CA2275848A1 - Flooring panel for a transport vehicle - Google Patents
Flooring panel for a transport vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2275848A1 CA2275848A1 CA 2275848 CA2275848A CA2275848A1 CA 2275848 A1 CA2275848 A1 CA 2275848A1 CA 2275848 CA2275848 CA 2275848 CA 2275848 A CA2275848 A CA 2275848A CA 2275848 A1 CA2275848 A1 CA 2275848A1
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- Prior art keywords
- flooring panel
- flooring
- wood core
- panel
- layer
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D29/00—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof
- B62D29/02—Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof predominantly of wood
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
- B62D25/20—Floors or bottom sub-units
- B62D25/2054—Load carrying floors for commercial vehicles
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a flooring panel for a transport vehicle, comprising a wood core, the wood core including a plurality of wooden strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer applied to the bottom surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF 'THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to transport vehicles, more particularly but not necessarily exclusively to tractor trailer vehicles, and more particularly to flooring used in transport vehicles.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to transport vehicles, more particularly but not necessarily exclusively to tractor trailer vehicles, and more particularly to flooring used in transport vehicles.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A tractor trailer vehicle has a tractor which pulls what is widely referred to as a semi-trailer and generally includes covered vans and open flat-deck semi-trailers. These semi- trailers commonly have a payload-receiving deck, which is constructed with flooring which is formed from a hardwood laminate. A typical semi-trailer has a deck with a surface area of about 480 square feet and usually the flooring weighs about 5.5 pounds per square foot. This means that nearly 2200 pounds of the semi-trailer's 'deadweight' is the flooring. It follows that the greater the deadweight of the flooring, the higher the operating cost of the vehicle. Most highways have strict weight restrictions per axle and the higher the deadweight, the lower the payload that can be hauled in the semi-trailer.
Conventional laminate flooring is usually made from oak or other hardwoods with a density similar to oak. The laminate flooring is expected to last only about 7 to 10 years, because of the effects of wear and tear on the flooring, and exposure to the extreme temperature swings and precipitation of the changing seasons. Water penetrates the flooring causing both an increase in the deadweight, an inevitable accelerated degradation of the flooring due to rot, and a loss in strength due to the damaging effect of water along the bonding lines of the laminate, causing a resulting loss of adhesion. In fact, the presence of water in the laminate can be expected to reduce the strength of the laminate by as much as 75% of its original strength.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved flooring for use in the decks of semi-trailers or other b-ansport vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one of its aspects, the present invention involves a semi-trailer flooring panel comprising a wood core, the wood core including a plurality of strip elements, wherein the wood core has a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer is applied to the bottom surface.
Preferably, the strip elements are made from selected hardwoods or softwoods, such as aspen, maple or birch hardwoods and some selected softwoods such as northern black spruce and northern white spruce which have suitable mechanical characteristics including one or more of specific density, tension strength, shear strength and torsional stiffness. Preferably, the semi-trailer flooring panel meets the specifications established by PULLMAN TRAILMOBILE and included herein as Appendix One.
Preferably, substantially the entire area of the bottom surface is continuously bonded to the composite layer. In one embodiment the reinforced composite layer has a plurality of reinforcing elements which are arranged substantially parallel with the bottom surface, preferably embedded in an adhesive matrix. Still more preferably, the matrix includes a resilient material in a granulated form, such as a granulated synthetic rubber.
The reinforcing elements are preferably fibreglLass strands and more preferably in a woven fibreglass sheet.
Preferably, each of said strip elements has a specific density, or an average specific density, ranging from about 0.35 to about 0.6:i, more preferably from about 0.40 to 0.59.
Desirably, strip elements may be used in some cases where the specific density does not exceed 0.59.
In one embodiment, the panel has a thickness which does not exceed about 1 1/16 inch, although other thickness are also contemplated.
A protective coating may be applied to the wood core. In one embodiment, the protective coating envelopes the wood core together with the layer and preferably includes polyurethane materials and may include granular materials and the like to provide a roughened 'anti-slip' outer surface.
Preferably, the flooring panel has edge .regions which are formed to establish a joint with at least one adjacent flooring panel. More preferably, the edge region is provided with a compressible portion in order to render the so-formed joint substantially watertight.
Still more preferably, the edge regions include a first relatively large projection and the compressible portion includes a second relatively small projection. In one embodiment, the first and second projections are offset relative to one another.
In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a semi-trailer having a payload- receiving deck formed with a plurality of flooring panels, each of the flooring panels including a wood core, the wood core including a plurality of strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, .and a reinforced composite layer applied to the bottom surface.
In still another of its aspects, the present invention provides a transport vehicle having a payload- receiving deck including at least one flooring panel, the flooring panel including a wood core, the wood core including a plurality of strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer applied to the bottom surface.
In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method of forming a flooring panel for a transport vehicle, comprising the steps o~
a) fusing a plurality of wooden strip elements to form a wood core with a lower surface;
b) applying a first adhesive layer to said bottom surface;
c) applying a layer of reinforced material on said layer of adhesive material;
and d) applying a second adhesive layer to said reinforced material.
Preferably, the first and second adhesive layers are 'wet' and include an isocyanate constituent. In this context, the term 'wet' is intended to mean in a liquid form with a capacity to penetrate both the substrate of the wood core and the inner spaces or voids of the reinforcing material. More preferably, the method includes, following step d), the step of:
e) enveloping the wood core with a protective layer If desired, the protective layer may include a polyurethane constituent as well as a hardening constituent to harden the upper surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Several preferred embodiments of the :present invention will be provided, by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a tractor trailer vehicle;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a semi-trailer of the vehicle of figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on lime 3-3 of figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side view of a panel illustrated in figure 3;
Figures Sa to Se are successive views o:f a manufacturing process to form the panel of figure 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREhERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a tractor trailer vehicle 10 having a tractor and a semi-trailer, the latter identified at 12. The semi-trailer has a payload-receiving deck 14 supported on an undercarriage shown schematically at 16. The semi-trailer 12 is intended to include semi-trailers with covers, as shown in dashed lines, and those without, as well as other semi-trailers which use a payload-receiving deck.
A tractor trailer vehicle has a tractor which pulls what is widely referred to as a semi-trailer and generally includes covered vans and open flat-deck semi-trailers. These semi- trailers commonly have a payload-receiving deck, which is constructed with flooring which is formed from a hardwood laminate. A typical semi-trailer has a deck with a surface area of about 480 square feet and usually the flooring weighs about 5.5 pounds per square foot. This means that nearly 2200 pounds of the semi-trailer's 'deadweight' is the flooring. It follows that the greater the deadweight of the flooring, the higher the operating cost of the vehicle. Most highways have strict weight restrictions per axle and the higher the deadweight, the lower the payload that can be hauled in the semi-trailer.
