CN116529437A - Road surface ground mat - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pavement ground mat. It is known to cover the ground with a mat in order to create a better running surface for the vehicle. Known road mats comprise parallel arranged beams, each in a respective pocket in a fabric mat. However, excessive reliance on fabrics makes the fabrics susceptible to abrasion and tearing. The object of the present invention is to solve this problem, at least to some extent, by providing a floor mat having a first mat, a second mat, and means for pivoting, comprising at least two ball joints, each ball joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within the housing of the ball joint. Each mat has a series of substantially parallel beams connected to each other, and the first and second mats are each connected to a respective ball such that each mat is pivotable with the respective ball.

Description

Road surface ground mat

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a road surface mat for providing a road surface.

Background

It is known to cover the ground with a mat in order to provide a better running surface for the vehicle, which would otherwise have to run on bad ground, for example in an unpaved area. U.S. patent specification 2006/0222804, filed by banking, discloses a road mat in which a series of beams are arranged in parallel, each in a respective pocket in a fabric mat, among other things. The manner in which the mats are constructed by banning relies excessively on the fabric, which makes the fabric susceptible to wear and tear. It is an object of the invention to provide a useful alternative at least to some extent.

Definition of the definition

The terms "comprising" or "having," if used in connection with one or more features, in each case denote the presence of a minimum feature, but do not exclude the option of the presence of other features not mentioned. The same applies to derivatives such as "include" and the like.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a road surface mat comprising:

a first pad;

a second pad; and

a pivoting device comprising at least two ball joints, each ball joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the ball joint;

each mat has a series of substantially parallel beams connected to each other; and

each of the first and second pads is connected to a respective ball such that each pad is pivotable with the respective ball.

Preferably, the pivoting means comprises four ball joints.

Preferably, there is a third and fourth pad associated with the pivoting means in the same manner as the first and second pads.

Preferably, each pad is connected to a respective ball by a bolt which is threadably engaged with the ball.

Preferably, the pivoting means comprises a plate having aligned ribs and the corner of each mat is placed at or above the plate in abutment with a respective rib.

Preferably, the beams of each mat are held together by a frame.

Preferably, the reinforcing bars extend parallel to the beams and are connected to the frame so as to provide rigidity to the mat.

According to an alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a road surface mat comprising:

a first pad;

a second pad;

a third pad;

a fourth pad; and

a pivoting device comprising four ball joints, each ball joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the ball joint;

each mat having a series of substantially parallel beams connected to each other, wherein the beams comprise bamboo; and the pads are each connected to a corresponding ball such that each pad can pivot with the corresponding ball.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention there is provided a floor surface covered with a floor mat as described above for providing a roadway for a vehicle.

According to still another alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mat for a road mat, comprising:

a series of substantially parallel beams;

a frame holding the beams together, the frame including a first pair of U-shaped channels and a second pair of U-shaped channels;

a pair of reinforcing bars for providing rigidity to the frame; and

a gusset bracket disposed at each of four corners of the mat so as to provide rigidity to the frame;

wherein the mat can be connected to a pivoting device comprising a ball joint, which pivoting device is connected to another mat in the same way in order to form a road surface mat.

Drawings

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mat with connector boards used as a road cover;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a mat and two plates;

FIG. 3 is a plan view and a cross-sectional side view of an end beam and a filler beam;

FIG. 4 is an end view and side view of a first U-shaped channel and an end view and side view of a second U-shaped channel;

FIG. 5 is a plan view and a cross-sectional side view of the gusset bracket;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a plate;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of three mats bonded to a plate;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of two mats joined to a plate;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a bolt and ball joint including a pivoting ball;

fig. 10 shows a manner in which the mat distributes the load.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the road surface mat includes a mat material 1a having a pair of end beams 2a and a series of filler beams 2b arranged in parallel. The beams 2a, 2b are connected to each other by a frame 3 comprising a first pair of U-shaped grooves 3a spanning the width of the mat 1a and a second pair of U-shaped grooves 3b spanning the length of the mat 1 a. The beams 2a, 2b are held in a sliding fit in the U-shaped grooves 3a, 3b, respectively.

