Wave ramp

Abstract

The present invention describes an off-shore wave ramp for inducing early cresting of waves to prevent damage and erosion along a shoreline, consisting of at least one platform supported above the natural sea floor by support means firmly affixed to the sea floor, the platform being arranged according to a predetermined regular pattern such that the area of the platform covers between about 50 and 80 percent of the area of the sea floor under the platform and forming a false sea floor seawardly inclined between the high water level to a selected distance above the sea floor. The wave ramp platform is comprised of an array of a selected number spaced-apart, unconnected, rigid, non-buoyant, stationary plate-shaped elements with a seaward inclination of the wave ramp is at a selected angle relative to the sea floor.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An off-shore wave ramp for inducing early cresting of waves to prevent damage and erosion along a shoreline, the wave ramp comprising at least one platform supported above the natural sea floor by support means firmly affixed to the sea floor, said platform being arranged according to a predetermined regular pattern such that the area of the platform covers between about 50 and 80 percent of the area of the sea floor under the platform, the wave ramp forming a false sea floor seawardly inclined between the high water level to a selected distance above the sea floor.  
     
     
         2 . The wave ramp of  claim 1  wherein the platform is comprised of an array of a selected number spaced-apart, unconnected, rigid, non-buoyant, stationary plate-shaped elements.  
     
     
         3 . The wave ramp of  claim 1  wherein the seaward inclination of the wave ramp is at a selected angle.  
     
     
         4 . The wave ramp of  claim 1  wherein the support means consists of a selected number of piles sufficient to bear the weight of the wave ramp under various conditions.  
     
     
         5 . The wave ramp of  claim 4  wherein the support means consists of a single piling for each plate.  
     
     
         6 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 1 , wherein the spaces between said platforms vary according to the distance of the platforms from the shoreline, the most seaward platforms being spaced-apart by the greatest distances.  
     
     
         7 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse dimension of the platform is from about 1.5 wavelengths to about three or more wavelengths.  
     
     
         8 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 2 , wherein the plate-shaped element is in the shape of a disk.  
     
     
         9 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 3 , wherein the overall inclination of the platform varies from, about 1:50 to 1:30 at the seaward side, to about 1:30 to 1:10 near the shoreward side.  
     
     
         10 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of the diameter of each disk to the diameter of its supporting pile is from about 5:1 to about 7:1 and the extension into the sea floor not exceeding the depth of the water.  
     
     
         11 . The wave ramp of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is made of a material from the group of reinforced concrete, stainless steel, wood, carbon fiber, plastic and composites.  
     
     
         12 . The wave ramp of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is comprised of two or more successive platforms located substantially between a selected off-shore location and the shore line, each platform extending from the high water level to the sea floor, the high water level side of the platform always located closer to shore than its sea floor side.  
     
     
         13 . An off-shore wave ramp for inducing early cresting of waves to prevent damage and erosion along a shoreline, the wave ramp comprising: 
 (a) at least one platform supported above the natural sea floor by support means firmly affixed to the sea floor, the platform comprised of an array of a selected number spaced-apart, unconnected, rigid, non-buoyant, stationary plate-shaped elements, the platform being arranged according to a predetermined regular pattern such that the area of the platform covers between about 50 and 80 percent of the area of the sea floor under the platform, the wave ramp forming a false sea floor seawardly inclined between the high water level to a selected distance above the sea floor, the seaward inclination of the wave ramp at a selected angle relative to the sea floor;    (b) the support means consisting of a selected number of piles sufficient to bear the weight of the wave ramp under various conditions.    
     
     
         14 . The wave ramp of  claim 13  wherein the support means consists of a single piling for each plate.  
     
     
         15 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 13 , wherein the spaces between said platforms vary according to the distance of the platforms from the shoreline, the most seaward platforms being spaced-apart by the greatest distances.  
     
     
         16 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 13 , wherein the transverse dimension of the platform is about 1.5 wavelengths to about three or more wavelengths.  
     
     
         17 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 13 , wherein the plate-shaped element is in the shape of a disk.  
     
     
         18 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 13 , wherein the overall inclination of the platform varies from, about 1:50 to 1:30 at the seaward side, to about 1:30 to 1:10 near the shoreward side.  
     
     
         19 . The wave ramp structure of  claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the diameter of each plate to the diameter of its supporting pile is from about 5:1 to about 7:1 and the extension into the sea floor not exceeding the depth of the water.  
     
     
         20 . The wave ramp of  claim 13 , wherein the material for the platform is selected from the group of reinforced concrete, stainless steel, wood, carbon fiber, plastic and composites.  
     
     
         21 . The wave ramp of  claim 13 , wherein the platform is comprised of two or more successive platforms located substantially between a selected off shore location and the shore line, each platform extending from the high water level to the sea floor, the high water level side of the platform always located closer to shore than its sea floor side.