EP2721216B1 - Surface covering especially for the passage of vehicles - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The object of the present invention is in the field of surface coatings; the object of the present invention is more precisely in the field of surface coatings for the passage including one or more vehicles on a rough surface such as for example a rugged soil, muddy, swampy or sandy.

The object of the present invention finds advantageous applications in the field of circulation means such as carpets or surface coatings configured to promote the circulation of vehicles.

The object of the present invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the military or humanitarian field by allowing the movement of motorized vehicles when such vehicles must cross natural barriers such as for example rough floors, muddy ground, swampy soils or still sandy soils.

The object of the present invention also finds a particularly advantageous application in the airport field by promoting the displacement on the ground of an aircraft that is bogged down, or by allowing the landing of a helicopter on a rough terrain, furniture or generator of Dust whose particles raised by approaching the vehicle could damage the blades of the helicopter.

By surface within the meaning of the present invention, it is necessary to understand throughout the present description which follows any type of surface (ground, road, path, terrain, fields, beach, etc.) on which it is possible to circulate for example on foot or in a vehicle, whether it is a motorized vehicle (car, 4x4, ATV, heavy weight, military machine, motorcycle, airplane, helicopter, etc.) or not.

State of the art

It is known, especially in military operations or in adventurous 4x4 adventure-type situations, that motorized vehicles must to cross natural obstacles such as swamps, slippery floors, or uneven ground with rocks, stones, etc.

Such rugged surfaces are sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to cross.

To promote the crossing of such obstacles, certain types of vehicles comprise, at the front and / or rear, means of the type on-board winches fixed to the front and / or rear frame.

It is understood, however, that such solutions are suitable only for the passage of one vehicle at a time.

In addition, the use of a winch to overcome an obstacle is often an adventurous and risky operation.

In order to allow the passage of one or more vehicles, it is known in the state of the art more appropriate means consisting of a surface coating, or carpet, configured to improve the lift of the surface to be crossed when said coating covers this said surface.

The document FR-2866908 provides a relevant solution to this type of problem by proposing a temporary surface covering for the circulation of machines; in this document, the surface coating consists of parallel blades and hinged together by interposed connection means solidarity.

Still to deal with this same problem, the document US 4488833 provides equivalent education by providing a surface covering for the passage of vehicles of the military gear type.

The technical contribution of the teaching of these documents focuses on the deployment of the blades together to form the coating.

The solutions proposed in these documents, although interesting in terms of solidity and storage, are long and difficult to implement, especially when the people involved in this implementation must act in extreme conditions.

The Applicant observes in particular that the constituent structural elements of this type of solution involve a volume of space and a large mass.

The Applicant further observes that, generally, it is necessary to use specific tools to install such coatings and join the blades together.

Other solutions exist, and at least partially solve the aforementioned problems. Such solutions are found in particular in the documents GB-1,498,962 or US 3999879 .

These documents propose the use of foldable mats comprising pneumatic means, such mats allowing the passage of vehicles on rough surfaces.

The Applicant observes, however, that this type of solution is not resistant: for obvious reasons of weight and buoyancy, it can be tricky to get military vehicles such as tanks on such pneumatic mats.

The Applicant also observes that such solutions, known as pneumatic, require prior inflation, which is restrictive and time consuming.

The applicant finally observes that, predictably, in case of puncture, the passage of vehicles is made almost impossible; such a puncture can cause dangerous accidents.

The documents FR 2776308 A and US 2006/222804 disclose temporary surface coatings having a textile backing with stiffening bars. In any case, the solutions envisaged in the various documents of the prior art are not fully satisfactory, particularly in terms of robustness, cost and implementation. The applicant submits in particular that the various solutions envisaged in all of the documents cited above are not fully satisfactory in terms of speed of deployment, storage, performance, and resistance.

Object and summary of the present invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective solution to the aforementioned problems, the object of the present invention also solving the problems related to the costs of production and manufacturing.

One of the technical problems that the object of the present invention solves is therefore to propose a solution to allow the passage of vehicles of the type for example motorized vehicles on a surface such as, for example, uneven, marshy, muddy, sandy ground.

For this purpose, the object of the present invention relates to a surface coating, or carpet, for the passage including at least one vehicle on a surface such as a rough terrain, muddy, swampy or sandy.

