Claims
- 1. A section of a barrier, comprising:
at least one connecting instrument having two ends; a first structure having a length measured along parallel first and second edges, a width measured along parallel third and fourth edges, and a thickness separating a first side from a second side, the area of each said side described by multiplying said width by said length, said width being at forty times said thickness and said length being at least two times said width, said first structure incorporating at least one element to which said connecting instrument may be affixed on said second side; and a second structure, similar in dimension and construction to said first structure, wherein said first and second structures are positioned on a surface, respective said second sides of said first and second structures faced one toward the other after tipping each said structure vertically upon said surface on an edge paralleling said structures' width and affixing each of said two ends of said at least one connecting instrument to corresponding said at least one elements for accepting said connecting instrument, thus preventing said first and second structures from abutting one another.
- 2. The section of claim 1 in which said first and second structures are panels having at least one edge of first and second edges along said length flanged to facilitate interlocking at least one additional like section to said section of claim 1, wherein, if both said edges along said length of said panel are flanged, said flanging occurs by bending said first edge toward said one of said first and second sides and said second edge toward the other of said first and second sides, and flanging each edge continues by first bending a first width of the entire length of said first and second edges at approximately 90° and again bending a second width included as the outer portion of said first width another 90°, said second bend occurring in the same direction as said first bend so that said second bend puts said first and second edges parallel to and overlapping said first and second sides of said panel, respectively.
- 3. The section of claim 1 in which said first and second structures are panels having a length of at least 0.9 m (3 ft), a width of at least 0.3 m (1 ft), and a thickness of at least 1.5 mm ({fraction (1/16)} in.).
- 4. The section of claim 1 in which said at least one connecting instrument is at least one rod having two ends.
- 5. The section of claim 4 in which said at least one rod has each said end bent in the same direction at approximately 90° to said at least one rod's long axis.
- 6. The section of claim 1 in which said first side of said first and second structures presents a smooth surface that inhibits obtaining a purchase thereon.
- 7. The section of claim 1 in which said first and second structures are manufactured of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of: steel, stainless steel, a metal alloy, aluminum, a polymer, a resin, a composite, a carbon fiber, a laminate of at least two of above said materials, and any combination thereof, wherein said materials may be treated to inhibit environmental degradation.
- 8. The section of claim 1 in which each said first and second structure is symmetric in construction such that said first edge may be rotated 180° to become said second edge and said third edge may be rotated 180° to become said fourth edge, wherein said symmetric construction contributes to ease of installation of said section in a barrier comprising multiple said sections.
- 9. The section of claim 1 in which at least one of each said first and second structures is inclined toward the other said structure at said structure's highest point above said surface on which it rests.
- 10. The section of claim 9 in which said at least one of each said first and second structures is inclined toward the other said structure by approximately 7° from vertical.
- 11. The section of claim 1 in which said first and second structures further comprise at least one reinforcing portion incorporated in said second side, said at least one reinforcing portion incorporating at least one said at least one element for accepting said connecting instrument.
- 12. The section of claim 11 wherein said at least one element for accepting said at least one connecting instrument is at least one device incorporating a void, said at least one device affixed to said at least one reinforcing bar on each said first and second structures in like manner and locations so that the axis through said void is approximately parallel to said reinforcing bar, said ends of said at least one rod inserting into respective said voids of said at least one devices on each said first and second structures.
- 13. The section of claim 11 in which said at least one reinforcing portion further comprises at least two reinforcing portions arranged in a line parallel to said length of said structure, said line approximately centered with respect to said width of said first and second structures.
- 14. The section of claim 1 further comprising:
a first horizontal flange on at least one of said third and fourth edges of each of said first and second structures, and second horizontal flanges disposed at the bottom of said cap, said second horizontal flanges sized to lock under said first horizontal flanges when installing said cap, wherein should only one of said third and fourth edges comprise said first horizontal flange, and said cap with said second horizontal flanges is to be installed on said section, then said only one of said third and fourth edges comprising said first horizontal flange should be oriented to be at the top of said section.
- 15. The section of claim 1 further comprising a cap affixed to and covering said edges of said first and second structures that define the highest point of each said structures above said surface,
wherein said cap may have auxiliary devices affixed thereto.
- 16. The section of claim 15 in which said cap presents a rounded surface covering said edges,
wherein said rounded surface decreases the opportunity to establish a purchase on said section, and wherein said rounded surface may be modified for installation of said auxiliary devices.
