Methods and apparatus for configuring an erosion control system

Abstract

In one case, an erosion control blanket is rolled into a configuration in which an end of the erosion control blanket is folded onto the erosion control blanket. This configuration can improve the unrolling the rolled erosion control blanket. Methods and apparatus for configuring erosion control blankets and configured erosion control blankets are provided.

1 . An erosion control blanket comprising:
 a first end and a second end; and   a folded portion comprising the first end folded onto the erosion control blanket to form a folded edge,   wherein the erosion control blanket is configured as a roll having the folded portion disposed at a core of the roll.   
   
   
       2 . The erosion control blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the roll is arranged such that the first end is closer to the core of the roll than a portion of the erosion control blanket onto which the first end is folded. 
   
   
       3 . The erosion control blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the roll is arranged such that the first end is farther from the core of the roll than a portion of the erosion control blanket onto which the first end is folded. 
   
   
       4 . The erosion control blanket of  claim 1 , wherein a distance from the first end to the folded edge is between about three feet to about twenty feet. 
   
   
       5 . The erosion control blanket of  claim 4 , wherein a distance from the first end to the folded edge is about ten feet. 
   
   
       6 . The erosion control blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion control blanket comprises fibrous material. 
   
   
       7 . The erosion control blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the erosion control blanket is between about four to about 16 feet wide. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for rolling an erosion control blanket, comprising:
 at least one roller for forming the blanket into a roll; and   a diversion unit for diverting a first end of the erosion control blanket away from the at least one roller such that a folded edge of the erosion control blanket is rolled by the at least one roller to form a core of the rolled erosion control blanket.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a blanket slide for guiding the erosion control blanket onto the diversion unit. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one roller comprises a group of three rollers. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the diversion unit comprises a plurality of hooks for hooking and moving an end of the control blanket away from the at least one roller. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of hooks are moved by actuators and wherein the actuators and at least one roller are programmably logic controlled. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the diversion unit comprises a movable blanket slide for intercepting and diverting and end of the control blanket away from the at least one roller. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the moveable blanket slide is moved by actuators and wherein the actuators and at least one roller are programmably logic controlled. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the diversion unit comprises a human operator for catching and moving an end of the erosion control blanket away from the at least one roller. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is located at the end of a continuous process for forming the erosion control blanket. 
   
   
       17 . A method of rolling an erosion control blanket, comprising:
 folding a first end of the erosion control blanket onto the erosion control blanket to form a folded edge; and   rolling the erosion control blanket so that the folded edge forms a core of the rolled erosion control blanket.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the erosion control blanket is rolled such that the first end is closer to the core than a portion of the erosion control blanket onto which the first end is folded. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the erosion control blanket is rolled such that the first end is farther from the core than a portion of the erosion control blanket onto which the first end is folded. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the erosion control blanket is folded such that a distance from the first end to the folded edge is about ten feet.