Flax based fence and manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

A flax based fence and manufacturing apparatus for reducing slope erosion and water runoff. The flax based fence and manufacturing apparatus includes a tubular casing filled with a specified density of flax fiber and flax stems forming an elongate and flexible structure. The density and porosity of the elongate structure is determined by the amount and length of flax fiber, flax stems and overall density of the same as positioned within the tubular casing. A receiving tube having a receiver opening receives the desired combination of flax fiber and flax straw which is forced through the receiving tube via an auger into the tubular casing. A plurality of gripping members provide a desired degree of frictional engagement of the tubular casing positioned about the receiving tube thereby allowing adjustment of the overall density of the elongate structure.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A flax based fence, comprising: 
 a tubular casing having a first end, a second end and a lumen;    a volume of flax stems positioned within said tubular casing; and    a volume of flax fiber positioned within said tubular casing.    
     
     
         2 . The flax based fence of  claim 1 , wherein said volume of flax stems and said volume of flax fiber are mixed together.  
     
     
         3 . The flax based fence of  claim 2 , wherein said volume of flax stems and said volume of fiber are formed into a specific density and porosity.  
     
     
         4 . The flax based fence of  claim 3 , wherein said volume of flax stems includes a portion of flax fiber attached to one end of said volume of flax stems.  
     
     
         5 . The flax based fence of  claim 4 , wherein said volume of flax stems have approximately 1 ½ to 3 inches of flax fiber loosened from an end of said flax stems.  
     
     
         6 . The flax based fence of  claim 5 , wherein said volume of flax stems is greater than said volume of flax fiber.  
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing a flax based fence, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a tubular casing;    (b) providing a volume of flax mixture containing flax stems and flax fiber;    (c) positioning said volume of flax mixture into said tubular casing at a predetermined density; and    (d) enclosing said tubular casing.    
     
     
         8 . The method of manufacturing a flax based fence of  claim 7 , wherein said step (b) includes the step of increasing the volume of said flax stems with respect to said flax fiber to decrease the weight and increase the strength and water flow.  
     
     
         9 . The method of manufacturing a flax based fence of  claim 7 , wherein said step (b) includes the step of decreasing the volume of said flax stems with respect to said flax fiber to increase the weight and filtration and to decrease the water flow.  
     
     
         10 . The method of manufacturing a flax based fence of  claim 7 , wherein said step (b) includes the step of increasing the volume of said flax fiber with respect to said flax stems to increase the weight and decrease water flow.  
     
     
         11 . The method of manufacturing a flax based fence of  claim 7 , wherein said step (b) includes the step of decreasing the volume of said flax fiber with respect to said flax stems to decrease the weight and increase water flow.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for manufacturing a flax based fence comprised of a tubular casing and a volume of flax mixture, comprising: 
 a receiving tube having an enclosed end and an open end, wherein said tubular casing surrounds said open end for receiving said volume of flax mixture;    a receiver opening within said receiving tube for receiving said volume of flax mixture;    an auger within said receiving tube for forcing said volume of flax mixture toward said open end; and    a friction means for adjustably frictionally engaging a portion of said tubular casing positioned upon said receiving tube for adjusting an overall density of said volume of flax mixture within said tubular casing.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for manufacturing a flax based fence of  claim 12 , wherein said friction means is comprised of: 
 a plurality of arms pivotally attached to said receiving tube adjacent said receiver opening, wherein said plurality of arms extend outwardly at an angle from said receiving tube;    a plurality of gripping members each attached to a distal end of each of said plurality of arms, wherein said gripping members are formed for frictionally engaging a portion of said tubular casing; and    a tension collar positioned about said plurality of arms for adjusting a force of said plurality of gripping members upon said receiving tube and said tubular casing.