- 17. The section of claim 15 in which said cap presents a shape pointed at said cap's apex, said cap covering said edges,
wherein said shape pointed at said cap's apex presents at least one flat surface upon which said auxiliary devices may be mounted.
- 18. The section of claim 15 in which said auxiliary devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of: detectors, alarms, lighting, dye markers, passive deterrents, and active deterrents.
- 19. The section of claim 18 in which said detectors may operate to detect disturbances in operating ranges consisting essentially of: audio frequencies, video frequencies, visible wavelengths, infrared wavelengths, ultraviolet wavelengths, radio frequencies, pressure, and combinations thereof.
- 20. The section of claim 18 in which said passive deterrents are selected from the group consisting essentially of wire mesh fencing, barbed wire, razor whip wire, concertina wire, and combinations thereof.
- 21. The section of claim 18 in which said active deterrents are selected from the group consisting essentially of: sensor-activated chemical sprays, sensor-activated munitions, electrically-charged wires, and high-powered electromagnetic devices.
- 22. The section of claim 18 in which said dye markers are selected from the group consisting essentially of: fluorescing stains facilitating unaided visibility at night, fluorescent dyes visible under ultraviolet light, and dyes visible by the use of infrared lenses.
- 23. The section of claim 1 in which said first and second structures may comprise sheet pile to which at least one reinforcing bar is added in like manner on each said second side of said first and second structures and parallel to said length of said first and second structures,
wherein said at least one element for accepting said at least one connecting instrument is at least one device incorporating a void, said at least one device affixed to said at least one reinforcing bar on each said first and second structures in like manner and locations so that the axis through said void is approximately parallel to said reinforcing bar, said ends of said at least one rod inserting into respective said voids of said at least one device on each said first and second structures, and wherein said first and second edges of said sheet pile are made suitable, if needed, for joining additional sections by using a wedge to widen said longitudinal flanges of said first and second edges so said longitudinal flanges of said additional sections may be interlocked by pulling in a direction generally parallel to said surface.
- 24. The section of claim 23 in which said rod may be fabricated from rebar and said device incorporating a void is selected from the group consisting of a nut, a section of pipe, at least one washer, an eyebolt, and combinations thereof.
- 25. A barrier, comprising:
at least one section comprising:
at least one connecting instrument having two ends; a first structure having a length measured along parallel first and second edges, a width measured along parallel third and fourth edges, and a thickness separating a first side from a second side, the area of each said side described by multiplying said width by said length, said width being at least forty times said thickness and said length being at least two times said width, said first structure incorporating at least one element to which said connecting instrument may be affixed on said second side; and a second structure, similar in dimension and construction to said first structure, wherein said first and second structures are positioned on a surface, respective said second sides of said first and second structures faced one toward the other after tipping each said structure vertically upon said surface on an edge paralleling said structures' width and affixing each of said two ends of said at least one connecting instrument to corresponding said at least one elements for accepting said connecting instrument, thus preventing said first and second structures from abutting one another, and wherein, if more than one section is used to form said barrier, each said section interlocks with neighboring said sections to form said barrier.
- 26. The barrier of claim 25 in which said first and second structures are panels having at least one edge of first and second edges along said length flanged to facilitate interlocking at least one additional like section to said section comprising connected said first and second structures,
wherein, if both said edges along said length of said panel are flanged, said flanging is performed by bending said first edge toward said one of said first and second sides and said second edge toward the other of said first and second sides, and flanging each edge continues by first bending a first width of the entire length of said first and second edges at approximately 90° and again bending a second width of said entire length of said first and second edges, said second width included as the outer portion of said first width, another 90°, said second bend occurring in the same direction as said first bend so that said second bend puts said first and second edges parallel to and overlapping said first and second sides of said panel, respectively.
- 27. The barrier of claim 25 in which said first and second structures are panels having a length of at least three feet, a width of at least one foot, and a thickness of at least 1.5 mm ({fraction (1/16)} in.).
- 28. The barrier of claim 25 in which said first side of said structures presents a smooth surface that inhibits obtaining a purchase thereon.
- 29. The barrier of claim 25 in which said first and second structures are manufactured of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of: steel, stainless steel, a metal alloy, aluminum, a polymer, a resin, a composite, a carbon fiber, a laminate of at least two of above said materials, and any combination thereof, wherein said materials may be treated to inhibit environmental degradation.
- 30. The barrier of claim 25 in which said first and second structures further comprise at least one reinforcing portion incorporated in said second side, said at least one reinforcing portion incorporating at least one said at least one element for accepting said connecting instrument.