Conventional laminate flooring is usually made from oak or other hardwoods with a density similar to oak. The laminate flooring is expected to last only about 7 to 10 years, because of the effects of wear and tear on the flooring, and exposure to the extreme temperature swings and precipitation of the changing seasons. Water penetrates the flooring causing both an increase in the deadweight, an inevitable accelerated degradation of the flooring due to rot, and a loss in strength due to the damaging effect of water along the bonding lines of the laminate, causing a resulting loss of adhesion. In fact, the presence of water in the laminate can be expected to reduce the strength of the laminate by as much as 75% of its original strength.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved flooring for use in the decks of semi-trailers or other b-ansport vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one of its aspects, the present invention involves a semi-trailer flooring panel comprising a wood core, the wood core including a plurality of strip elements, wherein the wood core has a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer is applied to the bottom surface.
Preferably, the strip elements are made from selected hardwoods or softwoods, such as aspen, maple or birch hardwoods and some selected softwoods such as northern black spruce and northern white spruce which have suitable mechanical characteristics including one or more of specific density, tension strength, shear strength and torsional stiffness. Preferably, the semi-trailer flooring panel meets the specifications established by PULLMAN TRAILMOBILE and included herein as Appendix One.
Preferably, substantially the entire area of the bottom surface is continuously bonded to the composite layer. In one embodiment the reinforced composite layer has a plurality of reinforcing elements which are arranged substantially parallel with the bottom surface, preferably embedded in an adhesive matrix. Still more preferably, the matrix includes a resilient material in a granulated form, such as a granulated synthetic rubber.
The reinforcing elements are preferably fibreglLass strands and more preferably in a woven fibreglass sheet.
Preferably, each of said strip elements has a specific density, or an average specific density, ranging from about 0.35 to about 0.6:i, more preferably from about 0.40 to 0.59.
Desirably, strip elements may be used in some cases where the specific density does not exceed 0.59.
In one embodiment, the panel has a thickness which does not exceed about 1 1/16 inch, although other thickness are also contemplated.
A protective coating may be applied to the wood core. In one embodiment, the protective coating envelopes the wood core together with the layer and preferably includes polyurethane materials and may include granular materials and the like to provide a roughened 'anti-slip' outer surface.
Preferably, the flooring panel has edge .regions which are formed to establish a joint with at least one adjacent flooring panel. More preferably, the edge region is provided with a compressible portion in order to render the so-formed joint substantially watertight.
Still more preferably, the edge regions include a first relatively large projection and the compressible portion includes a second relatively small projection. In one embodiment, the first and second projections are offset relative to one another.
In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a semi-trailer having a payload- receiving deck formed with a plurality of flooring panels, each of the flooring panels including a wood core, the wood core including a plurality of strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, .and a reinforced composite layer applied to the bottom surface.
In still another of its aspects, the present invention provides a transport vehicle having a payload- receiving deck including at least one flooring panel, the flooring panel including a wood core, the wood core including a plurality of strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer applied to the bottom surface.
In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method of forming a flooring panel for a transport vehicle, comprising the steps o~
a) fusing a plurality of wooden strip elements to form a wood core with a lower surface;
b) applying a first adhesive layer to said bottom surface;
c) applying a layer of reinforced material on said layer of adhesive material;
and d) applying a second adhesive layer to said reinforced material.
Preferably, the first and second adhesive layers are 'wet' and include an isocyanate constituent. In this context, the term 'wet' is intended to mean in a liquid form with a capacity to penetrate both the substrate of the wood core and the inner spaces or voids of the reinforcing material. More preferably, the method includes, following step d), the step of:
e) enveloping the wood core with a protective layer If desired, the protective layer may include a polyurethane constituent as well as a hardening constituent to harden the upper surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Several preferred embodiments of the :present invention will be provided, by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a tractor trailer vehicle;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a semi-trailer of the vehicle of figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on lime 3-3 of figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side view of a panel illustrated in figure 3;
Figures Sa to Se are successive views o:f a manufacturing process to form the panel of figure 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREhERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a tractor trailer vehicle 10 having a tractor and a semi-trailer, the latter identified at 12. The semi-trailer has a payload-receiving deck 14 supported on an undercarriage shown schematically at 16. The semi-trailer 12 is intended to include semi-trailers with covers, as shown in dashed lines, and those without, as well as other semi-trailers which use a payload-receiving deck.
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the semi-trailer 12 and it has a substructure 18 including at least a pair of longitudinal frame members 18a and a plurality of cross members 18b extending between the frame members 18. A number of flooring panels (three of which are shown at 20, 22 and 24) acre fastened to the substructure 18.
Figure 3 shows more details of the flooring panels 20, 22 and 24. Each has at least one longitudinal edge region with a joint formation 28, which has a first projection 28a which, in this case, is relatively large and consumes roughly one half the thickness of the panel, on one half of the edge region thereof, and a second relatively small sealing projection 28b spaced from the first projection. As can be seen by figure 3, the first and second projections are offset from one another so that the smaller projection of panel 20 abuts the larger proj ection of panel 22 and so on. The edge region provides a method of joining or tying adjacent flooring panels together to strengthen the deck.
Looking more closely at the panel 22 shown in figure 3, it will be understood that the panel 22 has identical features of the panells 20 and 24 with the exception of the edge regions in some cases. For example, the remote longitudinal edge of the panel 20, in view of this location on the outermost edge of the substructure, may not need the edge region 28.
The flooring panel 22 has a wood core 30 having a plurality of strip elements bonded together along substantially parallel bond surfaces 34. The wood core 30 has substantially planar upper and lower surfaces 36, 38 and a reinforced composite layer shown at 40 fixed to the lower surface, and which functions as a load support layer.
The load support layer 40 is capable o:f withstanding tensile loads and preferably has a plurality of tensile load reinforcement elements 42 which, in one example, are fibreglass strands, in a woven fibreglass sheet 44, for example a 24 ounce sheet. Desirably, the fibreglass sheet is embedded in an adhesive matrix 46. Preferably, the adhesive matrix has, as one of its constituents, a resilient material in a granulated form, such as synthetic rubber.
Figure 3 shows more details of the flooring panels 20, 22 and 24. Each has at least one longitudinal edge region with a joint formation 28, which has a first projection 28a which, in this case, is relatively large and consumes roughly one half the thickness of the panel, on one half of the edge region thereof, and a second relatively small sealing projection 28b spaced from the first projection. As can be seen by figure 3, the first and second projections are offset from one another so that the smaller projection of panel 20 abuts the larger proj ection of panel 22 and so on. The edge region provides a method of joining or tying adjacent flooring panels together to strengthen the deck.
Looking more closely at the panel 22 shown in figure 3, it will be understood that the panel 22 has identical features of the panells 20 and 24 with the exception of the edge regions in some cases. For example, the remote longitudinal edge of the panel 20, in view of this location on the outermost edge of the substructure, may not need the edge region 28.
The flooring panel 22 has a wood core 30 having a plurality of strip elements bonded together along substantially parallel bond surfaces 34. The wood core 30 has substantially planar upper and lower surfaces 36, 38 and a reinforced composite layer shown at 40 fixed to the lower surface, and which functions as a load support layer.
