NZ770693A

NZ770693A - Road Surface Matting

Info

Publication number: NZ770693A
Application number: NZ770693A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Anson Antony
Original assignee: Ecomatpro Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-03
Filing date: 2020-12-03
Publication date: 2022-08-26
Also published as: GB2615716A; WO2022119453A1; CN117626742A; US20240003098A1; AU2021393334A1; GB202307613D0; CN116529437A

Abstract

The invention relates to road surface matting. It is known to overlay the ground with mats to make a better surface for vehicles to drive on, for example in unpaved areas where vehicles would otherwise have to travel over an inadequate ground surface. Known road matting includes beams arranged in parallel, each within its own pocket in a fabric mat. However, inordinate reliance on fabric makes matting vulnerable to wear and tear. The invention aims to go at least some way toward addressing this problem by providing matting having a first mat (1a), a second mat (1b), and a means for pivoting (6) comprising at least two ball joints (9) and at least two bolts (11), each joint is positioned under a respective one of the mats and comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the joint. Each mat has a series of substantially parallel beams (2b) connected to one another, and the first and second mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls (9a) by a respective one of the bolts, in each case the bolt passes through the mat and extends to the ball so that the mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.

Description

TITLE Road Surface Matting.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to matting for use in providing a road surface.

BACKGROUND It is known to overlay the ground with mats to make a better surface for vehicles to drive on, for example in unpaved areas where vehicles would otherwise have to travel over an inadequate ground surface. US patent specification No. 2006/0222804 by Banting discloses a road g where, among other , a series of beams are ed in parallel, each within its own pocket in a fabric mat.

The manner in which the Banting mat is constructed places inordinate ce on the fabric, which makes it vulnerable to wear and tear. It is an object of the present invention to go at least some way towards ing a useful alternative.

DEFINITIONS The terms "comprising" or "having", if and when used in relation to one or more features, in each case indicates minimum features present but does not rule out the option of there being further features that are not mentioned. The same applies to derivative words, for example "comprises", etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided road surface matting, sing: • a first mat; • a second mat; and • pivoting means comprising at least two ball joints, each joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the joint; each mat having a series of ntially parallel beams connected to one another; the first and second mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.

Preferably the ng means comprises four ball joints.

Preferably there is a third and a fourth mat associated with the pivoting means in the same manner as the first and second mats.

Preferably each mat is connected to the respective ball by a bolt which is in threaded engagement with the ball.

Preferably the pivoting means comprises a plate with alignment ribs, and a corner of each mat sits at or above the plate against a respective one of the ribs.

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

Preferably rcing bars run el with the beams and are connected to the frame to provide rigidity to the mat.

According to an alternative aspect of the invention there is provided road surface matting, comprising: • a first mat; • a second mat; • a third mat; • a fourth mat; and • ng means comprising four ball joints, each joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a g of the joint; each mat having a series of substantially parallel beams connected to one r wherein the beams comprise bamboo; and the mats are each connected to a respective one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.

According to a further alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a ground surface overlaid with matting, described above, to provide a road for vehicles.

According to another alternative aspect of the invention there is provided a mat for road surface matting, the mat having: • a series of substantially parallel beams; • a frame holding together the beams, the frame comprising a first pair of U- ls and a second pair of U-channels; • a pair of reinforcing bars to provide rigidity to the frame; and • corner gusset ts arranged at each of the four corners of the mat to provide rigidity to the frame; wherein the mat is such that it is able to be connected to pivoting means comprising a ball joint, which is connected to another mat the same, to form road surface matting.

DRAWINGS Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the anying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mat used as a road overlay with a connector plate; Figure 2 is a plan view of the mat and two plates; Figure 3 is a plan view and a cross-sectional side view of an end beam and a filler beam; Figure 4 is an end view and a side view of a first U-channel and an end view and a side view of a second U-channel; Figure 5 is a plan view and a cross-sectional side view of a gusset bracket; Figure 6 is a plan view of the plate; Figure 7 is a partial plan view of three mats joined to the plate; Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of two mats joined to the plate; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a bolt and a ball joint sing a pivot ball; and Figure 10 illustrates the manner in which the mats ate load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, road surface matting comprises a mat 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 one another by a frame 3 comprising a first pair of U- channels 3a that span the width of the mat 1a and a second pair of U-channels 3b that span the length of the mat 1a. The beams 2a, 2b are held in a snug fit within the U-channels 3a, 3b respectively.

A pair of reinforcing bars 4 run parallel with and between some of the filler beams 2b and connect to the U-channels 3b to provide rigidity to the mat 1a. Alternatively, there may be more than two bars 4. One of the gusset brackets 5 is fixed in each corner of the mat 1a respectively to provide additional rigidity. Each corner of the mat 1a is adapted to be joined to pivoting means 6, comprising for example a respective connector plate 6a, to which other mats are joined to form road surface matting, as will be ned below.

To illustrate further detail of parts of the mat 1a, Figure 3 shows plan and side views of the beams 2a, 2b. Figure 4 shows end and side views of the U-channels 3a, 3b.

Figure 5 shows plan and side views of the bracket 5.

Figure 6 shows the pivoting means 6 comprising the connector plate 6a to which mats are ted. Figure 7 illustrates how three of the mats 1a-c are joined together by way of the pivoting means 6 to form road surface matting.

As shown in Figure 8, the ng means 6 comprises the plate 6a, ent ribs 7, four ball joints 9, and a shouldered washer 10.

