Abstract: A series of modules serve to provide a base for walkway members to be assembled into a walkway. Modules provide for support and orientation of walkway members and the ability to produce complex walkways with segments at varying orientations. In a preferred embodiment, a base mat is sized to engage walkway members. Using a combination of a number of base mats and walkway members, segments of walkway of any desired size can be readily assembled. Reflective and non-slip surfaces can be applied to increase safety when in use.

Abstract: A method and clay brick configuration for use in sports field construction having a generally rectangular paver like configuration with spaced parallel flat upper and lower surface portions with angular inclined spaced parallel side surfaces. Oppositely disposed substantially vertical end surfaces define the brick's overall length. The clay brick provides for interlocking surface to surface engagement during field construction and compaction in vertical and horizontal brick surface adjacent engagement placement.

Abstract: A method of making a modular engineered wood composite road (40) includes determining a bearing strength of the soil at a location where the modular engineered wood composite road will be installed; determining a bearing strength of the soil at a location where a modular engineered wood composite road (40) will be installed; determining a flexural strength and stiffness required for the modular engineered wood composite road (40) based on the determined bearing strength of the soil at the location where the modular engineered wood composite road (40) will be installed; assembling a plurality of engineered wood composite billets (46) from a plurality of composite wood laminations, wherein each engineered wood composite billet (46) has the required flexural strength and stiffness; and assembling the engineered wood composite billets (46) to define the modular engineered wood composite road (40).

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for performing steering operations for a tracked vehicle with a dragged implement using a control system that uses a combination of differential steering and rudder steering based on one or more operating conditions of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to compressed blocks of wood agglomerate, comprising wood particles and a hydraulic binder, produced by a method in which an initial mixture comprising wood particles and a hydraulic binder is held under pressure for the duration of the hardening of the binder. The invention further relates to a method for production of said blocks and the use thereof in particular, as construction elements for buildings.

Abstract: An oil field mat assembly having a pair of interlocking full mats connected by interlocking half mats. Each full mat has a bottom layer, a bottom interlocking segment formed on the bottom layer, a middle layer, an alignment control means, a top layer, a top interlocking segment formed on the top layer on the same side that the top layer connects to the middle layer, and an anti-curling bar.

Abstract: A track system may include a plurality of connected slat members that may form rollable tracks. The rollable tracks may be used in moving vehicles across sensitive ground. The rollable track may be deployed using various methods and/or apparatus such as, e.g., deployment apparatus including one or more spool portions for rolling and unrolling the rollable tracks.

Abstract: A roadway is formed by a plurality of mats flexibly connected together at their ends. The mats are rectangular in configuration to form straight sections of the roadway and trapezoidal in configuration to form curved sections. Each mat comprises a flat platform of transverse wooden boards secured to side rails at their ends. The mats may be tied together at their ends by overlapping flat steel plates secured together by bolts to form links or connections. Or hinge-type assemblies may be useful. The connections have sufficient flexibility to allow the mats to conform to uneven terrain. The rails may function as curbs to limit a vehicle, passing along the roadway, from slipping off sideways. The mats are relatively light, allowing manual installation.

Abstract: A wood mat has a first layer of timbers extending parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction and a second layer timbers spanning across the first timbers parallel to one another and transversely to the first timbers such that each second timber intersects a plurality of the first timbers at respective intersecting locations of the mat; and a plurality of pressed fasteners mounted at selected intersecting locations through drilled holes formed by either a rivet fastener or a press fit fastener having opposed ends compressively joining the timbers therebetween.

Abstract: Floorboards for mechanical joining of floors in a herringbone pattern and in parallel rows with horizontal connectors which on the short sides have cooperating locking surfaces which are designed differently from the cooperating locking surfaces on the long sides.

Abstract: A plurality of wood planks are embedded and encased in a one-piece rubber mat to form a monolithic one-piece roadway element. A special coupling means is used to couple one roadway element to an adjacent roadway element to form a roadway surface over which heavy equipment can traverse.

