Foundation adapter module and deck tile system

Abstract

A foundation adapter module includes a plate assembly having a fitting attachable to a piece of equipment to attach the equipment to a track system. An upper plate is adjustably fastenable to a lower plate for locating the fitting in any location between tracks of the track system and between tie-down points along the tracks. A deck tile system includes arch deck tiles fastenable to the track system. A further deck tile system includes flat deck tiles fastenable to a raised frame attached to the track system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/810,337, filed on Jun. 2, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

The work leading to the invention received support from the United States federal government under SBIR Grant, Contract No. N00167-03-C-0015. The federal government may have certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic equipment, workstations, consoles, and other furniture or accommodations aboard ships has been increasing. Equipment on a ship may be subjected to a variety of loading conditions, including shock, and the installation of such equipment must account for this loading, generally by fixing the equipment to the ship's deck. Much of the equipment being installed aboard ships during upgrades or reconfigurations is, however, no longer designed specifically for shipboard applications. Thus, the appropriate mechanical, electrical, and human interfaces must be reconciled, which can require a large effort. Toward this end, the Navy has adapted a modular foundation system based upon ISO Standard 7166 track, under “Modular Open Ship Architecture” or MOSA. The system is called “FlexTech.”

The FlexTech track system includes ISO 7166 standard geometry slotted rails or tracks that are currently fabricated from either aluminum or steel and are installed in a parallel array at 12-inch transverse spacing track-to-track, with tiedown locations in the tracks at 1-inch spacing in the longitudinal direction. There are two track rail cross-section designs, “high track” and “low track,” both of which are bolted directly to the true deck. The space between the slotted tracks is filled by false deck panels, and the space between the false and true decks is used to accommodate electrical and other cables and connections. The track array provides a rectangular grid on the floor that allows easy spotting and installation for equipment items conforming to the track/tiedown spacing.

While considerable economies in equipment installation are possible using the SMART track system, an area of concern arises when a floor plan layout spots equipment or furniture in such a way that the attachment points lie between the tracks. In order to install equipment not conforming to the 12-inch×1-inch track/tiedown spacing, and to provide increased load capacity beyond that possible with a single track tiedown point, several distinct adapters have been developed. The necessity for adapters of various kinds has, however, several adverse effects upon the equipment installation. The increased installed equipment height associated with the multiple adapters changes seating, keyboarding, and viewing parameters from the original equipment design, which can cause ergonomic problems for those using the equipment. In addition, the adapters are complex, and considerable labor can be required to make the several levels of bolted attachments required from some arbitrary equipment base down to the foundation beams. Where equipment and furniture are closely packed in a compartment, it may be necessary to remove several pieces in order to access the adapter attachment bolts for the piece being added, removed, or modified, which can increase the costs of outfitting or retrofitting compartments with equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A foundation adapter module for use with a track system having regularly spaced attachment points along regularly spaced parallel tracks is provided to mount a piece of equipment to the track system. The foundation adapter or tie-down module includes a plate assembly having a lower plate and an upper plate fastened together. A fitting is adjustably disposed to extend from an upper surface of the plate assembly for attachment to a piece of equipment. The upper plate is adjustably fastenable to the lower plate for translation in a direction parallel to the tracks and in a direction transverse to the tracks.

One or more slidable restraining members are disposed on the plate assembly and to fit to the attachment points of the track system to restrain the plate assembly from vertical pullout from the track system and motion transverse to the track system. The slidable restraining members permit sliding motion of the plate assembly along a respective track. One or more locking members are disposed on the plate assembly to attach to the track to restrain the plate assembly from sliding motion along the track.

In another aspect of the invention, a deck tile system is provided for use with the track system. In one embodiment, a deck tile comprises a generally rectangular planar upper surface and parallel longitudinal edges and parallel transverse edges. A pair of leg elements depend from a lower portion of the deck tile and extend in longitudinal alignment with the parallel longitudinal edges of the upper surface, providing a generally arch-shaped configuration in cross section. A track cover lock is fastenable to the track system and extendible over the track system parallel to the longitudinal edges of the deck tile, the longitudinal edges of the deck tile supportable by the track cover lock.