The load support layer 40 is capable o:f withstanding tensile loads and preferably has a plurality of tensile load reinforcement elements 42 which, in one example, are fibreglass strands, in a woven fibreglass sheet 44, for example a 24 ounce sheet. Desirably, the fibreglass sheet is embedded in an adhesive matrix 46. Preferably, the adhesive matrix has, as one of its constituents, a resilient material in a granulated form, such as synthetic rubber.
The strip elements may be selected from hardwoods such as oak, aspen, maple and birch. More particularly, the flooring panel 22 has the advantage that the last three of these hardwoods may be used. The flooring panel has the additional advantage that it can be made from selected softwoods, such as northern black spruce and northern white spruce, provided that it has sufficiently good mechanical properties, such as those outlined in Appendix One. Testing has shown that wood cores made from wood strip elements having a specific density ranging from about 0.39 to 0.65 have provided satisfactory results, although specific densities of greater than 0.65 may be used as well.
In addition, wood elements used in the wood core may in fact be of different specific densities, in which case, the average specific density may desirably range from about 0.39 to about 0.65. In some cases, wood elements with lower specific densities may have otherwise satisfactory mechanical characteristics, such ass a suitable tension and shear strength and torsional stiffness. It is important to bear in mind that the specific densities of a particular species of wood may vary depending on the rf;gion where the specifies is growing and is known to be influenced by changes in climate, soil type and the like.
Testing has shown that test strip elements having a specific density ranging from 0.35 to 0.65 should be useful in the present invention. For example, aspen has been found to have a specific density of about 0.40, while some birch species have specific densities of about 0.56, as compared with the oak species which have densities of about 0.60 and northern black spruce has a density of about 0.50. However, strip elements made from woods having other specific densities may also be useable in some cases, provided the mechanical properties are sufficient.
Referring to figures Sa to Se, the panel is formed as follows. Refernng to figure Sa, the the wooden strip elements are first rough-planed (for example equipment providing the equivalent of 36 grit abrasive planer, in order to provide the strip elements with substantially parallel gluing surface. The strip elements are then kiln dried, coated with an adhesive resin and placed in a press, preferably a high frequency press, thereby to form the wood core. For example, the press may be an ultrasonic or radio frequency press which causes a localized frictional heating of the wood strip elements thereby to cure the resin and achieve a strong bond. A suitable adhesive is sold by ARCRESIN of Montreal Quebec and is suitably wet for the present application. In fact, testing of some flooring panels made according to the present technique has shown that the adhesive is sufficiently strong and has sufficiently penetrated the substrate of the wood core and the reinforcing material to the extent that the strength of the rc;sulting bond appears to be greater than the strength of the substrate. Referring to figure 5b, the so-formed wood core is then rough-planed to form substantially planar upper and lower surfaces and the longitudinal edges are formed to form the edge regions as above described.
Refernng to figure Sc, the lower edge is then coated with a first layer segment of an adhesive material, such as that sold under the trade name L)NISEAL 204-Hard, Thin Film, sold by LJNISEAL, Edmonton Alberta Canada, in a manner to ensure at least some penetrate of the adhesive into the substrate of the wood core. A second layer segment in the form of a sheet of woven fibreglass cloth, such as the type available from CORNING, is then placed on the first layer segment to allow the adhesive to wet the fibres of the reinforcing material, desirably minimizing air pockets therein. Referring to figure Sd, the facing surface of the fibreglass is then applied with a third layer segment of the same adhesive material. Referring to figure Se, the first and third layer segments are then cured to form a matrix containing the fibreglass.
The adhesive used in the matrix holdin~; the fibreglass should be sufficiently strong to maintain the adhesion of the load support layer on the wood core for the duration of its useful life. Preferable adhesives include those containing isocyanates capable ofproducing a wood-to-wood bond with a shear strength ranging from 1000 to 2200 psi. An example of a suitable adhesive is that sold under the trade name UIVISEAL 204-Hard, Thin Film, by L1NISEAL, Edmonton Alberta Canada. Other suitable adhesives may be those which exhibit one or more of the following properties, in their cured state:
Adhesion (to steel) Elcometer- 1000 to 3000 psi;
Hardness: ASTM D-2240: 65 SHORE-D;
Flexibility: ASTM D-412: 45% Elongation;
Tensile Strength: 1800 to 3000 psi;
In addition, wood elements used in the wood core may in fact be of different specific densities, in which case, the average specific density may desirably range from about 0.39 to about 0.65. In some cases, wood elements with lower specific densities may have otherwise satisfactory mechanical characteristics, such ass a suitable tension and shear strength and torsional stiffness. It is important to bear in mind that the specific densities of a particular species of wood may vary depending on the rf;gion where the specifies is growing and is known to be influenced by changes in climate, soil type and the like.
Testing has shown that test strip elements having a specific density ranging from 0.35 to 0.65 should be useful in the present invention. For example, aspen has been found to have a specific density of about 0.40, while some birch species have specific densities of about 0.56, as compared with the oak species which have densities of about 0.60 and northern black spruce has a density of about 0.50. However, strip elements made from woods having other specific densities may also be useable in some cases, provided the mechanical properties are sufficient.
Referring to figures Sa to Se, the panel is formed as follows. Refernng to figure Sa, the the wooden strip elements are first rough-planed (for example equipment providing the equivalent of 36 grit abrasive planer, in order to provide the strip elements with substantially parallel gluing surface. The strip elements are then kiln dried, coated with an adhesive resin and placed in a press, preferably a high frequency press, thereby to form the wood core. For example, the press may be an ultrasonic or radio frequency press which causes a localized frictional heating of the wood strip elements thereby to cure the resin and achieve a strong bond. A suitable adhesive is sold by ARCRESIN of Montreal Quebec and is suitably wet for the present application. In fact, testing of some flooring panels made according to the present technique has shown that the adhesive is sufficiently strong and has sufficiently penetrated the substrate of the wood core and the reinforcing material to the extent that the strength of the rc;sulting bond appears to be greater than the strength of the substrate. Referring to figure 5b, the so-formed wood core is then rough-planed to form substantially planar upper and lower surfaces and the longitudinal edges are formed to form the edge regions as above described.
Refernng to figure Sc, the lower edge is then coated with a first layer segment of an adhesive material, such as that sold under the trade name L)NISEAL 204-Hard, Thin Film, sold by LJNISEAL, Edmonton Alberta Canada, in a manner to ensure at least some penetrate of the adhesive into the substrate of the wood core. A second layer segment in the form of a sheet of woven fibreglass cloth, such as the type available from CORNING, is then placed on the first layer segment to allow the adhesive to wet the fibres of the reinforcing material, desirably minimizing air pockets therein. Referring to figure Sd, the facing surface of the fibreglass is then applied with a third layer segment of the same adhesive material. Referring to figure Se, the first and third layer segments are then cured to form a matrix containing the fibreglass.