A pair of reinforcing bars 4 extend parallel to and between some of the filler beams 2b and are connected to the U-shaped channels 3b to provide rigidity to the mat 1 a. Alternatively, there may be more than two rods 4. Corresponding ones of the gusset brackets 5 are fixed at each corner of the mat 1a so as to provide additional rigidity. As will be explained below, each corner of the mat 1a, for example comprising a respective connector plate 6a, is adapted to be joined to the pivoting means 6, to which other mats are joined to form a road surface mat.

To further illustrate the details of the components of the mat 1a, fig. 3 shows a plan view and a side view of the beams 2a, 2b. Fig. 4 shows an end view and a side view of the U-shaped grooves 3a, 3b. Fig. 5 shows a plan view and a side view of the bracket 5.

Fig. 6 shows a pivoting device 6 comprising a connector plate 6a to which the mat is connected. Fig. 7 shows how three mats 1a-c are joined together by means of a pivoting means 6 to form a road surface mat.

As shown in fig. 8, the pivoting means 6 comprises a plate 6a, an alignment rib 7, four ball joints 9 and a washer 10 with shoulders.

The alignment rib 7 is raised relative to the plate 6 a. Four ball joints 9 are connected (e.g. welded) to the plate 6a and extend below the plate. Alternatively, the ball joint 9 may be integrally formed with the plate 6 a. Each ball joint 9 comprises a pivoting ball 9a in its housing.

To engage the mats 1a-c to the pivoting means 6, one corner of each mat is positioned above one corner of the plate 6a such that the mat corner is flush with two of the ribs. A washer 10 with a shoulder is placed between the mat 1a and the plate 6 a. Each pivot ball 9a has a threaded female opening adapted to receive the threads of the male bolt 11.

In each case, the bolts 11 pass through the holes 12, the respective brackets 5, the corresponding holes 13 in the end beam 2a, and the washers 10. Then, each bolt 11 is drilled into the end beam 2a and screwed into and connected to the pivot ball 9a.

The pads 1a-c are movable relative to the plate 6a by means of bolts 11 attached to the pivot balls 9a. This movement is achieved by pivoting (e.g. rotation or swivel) of the pivot ball 9a within the associated spherical joint housing and is limited to some extent by each washer 10. This means that there is a degree of "flexibility" between the mats 1a-c with respect to the plate 6 a.

Fig. 9 shows the ball joint 9 comprising the pivot ball 9a separated from the bolt 11 before the bolt passes through the end beam 2 a.

When in use, the mats 1a-c are joined to each other as described above, and if desired, together with an additional mat 1d (not shown) on one quarter of the plate 6a plus an additional mat set, for example, such that they extend together from one side of the soil path to the other. In the same way, such additional mats are added in a repeated manner in front of and behind the mat sets 1a-d so as to extend over and along the unpaved or bad ground to provide a surface on which the vehicle is traveling.

The floor mat spreads or disperses the heavy load over one or more of the beams 2a, 2b. This protects the underlying ground from point loads that could cause rutting or other damage to the ground. Fig. 10 shows the force distribution of the wheel weight with (a) and without (B) a floor mat. The downward force spreads more significantly over the ground in the case of a than in the case of B.

In addition, the mat provides improved wheel grip to the vehicle when the underlying surface is a marshland.

The floor mat may be used, inter alia, to provide a temporary road or other surface, but may also be used for a permanent surface. The floor mat may be used to provide enhanced vehicle access in the context of construction or civil engineering in remote or difficult to access areas, such as in mining sites or where power lines are being installed. Ground pads may also be used to provide a walking surface to prevent the work area where walkers enter from becoming muddy. By adding padding on the sides and long sides as needed, the length or width of the road or other surface can be set as needed. Damaged or worn sections of road can be easily repaired, for example, by replacing the frame 3, beams 2a, 2b or other components as required.

