This invention relates generally to the field of construction and crane matting, and more particularly to a pre-tensioned matting assembly comprised of a plurality of is discrete mat segments.
Matting systems are utilized to provide temporary support surfaces or structures for construction sites and for temporary roadways. Such matting systems are typically utilized in areas having poor soil conditions that would not otherwise be accessible to heavy trucks, cranes, and construction equipment. Typical matting systems are comprised of a plurality of boards or panel elements that are fastened together to create a mat surface. Such designs rely on the properties of the beam strength (strength is in direction of beam) of the boards or panel elements that are fastened together to form a matting system.
The failure of such matting systems is primarily is due to excessive moment loads on the mat components (mat bending). Increasing the size of the boards or panel elements of the matting system increases the moment load potential for the matting system. Thus, a very small mat is difficult to break when compared to a large mat. In practice, mats that are very small are not practical to use because of high installation costs and the number of connections required.
Consequently, a need exists for a matting system that will have the load bearing characteristics of a very small mat with the construction efficiency associated with large matting systems.
The presented design provides a matting system having a support structure configured for a desired maximum design load for placement on a comparatively compliant underlayment or sub-base (soil in the case of a construction mat). When design load (rated load) for the matting system is exceeded, the support structure undergoes a geometrical change in configuration that allows additional support for the applied load from the underlying elements.
The presented design provides a matting system comprised of an assembly of a plurality of discrete, individual small parts or mat segments that are held together by a pre-tensioned wire or rod connector. The mat segments are designed to “give”, i.e. separate, at their adjoining connecting surfaces when the matting system is overloaded. The pre-tensioned connector holding the mat segments together is elastic through a reasonable displacement range so that the matting system will reassemble itself after the applied load is removed. Energy stored in the pre-tensioned connector assembly facilitates the positive return of the overstressed support structure back to its initial configuration.
In the presented design, the primary strength (for the matting system having a one dimensional tension system) is in the direction of assembly. The prefabricated “beam” of mat segments may be relatively weak when initially fitted together but the beam strength of the mat segments greatly enhanced when the mat segments are linked together by the pre-tensioned connector. Further, the construction geometry of the linked mat segments need not be limited to the shape of a beam or any other particular shapes. The mat segments would be made from a variety of skeletonized elements framed by a matrix of suitable material such as one made from plastic composites.
The construction described above can stand on its own or could be part of a more complicated composite structure that satisfies additional functional needs. As an example, an assembly of rigid structural elements could be covered by a softer outer material. This outer material could act to protect the rigid structural elements from impact loads and could also serve the activity for which the mat is employed (e.g., non-skid surface). In this way, multiple support structures could be housed in matting system comprised, of a matrix of differing material.
The matting system may also be provided with pre-tensioned connectors in multiple dimensions.
Referring now to
The mat segments (12) are designed to “give” or separate at their adjoining connecting surfaces (11) at a predetermined load as the pre-tensioned connector rod deforms when the matting system is overloaded. As shown multiple mat segments are utilized to create the matting system (10). These mat segments (12) have an adjoining connecting surface (11) that is designed to facilitate deflection of the mat segments 12) during periods when the matting system is overloaded. It is thought that a matting system (to) comprised of mat segments (12) having connecting surfaces (11) comprised of concave surfaces (18) interfacing with adjoining convex surfaces (20) will serve to provide the desired deflection of the mat segments.
The pre-tensioned connector (14) holding the mat segments (12) together is designed to be elastic through a desired range of load conditions and displacements of adjoining mat segments (12) so that the matting system (10) will reassemble itself after the applied load is removed. Energy stored in the pre-tensioned connector (14) in the elastic range of the pre-tensioned connector will facilitate the positive return of the displaced mat segments (12) back to the initial mat configuration when the load displacing the mat segments and overstressing the matting system (to) is removed.
As further shown in
Placement of the desired surfacing overlay (21) may be varied over the upper surface of the matting system (10) so that the overlay (21) may be tailored as desired to provide a surfacing (21) specific to a desired use. The surfacing overlay (21) may be any suitable surfacing material such as resilient asphalt or other pliable surfacing material such as a replaceable composite or wooden surfacing. Resilient asphalt may be particularly suitable for a mat system (10) having a continuous overlay (24).
Release of tension from the connector (14) will allow the mat to be reformed for another use in another configuration increasing the versatility and applications for the matting system.
Other configurations may also be utilized for the connection surfaces of adjoining mat segments (12) of a matting, system (10), For example, the matting system (10) may be configured simply as an enlarged two or three segment matt with adjoining segments (12) having a single concave surface adjoining a single convex surface as the connecting surface (11) as shown in
A schematic top view of another embodiment of a mat segment (12) is shown in
Each mat segment (12) could also be provided with an internal support frame or rib element (19) such as that shown in
The construction described above for the matting system (10) can stand alone as a single mat or could be incorporated into a more complicated matting structure that satisfies additional functional needs. The matting system (10) may be configured with mat segments (12) having pre-tensioned or post-tensioned connectors (14) extending in multiple directions through the mat segments (12) as desired to provide additional mat flexibility and to distribute bending loads on the matting system (10) in multiple directions. For example, as shown in
It will be evident that various other changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the matting system described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing its material advantages. It is thought that the proposed matting system presented herein will be understood from the foregoing description. The form described herein is intended to be merely an example embodiment of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/655,017 tiled Jun. 4, 2012, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61655017 | Jun 2012 | US |