The adhesive used in the matrix holdin~; the fibreglass should be sufficiently strong to maintain the adhesion of the load support layer on the wood core for the duration of its useful life. Preferable adhesives include those containing isocyanates capable ofproducing a wood-to-wood bond with a shear strength ranging from 1000 to 2200 psi. An example of a suitable adhesive is that sold under the trade name UIVISEAL 204-Hard, Thin Film, by L1NISEAL, Edmonton Alberta Canada. Other suitable adhesives may be those which exhibit one or more of the following properties, in their cured state:
Adhesion (to steel) Elcometer- 1000 to 3000 psi;
Hardness: ASTM D-2240: 65 SHORE-D;
Flexibility: ASTM D-412: 45% Elongation;
Tensile Strength: 1800 to 3000 psi;
Salt Fog: 500 hrs. With no blistering or Undercutting UV Resistance: 500 hours. QVLT, slight yellowing and chalking (properties intact) Refernng to figure Se once again, the resulting panel is then enveloped in an exterior coating, that is a coating which covers substantially the entire outer surface of the panel and this coating can be selected from such coatings as polyurethanes and the like, depending on the environment in which the so-equipped semi- trailer may be exposed. For example, a flat deck trailer flooring panel maybe coated with an anti-slip compound, such those which contain a UV inhibitor and a granular material, for example those sold under the trade name CHEMCRAFT.
The fibreglass contributes to the downvvard bending strength of the panel, since the bending of the panel places the fibreglass cloth in tension, which, as is known to those skilled in the art, has high tensile load limits. The use of the load support layer therefore allows the wood core to be thinner than the wood cores used in some conventional semi-trailer vehicle flooring, while providing substantially the same strength. For example, conventional flooring has a thickness of 1 1 /8 inch and 1 3/8 inch, while the present flooring may be, if desired, be 1 1/16 inch . rvleanwhile, the specific density may be, if desired, reduced to levels of about 0.35 for example, rather than the conventional specific density of 0.60 when oak is used. Moreover, a thinner wood core results in a lower 'deadweight'. The use of the load support layer may, in some cases, allow the hardwoods selected for the wood core to a lower density, thereby lowering the 'deadweight' still further and reducing cost, since such lower density hardwoods are more plentiful.
Testing was carried out examples of t:he present flooring panel according to the specifications of Appendix One, the results of which are shown in tables 1 to 10. These specifications were established by PULLMAN TRAILMOBILE, a Division of PULLMAN, and define the standards for flooring panels used on semi-trailers.
Samples of the present flooring panel, using a maple wood core, were tested under this standard, the results of which are shown in Tables l and 2. It can be seen that the samples were capable of withstanding mean shear loads of 6302 psi and 7289 psi respectively.
Samples of the present flooring panel, using an aspen, oak and birch are shown Tables 3 to 10.
The useful life of a flooring panel is conventionally compared by the trucking industry with test which is known in the fieldL as a Dynamic Cycling Test and currently conducted by the manufacturer GREAT DArJE, were a test bed is formed from a steel trailer frame and the test flooring panels are mounted on the frame to form a test payload-receiving deck. A test device, roughly equivalent to a small forklift truck which is loaded with ballast of about 10,000 pounds, is then programmed to travel back and forth along a foot path front and back on the test payload receiving deck. It, it is generally held that 10 a sample floor will pass the test if it can remain intact for 15,000 cycles of the test device, with a moderate level of delamination along t:he glue surfaces. This 15,000 cycle test is considered equivalent to a 15 year test. In tests carried out on selected test samples of the present flooring panel have withstood as many as 27,000 cycles with minimal delamination.
To assemble the semi-trailer vehicle flooring, a number of flooring panels 20, and 24 are placed on the substructure and fastc,ned in place. In so doing, the edge region of panel 20 is placed alongside the edge region of panel 22 and so on and the panels are preferably pressed together in order to force each of the small projections into its neighboring large projection. This arrangement is beneficial because during use, moisture appearing at the small/large projection interface will cause local swelling, which in turn will increase the compressive forces between the large and small proj ections and the wood in this localized area expands. The water, however, is restricted to a very small area surrounding the edge regions and is not able to penetrate the polyurethane coating envelope, to affect the bond lines of the panc;ls themselves. It should be understood, however, that the exterior coating envelope otherwise minimizes water penetration into the wood core.
Thus, the flooring panel 20 may be used in some cases to reduce the deadweight of a semi- trailer as well as, in some cases, to improve the useful life of trailer decks formed with it. The flooring panel 20 mal~;es use of horizontally laminated woven fibreglass sheet on the underside of the flooring panel by way of an adhesive compound having a mixture of granulated or crumb rubber and a resin which may include one or more of isocyanate and polyurethane, such as that sold under the trade name UNISEAL. The flooring panel 20 may be used with selected :hardwoods and softwoods having specific densities ranging from 0.35 to 0.60, for example hardwoods such as aspen (at 0.40), and birch (at 0.56) or maple (at 0.61), or softwood;. such as northern black spruce at (0.50) for the wood core . If desired, a second woven fibreglass layer may also be applied to the upper surface of the wood core and coated with such things as anti-slip coatings, and the like or those which provide increased wear resistance, for example.
The flooring panel may, in some cases, increase the longevity of the so-formed deck by maintaining the integrity of the wood core for a longer period of time, by providing one or more of superior adhesion, relatively high tensile strength, relatively high UV ray resistance, relatively low porosity, relatively high impact resistance and corrosion resistance. Depending on the specific dimensions of the wood core, the density of the wood elements, for example, the flooring panel should in some cases be able to contribute to an overall reduction in deadweight by 200 to 700 pounds when compared with conventional hardwood flooring panels, thereby increasing the payload while reducing fuel and maintenance costs.
While the flooring panel described herein utilizes fibreglass as a reinforcing material in the load support layer, other materials may be used, such as carbon fibres, or polymer fibres such as polyester, and the like, which are held in a suitable matrix. While the flooring panel has been described in the context of a tractor trailer vehicle, it will be understood that the flooring panel may also be useful in other vehicles such as fixed body transport trucks and the like. Other modifications may also be made to the embodiments presented herein while not departing from the scope of the claims which follow.