Of course, it is understood here that the surface coating according to the present invention also allows the passage of any other type of object or individual on any other type of surface than those stated above. It is also understood that the term "passage" also includes landing or any other type of movement of any type of vehicle.

• d'une part, deux faces couvertes chacune d'au moins une couche en polymère, et,
• d'autre part, une pluralité de poches tubulaires traversantes s'étendant sensiblement transversalement dans l'épaisseur du support entre les deux couches et obtenues lors de l'assemblage des deux couches entre elles.

Advantageously, the surface coating according to the present invention comprises a double-ply textile support according to claim 1 having:

• on the one hand, two faces each covered with at least one polymer layer, and
• on the other hand, a plurality of tubular through pockets extending substantially transversely in the thickness of the support between the two layers and obtained during the assembly of the two layers together.

Thus, thanks to the presence of such tubular pockets, it is possible to insert, in each tubular pocket, a stiffening bar so as to allow in particular the increase of the motor and the lift of the surface when the surface coating is positioned on the surface.

By double ply textile support, it is necessary to understand any textile support comprising at least two layers of textile, without the two layers necessarily being bonded to each other, during, for example, a weaving operation. It is therefore understood that such a double fold textile support has four distinct faces, one face of the first fold being locally bondable to one face of the second fold.

Advantageously, the two faces of the two plies of the double ply textile support are covered with at least one polymer layer.

The fixing of the polymer layer on the four faces of the double-ply textile support can be carried out, for example and without limitation, by an adhesion process (for example an extrusion coating, calendering, vulcanization ... ).

With such a configuration, and therefore such an increase in traction and lift, it is possible for vehicles, and even for heavy vehicles such as tanks or planes, to cross natural barriers such as rough surfaces. like those described above.

Advantageously, the surface coating comprises several polymer layers.

Advantageously, each tubular pocket has a diameter substantially between about 10 to 40 millimeters, preferably substantially equal to 25 millimeters.

The tubular pockets of the coating may have different diameters from each other, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Advantageously, each polymer layer has a thickness of substantially between about 0.5 to 3 millimeters; this thickness is preferably substantially equal to 1.5 millimeters. A different thickness may be deposited on each of the covered faces without departing from the scope of the present invention.

With such a range of values for the thickness of the polymer layer, the Applicant notably observes the following performances: good resistance to abrasion when using the surface coating on a soil with sharp objects (pebbles, etc.), and good resistance to ultraviolet rays, hydrocarbons, ozone, and other external aggressions.

Advantageously, the polymer is an elastomer.

The use of the elastomer to cover the faces of the coating gives it elongation at break or adhesion properties similar to those of natural rubber.

The elastomer may, for example and without limitation, be fixed on the faces of the coating by a bonding process (for example an extrusion coating, calendering, vulcanization ...).

According to one variant, provision is made for the presence of PVC on the faces of the coating.

In addition, according to one variant, a coating is designed whose faces are covered by different materials exhibiting interesting elongation at break and adhesion properties.

Advantageously, the polymer used for each of the layers has a hardness substantially between 25 to 90 Shore A; preferably, this hardness is substantially equal to 80 Shore A.

This hardness allows the coating to offer a good coefficient of adhesion between the tires of the vehicle and the surface coating.

Advantageously, each layer has a different hardness, in order to best meet the requirements of adhesion of the vehicle, on the one hand, and resistance to friction on the surface, on the other hand.

Advantageously, each tubular pocket is obtained during the vulcanization of the two layers together. Of course, it is understood here that other equivalent methods may allow to obtain such tubular pockets during the manufacture of the coating.

Advantageously, the outer face of at least one of the two layers, preferably both, has a footprint made directly in the polymer to improve the traction of the coating. The Applicant observes that the vulcanization process easily makes it possible to mark any type of non-slip imprint improving the adhesion of the vehicles.

Advantageously, the outer face of at least one of the two layers, preferably both, has a centering strip which is provided to visualize the central axis of the coating and promote the driving of the vehicle on the surface coating.

Advantageously, the successive tubular pockets are spaced from each other by a separation distance substantially between 80 and 300 millimeters; preferably, this separation distance is substantially equal to 150 millimeters.

Preferably, the separation distance of the tubular pockets varies on the different parts of the coating.

