between a lower rest state and a higher active state,

- holding means for holding and/or stopping the wave barrier element in the higher active state, wherein

- the respective wave barrier elements of the series of barrier assemblies operate in the active state for the purpose of breaking the wave action providing the allevia ^¬ tion of the load due to the wave action on the basis of a situationally predetermined ratio of wave barrier elements and throughflow space therebetween.

Such a self-raising wave barrier according to the present invention provides a number of advantages. A sig ^¬ nificant advantage is that the self-raising wave barrier falls outside the field of vision in the rest state and is only visible in the active state, which is only necessary in the case of a certain measure of wave action. The fol- lowing advantage is particularly important in combination with the first one. In the active state the self-raising wave barrier provides the advantage that the horizontal force of the wave, or the horizontal inflow of water with the associated impulse force, is prevented. This is be- cause the water from the incoming wave is partially held back by the series of wave barrier elements.

The advantage provided here is that the amount of water which the wave action pushes through between the wave barrier elements is also held back to significant ex ^¬ tent or at least partially by the same wave barrier ele ^¬ ments, or obstructed in outflow. A buffer water mass is hereby created behind the wave barrier elements, as seen from the body of water, in the buffer space between the wave barrier elements and the shore or flood barrier, such as self-closing flood barrier, lying behind.

A suitable choice of the mutual distance between wave barrier elements is that a suitable buffer water mass remains behind in this water buffer between two successive incoming waves. This buffer water mass provides two ad ^¬ vantages. Firstly, a part of the water from the first wave does not flow back, or does so slowly, into the body of water to feed a subsequent wave.

The amount of incoming energy from the subsequent wave is hereby relatively small since on the one hand the water level on the body of water side of the flood barrier is relatively low, this water level being first supple ^¬ mented by the wave, which slows the wave, and on the other the amount of energy from the remaining incoming wave at the location of the flood barrier is slowed by the part of the buffer water mass still flowing out.

The mass of the buffer water mass present also ab ^¬ sorbs energy from the wave, which energy is therefore ab- sorbed, and the energy from the wave is not available to make contact with the shoreline and structures present thereon, such as a self-closing flood barrier.

In a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention the holding means operate for the pur- pose of providing a lateral stability and/or fixation of the wave barrier element relative to the respective holder thereof. Hereby provided as advantage is that the holding means stabilize the wave barrier element in advantageous manner relative to the holder. Damage due to for instance shifting of the wave barrier element in the holder is hereby prevented. The wave barrier element is also pre ^¬ vented from bumping against the holder.

The holding means more preferably operate for the purpose of providing an end of the path of movement on the side of the active state thereof. The holding means hereby also operate as a stop which ends the upward movement of the wave barrier element.

A preferred practical development of the holding means preferably relates to holding means comprising:

- an upper stop member arranged on the holder,

- a lower stop member arranged on the wave barrier element, and

- at least one clamping member for arranging thereof and for clamping thereof in the active state between the upper stop member and the lower stop member.

The upper stop member holds the lower stop member arranged in the holder and limits the upward movement of the wave barrier element. The clamping member provides a clamping action here at least providing for a horizontal fixation against rocking and jolting of the wave barrier element relative to the holder under the influence of the substantially horizontal wave action.

The holding means more preferably comprise a spacer for arranging thereof between the upper stop member and the lower stop member. Such a spacer provides a distance, and thereby an arm, for improved absorption of the horizontal forces.

Such a variant is further improved in the preferred variant wherein the spacer is arranged between at least an upper clamping member and at least a lower clamping member. A distribution of force is provided here between the lower clamping member and the upper clamping member which both fix the wave barrier element. It is generally the case here that the greater the distance, the greater the forces which can be absorbed.

The clamping member is more preferably deformable here, preferably from a substantially round cross- sectional shape to a substantially oval cross-sectional shape. The upward force of the wave barrier element de ^¬ forms the shape of the clamping member by compressing it. The horizontal distance from the centre of the clamping member as seen in the height hereby becomes greater, whereby it is clamped between the inner wall of the holder and the wave barrier element.

In specifically practical manner the clamping member is preferably embodied here as a substantially annular hose arrangeable round the wave barrier element. For clamping purposes the upper clamping member and the lower clamping member are deformable to a situation in which the upper side and the underside are urged toward each other and, as seen in cross-section, the inner and outer side are urged apart. Depending on the anticipated forces, one or more of such clamping members can be applied with a wall thickness adjustable within the context of this de ^¬ scription for the purpose of absorbing forces.