RESULTS
TEST: DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" F'APER: SEPTEMBER 18T", 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 J
ASTM D-905 (STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-OE3010 = MAPLE BOARD No. 1 WIDTH: 2.010 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.290 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH PER MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER__ POUNDS PSI
1 _ 2.236 .882 ~
2 6.008 2.317 __ ~~
3 7.256 2.798 __ ~
4 6.841 2.638 __ ~
4.302 1.659 _ _ ~
6 7.437 2.868 _ 7 __ 6.765 2.609 8 _ 8.352 3.221 9 __ _6_.427 2.479 ~
8.458 3.261 ___ 11 ___ 3.036 1.171 12 _ 7.462 2.878 13 __ 3.276 1.263 MEAN 6.302 2.430 ' STD.DEVIATIOP~1.829 70706 _i RESULTS
TEST; DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T", 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08010 = MAPLE BOARD No. 2 WIDTH: 2.007 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.275 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 ~1ND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH PER MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER POUNDS t PSI
1 __ 6.036 2.369 2 _ 1.331 .520 3 __ 7.611 2.974 ~
4 7.550 2.950 _ ~
7.548 2.949 __ 6 _ 4.181 1.634 ~
7 7.812 3.053 __ ~
8 10.730 4.193 _ ~
9 5.426 2.120 __ _ 7.103 2.776 ~
11 _ 9.350 3.654 _ 12 _ 7.450 2.911 ~
_ 13 6.668 2.606 __ MEAN _ , 7.289 2.848 STD.DEVIATION~ 1.699 6 -I
RESULTS
TEST: DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T" 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRICI 98-08011 = ASPEN BOARD No.1 WIDTH: 2.008 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.406 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH PER MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
'' i NUMBER _ POUNDS PSI
1 _ 4.133 1.464 2 _ 4.354 1.542 3 _ 4.819 1.707 4 5.156 1 __ 4.724 .
1.673 _ ~ 4.922 1.743 I'- 6 _ 7 _ ' 5.306 1.879 8 _- _ 5.000 1.771 i 9 _ ' 3.587 1.271 _ ' 5.404 1.914 11 4.719 1.671 !
_ 2.662 .943 12 ~_~
13 _ 3.484 1.234 MEAN 4.634 1.641 , _ .628 .222 _ STD.DEVIATION
i TnBLE 3 RESULTS
TEST: DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T". 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08011 = ASPEN BOARD No. 2 WIDTH: 2.013 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.407 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: x.20 INCH I MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPf_RATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER _ POUNDS PSI
1 _ 4.111 1.451 2 _ 5.984 2.113 3 6145 2.169 ~
4 _ 5.6_99 2.012 _ _ 5.684 2.007 6 _ 2.1_55 .761 7 _ 6_.0 2.125 8 _ _ 1.835 5.198 9 _ 5.385 1.901 _ 5.124 1.809 11 __ 4.805 1.697 ~
12 4.069 1.437 _ 13 2.886 1.019 MEAN _ 5.093 1.798 STD.DEVIATION.979 .346 RESULTS
TEST. DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T", 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (S'TRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08012 = OAK BOARD
WIDTH: 2.013 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.295 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH I MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° Fj RESULTS.
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER __ POUNDS PSI
1 _ 3.684 1.143 2 _ 5.549 2.128 3 _ 5.444 2.088 4 6.137 2.354.
_ 5.786 2.226 ~
6 6.777 2.600 _ ~
7 _ 6.773 2.59F~
_ 8 _ 2.989 1.147 ~
~
9 _ 6.737 2.584 _ _ __ 5.843 2.241 11 __ 5.033 1.931 12 _ 5.621 2.156 13 _ 5.555 2.131 MEAN 5.745 2.204 i STD.DEVIATION.863 .331 RESULTS
TEST: DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T", 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (Sl'RENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08013 = BIRCH BOARD
WIDTH: 2.003 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.258 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH l MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER __ POUNDS PSI
1 __ 4.806 1.907 2 _ 5.746 2.280 3 4.805 1.907 4 _ 6.314 2.506 4.297 1.705 6 _ 5.992 2.378 ~
7 5.887 2.336 __ 8 _ 3.302 1.310 9 6.254 2.482 __ 6.028 2.392 11 5.481 2.175 12 _ 5.550 2.206 ' 13 _ 6.209 2.464 MEAN _ 5.614 2.228 STD.DEVIATION.655 .260 , RESULTS
TEST: THREE POINTS FLEXION
NORM: ASTM D-790 ( FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF UNREINFORCED AND REINFORCED
PLASTICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS ) SPAN: 12 INCHES
SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08010 = MAPLE BOARDS
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 SPEED: 2.00 INCHES I MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
BOARD SAMPLE. WIDTH THICKNESS FORCE
NUMBER INCHES INCH POUNDS
1 1 _ 12.00 1.290 20.630 1 2 _ 12.00 1.275 18.590 2 1 _ 12.00 1.298 21.920 2 2 12.00 1.295 20.520 MEAN 20.415 _ STD. 1.373 DEVIATION
RESULTS
TEST: THREE POINTS FLEXION
NORM: ASTM D-790 ( FILEXURAL PROPERTIES OF UNREINFORCED AND
REINFORCED
PLASTICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS ) SPAN: 12 INCHES
SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08011 = ASPEN BOARDS
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 SPEED: 2.00 INCHES I MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
BOARD SAMPLE WIDTH THICKNESS FORCE
NUMBEF; INCHES INCH POUNDS
1 1 12.00 1.406 17.050 1 2 12.00 1.414 15.640 2 1 12.00 1.407 17.330 2 2 12.00 1.407 17.270 M EAN _ 16.823 STD. .797 DEVIATION
RESULTS
TEST: THREE POINTS FLEXION
NORM: ASTM D-790 ( FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF UNREINFORCED AND
REINFORCED
PLASTICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS ) SPAN: 121NCHES
SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08CI12 = OAK BOARD
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 SPEED: 2.00 INCHES / MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPIERATURE (21 ° C, 70° F;i RESULTS:
BOARD WIDTH THICKNESS FORCE
INCHES INCH POUNDS
1 12.00 1.295 19.200 _ 2 12.00 1.297 18.880 MAN ~ 19.040 RESULTS
TEST: THREE POINTS I=LEXION
NORM: ASTM D-790 ( FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF UNREINFORCED AND REINFORCED
PLASTICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS ) SPAN: 12 INCHES
SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08013 = BIRCH BOARD
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 SPEED: 2.00 INCHES I MIINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
BOARD WIDTH THICKNESS FORCE
INCHES'i_INCH POUNDS
1 12.00 1.258 19.010 _ 2 12.00 1.254 18.620 MEAN 18.815
The fibreglass contributes to the downvvard bending strength of the panel, since the bending of the panel places the fibreglass cloth in tension, which, as is known to those skilled in the art, has high tensile load limits. The use of the load support layer therefore allows the wood core to be thinner than the wood cores used in some conventional semi-trailer vehicle flooring, while providing substantially the same strength. For example, conventional flooring has a thickness of 1 1 /8 inch and 1 3/8 inch, while the present flooring may be, if desired, be 1 1/16 inch . rvleanwhile, the specific density may be, if desired, reduced to levels of about 0.35 for example, rather than the conventional specific density of 0.60 when oak is used. Moreover, a thinner wood core results in a lower 'deadweight'. The use of the load support layer may, in some cases, allow the hardwoods selected for the wood core to a lower density, thereby lowering the 'deadweight' still further and reducing cost, since such lower density hardwoods are more plentiful.
Testing was carried out examples of t:he present flooring panel according to the specifications of Appendix One, the results of which are shown in tables 1 to 10. These specifications were established by PULLMAN TRAILMOBILE, a Division of PULLMAN, and define the standards for flooring panels used on semi-trailers.