Abstract: A road element is formed of a one-piece cage that includes two layers of orthogonally arranged rebars which are welded together. The layers are connected by connecting rebars that are welded to the rebars of the layers at the intersections and the one-piece cage is encased in a flexible material formed of crumb rubber, urethane, and fibers from land vehicle tires. Plates can be included with the one-piece cage to further enhance the strength of the element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for laying and mechanically joining building panels, especially thin, hard, floating floors. Adjacent joint edges (3, 4) of two panels (1, 2) engage each other to provide a first mechanical connection locking the joint edges (3, 4) in a first direction (D1) perpendicular to the principal plane of the panels. In each joint, there is further provided a strip (6) which is integrated with one joint edge (3) and which projects behind the other joint edge (4). The strip (6) has an upwardly protruding locking element (8) engaging in a locking groove (14) in the rear side (16) of the other joint edge (4) to form a second mechanical connection locking the panels (1, 2) in a second direction (D2) parallel to the principal plane of the panels and at right angles to the joint. Both the first and the second mechanical connection allow mutual displacement of joined panels (1, 2) in the direction of the joint.

Abstract: An apparatus for constructing a temporary road bed include a mat formed from a plurality of planks having a longitudinal dimension and spaced-apart a uniform distance by a spacer. A flexible cable extends through apertures in the planks and spacers for coupling the planks and spacers together. The flexible cable allows the mat to bend and conform to the ground surface and can be rolled and folded upon itself. In one embodiment, the planks include at least one recess in a top face for interlocking with a plank of a second mat. The mats can be coupled together in an end-to-end relation to obtain a desired length or width or in a stacked relation to obtain a desired thickness of the road bed.

Abstract: A wood floor structure includes a pad layer composed of a plurality of pads and each pad has at least two taper-shaped protrusions extending from each side thereof. Each pad has a rod extending from a top surface thereof. A plurality of wood strips each have at least one hole defined in a bottom thereof so as to receive said rod in said at least one hole.

Abstract: Process for installing against a support (S), the ground in particular, a covering consisting of planks, laths, wooden panels (1) which consists in leveling the surface to be overlaid, then in fixing against the said surface (S), side-by-side planks (1), leaving a space between them and the ground. The process is characterized in that the spacing and the fixing of the planks (1) constituting the covering is obtained by means of pairs of elements (3, 4) distributed over the length of the said planks, which elements (3, 4) take the form of blocks, of which the one (3) is fixed transversely on the lower face of the plank and the second (4) over the ground, the opposite faces of the said blocks (3, 4) comprising interlockable complementary zones (7) ensuring the mutual securing of the said elements (3, 4).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the construction of a two-layer flooring system for use at a construction site such as an oil well drilling site. The flooring system is particularly well suited for use in areas with dry, sandy soil. The flooring system is formed by interlocking both the ends and sides of a plurality of mat units. Each of the mat units includes two layers of boards. The first layer has end locking tabs extending beyond the edge of the first layer and corresponding end locking slots, formed by offsetting selected boards. The second layer similarly includes side locking tabs and corresponding side locking slots, also formed by offsetting selected boards. The arrangements of these tabs and slots is such that half-size units and inverted units may be utilized, allowing a wide variety of patterns of interlocking units to be utilized for the flooring system.

Abstract: A board for use in constructing exterior floors has a rounded or curved convex top surface to shed water, and a complementally shaped rounded or curved concave bottom surface for nesting engagement with the top surface of an adjacent board so that a plurality of the boards may be stacked in stable relationship. The radius of curvature of the rounded top surface is such that a floor formed by a plurality of the boards placed side-by-side provides a comfortable surface on which to stand and walk. In a modification, the bottom surface has a plurality of stress-relief channels formed therein to prevent cupping or warping of the board.

Abstract: A lightweight block useful as a patio tile, a border piece or a landscaping component, which has a density of 800 to 1,200 kg/m.sup.3 and is made from a concrete mix comprising stabilized wood aggregates prepared by sterilization of wood chips by thermal treatment, followed by a chemical treatment with a calcium salt first and then with at least one soluble silicate, the concrete mix also comprising, based on 750 liters of the stabilized wood aggregates: from 200 to 350 kg of sand; from 200 to 350 kg of cement, such as silica fume or Portland cement; from 8 to 15 kg of polymer additive, preferably a melamine-based polymer; from 80 to 175 kg of water; and optionally, at least one pigment such as iron oxide. This block is particularly interesting in that it is lightweight, it has a high bending resistance; it has a pronounced and decorative texture; and it is very porous, thereby making it self-draining and efficient as a sound absorber.