In another embodiment, a deck tile system is usable with a raised frame attachable to a track system having regularly spaced attachment points along regularly spaced parallel tracks. The raised frame includes vertical legs and horizontal members forming a grid pattern. The horizontal members include inwardly facing lips. A generally flat deck tile has a generally rectangular planar upper surface and parallel longitudinal edges and parallel transverse edges. An attachment system for attaching the deck tile to the raised frame includes clip members attachable along the longitudinal edges of the deck tile and along the inwardly facing lips of the horizontal members of the raised frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a number of workstations attached to a floor track system using tie-down modules according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of tracks or rails installed over a true deck in a Navy ship open space;

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of a single track of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a tie-down module and a deck tile system;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of two embodiments of tie-down modules;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the undersides of the tie-down modules of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view of the straddling module of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partial isometric view of the tie-down modules of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a further isometric view of the single-track module of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a deck tile system incorporating arch tiles;

FIG. 12 is a side view of an arch tile of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a cover lock for use with the arch tiles of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a further cover lock for use with the arch tiles of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a further embodiment of a deck tile system incorporating flat panel tiles for use with a raised frame;

FIG. 16 is a further isometric view of the deck tile system of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the raised frame of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a single-piece S-clip for use with the deck tile system of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of a two-piece S-clip for use with the deck tile system of FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of a spacer member for use with the deck tile system of FIG. 15;

FIG. 21 is an isometric view of a step in the installation of a deck tile of FIG. 15; and

FIG. 22 is an isometric view of a further step in the installation of a deck tile of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one application in which several workstations 6 are tied to a floor 8 having a track system using an embodiment of tie-down module (shown schematically in FIG. 1) according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows one form of tie-down system having a plurality of tracks or rails 12 installed over a floor or deck 14. The tracks are parallel to each other and spaced equidistantly. The tracks have attachment or tie-down points at determined intervals, such as every one inch. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, for the SMART track system, a slot 16 is formed the length of each track 12. A lip or flange 18 is formed along the opposite upper edges of the slot to provide narrow or necked portions 20 alternating with wide portions 22 at a one-inch pitch. The narrow portions 20 constitute attachment or tie-down points, as described further below. Although workstations are shown in FIG. 1, any other type of equipment that must be attached to the floor can be used with the present invention. See also U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/948,599, filed Sep. 23, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 5 more particularly illustrates one attachment point of a piece of equipment to a foundation adapter or tie-down module 30. A bracket 32, for example, an angle bracket, is attached to the equipment in any suitable manner. A fitting 34 attached to the tie-down module 30, such as a threaded bolt, extends through a hole in one leg of the bracket and is fastened thereto with a nut.

Two embodiments of a tie-down module are illustrated with more particularity in FIGS. 6-10. One tie-down module 40 attaches to a single track 12. Another tie-down module 30 straddles and is attached to two adjacent tracks 12. In both embodiments, the tie-down module includes a plate assembly 42 having a base or lower plate 44 and an upper plate 46 adjustably fastened to the lower plate. The plate assembly is adjustably fastened to the tracks as described further below.

To mount equipment to the plate assembly, the fitting 34, such as a threaded bolt, extends from one of several openings 48 in the upper plate. The fitting attaches, such as with external threads, to an internally threaded T-shaped receptacle 50 that is fixed in any suitable manner in each of the openings in the upper plate. See FIG. 8. The bolt can be located in whichever opening is most convenient for the equipment to be tied down.

The upper plate is attachable to the lower plate for linear adjustment both parallel and transverse to the tracks. In this manner, the upper plate can be fixed to the lower plate in a number of locations. The length of the linear adjustment transverse to the tracks is at least equal to the pitch between the openings 48 in the upper plate. Also, the length of the linear adjustment parallel to the tracks is at least equal to the pitch between tie-down points 20 on the tracks. Thus, by choosing the appropriate opening for the fitting and appropriately adjusting the upper plate in the transverse and parallel directions, the fitting can be located in any location between the tracks.