Samples of the present flooring panel, using a maple wood core, were tested under this standard, the results of which are shown in Tables l and 2. It can be seen that the samples were capable of withstanding mean shear loads of 6302 psi and 7289 psi respectively.
Samples of the present flooring panel, using an aspen, oak and birch are shown Tables 3 to 10.
The useful life of a flooring panel is conventionally compared by the trucking industry with test which is known in the fieldL as a Dynamic Cycling Test and currently conducted by the manufacturer GREAT DArJE, were a test bed is formed from a steel trailer frame and the test flooring panels are mounted on the frame to form a test payload-receiving deck. A test device, roughly equivalent to a small forklift truck which is loaded with ballast of about 10,000 pounds, is then programmed to travel back and forth along a foot path front and back on the test payload receiving deck. It, it is generally held that 10 a sample floor will pass the test if it can remain intact for 15,000 cycles of the test device, with a moderate level of delamination along t:he glue surfaces. This 15,000 cycle test is considered equivalent to a 15 year test. In tests carried out on selected test samples of the present flooring panel have withstood as many as 27,000 cycles with minimal delamination.
To assemble the semi-trailer vehicle flooring, a number of flooring panels 20, and 24 are placed on the substructure and fastc,ned in place. In so doing, the edge region of panel 20 is placed alongside the edge region of panel 22 and so on and the panels are preferably pressed together in order to force each of the small projections into its neighboring large projection. This arrangement is beneficial because during use, moisture appearing at the small/large projection interface will cause local swelling, which in turn will increase the compressive forces between the large and small proj ections and the wood in this localized area expands. The water, however, is restricted to a very small area surrounding the edge regions and is not able to penetrate the polyurethane coating envelope, to affect the bond lines of the panc;ls themselves. It should be understood, however, that the exterior coating envelope otherwise minimizes water penetration into the wood core.
Thus, the flooring panel 20 may be used in some cases to reduce the deadweight of a semi- trailer as well as, in some cases, to improve the useful life of trailer decks formed with it. The flooring panel 20 mal~;es use of horizontally laminated woven fibreglass sheet on the underside of the flooring panel by way of an adhesive compound having a mixture of granulated or crumb rubber and a resin which may include one or more of isocyanate and polyurethane, such as that sold under the trade name UNISEAL. The flooring panel 20 may be used with selected :hardwoods and softwoods having specific densities ranging from 0.35 to 0.60, for example hardwoods such as aspen (at 0.40), and birch (at 0.56) or maple (at 0.61), or softwood;. such as northern black spruce at (0.50) for the wood core . If desired, a second woven fibreglass layer may also be applied to the upper surface of the wood core and coated with such things as anti-slip coatings, and the like or those which provide increased wear resistance, for example.
The flooring panel may, in some cases, increase the longevity of the so-formed deck by maintaining the integrity of the wood core for a longer period of time, by providing one or more of superior adhesion, relatively high tensile strength, relatively high UV ray resistance, relatively low porosity, relatively high impact resistance and corrosion resistance. Depending on the specific dimensions of the wood core, the density of the wood elements, for example, the flooring panel should in some cases be able to contribute to an overall reduction in deadweight by 200 to 700 pounds when compared with conventional hardwood flooring panels, thereby increasing the payload while reducing fuel and maintenance costs.
While the flooring panel described herein utilizes fibreglass as a reinforcing material in the load support layer, other materials may be used, such as carbon fibres, or polymer fibres such as polyester, and the like, which are held in a suitable matrix. While the flooring panel has been described in the context of a tractor trailer vehicle, it will be understood that the flooring panel may also be useful in other vehicles such as fixed body transport trucks and the like. Other modifications may also be made to the embodiments presented herein while not departing from the scope of the claims which follow.
RESULTS
TEST: DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" F'APER: SEPTEMBER 18T", 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 J
ASTM D-905 (STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-OE3010 = MAPLE BOARD No. 1 WIDTH: 2.010 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.290 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH PER MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER__ POUNDS PSI
1 _ 2.236 .882 ~
2 6.008 2.317 __ ~~
3 7.256 2.798 __ ~
4 6.841 2.638 __ ~
4.302 1.659 _ _ ~
6 7.437 2.868 _ 7 __ 6.765 2.609 8 _ 8.352 3.221 9 __ _6_.427 2.479 ~
8.458 3.261 ___ 11 ___ 3.036 1.171 12 _ 7.462 2.878 13 __ 3.276 1.263 MEAN 6.302 2.430 ' STD.DEVIATIOP~1.829 70706 _i RESULTS
TEST; DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T", 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08010 = MAPLE BOARD No. 2 WIDTH: 2.007 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.275 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 ~1ND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH PER MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER POUNDS t PSI
1 __ 6.036 2.369 2 _ 1.331 .520 3 __ 7.611 2.974 ~
4 7.550 2.950 _ ~
7.548 2.949 __ 6 _ 4.181 1.634 ~
7 7.812 3.053 __ ~
8 10.730 4.193 _ ~
9 5.426 2.120 __ _ 7.103 2.776 ~
11 _ 9.350 3.654 _ 12 _ 7.450 2.911 ~
_ 13 6.668 2.606 __ MEAN _ , 7.289 2.848 STD.DEVIATION~ 1.699 6 -I
RESULTS
TEST: DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T" 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRICI 98-08011 = ASPEN BOARD No.1 WIDTH: 2.008 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.406 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH PER MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
'' i NUMBER _ POUNDS PSI
1 _ 4.133 1.464 2 _ 4.354 1.542 3 _ 4.819 1.707 4 5.156 1 __ 4.724 .
1.673 _ ~ 4.922 1.743 I'- 6 _ 7 _ ' 5.306 1.879 8 _- _ 5.000 1.771 i 9 _ ' 3.587 1.271 _ ' 5.404 1.914 11 4.719 1.671 !
_ 2.662 .943 12 ~_~
13 _ 3.484 1.234 MEAN 4.634 1.641 , _ .628 .222 _ STD.DEVIATION
i TnBLE 3 RESULTS
TEST: DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T". 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08011 = ASPEN BOARD No. 2 WIDTH: 2.013 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.407 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: x.20 INCH I MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPf_RATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER _ POUNDS PSI
1 _ 4.111 1.451 2 _ 5.984 2.113 3 6145 2.169 ~
4 _ 5.6_99 2.012 _ _ 5.684 2.007 6 _ 2.1_55 .761 7 _ 6_.0 2.125 8 _ _ 1.835 5.198 9 _ 5.385 1.901 _ 5.124 1.809 11 __ 4.805 1.697 ~
12 4.069 1.437 _ 13 2.886 1.019 MEAN _ 5.093 1.798 STD.DEVIATION.979 .346 RESULTS
TEST. DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T", 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (S'TRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08012 = OAK BOARD
WIDTH: 2.013 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.295 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH I MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° Fj RESULTS.
