Portable levee system

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus for filling a tubular bag with a granular material in order to construct a levee. The apparatus includes a hopper for funneling material into a loading box. A ram drive system then forces the granular material from the loading box into a tubular bag. The force of the ram also serves to propel the apparatus away from the filled bag so that the apparatus does not require a drive unit. The tubular bag is a pleated design installed around the opening of the loading box so as to extend as loaded. The apparatus can be scaled to accept different size bags to create levees of different heights and lengths.

1 . A method for creating an earthen barrier resistant to erosion comprising the steps of: 
 (a) preparing a route for the earthen barrier;    (b) delivering a portable levee builder to a first end of the earthen barrier position, said portable levee builder having a loading box disposed on a movable carriage with two or more skids, a ram drive system having a ram plate box, a levee bag mount, and a hopper;    (c) gathering an erosion resistant levee bag over the levee bag mount;    (d) transferring an earthen material from a mobile loader to the loading box of the portable levee builder by way of the hopper;    (e) retracting the ram plate box to a position proximate a first open side of the loading box such that the earthen material drops into a center retaining area, the center retaining area in communication with the hopper and with the levee bag;    (f) determining whether the center retaining area is full of earthen material;    (g) extending the ram plate box through the center retaining area to a position proximate the levee bag, (h) forcing the ram plate box against the earthen material within the levee bag so as to advance the portable levee builder relative to the levee bag and ungather levee bag material from the levee bag mount;    (i) retracting the ram plate box;    (j) repeating steps (d) through (i) until the portable levee builder has progressed to the end of the route for the earthen barrier.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ram plate box includes a hopper plate extending from an upper margin of the ram plate box, said hopper plate sized to block a hopper opening so that the granular material cannot fall through hopper opening when the ram plate box is extended.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of closing off a first open end of the levee bag.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of closing off a second open end of the levee bag once the portable levee builder has progressed to the end of the route for the earthen barrier.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the center retaining area is full of earthen material includes utilizing a sensor within the center retaining area.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the center retaining area is full of earthen material includes sizing the center retaining area to conform to the volume held by a skid steer bucket.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering the portable levee builder includes transporting the portable levee builder by moving a vehicle connected to the portable levee builder by a hitch assembly.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of filling the loading box with earthen material includes the step of engaging an auger to assist the earthen material into the center retaining area.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of filling the loading box with earthen material includes allowing gravity to assist the earthen material in the center retaining area.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of retracting and extending the ram plate box include actuating a hydraulic cylinder by a hydraulic pump system supplying an hydraulic pressure.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of actuating the hydraulic cylinder by the hydraulic pump system supplying the hydraulic pressure includes garnishing the hydraulic pressure from a tractor.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the earthen material includes soil, dirt and rock.  
   
   
       13 . A portable levee builder apparatus for rapidly creating a levee structure, the portable levee builder apparatus supplied with multiple independent loads of an earthen material by a mobile loader unit as the portable levee builder apparatus slides along a levee path said apparatus comprising: 
 a loading box disposed on a movable carriage having two or more skids so as to accommodate poor ground conditions, the loading box adapted to receive the earthen material, said loading box including a center retaining area, an upper portal, a first open side and a second open side; wherein said first open side and second open side define a passage through the loading box;    a hopper for receiving and funneling the earthen material through the upper portal into the center retaining area;    a ram drive system disposed to control the flow of earthen material into the center retaining area and advance the portable levee builder apparatus away from a filled portion of a levee bag; and    a levee bag mount disposed about the second open side, said levee bag mount having a horseshoe shape over which the levee bag is gathered, said levee bag having a tube like shape when in a fully extended position, wherein said ram drive system has a retracted position proximate the first open side and an extended position distal to the levee bag mount so that extending a ram plate box to the extended position forces the earthen material beyond the loading box.    
   
   
       14 . The portable levee builder apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said hopper includes an auger disposed to assist the earthen material into the center retaining area.  
   
   
       15 . The portable levee builder apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said ram drive system includes a ram support structure, a ram power unit, and a ram plate box attached to the ram power unit.  
   
   
       16 . The portable levee builder apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said ram support structure is a tubular frame structure which supports the ram power unit and provides structure around the loading box.  
   
   
       17 . The portable levee builder apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said ram power unit is a hydraulic unit.  
   
   
       18 . The portable levee builder apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said ram plate box includes a ram plate with a first side and an opposing second side, said second side including a ram drive mount, said ram plate having an area slightly smaller than the passage defined by the first open side and the second open side.  
   
   
       19 . The portable levee builder apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said ram plate box includes a hopper plate disposed transverse to the ram plate so that earthen material cannot fall behind the ram plate box when the ram plate box is in the extended position.  
   
   
       20 . The portable levee builder apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said levee bag mount includes retaining clips to connect the levee bag to the levee bag mount.  
   
   
       21 . The portable levee builder apparatus of  claim 13  further including a hitch system for positioning the portable levee builder proximate a beginning point for the levee structure.