Preferably, the beams 2a, 2b are in each case strand woven hot pressed bamboo, such as moso bamboo, but the beams may comprise other kinds of bamboo. Gasket 10 is made of teflon ^TM Is prepared. The other parts of the mat 1a are preferably made of galvanized carbon steel.

Each mat 1a is preferably about 1900mm wide, 3000mm long and 50mm thick, 50mm being the approximate thickness of the U-shaped channels 3a, 3b. In the preferred embodiment of the mat 1a, each beam 2a, 2b is about 140mm wide, 1900mm long and 30mm thick. Each mat 1a has a weight of about 1050-1200kg/m ³ Is a compressed density of (a). However, other dimensions and compressed densities may be used depending on the intended end use.

Preferably, each mat 1a has two reinforcing rods 4, but the number used may depend on the overall size of the mat 1 a.

Preferably, the thickness of the bracket 5 is 6mm. Preferably, the connector plate 6a is 265mm x 265mm and 10mm thick. Preferably, the bracket hole 12 and the end beam hole 13 are each 12mm in diameter in order to fit a bolt shaft of 10mm in diameter.

Although some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described by way of example, it will be appreciated that modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

For the purposes of this disclosure, this document discloses each item, feature, or step described herein in connection with one or more of any other item, feature, or step disclosed herein, whether or not such combination is claimed in each case.

Claims (10)

1. A pavement floor mat comprising:

a first pad;

a second pad; and

a pivoting device comprising at least two ball joints and at least two bolts, each ball joint being positioned below a respective mat and comprising a ball arranged to pivot within a housing of the ball joint;

each mat has a series of substantially parallel beams connected to each other; and

each pad is connected to a respective ball by a respective bolt, in each case the bolt passing through the pad and extending to the ball so that the pad can pivot with the ball.

2. The pavement mat according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting means comprises four ball joints and four bolts, each ball joint and each bolt being arranged in the same way.

3. The pavement mat according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a third mat and a fourth mat associated with said pivot means in the same manner as said first and second mats, and the corners of each of the four mats being joined together at said pivot means.

4. A pavement mat according to any preceding claim, wherein each bolt is threadably engaged with a ball.

5. A pavement mat according to any preceding claim, wherein the pivot means comprises a plate having aligned ribs and the corner of each mat is placed at or above the plate in abutment with a respective rib.

6. A pavement mat according to any preceding claim, wherein the beams of each mat are held together by a frame.

7. The pavement mat of claim 6, wherein reinforcing rods extend parallel to the beams and are connected to the frame to provide rigidity to the mat.

8. The pavement mat according to claim 1, wherein:

a) At least comprises a third cushion material and a fourth cushion material;

b) The pivoting means having four ball joints, each ball joint comprising a respective ball adapted to pivot within a respective housing;

c) Each pad is connected to a respective ball and is pivotable with the ball; and

d) The beam comprises bamboo.

9. A floor covered with a floor mat according to any of the preceding claims for providing a road for a vehicle.

10. A mat for a pavement mat, comprising:

a series of substantially parallel beams;

a frame holding the beams together, the frame including a first pair of U-shaped channels and a second pair of U-shaped channels;

a pair of reinforcing bars for providing rigidity to the frame; and

a gusset bracket disposed at each of four corners of the mat so as to provide rigidity to the frame;

wherein the mat is connected to a pivoting means comprising a ball joint and a bolt, which is connected to another mat in the same way so as to form the road surface mat;

each ball joint is positioned below a respective mat and includes a ball arranged to pivot within a housing of the ball joint; and

each pad is connected to a respective ball by a respective bolt, in each case the bolt passing through the pad and extending to the ball so that the pad can pivot with the ball.