This separation distance allows the coating, on the one hand to maintain good longitudinal flexibility for the coating to be unrollable, and secondly to have good rigidity in the transverse direction with the insertion of bars in the pockets.

Advantageously, in a preferred embodiment, each stiffening bar is made of a composite material. Of course, it is understood here that any other type of equivalent material in terms of mechanical properties can be used to replace the composite material used here for the stiffening bars.

The flexural modulus of these stiffening bars is substantially between about 40 GPa to 250 GPa; preferably, this flexural modulus is substantially equal to 110 GPa.

This flexural modulus allows the coating to offer a very good transverse stiffness and therefore a good bearing capacity in loose soil, or to be usable on soils with holes.

Advantageously, the tubular pockets are substantially parallel to each other.

Advantageously, the double-ply textile support is embedded in the polymer during vulcanization to reinforce the coating. Preferably, the textile support has a tensile strength substantially between about 300 to 2000 daN / 5cm, preferably substantially equal to 1200 daN / cm.

This tensile strength makes it possible to offer the coating a high mechanical strength in traction, tearing and punching.

Advantageously, the surface coating comprises anchoring means configured to allow the anchoring of the surface coating with a rigid fastening element such as for example a recessed metal pile. in the surface. Such anchoring means thus make it possible to make the surface coating stable when it is used in particular on a moving surface such as a marshy ground.

Advantageously, in a preferred embodiment, the anchoring means consist of at least one metal insert positioned on the periphery of the surface coating.

Advantageously, the surface coating comprises gripping means, such as for example handles, positioned on the periphery of the surface coating.

Correlatively, the object of the present invention also relates to the use of a surface coating, as described above, to allow the passage of at least one vehicle of the motorized vehicle type on a surface of the type for example rough, muddy, swampy or sandy soil.

Thus, the object of the present invention by its various functional aspects and its advantageous characteristics overcomes the various drawbacks noted in the state of the art by allowing in particular the storage and easy deployment of a surface coating for the passage of one or more individuals or one or more motorized vehicles on a rough surface of type for example rough, muddy, marshy ground.

Brief description of the figures

• Les figures 1a et 1b représentent respectivement de façon schématique une vue de dessus et une vue en coupe d'un revêtement de surface selon un mode de réalisation particulier de la présente invention ;
• Les figures 2a et 2b représentent chacune une vue schématique en perspective d'un revêtement de surface conforme aux figures 1a et 1b ;
• La figure 3 représente, de façon schématique, une illustration d'une utilisation d'un revêtement de surface conforme au mode de réalisation particulier des figures 1a et 1b ;
• Les figures 4a, 4b, 4c représentent diverses empreintes du revêtement de surface selon des variantes de réalisation préférées de la présente invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description below with reference to Figures 1a - 1b at Figures 4a - 4c annexed which illustrate an example of implementation devoid of any limiting character and on which:

• The Figures 1a and 1b schematically respectively show a top view and a sectional view of a surface coating according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;
• The Figures 2a and 2b each represent a schematic perspective view of a surface coating conforming to the Figures 1a and 1b ;
• The figure 3 represents, schematically, an illustration of a use of a surface coating according to the particular embodiment of the Figures 1a and 1b ;
• The Figures 4a, 4b, 4c represent various imprints of the surface coating according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention

A surface coating according to a particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described in the following with reference to Figures 1a to 4c .

Allowing the manufacture of a surface coating including the features of flexibility and rigidity necessary to promote the passage of a vehicle (or an individual) of a natural obstacle as described above is one of the objectives of the present invention.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention relates to a specific surface coating 100 shown in top view in figure 1a and in perspective view in figure 2a .

In the example described here, and as illustrated in figure 3 , the surface coating 100 according to the present invention allows the passage of a vehicle V 4x4 type on a surface S type marshy.

It is understood here that this embodiment is not limiting in nature: the surface coating 100 according to the present invention is suitable for any other type of equivalent vehicle: tanks, heavy trucks, humanitarian convoys, 4x4, aircraft, helicopters , etc., and any other type of rugged surface (or not): marshy, muddy, stony ground, etc.

In the example described here, and as illustrated in particular in figure 1b , the surface coating 100 according to the present invention comprises a double-ply textile support 10 advantageously having a tensile strength substantially equal to 1200 daN / cm.