Abstract: A temporary road is provided which includes a plurality of sets each defined by a first and second matrices which include an upper surface for supporting heavy vehicles and the like over rough or impassable terrain and a second matrices which comprises support members for the upper or first matrices. Thus, one set is laid down such that the first matrices is in a top or upper position and cross members of the second matrices support the top member or upper matrices and thereafter a second set is positioned such that the first matrices is on the ground or in mud or the impassable surface is such that the second matrices or bottom of the second set with its spaced cross-support members interlocks with the spaced cross-support members of the first set and thereafter each set is interlocked such that the first, third, fifth set sequence provide the upper surface of the road and the second, forth and sixth set sequence sets provide the support for the upper sets.

Abstract: A roadway/platform mat construction is provided for disposition over soft ground. The mat construction includes a rectangular, panel-like mat structure including opposite transverse end margins and opposite side longitudinal margins. The mat construction defines a first rectangular surface and a second rectangular surface facing opposite and paralleling the first surface and including elongated transverse log structures carried by the opposite ends of the mat structure and projecting outwardly of the second surface thereof. The transverse logs are of a width measured longitudinally of the mat construction equal to substantially one-quarter the length of the mat construction and the spacing between opposite end logs of each mat construction measured longitudinally thereof is equal to substantially one-half the length of the mat construction.

Abstract: A surface device with erosion control features consisting of uniform T-shaped elements made of various materials (wood, metals, plastics, composites, fiberglass, reinforced concrete etc.) that are secured in a relative position to each other forming a coffer dam erosion containment and loadbearing surface. The securing methods of stapling the T-shaped elements to wire mesh or fabric backing (wood elements) or using connecting cabling, wire, rope, chains, rods, ties, pins, etc. with the (metal, plastic, fiberglass and concrete T-shaped elements) in addition to reinforcing and containment provides a means of prefabbing mats or modules of desired sizes for handling, storage, transportation and application. These mats can be used in highway construction for: stabilizing soils under roadbeds, as highway shoulders, ditch linings and erosion control of embankments. The invention can be used to construct secondary roads, logging roads, nature trails, bike and golf cart paths.

Abstract: A light weight structural composite comprised of a cellular core having high dynamic load-bearing properties and a fiber reinforced resinous skin, the panel further comprised of an internally disposed elastomeric membrane which covers the core and acts to disperse shock waves created from impact loads.

Abstract: An interlocking wooden mat assembly for roadways in undeveloped areas comprises a three layered lamination of substantially parallel and closely spaced wooden planks forming each layer, which assemblies are rectangular and interlock along one of the longer sides. Selected planks of the bottom layer are offset longitudinally and extend beyond the intermediate layer at one end to provide a male extension on one end and a female recess at the other end. The planks of the bottom layer lie parallel to each other along the shorter dimension of the rectangular mat. The planks of the intermediate lie parallel to each other along the longer dimension of the rectangular mat and terminate at the edges of the rectangle. The top layer has planks extending parallel to each other and to the bottom planks along the shorter dimension of the rectangle comprising two groups of planks spaced toward the edges of the rectangle with the intermediate portion of the intermediate layer of planks being uncovered.

Abstract: A three ply mat and matting system for constructing temporary access roads and work surfaces over areas of poor soil conditions. The mats comprise upper and lower layers of longitudinally offset wooden boards separated by an intermediate layer of transverse boards. The upper and lower offsets form opposing upper and lower L-shaped lips with the addition of intermediate transverse boards at the edges of each offset. The mats are joined together to form an easily removable matting system by overlaying a plurality of identical mats, upper L-shaped lip over lower L-shaped lip, to form the mat system over the area to be covered.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for constructing a reusable wooden matting system for use as a temporary surface at construction sites. The matting system includes interlocking mats of four differing configurations. Each mat configuration consists of wooden boards fastened together to create from one to three layers of boards at various areas of the individual mats. When interlockingly installed a desired area is uniformly covered with three layers of boards. The upper, working layer of boards, bears the vehicular traffic or equipment placement. The middle, intermediate layer of boards, consists of interlock boards which fittingly interlock with corresponding spaces of adjacent mats, and, interspace boards to reinforce the weight bearing characteristics of the mats. The lower, contact layer of boards, rest upon the terrain. Within a layer the boards are parallel to one another, whereas the boards of each layer are perpendicular to the boards of any adjacent layer.