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER __ POUNDS PSI
1 _ 3.684 1.143 2 _ 5.549 2.128 3 _ 5.444 2.088 4 6.137 2.354.
_ 5.786 2.226 ~
6 6.777 2.600 _ ~
7 _ 6.773 2.59F~
_ 8 _ 2.989 1.147 ~
~
9 _ 6.737 2.584 _ _ __ 5.843 2.241 11 __ 5.033 1.931 12 _ 5.621 2.156 13 _ 5.555 2.131 MEAN 5.745 2.204 i STD.DEVIATION.863 .331 RESULTS
TEST: DRY SHEAR
NORM: "FREUHAUF" PAPER: SEPTEMBER 18T", 1970 ( LAMINATED HARDWOOD
FLOORING, SECTION 4.1 ) ASTM D-905 (Sl'RENGTH PROPERTIES OF ADHESIVE BONDS IN SHEAR BY
COMPRESSION LOADING) SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08013 = BIRCH BOARD
WIDTH: 2.003 INCHES
THICKNESS: 1.258 INCH
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 AND TINUS OLSEN SHEAR TEST EQUIPMENT
SPEED: 0.20 INCH l MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
SAMPLE FORCE STRESS
NUMBER __ POUNDS PSI
1 __ 4.806 1.907 2 _ 5.746 2.280 3 4.805 1.907 4 _ 6.314 2.506 4.297 1.705 6 _ 5.992 2.378 ~
7 5.887 2.336 __ 8 _ 3.302 1.310 9 6.254 2.482 __ 6.028 2.392 11 5.481 2.175 12 _ 5.550 2.206 ' 13 _ 6.209 2.464 MEAN _ 5.614 2.228 STD.DEVIATION.655 .260 , RESULTS
TEST: THREE POINTS FLEXION
NORM: ASTM D-790 ( FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF UNREINFORCED AND REINFORCED
PLASTICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS ) SPAN: 12 INCHES
SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08010 = MAPLE BOARDS
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 SPEED: 2.00 INCHES I MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
BOARD SAMPLE. WIDTH THICKNESS FORCE
NUMBER INCHES INCH POUNDS
1 1 _ 12.00 1.290 20.630 1 2 _ 12.00 1.275 18.590 2 1 _ 12.00 1.298 21.920 2 2 12.00 1.295 20.520 MEAN 20.415 _ STD. 1.373 DEVIATION
RESULTS
TEST: THREE POINTS FLEXION
NORM: ASTM D-790 ( FILEXURAL PROPERTIES OF UNREINFORCED AND
REINFORCED
PLASTICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS ) SPAN: 12 INCHES
SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08011 = ASPEN BOARDS
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 SPEED: 2.00 INCHES I MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
BOARD SAMPLE WIDTH THICKNESS FORCE
NUMBEF; INCHES INCH POUNDS
1 1 12.00 1.406 17.050 1 2 12.00 1.414 15.640 2 1 12.00 1.407 17.330 2 2 12.00 1.407 17.270 M EAN _ 16.823 STD. .797 DEVIATION
RESULTS
TEST: THREE POINTS FLEXION
NORM: ASTM D-790 ( FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF UNREINFORCED AND
REINFORCED
PLASTICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS ) SPAN: 121NCHES
SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08CI12 = OAK BOARD
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 SPEED: 2.00 INCHES / MINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPIERATURE (21 ° C, 70° F;i RESULTS:
BOARD WIDTH THICKNESS FORCE
INCHES INCH POUNDS
1 12.00 1.295 19.200 _ 2 12.00 1.297 18.880 MAN ~ 19.040 RESULTS
TEST: THREE POINTS I=LEXION
NORM: ASTM D-790 ( FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF UNREINFORCED AND REINFORCED
PLASTICS AND ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIALS ) SPAN: 12 INCHES
SAMPLE: No. CRIQ 98-08013 = BIRCH BOARD
EQUIPMENT: INSTRON 4206 SPEED: 2.00 INCHES I MIINUTE
TEMPERATURE: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (21° C, 70° F) RESULTS:
BOARD WIDTH THICKNESS FORCE
INCHES'i_INCH POUNDS
1 12.00 1.258 19.010 _ 2 12.00 1.254 18.620 MEAN 18.815
Claims (29)
1. A flooring panel for a transport vehicle, comprising a wood core, said wood core including a plurality of wooden strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer applied to said bottom surface.
2. A flooring panel as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said strip elements has a specific density not exceeding 0.59.
3. A flooring panel as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said strip elements has a specific density ranging from 0.40 to 0.59.
4. A flooring panel as defined in claim 3 wherein said specific density ranges from 0.42 to 0.56.
5. A flooring panel as defined in claim 1 wherein said panel has a thickness which does not exceed 1 1/16 inch.
6. A flooring panel as defined in claim 1 wherein the wood core has an average specific density ranging from 0.40 to 0.59.
7. A flooring panel as defined in claim 7 wherein said average specific density ranges from 0.42 to 0.56.
8. A flooring panel as defined in claim 1 wherein substantially the entire area of said bottom surface is continuously bonded to said composite layer.
9. A flooring panel as defined in claim 8 wherein said layer has a plurality of tensile load support elements arranged substantially parallel with said bottom surface.
10. A flooring panel as defined in claim 9 wherein said tensile load support elements are fibreglass strands.
11. A flooring panel as defined in claim 10 wherein said fibreglass strands are in a woven fibreglass sheet.
12. A flooring panel as defined in claim 11 wherein said fibreglass sheet is embedded in an adhesive matrix.
13. A flooring panel as defined in claim 12 wherein said matrix includes a resilient material in a granulated form.
14. A flooring panel as defined in claim 13 wherein said resilient material is synthetic rubber.
15. A flooring panel as defined in claim 1 wherein said strip elements are from aspen, maple, birch or northern black spruce.
16. A flooring panel as defined in claim 1, further comprising a protective coating applied to said wood core.
17. A flooring panel as defined in claim 16 wherein said protective coating envelopes said wood core together with said layer.
18. A flooring panel as defined in claim 17 wherein said protective coating includes polyurethane materials.
19. A flooring panel as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one edge region which is formed to establish a joint with at least one adjacent flooring panel.
20. A flooring panel as defined in claim 19 wherein said edge region further comprises a compressible portion, in order to render said joint substantially watertight.
21. A flooring panel as defined in claim 20 wherein said edge region includes a first relatively large projection and said compressible portion includes a second relatively small projection, .
22. A flooring panel as defied in claim 20 wherein said first and second projections are offset relative to one another.
23. A semi-trailer having a payload- receiving deck formed with a plurality of flooring panels, each of said flooring panels including a wood core, said wood core including a plurality of strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer applied to said bottom surface.
24. A transport vehicle having a payload- receiving deck including at least one flooring panel, said flooring panel including a wood core, said wood core including a plurality of strip elements bonded together and having a bottom surface, and a reinforced composite layer applied to said bottom surface.