- 31. The barrier of claim 30 in which said at least one reinforcing portion further comprises at least two reinforcing portions arranged in a line parallel to said length of said structure, said line approximately centered with respect to said width of said first and second structures.
- 32. The barrier of claim 25 in which each said first and second structure is symmetric in construction such that said first edge may be rotated 180° to become said second edge and said third edge may be rotated 180° to become said fourth edge, wherein said symmetric construction contributes to ease of installation of said section in a barrier comprising multiple said sections.
- 33. The barrier of claim 25 in which each said first and second structure is inclined toward the other said structure at its highest point above said surface on which it rests.
- 34. The barrier of claim 33 in which each said first and second structure is inclined toward the other said structure by approximately 7° from vertical.
- 35. The barrier of claim 25 further comprising a cap affixed to and covering said edges of said first and second structures that define the highest point of each said structures above said surface,
wherein said barrier may be modified for installation of auxiliary devices.
- 36. The barrier of claim 35 in which said cap presents a rounded surface covering said edges,
wherein said rounded surface decreases the opportunity to establish a purchase on said section, and wherein said rounded surface may be modified for installation of said auxiliary devices.
- 37. The barrier of claim 35 in which said cap presents a shape pointed at said cap's apex, said cap covering said edges,
wherein said shape pointed at said cap's apex presents at least one flat surface upon which said auxiliary devices may be mounted.
- 38. The barrier of claim 35 in which said auxiliary devices are selected from the group consisting essentially of: detectors, alarms, lighting, dye markers, passive deterrents, and active deterrents.
- 39. The barrier of claim 38 in which said detectors may operate to detect disturbances in operating ranges consisting essentially of: audio frequencies, video frequencies, visible wavelengths, infrared wavelengths, ultraviolet wavelengths, radio frequencies, pressure, mass, and combinations thereof.
- 40. The barrier of claim 38 in which said passive deterrents are selected from the group consisting essentially of wire mesh fencing, barbed wire, razor whip wire, concertina wire, and combinations thereof.
- 41. The barrier of claim 38 in which said active deterrents are selected from the group consisting essentially of: sensor-activated chemical sprays, sensor-activated munitions, electrically-charged wires, and high-powered electromagnetic devices.
- 42. The barrier of claim 38 in which said dye markers are selected from the group consisting essentially of: fluorescing stains facilitating unaided visibility at night, fluorescent dyes visible under ultraviolet light, and dyes visible by the use of infrared lenses.
- 43. The barrier of claim 25 in which said at least one connecting instrument is at least one rod.
- 44. The barrier of claim 43 in which each end of said at least one rod is bent in the same direction at approximately 90° to said at least one rod's long axis.
- 45. The barrier of claim 25 wherein said at least one element for accepting said at least one connecting instrument is at least one device incorporating a void, said at least one device affixed to said at least one reinforcing bar on each said first and second structures in like manner and locations so that the axis through said void is approximately parallel to said reinforcing bar, said ends of said at least one rod inserting into respective said voids of said at least one devices on each said first and second structures.
- 46. The barrier of claim 25 in which said first and second structures may comprise sheet pile to which at least one reinforcing bar is added in like manner on said second side of each said first and second structures and parallel to said length of said first and second structures,
wherein said at least one element for accepting said at least one connecting instrument is at least one device incorporating a void, said at least one device affixed to said at least one reinforcing bar on each said first and second structures in like manner and locations so that the axis through said void is approximately parallel to said reinforcing bar, said ends of said at least one rod inserting into respective said voids of said at least one devices on each said first and second structures, and wherein said first and second edges of said sheet pile are made suitable, if needed, for joining additional sections by using a wedge to widen said longitudinal flanges of said first and second edges so said longitudinal flanges of said additional sections may be interlocked by pulling in a direction generally parallel to said surface.
- 47. The barrier of claim 46 in which said rod may be fabricated from rebar and said device incorporating a void is selected from the group consisting of a nut, a short section of pipe, at least one washer, an eyebolt, and combinations thereof.
- 48. The barrier of claim 25 further comprising in-fill material,
wherein said in-fill material is placed between said first and second structures after assembly of said first and second structures as at least one section.
- 49. The barrier of claim 48 in which said in-fill material is selected from the group consisting essentially of: a solidified mixture, concrete, pumicecrete, dirt, stabilized earth, sand, rock, rip-rap, rubble, inorganic material, aqueous solutions, and any combination thereof.
- 50. The barrier of claim 25 in which at least part of said barrier is disposed below grade.
