FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in general relates to an ecological system for permanent civil structure works on Mechanical Stabilize Earth (MSE), such as permanent earth retaining wall or permanent slope protection and erosion control using a plurality of geotextile blocks for the structure surface finishing and it uniquely designed components for the internal structure framework. The invention also relates to a soft-scape shoreline embankment protection and erosion control method using the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apparently, there are existing soil protection systems available in the market. These soil protection systems include Gabion system, Rip Rap system, Concrete block system, Soil Nail system, Geo/Versi Web System, Green Bag System and Deltalok system.

These conventional systems mentioned above are having some kind of shortcomings as follows:-

GABION SYSTEM:

Not environmentally friendly or cost efficient,

- Cannot deliver as a permanent solution, as the system material will start corrode after certain period of time and losing structure strength,

- Not possible for any vegetation grow.

RIP RAP SYSTEM:

Provide protection only limited to shoreline embankment alone,

- Not environmental friendly, in fact, trap and release heat to both the water catchment and the eventually to the environment,

- Not possible for any vegetation grow.

CONCRETE BLOCK SYSTEM:

Not environmentally friendly,

Provide protection only to earth/soil application,

- Not possible for shoreline application, Not possible for vegetation grow.

SOIL NAIL SYSTEM:

Provide protection only to earth/soil application,

- Not possible for any shoreline or drainage application,

- Heavy machinery with series of pollutions,

Not environmental friendly in any aspect,

- Not possible for any vegetation grow.

GEO/VERSI WEB SYSTEM:

- Temporary system on earth application for only for erosion control. System does not have any engineering sheer strength for lateral earth pressure,

- Not possible to form any civil structure,

- Not applicable to shoreline or drainage application,

GREEN BAG & DELTALOK SYSTEM:

Provide protection only to earth/soil application,

- Require sub-system by others to further provide and ensure permanent stability and sustainability,

- Not applicable to shoreline or drainage application.

US Patent No. 7425107 disclose a civil engineering structure intended for ensuring protection against impacts of moveable masses, said structure comprising a plurality of individual construction elements arranged to form a plurality of courses, each course including a plurality of said individual construction elements, each of said individual construction elements comprising: an outer metal cage having a front face exposed to the impacts of moveable masses and a back face opposite said front face, said front face corresponding to an exposed surface of said engineering structure and said back face corresponding to an interior of said engineering structure; first and second distinct interior volumes located within said metal cage, said first distinct interior volume being adjacent said front face, and said second distinct interior volume being adjacent said back face; loose materials provided in said first distinct interior volume, said loose materials being at least one of topsoil, sands, gravels, pebbles, rock blocks and crushed concrete; deformable materials having a capacity for being deformed elastoplastically provided in said second distinct interior volume, said deformable materials being at least one of shredded tires, pellets cut from tires, pieces of polystyrene, earthy materials, sands, gravels, pebbles or crushed recycled concretes, wherein the individual construction elements located within intermediate courses of said structure are capable of being replaced individually by a similar individual construction elements.

US Publication No. 2002/0098322 discloses an anti-erosion irrigation mat comprising: a reinforcing mat of open porous structure, having a generally rectangular shape defined by a width and a length; a row of drip pipe lines disposed in a parallel array, each drip pipe line extending substantially across the width of said reinforcing mat, each of said drip pipe lines including a series of drip emitters installed therein: and attachment means made and arranged to attach said drip pipe lines to said reinforcing mat at predetermined locations thereon. US Patent No. 5,277,520 discloses a grid composite for protecting men and longwall mining equipment during longwall shield recovery includes a regular polymer geogrid structure formed by biaxially drawing a continuous sheet of select polypropylene material which is heat bonded to a polyester fabric. The grid composite is secured over caving shields of longwall mining equipment during a longwall mining operation. The polymer grid composite is ideal for waste containment structures, backfill barriers, and silt barriers in construction and mining applications. In waste containment and backfill barriers, the grid composite is used to form a containment structure. It principle function is to contain waste material usually consisting of a liquid with some percentage of solids.

The present invention, known as "Soil Chain System", provides ecological solution as an alternative for civil engineering works, to be able to construct permanent civil structure on earth application like; slope erosion protection and control, earth retaining wall, sub-terrace or landscaping wall, boundary or divider wall and many more, without using any hard material, heavy machinery or chemical reaction substance.

The present invention further provides alternative solution ecologically using method of the same, for constructing civil structure to form permanent stable and sustainable embankment protection where land and water meet, which most applications like; drainage wall, pond, lake, river, stream bank, reservoir, shoreline (embankment) and land reclamation finishing and protection.

