Apparatus and methods for electrically grounding at least one mat in a load-supporting surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9735510-B2
Application number	US-201615178254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2016
Priority date	Oct 9, 2013
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

System for electrically grounding a reusable load-supporting surface includes at least two mats and a plurality of substantially planar, removable, electrically-conductive covers. Each cover extends at least partially across the top face of one of the mats without extending over any of the edges thereof and is flexibly coupled to the mat sufficient to allow the mat to flex, expand and contract relative to the cover due to environmental factors and the movement of personnel, vehicles and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface during normal, typical or expected use conditions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. System for electrically grounding a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on or near the surface of the earth, the system comprising:
at least two mats at least partially forming the load-supporting surface, each said mat having substantially planar respective top and bottom faces, multiple sides and at least one edge extending around each said side, said mats being configured to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment thereupon; and
a plurality of substantially planar, removable, electrically-conductive covers constructed at least partially of electrically-conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment thereupon, each said cover extending at least partially across said top face of one of said mats without extending over any of said edges thereof and being flexibly coupled to said associated mat to allow said mat to flex, expand and contract relative to said cover due to one or more environmental factors and the movement of personnel, vehicles and/or equipment across the load-supporting surface during normal, typical or expected use conditions without decoupling said cover from said associated mat and without undesirably damaging or deforming said cover or said mat while allowing said cover and said mat to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment thereupon, each said cover having at least one conductive interface configured to electrically couple said cover to another said cover of the load-supporting surface, and at least one of said covers being configured to be electrically coupled to the earth.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to said associated mat with a plurality of releasable couplers, at least some of said couplers being loosely engaged between said cover and said mat to allow acceptable relative movement therebetween.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to its associated said mat only by said couplers.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein each said coupler includes an elongated body having an outer diameter and being configured to extend through an aperture formed in said associated mat to secure said associated cover to said mat, wherein at least some of said apertures formed in each said mat have an inner diameter that is larger than said outer diameter of said elongated portion of said associated coupler to allow relative side-to-side movement between said coupler, said mat and said cover.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein each said coupler is secured to said associated mat below the bottom face of said mat with at least one adjustable, releasable anchor, wherein said at least one anchor associated with at least some of said couplers on each said mat is selectively positioned on said coupler spaced below said bottom face of said associated mat to allow relative up-and-down movement between said coupler, said mat and said cover.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each said cover includes at least one upwardly facing corner, further wherein said at least one conductive interface includes at least one electrically-conductive corner plate welded to one of said corners, each said corner plate including at least one connection port.

7. The system of claim 6 further including at least one electrically-conductive corner plate welded to each corner of each said cover.

8. The system of claim 6 further including at least one electrical connector releasably coupled to at least one said connection port of one of said corner plates and at least one of said connection ports of at least one other said cover to electrically couple said associated covers in the load-supporting surface.

9. The system 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.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein each said outer frame is planar.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein each said mat includes at least one corner and each said outer frame includes at least one corner aligned at least partially over one of said corners of said associated mat, further wherein said at least one conductive interface includes at least one threaded orifice formed in at least one said corner of said outer frame.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said at least one conductive interface includes three threaded orifices formed in each said corner of each said outer frame.

13. The system of claim 11 further including at least one electrical connector releasably coupled to at least one said threaded orifice of said outer frame of one of said covers and at least one of said threaded orifices of said outer frame of another said cover to electrically couple said covers in the load-supporting surface.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said at least one electrical connector is flexible to allow relative movement between said electrically coupled covers.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said at least one electrical connector is coupled between said electrically coupled covers with slack to allow relative movement between said covers.

16. Apparatus for electrically grounding at least two mats of a load-supporting surface deployed on or near the surface of the earth, each mat having substantially planar respective top and bottom faces, multiple sides and at least one edge extending around each side thereof, the mats being constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment thereupon, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of substantially planar, removable, electrically-conductive covers constructed at least partially of electrically-conductive material and constructed and arranged to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment thereupon, each said cover extending at least partially across the top face of one of the mats without extending over any of the edges thereof, each said cover including at least one conductive interface configured to electrically couple said cover to another said cover in the load-supporting surface, at least one of said covers being configured to be electrically coupled to the earth; and
a plurality of adjustable, releasable couplers configured to releasably couple each said cover to its associated mat, at least some of said couplers being loosely engaged between, and not rigidly coupled to said cover and its associated mat to allow acceptable relative movement therebetween so that each said cover and its associated mat may move relative to the other during normal, typical or expected use conditions of the load-supporting surface without decoupling said cover from its associated mat and without undesirably damaging or deforming said cover or its associated mat while allowing said cover and the mat to support the weight and movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment thereupon.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each said cover is releasably coupled to its associated mat only by said couplers.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each said coupler includes an elongated body having an outer diameter and being configured to extend through an aperture formed in the associated mat to secure said associated cover to the mat, wherein at least some of the apertures formed in each mat have an inner diameter that is larger than said outer diameter of

Assignees

• Newpark Mats & Integrated Services Llc

Inventors

• Mcdowell James Kerwin
• Durio Kenneth Edward

Classifications

• H05F3/025

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

• H02B13/025

  Safety arrangements, e.g. in case of excessive pressure or fire due to electrical defect · CPC title

• H01R13/648 Primary

  Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices {, e.g. anti-static shielding}   (coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38) · CPC title

• E01C11/24

  Methods or arrangements for preventing slipperiness or protecting against influences of the weather {(measures taken in connection with the foundation E01C3/06; paving elements with anti-slip inlays E01C5/22; aggregates resisting to grinding E01C7/085, E01C7/142, E01C7/182; specially for surface layers E01C7/35; reinforcements extending up to the surface E01C11/16, E01C11/18, E01C11/185; drainage E01C11/22; windscreens E01F7/02; snow fences E01F7/02; combating fog E01H13/00)} · CPC title

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title