The alignment ribs 7 are raised with respect to the plate 6a. The four ball joints 9 are connected (eg welded) to and extend below the plate 6a. atively, the ball joints 9 may be ally formed with the plate 6a. Each ball joint 9 ses a pivot ball 9a within its housing.

To join the mats 1a-c to the pivoting means 6, one corner of each mat is positioned over one corner of the plate 6a so that the mat corner is flush against two of the ribs 7. The shouldered washer 10 is placed between the mat 1a and the plate 6a. Each pivot ball 9a has a threaded female opening adapted to receive the thread of a male bolt 11.

In each case the bolt 11 is passed through an aperture 12, through a respective bracket 5, through a corresponding aperture 13 in the end beam 2a, and through the washer 10. Each bolt 11 is then countersunk into the end beam 2a, and threaded into and connected to the pivot ball 9a.

The mats 1a-c, by means of the bolts 11 attached to the pivot balls 9a, are able to move with respect to the plate 6a. Such movement is enabled by pivoting (eg rotating or swivelling) of the pivot balls 9a within the associated ball joint housings and is limited to some extent by each washer 10. This means there is a degree of ‘give’ between the mats 1a-c, each with respect to the plate 6a.

Figure 9 shows the ball joint 9, sing the pivot ball 9a, separately to the bolt 11 before the bolt is passed through the end beam 2a.

When in use the mats 1a-c are joined to one another as above, along with an additional mat 1d (not shown) on a fourth quarter of the plate 6a plus additional sets of mats as required, for example so that together they extend from one side of a dirt road to the other. Additional such mats are added in front of, and also behind, the set of mats 1a-d in the same way to extend, in repeating fashion, over and along unpaved or otherwise inadequate ground to provide a e for vehicles to drive The matting spreads or dissipates heavy loads across one or more of the beams 2a, 2b. This protects the ying ground against point loading that would otherwise cause rutting or other damage to the ground. Figure 10 illustrates the force bution of weight from a e wheel with (A) and then without (B) the matting.

The downward force is significantly more spread at the ground surface at A than it is at B.

Further, when the underlying surface is boggy, the matting provides vehicles with ed wheel grip.

The matting can be particularly useful for providing temporary road or other surfaces, but can also be used for permanent surfaces. It may be used to e enhanced access to vehicles in the context of construction or civil works in remote or hard to access areas generally, for example at mining sites or where electrical power lines are being installed. The matting can also be used to provide walking surfaces to prevent work areas attended by people on foot from ng boggy. By adding mats as desired, sideways and longways, one can make a road or other surface as long or wide as need be. Damaged or worn sections can be easily repaired, for example by replacing the frame 3, beams 2a, 2b or other components as need be.

Preferably the beams 2a, 2b are in each case strand woven hot pressed bamboo, for example Mao bamboo, but the beams may se other kinds of bamboo. The washer 10 is made from Teflon™. The other parts of the mat 1a are preferably made from ised carbon steel.

Each mat 1a is preferably about 1,900 mm wide, 3,000 mm long and 50 mm thick, 50mm being the approximate thickness of the U-channels 3a, 3b. In the preferred embodiment of the mat 1a each beam 2a, 2b is about 140 mm wide, 1,900 mm long and 30 mm thick. Each mat 1a has a compression density of about 1,200 kg/m3. However other ions and compression densities can be used depending on the target end use.

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

The bracket 5 is preferably 6mm thick. T he connector plate 6a is preferably 265 mm x 265 mm and 10 mm thick. The bracket apertures 12 and the end beam apertures 13 are each preferably 12 mm in diameter to accommodate the bolt shaft being 10 mm in diameter.

While some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.

In terms of disclosure, this document hereby discloses each item, e or step mentioned herein in combination with one or more of any of the other item, feature or step disclosed herein, in each case less of whether such combination is claimed.

Claims

1. Road surface matting, comprising: • a first mat; • a second mat; and • pivoting means comprising at least two ball , each joint comprising a ball adapted to pivot within a housing of the joint; each mat having a series of substantially parallel beams connected to one another; and the first and second mats are each ted to a tive one of the balls so that each mat is able to pivot with the respective ball.

2. Road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting means ses four ball joints.

3. Road surface matting according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there is a third and a fourth mat associated with the pivoting means in the same manner as the first and second mats.

4. Road surface matting ing to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mat is connected to the respective ball by a bolt which is in threaded engagement with the ball.

5. Road surface matting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivoting means comprises a plate with alignment ribs, and a corner of each mat sits at or above the plate against a respective one of the ribs.

6. Road surface matting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the beams of each mat are held together by a frame.

7. Road surface matting according to claim 7, wherein reinforcing bars run parallel with the beams and are connected to the frame to provide rigidity to the mat.

8. Road surface matting according to claim 1, wherein: a) there is at least a third and a fourth mat; b) the ng means has four ball joints, each joint sing a respective ball adapted to pivot within a respective housing; c) each mat being connected to the respective ball and able to pivot with the ball; and d) the beams comprise bamboo.

9. A ground surface overlaid with matting according to any one of the preceding claims to e a road for es.

10. A mat for road surface matting, the mat having: • a series of substantially parallel beams; • a frame holding together the beams, the frame comprising a first pair of U-channels and a second pair of U-channels; • a pair of reinforcing bars to provide rigidity to the frame; and • corner gusset brackets arranged at each of the four corners of the mat to provide rigidity to the frame; wherein the mat is such that it is able to be connected to pivoting means comprising a ball joint, which is connected to another mat the same, to form road e matting.