Methods and apparatuses for temporary floor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9725899-B2
Application number	US-201615383224-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2016
Priority date	Oct 29, 2015
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for removably deploying a floor assembly from a compacted state to a deployed state by varying tensioning forces to removably interconnected individual floor segments.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for making a removable floor assembly comprising:
positioning a floor assembly in a compacted state at a first location, said floor assembly comprising:
individual floor segments, said floor segments positioned substantially adjacent to one another, with said individual floor segments each comprising a reinforcement, said reinforcement dimensioned to engage with a recess in an adjacent floor segment, said recess dimensioned to accommodate the reinforcement, and said reinforcement dimensioned to removably interconnect individual floor segments with one another;
a tensioning cable in communication with the floor segments;
and an actuating device in communication with the tensioning cables;

deploying the compacted floor assembly from the compacted state at the first location to a deployed state onto a structural support; and
actuating the actuating device to apply a tensioning force to the tensioning cable.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, the actuating device comprises: a ratcheting winch; a rank ratchet and clamp, a locking crank wheel or a cable reel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the floor assembly comprises a plurality of tensioning cables.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
actuating the actuating device to release tension on the tensioning cables;
and retracting the floor assembly from the deployed state to the compacted state.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the step of actuating the acting device, the actuating device is actuated by automated means.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuating device is remotely automated.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuating device is driven electrically.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuating device is configured to receive a signal from a remote signaling device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuating device is configured to receive a signal from an integrated signaling device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
actuating the actuating device to release tension on the tensioning cables;
and retracting the floor assembly from the deployed state to the compacted state.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein, in the step of actuating the actuating device to release tension on the tensioning cables, the actuating device is actuated via an automated means.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein, in the step of retracting the floor assembly, the compacted floor is retracted via an automated means.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the step of deploying the compacted floor assembly from the compacted state, the compacted floor is deployed via an automated means.

14. A removable floor assembly comprising:
a plurality of substantially adjacent individual floor segments, said individual floor segments each comprising a reinforcement, said reinforcement dimensioned to engage with a recess in an adjacent floor segment, said recess dimensioned to accommodate the reinforcement, and said reinforcement dimensioned to removably interconnect individual floor segments with one another;
a plurality of tensioning cables in communication with the floor segments, said tensioning cables configured to provide a tensioning force to the individual floor segments; and
at least one actuating device in communication with the tensioning cable.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of actuating devices, with at least one actuating device in communication with at least one tensioning cable.

16. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the floor segments are dimensioned to temporarily mate.

17. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the actuating device is configured to apply a tensioning force to the tensioning cable, said tensioning force ranging from about 10 to about 100 lbs.

18. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the floor assembly comprises stops to orient the floor assembly relative to the structural support.

19. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement together with the recess form a mating feature, said mating feature configured to mutually and cooperatively disengage when the tensioning force is diminished.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the mating feature comprises an integral engagement means, said integral engagement means comprising a magnet activated through applying electromagnetic fields to selectively engage and disengage adjacent floor segments into a deployable and compactable floor assembly.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Huckey Andrew M
• Wilson Jake A

Classifications

• E04B5/02 Primary

  Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units (E04B5/43 - E04B5/48 take precedence) · CPC title

• E04G5/08

  Scaffold boards or planks {(clips or connections for securing boards E04G7/28; scaffolds comprising special means for supporting or forming platforms, platforms E04G1/15)} · CPC title

• E04F15/166 Primary

  Flooring consisting of a number of elements carried by a common flexible web, e.g. rollable parquet · CPC title

• E04G3/26

  specially adapted for working on roofs {(devices or arrangements allowing walking on the roof or in the gutter E04D13/12)} · CPC title

• E04B5/023

  Separate connecting devices for prefabricated floor-slabs · CPC title