In one embodiment regarding the parallel adjustment, and referring to the straddling module 30, the lower plate includes one or more slots 60 (two are shown in the straddling module in FIG. 8). A translatable member 62, shown as a T-shaped bar, fits within the slot 60 on the lower plate for translation therein. A linear adjusting mechanism 64, such as a lead screw, fixed with respect to the lower plate, extends through a threaded bore 66 in the T-shaped bar. The lead screw is fixed to the lower plate by, for example, a clip 68 in a groove, which allows rotation of the lead screw but prevents translation with respect to the lower plate when the lead screw is rotated. One or both ends of the lead screw are accessible through openings 72 in sides of the lower plate, and a slot 74 on the end of the lead screw allows the lead screw to be rotated by a screw driver. Thus, rotation of the lead screw causes linear translation of the T-shaped bar 62 along the slot 60. As noted above, the distance of translation is at least equal to the pitch between the tie down points 20 on the tracks.

Two bolts 78 attached to the T-shaped bar 62 protrude through slots 82 in the upper plate to fix the lower plate to the upper plate. Thus, translation of the T-shaped bar parallel to the tracks also causes translation of the upper plate parallel to the tracks.

The upper plate can be adjusted transverse to the tracks in a similar manner. For example, lead screws 84 in the upper plate extend through threaded bores 86 on the T-shaped members. Rotation of the lead screws causes translation of the T-shaped members transverse to the tracks, allowing the bolts to be located in a suitable location within the slots 82.

It will also be appreciated that other adjusting mechanisms can be provided.

The plate assembly is fixed to the tracks with a track fastening assembly that prevents vertical pullout and translation both transverse to the track and along the track. The track fastening assembly drops into place and slides along the track, so attachment is simple. In one embodiment, the track fastening assembly includes a plurality of slidable members 102, such as T-buttons or flange nuts, and one or more attachment studs 104, such as shear pins. The flange nuts restrain the plate assembly and attached equipment from vertical pullout and motion transverse to the track, while allowing the plate assembly to slide longitudinally along the track. The shear pins, once inserted, restrain the plate assembly and attached equipment from translation longitudinally along the track and act as set screws for the tie-down module, preventing vibration of the module within and on top of the tracks.

In the embodiment illustrated, the flange nuts 102 are in the form of T-buttons that extend downwardly from the base plate. A head on each T-button fits through the wide portion of the slot 16 of the track 12. The pitch of the T-buttons on the base plate is the same as the pitch of the wide portions of the track, so that the base plate can be inserted into the track at the wide portions 22 and then slid along the track to lie between the narrow portions 20. In this location, the plate assembly is restrained from vertical pullout from the track and from motion transverse to the track.

In the embodiment illustrated, the attachment stud 104 is formed as a shear pin that fits into the slot 16 in the track. The head portion has a depth and shape to prevent translation along the track. The depth is generally equivalent to the depth of the slot, so that, once inserted in the slot, the head portion cannot translate along the slot. The shape of the head portion may, for example, span the distance from the middle of one wide portion to the middle of an adjacent wide portion or the inner closing edge of one wide portion to the inner closing edge of another wide portion. The shear pin extends through an opening 110 in the base plate for access thereto. To unlock the plate assembly from translation along the track, the pin is lifted up or screwed up, removing the head portion from the slot in the track.

The base plate and the upper plate can be manufactured of any suitably material, depending on the strength requirements of the application. For example, a metal such as aluminum or a composite material can be used. An aluminum extrusion is generally suitable for providing a strong plate assembly. The plates can also be formed with a suitable grid pattern to reduce material and weight, as is known in the casting field.

An embodiment of an arch deck tile 120 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 11-14. The arch deck tile has a planar upper surface 122. Depending legs 124 are formed along two opposed parallel sides. When installed, the legs of the tile rest on shoulders 126 formed along the tracks, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 11. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the arch deck tiles when installed are flush with the upper surface of the tie-down modules.