The structure of the present invention also provides environmental geo-technical engineering solution and productive construction method, as it reduce carbon footprint, greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and the haulage of the conventional structure construction. The present invention further provide a cooler, healthier and cleaner environment which structure eventually able to return back to mother nature called earth, as invented system and it method further allows vegetation growth.

US Patent No. 7425107 disclose a civil engineering structure intended for ensuring protection against impacts of moveable masses, said structure comprising a plurality of individual construction elements arranged to form a plurality of courses, each course including a plurality of said individual construction elements, each of said individual construction elements comprising: an outer metal cage having a front face exposed to the impacts of moveable masses and a back face opposite said front face, said front face corresponding to an exposed surface of said engineering structure and said back face corresponding to an interior of said engineering structure; first and second distinct interior volumes located within said metal cage, said first distinct interior volume being adjacent said front face, and said second distinct interior volume being adjacent said back face; loose materials provided in said first distinct interior volume, said loose materials being at least one of topsoil, sands, gravels, pebbles, rock blocks and crushed concrete; deformable materials having a capacity for being deformed elastoplastically provided in said second distinct interior volume, said deformable materials being at least one of shredded tires, pellets cut from tires, pieces of polystyrene, earthy materials, sands, gravels, pebbles or crushed recycled concretes, wherein the individual construction elements located within intermediate courses of said structure are capable of being replaced individually by a similar individual construction elements.

US Publication No. 2002/0098322 discloses an anti-erosion irrigation mat comprising: a reinforcing mat of open porous structure, having a generally rectangular shape defined by a width and a length; a row of drip pipe lines disposed in a parallel array, each drip pipe line extending substantially across the width of said reinforcing mat, each of said drip pipe lines including a series of drip emitters installed therein: and attachment means made and arranged to attach said drip pipe lines to said reinforcing mat at predetermined locations thereon.

US Patent No. 5,277,520 discloses a grid composite for protecting men and longwall mining equipment during longwall shield recovery includes a regular polymer geogrid structure formed by biaxially drawing a continuous sheet of select polypropylene material which is heat bonded to a polyester fabric. The grid composite is secured over caving shields of longwall mining equipment during a longwall mining operation. The polymer grid composite is ideal for waste containment structures, backfill barriers, and silt barriers in construction and mining applications. In waste containment and backfill barriers, the grid composite is used to form a containment structure. It principle function is to contain waste material usually consisting of a liquid with some percentage of solids. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an ecological earth retaining structure for permanent soil erosion protection and earth stabilization which adopts geo-engineering proposal with a plurality of layers of geotextile soil blocks, uniquely designed mechanism and connector which result to an ecology solution for civil structure works, which invented system and its method thereof to save earth and protection environment.

The present invention further serves to achieve result of reclaiming the lost land and permanent embankment protection beside using the method of the same, and could further extend the geotextile sand blocks layers in terms of width, breadth, linear extent or thickness of the structure with its uniquely designed mechanism and connector feasible for all directional connecting, chaining, bridging, or hooking flexibility to form an armour ecological engineering system named hereinafter "cluster solution and method" for civil structure works and or its related.

An object of the present invention for the civil structure works is to provide an ecological soil or sand engineering protection system comprising a plurality of named hereinafter "Soil Chain Blocks" substantially in rectangular shape textile or fabric object and which being made out of geotextile material and having compartment for filing soils or sands or the like therein; a plurality of forming soil or sand blocks retaining means to securely and permanently protect and ensure no seepage, escape or loss of blocks filled material; wherein the Soil Chain Blocks are adjacent and horizontally lay, position, install, build or construct on a prepared trench at the base layer of the structure to form footing or foundation and continue using method of the same laying, positioning, installing, building or constructing of the Soil Chain Blocks above or on top of the below layers of block regardless of the structure standing angle, (mild, gentle or steepen slope, near vertical or vertical) to achieve coverage of the engineering protection works of the full structure height surface which eventually further allow vegetation growing onto the surface of those blocks and root of the vegetation on or into the soil chain blocks and further allow grows into the earth behind the structure. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an ecological geo-engineering protection system, wherein the soil or sand blocks retaining means includes a rectangular shape plate type object with spikes and through holes on both top and bottom surface of the mentioned rectangular shape plate type component which made out of recycled polypropylene material or the like therein; named hereinafter "Soil Chain Mechanism" wherein the Soil Chain Mechanism are lay, position, install, build, construct, connect, sit, plant or mount onto the ground level before the soil chain block along the prepared trench at the base layer of the structure to form permanent grip, catch, connect, stabilize or position for each and individual soil chain block, and thereafter continue using method of the same laying, positioning, installing, building, constructing, connecting, sitting, planting or mounting, not limit to; above and or on top of the below of or in between each and individual layer, or each and individual block to achieve continuation of laying, positioning, installing, building or constructing of engineering protection works of the desire structure height.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical stabilize earth system, wherein the connecting means includes strip, chain, bridge or hook type object named hereinafter "Soil Chain Connector" of Soil Chain system which connector thereof are a plurality of spikes lay, position, install, build, construct, connect, sit, plant or mount into the Soil Chain Mechanism through holes possible to inter; connecting, chaining, bridging or hooking in either horizontally or vertically and capable to form structure framework and or not limit to in accordance with mimic to the existing contour of the slope, adapt to seismic activity and accept kinds of differential settlements.