By double ply textile support, it is understood any textile support comprising at least two single ply textile supports, without both Textile supports are necessarily connected to each other during, for example, a weaving operation. Such a double ply textile support thus has four distinct faces: two faces disposed inside the textile support, and two faces arranged outwardly. The two faces disposed inside the double-fold textile support can, moreover, be locally linked.

Any type of textile meeting these properties may be considered in the context of the present invention.

In the example described here, the textile support 10 according to the present invention has two faces each covered with a layer 11A and 11B made of an elastomeric material whose hardness is substantially equal to 80 Shore A.

In the example shown with reference to the figure 1b the two outer faces of the textile support are covered with a layer (11A, 11B) made of an elastomeric material; in addition, and as shown on figure 1b , the two inner faces of the textile support are also covered with a layer (not referenced) made of an elastomeric material. As detailed in the following description, the presence of the layers of elastomeric material on the two inner faces of the double ply textile support allow, by assembling the two plies, the formation of a plurality of tubular pockets.

It would also be conceivable, within the scope of the present invention, a textile support of which only the inner faces would be covered with a layer made of an elastomeric material, or in any other material having elongation properties at break or adhesion similar to those of natural rubber, this material may be, for example and without limitation, a polymer (such as, for example, PVC, Nitrile (NBR), SBR ...).

Similarly, and without departing from the scope of the present invention, it would also be possible to design a double-ply textile support of which at least two faces are covered with a layer made of a polymeric material.

The Applicant submits that there is to date no surface coating comprising such a material.

As an improvement, it is also possible to provide a superposition of several layers of elastomer or any other type of material meeting the strength and adhesion requirements required by the present invention.

In the example described here, and as illustrated in figure 1b and 2b Each layer 11A and 11B elastomer has a thickness e substantially equal to of the order of 1.5 millimeters. This relatively thin thickness e makes it possible, surprisingly, to obtain a very good coefficient of resistance for the coating 100 in its overall structure, this is allowed in particular by virtue of the addition of stiffening bars 20 which are described in the following. this detailed description.

In the embodiment described here, the textile support 10 is embedded between the two elastomer layers 11A and 11B, preferably during the vulcanization of the two layers together. This textile support 10 in this case reinforces the overall structure of the coating 100.

In the example described here, and as illustrated in particular in figures 1b and 2b , the textile support 10 according to the present invention has a plurality of tubular pockets 12 through which are parallel to each other, each pocket 12 extending substantially transversely in the thickness of the support 10 between the two layers 11A and 11B.

In the example described here, the diameter d2 of each pocket 12 is substantially equal to about 1 to 5 millimeters.

In another variant, a surface coating whose pocket diameters are not identical is designed so as to give the surface coating variable properties on its different parts.

Preferably, each tubular pocket 12 is obtained during the vulcanization of the two layers 11A and 11B between them. Of course, it is understood here that other equivalent manufacturing processes for obtaining the pockets 12 may be considered in the context of the present invention.

It is also understood that, during the assembly of the two layers constituted by an elastomer material disposed on the two inner faces of the double-ply textile support, the tubular pockets 12 are formed by providing zones of the double-ply textile support on which the two folds of the double-fold textile backing are not bonded to each other.
In the embodiment described here, the successive tubular pockets 12 are spaced from each other by a separation distance d1 substantially equal to 150 millimeters.

This distance d1 ensures good flexibility: it allows the winding of the coating 100 on itself, and a good resistance.

These pockets 12 are provided, as illustrated in figure 2b , For insertion into each tubular pocket 12 of a reinforcing bar 20 formed from a composite material, thus allowing increased significantly from the motor and the lift of the surface S when the surface coating 100 is positioned on the surface S.

In the embodiment described here, the composite material has a flexural modulus substantially equal to 110 GPa.

In the exemplary embodiment described here, and as illustrated in the Figures 4a to 4c , the outer face of the two layers 11A and 11B has an impression 13 made directly in the elastomer to improve the traction of the surface coating 100. The impression 13 may take various forms which are illustrated in a non-limiting manner in these Figures 4a to 4c .

