Modular roadway structure and runway constructed therefrom

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9976263-B2
Application number	US-201615097998-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2016
Priority date	Apr 13, 2016
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A modular roadway structure that includes a body portion including a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface is configured to be positioned on a surface, and the top surface is formed with a predetermined textured pattern for defining a predetermined coefficient of friction across the top surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular roadway structure comprising:
a body portion comprising a bottom surface and a top surface,
wherein said bottom surface is configured to be positioned on a surface,
and wherein said top surface is formed with a predetermined textured pattern configured to provide directional friction forces, that are oppositely oriented and of asymmetric friction levels, across said top surface from end-to-end of said body portion.

2. The modular roadway structure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said body portion is fabricated from carbon fiber material.

3. The modular roadway structure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the predetermined textured pattern comprises a plurality of projections comprising a first side and a second side, said first side providing a first friction force across said top surface, and said second side providing a second friction force, the second friction force greater than the first friction force and oriented in an opposing direction relative to the first friction force, across said top surface.

4. The modular roadway structure in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said plurality of projections form a saw-tooth textured pattern.

5. The modular roadway structure in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one functional device coupled to said body portion.

6. The modular roadway structure in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said body portion comprises a hollow channel extending therethrough such that an opening is defined at said top surface, said hollow channel sized to receive said at least one functional device such that said at least one functional device is selectively retractable within said body portion.

7. The modular roadway structure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said body portion comprises:
a bottom panel;
a top panel; and
a support structure positioned between said bottom panel and said top panel, wherein said support structure defines an at least partially hollow space between said bottom panel and said top panel.

8. The modular roadway structure in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said top panel is selectively removable from said support structure.

9. A runway comprising:
a touch-down zone;
a takeoff zone; and
a runway zone extending between said touch-down zone and said takeoff zone, wherein at least one of said touch-down zone, said takeoff zone, or said runway zone comprise a plurality of modular roadway structures that each comprise a top surface formed with a predetermined textured pattern forming directional friction forces, that are oppositely oriented and of asymmetric friction levels, across the predetermined textured pattern of said top surface.

10. The runway in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the predetermined textured pattern comprises a plurality of projections comprising a first side and a second side, said first side providing a first friction force across said top surface, and said second side providing a second friction force greater than the first friction force across said top surface.

11. The runway in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said plurality of modular roadway structures comprises said plurality of projections, said plurality of modular roadway structures oriented such that the first friction force and the second friction force are oriented with a length of the runway.

12. The runway in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said plurality of modular roadway structures are oriented such that the second friction force is directionally oriented from said takeoff zone towards said touch-down zone.

13. The runway in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said plurality of modular roadway structures comprises said plurality of projections, said plurality of modular roadway structures oriented such that the second friction force is transversely oriented relative to a length of the runway.

14. The runway in accordance with claim 9 further comprising an overrun zone positioned adjacent to said takeoff zone, wherein the predetermined textured pattern in said overrun zone has a greater magnitude than the predetermined textured pattern in said touch-down zone, said takeoff zone, and said runway zone.

15. The runway in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the predetermined textured pattern in said touch-down zone and said takeoff zone is greater than the predetermined textured pattern in said runway zone.

16. The runway in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said plurality of modular roadway structures are arranged in a pair of laterally-spaced roadway sections extending along a length of the runway.

17. A method of constructing a runway, said method comprising:
positioning a plurality of modular roadway structures on a surface, wherein the plurality of modular roadway structures include a bottom surface configured to be positioned on the surface and a top surface formed with a predetermined textured pattern configured to provide directional friction forces, that are oppositely oriented and of asymmetric friction levels, across the top surface from end-to-end of each modular roadway structure; and
orienting the plurality of modular roadway structures in a predetermined orientation such that the directional friction forces are provided lengthwise along the runway.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein each modular roadway structure includes a bottom panel and a top panel, said method further comprising replacing the top panel of at least one modular roadway structure of the plurality of modular roadway structures with a replacement top panel.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising replacing an installed modular roadway structure of the plurality of modular roadway structures with a replacement modular roadway structure.

20. The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein positioning a plurality of modular roadway structures comprises positioning at least one modular roadway structure having plug and play functionality on the surface, wherein the at least one modular roadway structure is configured to interchangeably connect with a plurality of functional devices.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Harkness William Anthony

Classifications

• E01C5/00

  Pavings made of prefabricated single units (specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds E01C13/04, for footpaths, sidewalks or cycle tracks E01C15/00; making artificial stones C04B; building stones E04C; flooring E04F) · CPC title

• E01C9/00 Primary

  Special pavings (specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds E01C13/00, for footpaths, sidewalks or cycle tracks E01C15/00); Pavings for special parts of roads or airfields (pavement lights E01C17/00; manholes or like covers or frames E02D29/14) · CPC title

• B64F1/36

  Other airport installations (ground installations for de-icing aircraft B64F5/20) · CPC title

• E01C5/22

  made of units composed of a mixture of materials covered by two or more of groups {E01C5/008} , E01C5/02 - E01C5/20 {except embedded reinforcing materials} · CPC title

• E01C9/008

  Paving take-off areas for vertically starting aircraft (landing platforms for helicopters E01F3/00) · CPC title