Apparatus and methods for electrically grounding a load-supporting surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9368918-B2
Application number	US-201514838064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2015
Priority date	Oct 9, 2013
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

An electrically groundable, reusable, load-supporting surface includes a plurality of planar mats and a plurality of removable, electrically-conductive covers. At least one cover is configured to be coupled to each respective mat. Each cover includes at least one mesh portion constructed at least partially of electrically conductive material. The respective covers of adjacent mats in the load-supporting surface are configured to be electrically interconnected. At least one grounding rod is electrically connectable between at least one cover and the earth to electrically ground the load supporting surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for electrically connecting and grounding at least two mechanically interconnectable, planar mats in a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on or near the surface of the earth, the mats having top and bottom faces, multiple sides and at least one edge extending around each side thereof, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of removable, electrically-conductive covers constructed at least partially of electrically-conductive material,
each one of said removable covers being configured to be coupled to another of the respective mats and extend at least partially across at least one among the top and bottom faces thereof, each said cover having at least one conductive interface configured to contact and form an electrically-conductive path with at least one said conductive interface of an adjacent mat when the mats are mechanically interconnected in the load-supporting surface to electrically connect such mats; and
at least one grounding rod configured to be electrically connected between at least one said cover and the earth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each mat and each said cover have rectangular shapes with four respective sides, further wherein each said cover includes a plurality of conductive interfaces, at least one said conductive interface disposed on each side of said cover.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one conductive interface of each said cover comprises a portion of said cover configured to at least partially wrap around at least a portion of at least one side edge of its associated mat.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cover includes multiple portions that at least partially wrap around multiple side edges of its associated mat, respectively, each said portion serving as a distinct said conductive interface of said cover.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further including at least one metal plate welded to said cover and configured to be electrically coupled to at least one said grounding rod with at least one electrically-conductive grounding cable.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each said cover includes an outer frame and an inner mesh portion connected to said outer frame, said outer frame and inner mesh portion being constructed at least partially of electrically-conductive material, further wherein said outer frame includes said at least one conductive interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said inner mesh portion of each said cover extends across the top face of its associated mat.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each mat and each said cover have rectangular shapes, wherein said outer frame and said mesh portion of each said cover are welded together, further wherein each said outer frame comprises a welded steel frame and each said mesh portion comprises aluminum mesh material.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including at least one metal plate welded to said mesh portion and said frame of each said cover at a corner thereof and configured to be electrically coupled to at least one said grounding rod with at least one electrically-conductive grounding cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each mat includes a plurality of locking pin holes extending therethrough, each locking pin hole configured to receive a locking pin for mechanically interconnecting its associated mat with an adjacent mat in the load-supporting surface, further wherein said inner mesh portion of each said cover includes a plurality of cut-out portions, each said cut-out portion formed in said mesh portion around one of the respective locking pin holes of the associated mat.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each said cut-out portion is sized and configured to electrically isolate the corresponding locking pin hole and a locking pin placed therein from said frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including a cut-out frame engaged with each said cut-out of said mesh portion and extending around the associated locking pin hole, said cut-out frame being welded to said mesh portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 further including at least one conductive booster mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one said conductive interface of at least one mat and configured to electrically engage at least one said conductive interface of an adjacent mat when the mats are mechanically interconnected in the load-supporting surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said conductive booster includes at least one metallic braided band.

15. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each mat includes at least one upper lip and at least one lower lip formed on different sides thereof and each extending along a portion of the outer perimeter thereof, the upper lip of each mat being configured to overlay the lower lip of an adjacent mat when the mats are mechanically interconnected in the load-supporting surface, wherein each said cover includes at least a first conductive interface configured to at least partially wrap around at least part of the side edge of an upper lip of its associated mat and at least a second conductive interface configured to at least partially wrap around at least part of the side edge of a lower lip of its associated mat, further wherein said first conductive interface of a first mat contacts and forms an electrically conductive path with said second conductive interface of a second mat when the mats are mechanically interconnected in the load-supporting surface to electrically connect the first and second mats.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each said cover includes an outer frame and an inner mesh portion connected to said outer frame, said outer frame and inner mesh portion being constructed at least partially of electrically-conductive material, further wherein said inner mesh portion extends at least partially across the top face of its associated mat and said outer frame includes said at least first and second conductive interfaces.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each mat includes a plurality of locking pin holes extending therethrough, each locking pin hole configured to receive a locking pin for mechanically interconnecting its associated mat with an adjacent mat in the load-supporting surface, further wherein said inner mesh portion of each said cover includes a plurality of cut-out portions, each said cut-out portion formed in said mesh portion around one of the respective locking pin holes of the associated mat.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further including at least one conductive booster mechanically and electrically coupled to at least one said conductive interface of at least one mat and configured to electrically engage at least one said conductive interface of an adjacent mat when the mats are mechanically interconnected in the load-supporting surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further including at least one metal plate welded to said mesh portion and said frame of each said cover and configured to be electrically coupled to at least one said grounding rod with at least one electrically-conductive grounding cable.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said cover includes an outer frame and an inner mesh portion connected to said outer frame, said outer frame and inner mesh portion being constructed at least partially of electrically-conductive material, further wherein said outer frame includes said at least one conductive interface.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said inner mesh portion of each said cover extends at least partially across the top

Assignees

• Newpark Mats & Integrated Services Llc

Inventors

• Mcdowell James Kerwin
• Durio Kenneth Edward

Classifications

• E01C9/08

  Temporary pavings ({E01C9/008 takes precedence } ; steel gratings E01C9/10) · CPC title

• E01C5/005

  Individual couplings or spacer elements for joining the prefabricated units (E01C5/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B33/00

  Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class · CPC title

• E01C9/086 Primary

  made of concrete, wood, bitumen, rubber or synthetic material or a combination thereof · CPC title

• H05F3/025

  Floors or floor coverings specially adapted for discharging static charges · CPC title