In a further preferred embodiment the holding means alternatively comprise positioning members for positioning the wave barrier element relative to the holder. Such po ^¬ sitioning members operate as a positioning stop. The posi ^¬ tioning member on the holder and the positioning member on the wave barrier element more preferably comprise for this purpose inclining surfaces co-acting with each other in the active state. These inclining surfaces operate in ad ^¬ vantageous manner both as stop and as centering means for the wave barrier element relative to the holder.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the wave barrier comprises a closure for closing the holder, preferably arranged on the upper side of the wave barrier element. Such a closure can be a cover over which it is possible to walk or drive. The wave barrier, at least in the rest state, is hereby also concealed almost completely from view. The closure is preferably suitable here for suspending of the wave barrier element therefrom. The wave barrier element is situated here in the holder and the wave barrier is in the rest state.

A way of providing the self-raising in advantageous manner is that the wave barrier element is suitable for floating on water so that it is raised on water to be ad- mitted into the holder.

The wave barrier element more preferably has a tubu ^¬ lar form, such as being substantially circular in top view. This provides the advantage that great forces can be withstood. Depending on the situation in which the wave barrier is applied, other cross-sectional shapes in top view are possible, such as regular geometrical forms, alt ^¬ hough profiles influencing flow, such as wing profiles or curved surfaces, are also provided.

In side view a surface of a wave barrier element preferably has a width here of between 10 centimetres and 5 metres, preferably a width of between 40 cm and 1.60 m, preferably a width between 40 cm and 1.20 m, more prefera ^¬ bly a width between 60 cm and 1.20 m, more preferably a width between 80 cm and 1 m, more preferably a width be- tween 80 cm and 2.5 m, more preferably a width between 1 m and 2 m. In addition hereto, the mutual distance is more preferably in the range of 1 cm to 1 m, preferably between 5 cm and 80 cm, more preferably between 5 cm and 50 cm, more preferably between 5 cm and 30 cm, more preferably between 5 cm and 20 cm, and is more preferably substantially 10 cm. A minimal distance is provided by a wall thickness of the holder or the wall thickness of two hold- ers arranged against each other. An optimal or an optimal average ratio has to be determined per situation of use within the context of the present invention.

The holder more preferably imparts lateral strength for withstanding the load of the wave action. The strength of the holder, as well as a foundation thereof, has to be dimensioned within the context of the present invention subject to the forces occurring in a specific situation.

In the rest state the wave barrier elements find protection in the holder and/or are arranged substantially wholly therein. The useful life of a wave barrier is here ^¬ by influenced positively to a significant extent by pro ^¬ tection of the elements.

The mutual distance between adjacent wave barrier elements is preferably smaller than a surface in side view of the respective wave barrier elements. A plurality of the holders are more preferably integrated into a struc ^¬ tural unit in the series of barrier assemblies.

For the purpose of controlling the transition from the rest state to the active state the wave barrier more preferably comprises a liquid inlet assembly for admitting liquid, such as water from the body of water, into the holder when the water level or a wave action level reaches a predetermined threshold. It is for instance hereby pos ^¬ sible to realize that the wave barrier elements are forced upward by water.

For the durability and the operational reliability of the wave barrier the liquid inlet assembly more prefer ^¬ ably comprises a buffer pit for buffering the water and/or for preventing contamination in the holder and/or draining contamination from the holder.

A further aspect according to the present invention relates to a barrier assembly according to the present in- vention arrangeable in a body of water as protective bar ^¬ rier against floating objects such as drifting objects. This prevents such floating objects damaging objects lying behind. A self-closing flood barrier for instance, but al ^¬ so for instance engineering structures or buildings con- structed on the shoreline or moored houseboats are hereby protected .

A further aspect according to the present invention relates to a flood barrier system for arrangement thereof on a body of water, such as a sea, comprising a wave bar- rier according to one or more of the foregoing claims and a self-closing flood barrier comprising:

- a chamber for holding a sheet pile which is anchored to a bottom of the body of water or a surface adja ^¬ cent to the body of water,

- a sheet pile which is arrangeable movably over a path of movement in the chamber between a lower rest state and a higher active state,

wherein the wave barrier is arranged on the side of the body of water relative to the self-closing flood bar- rier for the purpose of providing protection of the self- closing flood barrier against wave action.

A significant advantage of this aspect is that a self-closing flood barrier is protected against wave ac ^¬ tion, but of course also against the stated free-floating or drifting objects.