The present invention method serves to provide a permanent geo-engineering system with unique chaining capability and is the only soft civil structure which is able to combine the entire structural sheer strength truly and united as one for protection and handling of load bearing members from front to back lateral earth pressure, or load surcharge or natural waves culling damage to the land.

The present invention further serves to provide a revolutionary embankment protection method, wherein the chaining method also creates structural framework for the entire structure and readily to be able to cluster layers of structure, if it is required, where no any other system currently is available.

Still a further method serves in the present invention provide a permanent ecological geo- engineering system, which is the only soft civil structure system designed to be constructed in neat and yet stable and sustainable formation of geotextile blocks into vertical row and horizontal column.

Yet a further method of the present invention is to provide a permanent geo-engineering system, which is truly environmental friendly and capable to construct on all available civil structure application on both earth land and embankment where land and water meets.

Other details, objects, methods and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiments and presently preferred methods of practising the invention proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a geo-engineering protection system components including a Soil Chain Block, a Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means and a Soil Chain Connector means for the chaining and connecting means, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of basic ground layer structure framework construction method of Soil Chain system by laying, positioning, installing, building, constructing, connecting, sitting, planting or mounting of Soil Chain Mechanism and Soil Chain Connector retaining, connecting and chaining means in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 schematically shows the preliminary process of constructing and the connectivity of Soil Chain system from basic ground layer to the upper structure layer both retaining, connecting and chaining means to the Soil Chain Blocks, Soil Chain Mechanism and Soil Chain Connector in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flow chart indicating the installation, building, or construction steps and method using the soil chain system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the initial, begin or first component and its construction method of Soil Chain System to be first laid into a prepared trench or ground level before laying, positioning, installing, building, chaining, constructing, connecting, sitting, planting or mounting of the Soil Chain Connector chaining and connecting means thereon in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the constructing structure framework process and method of the Soil Chain system, in which connecting, chaining, bridging or hooking means in between retaining, connecting and chaining component chaining means in accordance with the present invention of constructing structure's framework.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing soil chain system base layer formation in accordance with the present invention. FIGs. 8-9 show the formation of base layer structure framework inter-connectivity up onto a second layer of Soil Chain system construction method in accordance with the present invention.

FIGs. 10-15 show the Top down views of the Soil Chain system in possible various arrangements and designed in accordance with the present invention. FIGs. 16-20 show preferred embodiment of a Soil Chain system being applied along the vertical/near vertical wall surface in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 , there is shown components of Soil Chain System comprising a plurality of Soil Chain Blocks (10) (only one has been shown in FIG. 1 ), a plurality of Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20) and a plurality of Soil Chain Connector chaining and connecting means (30). In accordance with the present invention, the Soil Chain Block (10) is substantially rectangular shape and has an opening (12) to facilitate the filing of soils or sands therein. The Soil Chain Block (10) is made from geotextile having a compartment for filing soils, sand or the like therein. The Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20) is a plate-like object having a top and bottom surface being provided with a plurality of erected spikes (22) or sharp elements (22) with sharp tips pointing outward. The spikes or the sharp elements (22) arranged on the surface in geography position comprises a North Spike, a East Spike, a South Spike and a West Spike on the retaining means (20), along with the four inner erected spikes and four outer edges erected spikes of the retaining means (20) and on both the bottom surfaces of the Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20). The Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20) is used to securely retain, grip, catch, stabilize and position the Soil Chain Blocks (10) in place so that the blocks 10 will not be moved, slip or glide away from desire position.

The Soil Chain Connector chaining and connecting means (30) is strip element where both the ends thereof are provided with erected spike for the chaining by connecting, stripping, chaining, bridging or hooking mounting together onto the spike compartment (21 ) with the chaining and connecting mean (30). The chaining and connecting means (30) is being used to interconnect the Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20). The connecting and chaining means (30) chain onto the retaining means (20) at one edge thereof to a second Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20).