As illustrated in particular figure 1a or 2a , the surface coating 100 comprises a centering strip 50 which makes it possible to reinforce the rigidity of the coating, and which also makes it possible to visualize the central axis of the coating, this being useful in particular for the driver of the vehicle V which must maintain the sometimes unstable balance of his vehicle rolling well in the middle of the coating.

One of the objectives is to allow a quick and easy installation of the surface coating 100. In addition to the flexibility properties that allow rapid deployment of the coating 100 and stiffness that allow the passage of vehicle V, in the embodiment described here, the surface coating 100 comprises anchoring means 30 consisting of a plurality of metal inserts 31 positioned on the periphery of the surface coating 100 to allow the anchoring of said coating 100 with an element such as a metal pile P embedded in the surface S.

So as illustrated in figure 3 , Prior to passing the vehicle V on the surface S, the operator deploys the coating 100 (which is previously wound on itself), and attaches the coating 100 to the ground S by inserting the metal piles P in the various inserts 31 planted in the soil S. This stabilizes the coating 100 relative to a soil S which is often loose.

In the example described here, to improve the deployment, transport and gripping of the coating 100, the surface coating 100 according to the present invention comprises on its periphery gripping means 40 such as handles.

The solution provided by the present invention provides a surface coating of a new kind, such a coating being manageable, simple to implement, lightweight, and compact.

It should be observed that this detailed description relates to a particular embodiment of the present invention, but in no case this description is of any nature limiting to the subject of the invention; on the contrary, its purpose is to remove any imprecision or misinterpretation of the claims that follow.

In particular, according to a variant of the invention, a surface coating is designed whose covered faces are covered with layers made of different materials, whose stiffening bars have different properties and dimensions, the distances between the pockets tubulars are not identical over the entire coating.

Claims (15)

1. A surface covering (100) for enabling a surface (S), e.g. of the uneven, muddy, marshy, or sandy ground type, to be crossed, in particular by at least one vehicle (V), said surface covering being characterized in that it includes a double-ply textile core (10) having: a) two covered faces, each covered with at least one polymer layer (11A, 11B); and b) a plurality of through tubular pockets (12) extending substantially transversely through the thickness of the core (10) between the two layers (11A, 11B) and obtained while the two layers are assembled together, enabling respective stiffener bars (20) to be inserted into each tubular pocket (12) so as to make it possible, in particular, to increase the drivability and the load-bearing capacity of the surface (S) when the surface covering (100) is positioned on said surface (S).
2. A surface covering (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the two faces of each of its two plies is covered with at least one polymer layer.
3. A surface covering (100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the polymer is an elastomer.
4. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each polymer layer (11A, 11B) has a thickness (e) lying substantially in the range 0.5 mm to 3 mm, and preferably substantially equal to 1.5 mm.
5. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the polymer has Shore A hardness lying substantially in the range 25 to 90, and preferably substantially equal to 80.
6. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each tubular pocket (12) is obtained while the two layers (11A, 11B) are being vulcanized together.
7. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outside face of at least one of the two layers (11A, 11B) has a tread (13) formed directly in the polymer for the purpose of improving the drivability of the surface covering (100).
8. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the successive tubular pockets (12) are spaced apart by a separation distance (d₁) substantially lying in the range 80 mm to 300 mm, and preferably substantially equal to 150 mm.
9. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it includes anchor means (30) configured to enable said surface covering (100) to be anchored by means of a rigid fastening element (P) such as, for example, a metal peg (P) driven into the surface (S).
10. A surface covering (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the anchor means (30) consist of at least one metal insert (31) positioned at the periphery of the surface covering (100).
11. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it includes graspable means (40), such as, for example, handles, positioned around the periphery of the surface covering (100).
12. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, with stiffener bars (20) inserted into tubular pockets (12), characterized in that each stiffener bar (20) has a bending modulus lying in the range 40 GPa to 250 GPa, and preferably substantially equal to 110 GPa.
13. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the double-ply textile core is embedded in the two polymer layers (11A, 11B), preferably during vulcanization.
14. A surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the double-ply textile core has tensile strength substantially lying in the range 300 daN/cm to 2000 daN/cm, and preferably substantially equal to 1200 daN/cm.
15. The use of a surface covering (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for enabling at least one vehicle (V) of the motor vehicle type to cross a surface (S), e.g. of the uneven, muddy, marshy, or sandy ground type.

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