A shoulder 128 is formed above each leg 124 along the same opposed parallel sides 130 in the planar upper surface of the deck tile. A track cover lock 140 extends along and over the track between adjacent arched deck tiles. In the embodiment shown, the track cover lock includes two depending legs 142 having a hook 144 (shown more particularly in FIG. 14) on the ends that fits within the slot in the track to restrain the cover lock from vertical pull out. The track cover lock includes a flanged upper surface 146 that fits over the shoulders 128 formed in the planar upper surface of two adjacent deck tiles. See FIGS. 5, 11, and 13-14. In this way, the area over the tracks can be enclosed. The space under the deck tiles can be used for wiring or any other purpose.

The arch deck tiles can be made of any suitable material. In one embodiment, the arch deck tiles are formed of a composite material having a core of foam, balsa wood or other suitable core material covered with, for example, a fabric of E-glass or S-glass and a vinyl ester or phenolic resin system. In one embodiment, the arch deck tiles and cover locks can be readily formed by a pultrusion process and cut to length.

A further embodiment of a flat deck tile 160 suitable for use with a raised frame 162 is illustrated in FIGS. 15-22. The raised frame is supported on the tracks as shown in FIG. 16. The raised frame includes vertical legs 164 and horizontal members 166 forming a grid pattern. The horizontal members include inwardly facing lips 168. The deck tiles are flat panels sized to fit with the grid pattern of the horizontal members. Shoulders 169 are formed in the planar upper surface of opposed edges of the deck tile. Suitable clips 170 are provided to attach the flat panels to the horizontal members along opposed parallel sides.

In one embodiment, two types of elongated S-clip are employed. One S-clip 172, illustrated in FIG. 18, is formed as a single piece. Another S-clip 174, illustrated in FIG. 19, is formed in two pieces that attach together, for example, with tabs 182 along the edge of an upper elongated member 178 that fit within corresponding slots along the edge of a lower elongated member 176.

To install a deck tile, the single piece S-clip 172 is used first. One slot 184 of the S-clip is placed over a corresponding lip of a horizontal member. The shoulder 169 of a deck tile 160 is then slid into the other slot 186. See FIG. 21. The slot 192 of the lower elongated member 176 of the two-piece S-clip 174 is then placed over a corresponding opposed lip of a horizontal member. The opposed shoulder 169 of the deck tile is then placed on the lower member 176 of the S-clip, and the upper member 178 is then attached to the lower member by inserting the tabs 182 in the slots, locking the deck tile in place. See FIG. 22. Spacer members 196 are provided on orthogonal horizontal members to raise the height of the horizontal members of the frame up to the deck panel.

The flat deck tiles can be made of any suitable material. In one embodiment, the flat deck tiles are formed of a composite material having a core of foam, balsa wood or other suitable core material covered with, for example, a fabric of E-glass or S-glass and a vinyl ester or phenolic resin system. In one embodiment, the flat deck tiles can be readily formed by a pultrusion process and cut to length.

The invention is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foundation adapter module for use with a track system having regularly spaced attachment points along regularly spaced parallel tracks, to mount a piece of equipment to the track system, comprising:

a plate assembly comprising a lower plate and an upper plate fastened together;

a fitting adjustably disposed to extend from an upper surface of the plate assembly for attachment to a piece of equipment;

an adjusting mechanism adjustably fastening the upper plate to the lower plate for translation in a direction parallel to the tracks and in a direction transverse to the tracks;

one or more slidable restraining members disposed on the plate assembly and configured to fit to the attachment points of the track system to restrain the plate assembly from vertical pullout from the track system and motion transverse to the track system, the slidable restraining members permitting sliding motion of the plate assembly along a respective track; and

one or more locking members disposed on the plate assembly and configured to attach to the track to restrain the plate assembly from sliding motion along the track.

2. A deck tile system for use with a track system having regularly spaced attachment points along regularly spaced parallel tracks, comprising:

a deck tile comprising a generally rectangular planar upper surface and parallel longitudinal edges and parallel transverse edges;

a pair of leg elements depending from a lower portion of the deck tile and extending in longitudinal alignment with the parallel longitudinal edges of the upper surface, providing a generally arch-shaped configuration in cross section; and

a track cover lock fastenable to the track system and extendible over the track system parallel to the longitudinal edges of the deck tile, a longitudinal edge of the track cover lock supportable by an adjacent longitudinal edge of the deck tile.

