CRANE MAT
A method of forming a crane mat includes providing a plurality of boards. Each board of the plurality of boards may be positioned adjacent to another board of the plurality of boards along at least one longitudinal edge. The method includes inserting a plurality of tie bolts through the plurality of boards to secure the plurality of boards together to form the crane mat, and providing two or more lifting plates. Each lifting plate may include a coupling portion configured to couple to a lifting tool during movement of the crane mat. The lifting plates may be configurable into a recessed orientation and a non-recessed orientation, where the coupling portion of each lifting plate may be recessed within the crane mat in the recessed orientation, and may be exposed when in the non-recessed orientation
The present disclosure relates to crane mats, and more particularly to crane mats including recessed lifting plates.
BACKGROUNDCrane mats have been in use for many decades for various industrial applications and purposes. These mats are typically formed of wooden boards arranged side by side and secured together using tie bolts. Referring to
The crane mat configuration illustrated in
The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of crane mats that provide improved traction, safety, and durability. Crane mats formed or produced according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more recessed lifting plates configured to be oriented into a recessed orientation (e.g., when the crane mat is in use or storage), and to be oriented into a non-recessed orientation (e.g,. when the crane mat is being moved or positioned). When in the recessed orientation, the lifting plates may be housed entirely within the crane mat such that the top surface of the plate does not protrude above the top surface of the crane mat. When in the non-recessed orientation, at least a portion of the lifting plates may protrude from the top surface of the crane mat. The portion protruding from the crane mat may include a coupling portion configured to couple the lifting plate(s) to a lifting tool, such as hooks on a lifting harness, lifting cables, etc., to provide for lifting, movement and placement of the crane mat. Additionally, crane mats according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include traction patterns on a top surface, a bottom surface, or both, where the traction pattern provides improved traction for vehicles, equipment, and persons coming in contact with the crane mat.
In an embodiment, a crane mat is disclosed and includes a plurality of boards. Each board of the plurality of boards may be positioned adjacent to another board of the plurality of boards along at least one longitudinal edge. The crane mat may include a plurality of tie bolts inserted through the plurality of boards to secure the plurality of boards together. The crane mat may include two or more lifting plates. Each lifting plate may including a coupling portion configured to couple to a lifting tool to facilitate movement and placement of the crane mat. The lifting plates may be configurable into a recessed orientation and a non-recessed orientation, where the coupling portion of each lifting plate may be recessed within the crane mat in the recessed orientation, and may be exposed when in the non-recessed orientation.
In another embodiment, a method of forming a crane mat is disclosed and includes providing a plurality of boards. Each board of the plurality of boards may be positioned adjacent to another board of the plurality of boards along at least one longitudinal edge. The method includes inserting a plurality of tie bolts through the plurality of boards to secure the plurality of boards together to form the crane mat, and providing two or more lifting plates. Each lifting plate may include a coupling portion configured to couple to a lifting tool during movement of the crane mat. The lifting plates may be configurable into a recessed orientation and a non-recessed orientation, where the coupling portion of each lifting plate may be recessed within the crane mat in the recessed orientation, and may be exposed when in the non-recessed orientation
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of embodiments described herein, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following written description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIn the illustrated embodiment, the crane mat may include two lifting plates 140. Such plates may be disposed in a diagonal configuration (e.g. using two of the four illustrated plates 140) proximate to two corners to allow for balancing when lifted with a crane. Further, the plates may be disposed in the center of length 114 on opposing sides of length 112. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the crane mat may include more than two lifting plates 140. Including more than two lifting plates 140 may enable the crane mat to maintain a higher degree of balance, and/or maintain in a level orientation when lifted, which may simplify positioning of the crane mat in a desired location.