In accordance with the present invention, the standard dimension for the Soil Chain Block (10) is about 1000 by 500(mm) if it is used for the application of earth stabilization, 1500 by 10OO(mm) or 1500 by 1500(mm) if it is used for embankment protection, and the Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20) is having a length of 500 (mm), a width of 150 (mm), and a thickness of 0.53 (mm). The approximate length Soil Chain Connector of the chaining means (30) is 480 (mm) length for use on earth stabilization and 880 (mm) length for use on embankment protection, and is provided with 2 spikes spike of 25(mm) at both ends (31 ).

The number of spikes on the upper surface of the Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20) is at least 4, and the number of spikes at the bottom surface is about 8, and the height of each spike is standardised 25(mm). In the present invention, the number of spikes is for illustrative only and it is not restricted to the exact number.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the connection between the Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20) to another retaining means (20) by the Soil Chain Connector connecting and chaining means (30). As shown, the connecting and chaining means (30) is mounted onto the retaining means (20) at the edge by two connecting means (30) configured in a cross shape. In the preferred embodiment, the Soil Chain System, as illustrative only, comprises of three retaining means (20) connected by connecting or chaining means (30), and additional retaining means (20) can be further connected if more Soil Chain Blocks (10) are used for soil stabilization system in geo-engineering. FIG. 3 is a schematic view indicating the constructing of two layers of Soil Chain Blocks in accordance with the present invention. The last Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20) are being mounted by Soil Chain Connector connecting and chaining means (30) differently as those at the intermediate retaining means (20). At the distance edge of the retaining means (20) of the first layer of the Soil Chain Blocks (10), the connecting and chaining means (30) secures the retaining means (20) to a Soil Chain Block (10). Similarly, the other end of another retaining block (10) has the connecting and chaining means (30) with the ends being mounted to the Soil Chain Block (10) of another layer. A plurality of layers of the Soil Chain Blocks (10) can be formed based on requirements which provide permanent soil stabilization. FIG. 3 shows an illustrative example in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a flow chart on installation, building, or construction steps and method in accordance with the present invention. The flowchart depicts the process systematically of Soil Chain System which are being installed and constructed as an ecological engineering system for civil structure works. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, in steps 1 and 1 a; A plurality of Soil Chain Blocks are being filled. Step 2 is a step where base layer of Soil Chain Block is prepared, and step 3 is the construction process. Steps 4 and 5 are the constructions step (during and at the midway of construction), and step 6 is the end of construction.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the lying of Soil Chain Mechanism retaining means (20) onto a layer of soil chain blocks (10), wherein the spikes (22) on one surface of the retaining means (20) engage with the soil chain blocks (10) and the other opposite surface of the retaining means (20) having a plurality of spike (22) exposes on top thereof to engage with another layer of soil chain block (10).

FIGs. 6 and 7 are schematic views showing the soil chain mechanism and soil chain connector base layer formation in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the figures, each of the retaining means (20) is connected to another retaining means (20) by means of the connecting means 30 arranged in a cross shaped structure, the spikes (22) at the terminal ends of the connecting means (30) being mounted onto the retaining means (20) at the edge thereof. As for the mounting of the final piece of the soil chain retaining means (20) onto the first layer of the soil chain block (10) and onto the above top layer of the soil chain block above, the connecting means (30) mounts the first layer to the top of the retaining means (20). If the connecting means (30) is to be mounted to the retaining means (20) at the side thereof, the connecting means (30) has to be mounted onto the top of the retaining means (20). Each of the retaining means (20) are arranged with more or less equal spacing and the connecting means (30) connect the two retaining means (20) such that the entire retaining means (20) are being connected. All the soil chain blocks (10) are secured to the retaining means (20) by means of the spikes (22) on the retaining means (30).

FIGs. 8 and 9 are schematic views showing the position of the spikes (22) on the retaining means (20) and the spikes (31 ) of the connecting and chaining means (30) in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the spikes (31 ) of the connecting and chaining means (30) pass through the retaining means (20) from the bottom surface thereof so as to secure the soil chain block (10) in place.

FIGs. 10-15 show the views of the soil chain blocks in various arrangements in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing the soil line protection system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the earth protection system is being applied along the near vertical wall surface.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing soil chain system in accordance with another preferred embodiment, wherein the protection system is being applied on vertical drainage wall surface .

FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing the soil chain system in accordance with another preferred embodiment, wherein the earth protection system is being applied on slope drainage surface .

FIG. 19 is a schematic view showing the soil chain system in accordance with another preferred embodiment , wherein the protection system is being applied along the slope surface .

FIG. 20 is a schematic view showing soil retaining wall section in another preferred embodiment , wherein the earth protection system is being applied along the shoreline.