3. A deck tile system for use with a raised frame attachable to a track system having regularly spaced attachment points along regularly spaced parallel tracks, the raised frame comprising vertical legs and horizontal members forming a grid pattern, the horizontal members including inwardly facing lips, comprising:

a generally flat deck tile comprising a generally rectangular planar upper surface and parallel longitudinal edges and parallel transverse edges;

an attachment system for attaching the deck tile to the raised frame, comprising clip members attachable along the longitudinal edges of the deck tile and along the inwardly facing lips of the horizontal members of the raised frame.

4. The foundation adapter module of claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism further comprises:

a slot in the upper plate transverse to the tracks; and

a member attached to the lower plate and fixed against translation transverse to the tracks with respect to the lower plate, the member protruding into the slot in the upper plate and fastenable to the upper plate, the upper plate translatable transversely to the tracks by sliding along the member protruding into the slot.

5. The foundation adapter module of claim 4, further comprising a transverse linear adjusting mechanism translatably fixed to the upper plate and adjustably connected to the member for effecting transverse translation of the upper plate with respect to the member in the slot.

6. The foundation adapter module of claim 5, wherein the transverse linear adjusting mechanism comprises a lead screw extending through a threaded bore in the member, an end of the lead screw accessible through the upper plate for coupling with a tool to effect rotation of the lead screw, whereby rotation of the lead screw causes linear translation of the upper plate transverse to the tracks.

7. The foundation adapter module of claim 4, wherein the adjusting mechanism further comprises a slot in the lower plate parallel to the tracks and orthogonal to the slot in the upper plate; and

the member is disposed within the lower plate slot for translation along the slot, whereby translation of the member along the slot causes translation of the upper plate with respect to the lower plate parallel to the tracks.

8. The foundation adapter module of claim 7, further comprising a parallel linear adjusting mechanism translatably fixed to the lower plate and adjustably connected to the member for effecting translation of the member along the slot parallel to the tracks.

9. The foundation adapter module of claim 8, wherein the parallel linear adjusting mechanism comprises a lead screw extending through a threaded bore in the member, an end of the lead screw accessible through the lower plate for coupling with a tool to effect rotation of the lead screw, whereby rotation of the lead screw causes linear translation of the member parallel to the tracks.

10. The foundation adapter module of claim 1, wherein the one or more slidable restraining members comprise T-shaped button including heads that slide in a slot in the track.

11. The foundation adapter module of claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a shear pin that extends from the plate assembly to a slot in the track, the shear pin having a head that fits within the slot to prevent motion along the track.

12. The deck tile system of claim 2, further comprising shoulders recessed along the parallel longitudinal edges of the deck tile, the longitudinal edge of the track cover lock resting on an adjacent one of the shoulders,

13. The deck tile system of claim 2, wherein an upper surface of the track cover lock is flush with the upper surface of the deck tile.

14. The deck tile system of claim 2, wherein the track cover lock further comprises two depending legs, a hook on an end of each depending leg, the hook insertable into a slot in the track to restrain the track cover lock from vertical pull out from the track.

15. The deck tile system of claim 3, further comprising shoulders recessed along the parallel longitudinal edges of the deck tile, the clip members attachable along the shoulders.

16. The deck tile system of claim 3, wherein each clip member comprises an elongated element having a generally S-shaped cross section defining two elongated slots, one slot insertable over the inwardly facing lip of the horizontal member of the raised frame, another slot insertable over the longitudinal edge of the deck tile.

17. The deck tile system of claim 16, wherein the clip member comprises a single piece.

18. The deck tile system of claim 16, wherein the clip member comprises two pieces attachable together.

19. The deck tile system of claim 3, further comprising a spacer member provided on a set of parallel horizontal members of the raised frame for supporting the deck tile.