Abstract: A temporary support structure for use on muddy or marshy land areas comprises a plurality of panels. Each panel includes a first row of boards arranged in parallel side-by-side relationship, and a second row of boards arranged in parallel side-by-side relationship. The second row of boards is superimposed on the first row of boards and oriented perpendicularly thereto. A first plurality of panels defines a lower layer in which the second row of boards extends upwardly to define lower locking boards. A second plurality of panels defines an upper layer resting upon the lower layer wherein the second row of boards thereof extends downwardly to define upper locking boards intermeshed with the lower locking boards. Individual panels of the upper layer are intermeshed with a plurality of lower panels to create an interlocking relationship therewith.

Abstract: A light weight structural composite comprised of a cellular core having high dynamic load-bearing properties and a fiber reinforced resinous skin on all edges of the core and on the top and bottom surfaces thereof. The cellular core may comprise an array of balsa wood blocks, the skin may comprise a fiberglass reinforced epoxy or polyester resin, and the core and skin may be formed into a monolithic composite which is particularly suitable for use as a high strength to weight ratio ground opening cover.

Abstract: Interlocking landscaping planking wherein the opposite edges of each interlocking plank has a tongue and groove of special shape and relative dimensions to permit maximum flexibility in assembling curved landscaping arrangements consisting of multiple numbers of the planks joined side by side. The novel trapezoid or circular shaped tongue is centered vertically is one edge of each interlocking plank, its base indented slightly from the front and back surfaces of the plank to permit and to limit the lateral movement of the plank. The exterior surfaces of the tongue slope or curve inwardly, tapering to a flat apex. The novel trapezoid or circular shaped groove complements the novel trapezoid or circular shaped tongue, but spaced slightly therefrom and is centered vertically in the opposite edge of the plank, its mouth indented slightly from the front and back surfaces of the plank to permit and to limit the lateral movement of the plank.

Abstract: A system of prefabricated board mats for assembling plank roads for supporting heavy equipment on unprepared surfaces. The system is based on a standard eight foot by sixteen foot three-ply treated lumber prefabricated board road section. Individual board mat sections are linked in the direction of travel using a mating male and female plug and socket system to evenly transfer the weight load of heavy equipment in the direction of travel. Angle iron interlocks are provided laterally at the corners. The mats are lifted by use of three or more eyebolts countersunk into the top of the mat at strategic locations so that balance is maintained.In practice a porous protector filter cloth section is laid on an area where a board mat is to be placed.

Abstract: An interlocking wooden mat assembly for supporting heavy equipment and vehicles around oil field drilling sites and the like comprises a three layered lamination of substantially parallel and closely spaced wooden planks forming each layer. Selected planks of the top layer are offset longitudinally and extend beyond the intermediate layer at one end to provide a male extension on one end and a female recess at the other end. Selected planks of the intermediate layer are offset laterally to extend beyond the surface and underlying layers at one side to provide a male extension on that side and a female recess at the other side. The surface layer has one less plank than the underlying layer to provide an exposed area on the side of the intermediate layer and to expose recessed areas on one side plank of the underlying layer. The mats may be removably secured together in end-to-end and edge-to-edge relation by the male extensions fitting the female recesses and being nailed together at the point of overlap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the construction of a flooring system for use at a construction site such as an oil well drilling site. The flooring system is formed by interlocking a plurality of flooring units. Each of the flooring units includes a rectangular base section and a surface section attached to and overlaying the base section. One end of the rectangular base section is aligned with one end of the surface section which has at least one open-ended locking slot along its length. Located on the opposing end of the surface section is at least one locking tab formed from the surface section and projecting beyond and above the edge of the base section. The locking tab is aligned with the locking slot of the flooring unit. The method of constructing a flooring system utilizing such units includes positioning one unit, with the use of a lifting device such as a crane, adjacent to a second flooring unit and inserting the locking tab of the first unit into the adjacent second unit.