Such a flood barrier system preferably comprises a combined liquid inlet assembly for the wave barrier and the self-closing flood barrier. The activation of the wave barrier and the flood barrier can hereby be realized in advantageous manner.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for providing protection against wave action, wherein:

- water forced from a body of water by an incoming wave is allowed through in slowed manner by means of wave barrier elements of a wave barrier according to one or more of the foregoing claims to a buffer space on the body of water side bounded by the wave barrier elements of the wave barrier,

- water admitted into the buffer space and deceler ^¬ ated by the wave barrier elements of the wave barrier is allowed to flow in slowed manner in the direction of the body of water, whereby a mass of buffer water is created in the buffer space,

- the mass of buffer water provides counter-mass against a subsequent incoming wave.

Such an aspect provides advantages as described with reference to the above described aspects according to the present invention.

Further advantages, features and details of the pre ^¬ sent

invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow on the basis of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Similar, though not necessarily identical components of different preferred embodiments are designated with the same reference numer ^¬ als .

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a first preferred embodiment according to the present inven ^¬ tion in a rest state.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of this preferred embodi- ment in an active state.

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the pre ^¬ ferred embodiment according to Fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a detail of a further preferred embodiment in a rest state.

Fig. 5 shows the detail of Fig. 4 in an active state .

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a detail of a further preferred embodiment in a rest state.

Fig. 7 shows the detail of Fig. 6 in an active state .

A first preferred embodiment (Fig. 1) according to the present invention relates to a combination 19 of a wave barrier 18 and a self-closing flood barrier 17. This comprises wave barrier element 1 which is arranged in a holder 16. In the rest state the wave barrier element is suspended from cover 11 and is located as such arranged downward in the holder. The body of water W has a height which corresponds to the rest state of the wave barrier. A supply channel 7 provides access for the water to a pit 3 when the water reaches a determined height. When this height of channel 7 is reached, the pit fills and the wa ^¬ ter then flows via channel 6 into holder 16. Due to the upward pressure of the water the wave barrier element will float upward, thereby taking on the active state function.

This operation is clearly shown in Fig. 3 where a series of wave barrier elements is disposed upward. Incom ^¬ ing waves from the body of water are broken by the wave barrier elements 1 in a manner as described above.

This preferred embodiment also comprises the self- closing flood barrier 17. This comprises a vertical wall

12 which is likewise forced upward until it reaches a stop

13 due to the water coming from pit 3. The operation of such a flood barrier is public domain and such a flood barrier is available in many variants. The flood barrier is screened in the inactive state by a cover 11.

The stability of the wave barrier element is provid- ed by holding means 41 as shown in Fig. 4 and 5. These holding means are annular hoses 14 arranged round the wave barrier element with a spacer 13 between lower and upper annular hoses. In the rest state the annular hoses have a round cross-section and in the active state they are com- pressed between stop 15 of the wave barrier element and stop 9 of the holder. This creates a clamping effect be ^¬ tween the holder and the wave barrier element on both the upper side and the underside, as described above.

Cover 11 is preferably provided per wave barrier el- ement . It is however equally possible for the cover to couple a group of wave barrier elements. It is advanta ^¬ geous that a wave barrier element according to these as ^¬ pects of the preferred embodiment can be placed in or tak ^¬ en out of the holder individually or per group for mainte- nance purposes. A robust and maintenance-friendly wave barrier is hereby provided. The rings are more preferably dimensioned, such as by means of the diameter or wall thickness, such that the upper ones impart clamping action from the top downward sooner than the lower ones when the wave barrier element is raised, so that the lower ones can still move upward while the upper ones are already com ^¬ pressed .

The preferred embodiment according to Fig. 6 and 7 provides an alternative way of fixing the holder in the active state. Positioning members 23, 26 are arranged on wave barrier element 4. Respective support elements 22, 27 are arranged on the holder. A centering action is provided by the co-acting surfaces when the wave barrier element moves upward from the rest state to the active state.

In top view the positioning members can be arranged in annular form on respectively the inner wall of the holder and the outer wall of the wave barrier element. In alternative manner the positioning members are arranged in a discontinuously annular form. It is hereby possible to respectively place and lift the wave barrier element with the positioning members mounted thereon into and out of the holder, for instance for maintenance. In a rotational position as seen along a vertical axis there is a situa ^¬ tion here in which the positioning members arranged on the holder and the positioning members arranged on the wave barrier element can pass each other axially, and in a ro ^¬ tating position the situation where they engage each other operatively for the operation as positioning member.

A surface adjacent to a body of water according to this document is defined as a surface which can be flooded by the body of water. Such a surface can directly adjoin the body of water or, within the context of this document, be present some distance therefrom.

The present invention has been described in the foregoing on the basis of several preferred embodiments. Different aspects of different embodiments are deemed de ^¬ scribed in combination with each other, wherein all combi- nations which can be deemed by a skilled person in the field as falling within the scope of the invention on the basis of reading of this document are included. These pre ^¬ ferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are defined in the appended claims.