- 51. The barrier of claim 50 in which said at least part of said barrier disposed below grade is at least 10% of the installed height of said barrier.
- 52. The barrier of claim 25 further comprising:
a first horizontal flange on at least one of said third and fourth edges of each of said first and second structures, and second horizontal flanges disposed at the bottom of said cap, said second horizontal flanges sized to lock under said first horizontal flanges when installing said cap, wherein should only one of said third and fourth edges comprise said first horizontal flange, and said cap with said second horizontal flanges is to be installed on said section, then said only one of said third and fourth edges comprising said first horizontal flange should be oriented to be at the top of said barrier.
- 53. A method for establishing a flexible capability to control activity by using at least a physical barrier, comprising:
defining existing and future requirements for said capability; developing a design with built-in flexibility to meet said existing and future requirements; acquiring at least those materials for producing said design to meet existing requirements; scheduling resources to build to said design; building to said design; acquiring resources to maintain said capability; updating needs for said capability as necessary; and upgrading said capability based on said updated needs, said built-in flexibility, and currently available technology, wherein said capability is used to promote any combination of the following: safety, security, privacy, discipline, and order.
- 54. The method of claim 53 in which said physical barrier comprises:
at least one section comprising:
at least one connecting instrument having two ends; a first structure having a length measured along parallel first and second edges, a width measured along parallel third and fourth edges, and a thickness separating a first side from a second side, the area of each said side described by multiplying said width by said length, said width being at least 40 times said thickness and said length being at least two times said width, said first structure incorporating at least one element to which said connecting instrument may be affixed on said second side; and a second structure, similar in dimension and construction to said first structure, wherein said first and second structures are positioned on a surface, respective said second sides of said first and second structures faced one toward the other after tipping each said structure vertically upon said surface on an edge paralleling said structures' width and affixing each of said two ends of said at least one connecting instrument to corresponding said at least one elements for accepting said connecting instrument, thus preventing said first and second structures from abutting one another, and wherein, if more than one section is used to form said barrier, each said section interlocks with neighboring said sections to form said barrier.
- 55. A method for constructing a barrier having multiple sections, comprising:
building a first section by:
providing a first and second panel, each having a first side and a second side, first and second edges along a longest dimension, third and fourth edges along a next longest dimension, said panels described by a length, a width and a thickness, said second side of each said first and second panel provided with at least one receptor, both said first and second edges of each said first and second panel being flanged in opposing directions; providing at least one connector to be affixed to said at least one receptors; orienting said first and second panels so that respective said second sides of said panels face each other; orienting said facing first and second panels vertically with respect to said panels' longest dimension along a line on which said barrier is to be constructed, tipping the top of said vertically oriented first and second panels one toward the other so that said at least one connector may be fit into said at least one receptor on each said panel; fitting said at least one connectors into said at least one receptor on each said first and second panels, said connector serving at least to keep said first and second panels from abutting; wherein a first section having the shape of an A-frame is constructed; building a second section similar to said first section and interconnecting said second section with said first section by:
providing third and fourth panels of similar construction and dimension to said first and second panels; providing at least one connector to be affixed to said at least one receptors of said third and fourth panels, said connector serving at least to keep said third and fourth panels from abutting; interlocking an appropriate edge of a third panel by fitting said third panel to said first panel along said flanged edge having the longest dimension of said first panel of said first section and pulling said third panel roughly horizontally with respect to the surface upon which said first section rests; interlocking an appropriate edge of a fourth panel by fitting said fourth panel to said second panel along said flanged edge having the longest dimension of said second panel of said first section and pulling said fourth panel roughly horizontally with respect to the surface upon which said first section rests; and fitting said at least one connectors into said at least one receptors on each of said third and fourth panels, wherein additional length may be added to said barrier by fitting additional sections to said barrier in the manner of fitting said second section.
- 56. The method of claim 55 in which said sections are provided with a cap that encloses the top of each A-frame section.
- 57. The method of claim 55 in which the space created internally in each said section through use of said connectors is filled at least partially with material.
- 58. The method of claim 55 in which said barrier is disposed in a trench for at least the first 10% of its height,
wherein said trench is backfilled after constructing said sections.
- 59. The method of claim 55 in which auxiliary devices are installed near the top of said barrier, said auxiliary devices selected from the group consisting essentially of: detectors, alarms, lighting, dye markers, passive deterrents, and active deterrents.
- 60. The method of claim 55 further comprising providing a subterranean wall constructed vertically along the length of said barrier and below the lowest point of resting of said barrier sections.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0001] The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.