Referring briefly to
Additionally, as shown in
Referring back to
In an embodiment, the pockets (e.g., the pocket 240) may include an open end and a closed end. For example, as illustrated in
Additionally, as illustrated in
For example, in
Referring back to
The various embodiments of the crane mat described above and illustrated in
Referring to
At 430, the method 400 includes providing two or more lifting plates. In an embodiment, the lifting plates may be the lifting plates 140 of
Crane mats formed using the method 400 may provide improved performance, safety, and traction when compared to presently available crane mats. For example, when the crane mat is formed from synthetic boards, the lifespan of the crane mat may be increased from six months to many years (e.g., 10 years or more). Further, by providing a traction pattern on the top surface, vehicles, equipment, and persons may obtain better traction, which reduces the likelihood that vehicles or equipment will slide when traveling across the crane mat, and the likelihood that persons will slip and fall when crossing the crane mat. Additionally, by providing a traction pattern on the bottom surface, the crane mat may be more easily maintained in a desired positioned when exposed to forces caused by vehicles and equipment traveling across the crane mat, which may otherwise cause the crane mat to shift or slide. Still further, by including the lifting plates which may be oriented into the recessed or non-recessed orientations, risk of injury do to persons falling or tripping on the lifting plates may be reduced or eliminated. Thus, crane mats form using the method 400 of embodiments may provide several improvements over presently available crane mats.
Although the embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
Claims
1. A crane mat comprising:
- a plurality of boards, wherein each board of the plurality of boards is positioned adjacent to another board of the plurality of boards along at least one longitudinal edge;
- a plurality of tie bolts inserted through the plurality of boards, wherein the plurality of tie bolts secure the plurality of boards together; and
- two lifting plates, each lifting plate including a coupling portion configured to couple to a lifting tool during movement of the crane mat, wherein the two lifting plates are configurable into a recessed orientation and a non-recessed orientation, wherein the coupling portion of each lifting plate is recessed within the crane mat in the recessed orientation, and wherein the coupling portion of each lifting plate is exposed when in the non-recessed orientation.
2. The crane mat of claim 1, wherein the two lifting plates are recessed within pockets formed in one or more of the plurality of boards.
3. The crane mat of claim 2, wherein the pockets are include an open end and a closed end, wherein the coupling portion of each lifting plate extends through the open end when in the non-recessed orientation.
4. The crane mat of claim 2, wherein the lifting plates, when recessed within the pockets, are substantially flush with a top surface of one or more of the plurality of boards.
5. The crane mat of claim 2, wherein the two lifting plates are adjustably secured within the pockets by one or more tie bolts of the plurality of tie bolts.
6. The crane mat of claim 5, wherein the one or more tie bolts extend through the pockets.
7. The crane mat of claim 5, wherein each of the lifting plates includes a slotted opening configured to receive a tie bolt to secure the lifting plates within the pockets, and wherein the slotted openings provide slideable adjustment of the lifting plates from the recessed orientation to the non-recessed orientation.
8. The crane mat of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional lifting plates.
9. The crane mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of boards include a top surface and a bottom surface.
10. The crane mat of claim 9, wherein the top surface of each of the plurality of boards includes a traction pattern, the traction pattern including a pattern of grooves, bumps, scuffs, or a combination thereof.
11. The crane mat of claim 9, wherein the bottom surface of each of the plurality of boards includes a traction pattern, the traction pattern including a pattern of grooves, bumps, scuffs, or a combination thereof.
12. The crane mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of boards are synthetic boards.
13. The crane mat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of boards are wood boards.
14. A method for forming a crane mat comprising:
- providing a plurality of boards, wherein each board of the plurality of boards is positioned adjacent to another board of the plurality of boards along at least one longitudinal edge;
- inserting a plurality of tie bolts through the plurality of boards, wherein the plurality of tie bolts secure the plurality of boards together to form the crane mat; and
- providing two lifting plates, each lifting plate including a coupling portion configured to couple to a lifting tool during movement of the crane mat, wherein the two lifting plates are configurable into a recessed orientation and a non-recessed orientation, wherein the coupling portion of each lifting plate is recessed within the crane mat in the recessed orientation, and wherein the coupling portion of each lifting plate is exposed when in the non-recessed orientation.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the two lifting plates are recessed within pockets formed in one or more of the plurality of boards.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pockets are include an open end and a closed end, wherein the coupling portion of each lifting plate extends through the open end when in the non-recessed orientation.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the lifting plates, when recessed within the pockets, are substantially flush with a top surface of one or more of the plurality of boards.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the two lifting plates are adjustably secured within the pockets by one or more tie bolts of the plurality of tie bolts.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of boards include a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of each of the plurality of boards includes a traction pattern, the traction pattern including a pattern of grooves, bumps, scuffs, or a combination thereof
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of boards include synthetic boards, wood boards, or a combination thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 3, 2015
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2016
Inventor: Orain Tubbs (Beaumont, TX)
Application Number: 14/730,060