25. A method of forming a flooring panel for a transport vehicle, comprising the steps of:
a) fusing a plurality of wooden strip elements to form a wood core with a lower surface;
b) applying a first wet adhesive layer to said bottom surface;
c) applying a layer of reinforced material on said layer of wet adhesive material; and d) applying a second wet adhesive layer to said reinformed material.
a) fusing a plurality of wooden strip elements to form a wood core with a lower surface;
b) applying a first wet adhesive layer to said bottom surface;
c) applying a layer of reinforced material on said layer of wet adhesive material; and d) applying a second wet adhesive layer to said reinformed material.
26. A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the first and second wet adhesive layers include an isocyanate constituent.
27. A method as defined in claim 26 further comprising, following step d), the step of:
e) enveloping the wood core with a protective layer.
e) enveloping the wood core with a protective layer.
28. A method as defined in claim 27 wherein the protective layer includes a polyurethane constituent.
29. A method as defined in claim 28 wherein the wood core has an upper surface, the protective layer includes a hardening constituent to harden said upper surface.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2275848 CA2275848A1 (en) | 1999-06-18 | 1999-06-21 | Flooring panel for a transport vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2275848 CA2275848A1 (en) | 1999-06-18 | 1999-06-21 | Flooring panel for a transport vehicle |
| USUNKNOWN | 2008-08-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2275848A1 true CA2275848A1 (en) | 2000-12-18 |
Family
ID=30774416
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2275848 Abandoned CA2275848A1 (en) | 1999-06-18 | 1999-06-21 | Flooring panel for a transport vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2275848A1 (en) |
Cited By (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2644478A1 (en) * | 2012-03-27 | 2013-10-02 | UPM-Kymmene Wood Oy | A panel comprising plywood |
| US8857125B2 (en) | 2012-06-27 | 2014-10-14 | Industrial Hardwood Products, Inc. | Wood flooring with sealed joints for truck trailers and containers |
| US9434421B1 (en) | 2015-06-02 | 2016-09-06 | Rockland Flooring Llc | Wood flooring with reinforced thermoplastic underlayer |
| US10239566B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2019-03-26 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite floor for a dry truck body |
| US10329763B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2019-06-25 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite floor structure and method of making the same |
| US10407103B2 (en) | 2017-01-11 | 2019-09-10 | Wabash National, L.P. | Mounting bracket for a truck body and method for mounting a composite truck body to a chassis |
| CN110284690A (en) * | 2019-07-08 | 2019-09-27 | 圣象实业（江苏）有限公司 | Sound insulation and noise reduction heat-insulation wood floor |
| US10479419B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2019-11-19 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite refrigerated semi-trailer and method of making the same |
| US10479405B2 (en) | 2016-08-31 | 2019-11-19 | Wabash National, L.P. | Mounting bracket for a composite truck body floor |
| US10538051B2 (en) | 2015-10-23 | 2020-01-21 | Wabash National, L.P. | Extruded molds and methods for manufacturing composite truck panels |
| US10549789B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2020-02-04 | Wabash National, L.P. | Joining a rail member to a composite trailer structure |
| US10596950B2 (en) | 2015-02-23 | 2020-03-24 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite refrigerated truck body and method of making the same |
| US10710423B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2020-07-14 | Wabash National, L.P. | Joining a suspension assembly to a composite trailer structure |
| US10829163B2 (en) | 2017-08-10 | 2020-11-10 | Wabash National, L.P. | Transverse beam for composite floor structure and method of making the same |
| US10919579B2 (en) | 2017-08-25 | 2021-02-16 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite floor structure with embedded hardpoint connector and method of making the same |
-
1999
- 1999-06-21 CA CA 2275848 patent/CA2275848A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (24)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2644478A1 (en) * | 2012-03-27 | 2013-10-02 | UPM-Kymmene Wood Oy | A panel comprising plywood |
| US8857125B2 (en) | 2012-06-27 | 2014-10-14 | Industrial Hardwood Products, Inc. | Wood flooring with sealed joints for truck trailers and containers |
| US11554708B2 (en) | 2015-02-23 | 2023-01-17 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite refrigerated truck body and method of making the same |
| US10596950B2 (en) | 2015-02-23 | 2020-03-24 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite refrigerated truck body and method of making the same |
| US9878744B2 (en) | 2015-06-02 | 2018-01-30 | Rockland Flooring Llc | Wood flooring with reinforced thermoplastic underlayer |
| US11046370B2 (en) | 2015-06-02 | 2021-06-29 | Rockland Flooring Llc | Wood flooring with reinforced thermoplastic underlayer |
| US10464616B2 (en) | 2015-06-02 | 2019-11-05 | Rockland Flooring Llc | Wood flooring with reinforced thermoplastic underlayer |
| US9434421B1 (en) | 2015-06-02 | 2016-09-06 | Rockland Flooring Llc | Wood flooring with reinforced thermoplastic underlayer |
| US11299213B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2022-04-12 | Wabash National, L.P. | Joining a rail member to a composite trailer structure |
| US10549789B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2020-02-04 | Wabash National, L.P. | Joining a rail member to a composite trailer structure |
| US10710423B2 (en) | 2015-09-08 | 2020-07-14 | Wabash National, L.P. | Joining a suspension assembly to a composite trailer structure |
| US11607862B2 (en) | 2015-10-23 | 2023-03-21 | Wabash National, L.P. | Extruded molds and methods for manufacturing composite truck panels |
| US10538051B2 (en) | 2015-10-23 | 2020-01-21 | Wabash National, L.P. | Extruded molds and methods for manufacturing composite truck panels |
| US10967920B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2021-04-06 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite floor for a dry truck body |
| US10550569B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2020-02-04 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite floor structure and method of making the same |
| US10479419B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2019-11-19 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite refrigerated semi-trailer and method of making the same |
| US10329763B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2019-06-25 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite floor structure and method of making the same |
| US10239566B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2019-03-26 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite floor for a dry truck body |
| US10479405B2 (en) | 2016-08-31 | 2019-11-19 | Wabash National, L.P. | Mounting bracket for a composite truck body floor |
| US10407103B2 (en) | 2017-01-11 | 2019-09-10 | Wabash National, L.P. | Mounting bracket for a truck body and method for mounting a composite truck body to a chassis |
| US10829163B2 (en) | 2017-08-10 | 2020-11-10 | Wabash National, L.P. | Transverse beam for composite floor structure and method of making the same |
| US10919579B2 (en) | 2017-08-25 | 2021-02-16 | Wabash National, L.P. | Composite floor structure with embedded hardpoint connector and method of making the same |
| CN110284690A (en) * | 2019-07-08 | 2019-09-27 | 圣象实业（江苏）有限公司 | Sound insulation and noise reduction heat-insulation wood floor |
| CN110284690B (en) * | 2019-07-08 | 2024-03-26 | 圣象实业（江苏）有限公司 | Sound-proof noise-reducing heat-insulating wooden floor |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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