Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
load distribution platform
NAME ( S ) OF INVENTOR ( S )
Alan Bruce Morison
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a load distribution
platform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a limit as to how much weight a ground surface
cannot withstand before the soil become unstable and subsides.
It has become a recognized practise to place a load
distribution platform under any object that is of such a weight
that it might adversely affect soil stability. The load
distribution platform distributes the weight of the object over
a large area so that the pounds per square inch acting upon the
ground surface is reduced to a level the soil can sustain
without subsiding.
In the oil industry, the load distribution platforms used
at remote drill sites have historically been made of wood.
These wood load distribution platforms have a number of
inherent disadvantages. Over prolonged usage the wood tends
to become saturated with water, oil or both. Water saturation
results in a deterioration and decomposition of the wood. Oil
saturation turns the load distribution platform into a
potential fire hazard. Either type of saturation increases the
weight of the load distribution platform when the time comes
to move it to the next drill site. Oil saturation can lead to
environmental contamination of any site where the load
distribution platform is positioned for any length of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is an alternative form of load
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distribution platform.
According to the present invention there is provided a
load distribution platform, including a metal framework having
a peripheral edge, a top and a bottom. The metal framework
defines a plurality of openings. Each opening is bordered by
an inwardly projecting peripheral top flange and an inwardly
projecting peripheral bottom flange. Water and oil resistant
blocks are positioned in each of the openings confined by the
peripheral top flange and peripheral bottom flange.
Although there are other materials that would be suitable,
it is preferred that the blocks for the load distribution
platform described above be made from recycled vehicular tires .
Finding uses for recycled vehicular tires has been a matter of
serious environmental concern. Whether recycled vehicular
tires are used or other materials, the load distribution
platform described above provides numerous advantages over the
prior art. They are more durable than similar structures made
of wood. They are more resistant to and do not absorb either
water or oil. This means that they maintain a more constant
weight for transport and do not contaminate the site to which
they are moved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a load distribution
platform constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of the load
distribution platform illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is side elevation view of a portion of the load
distribution platform illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 4 is a detailed perspective view of as surface of
one of rubber blocks from the load distribution platform
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illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view, in section, of a portion of
the load distribution platform illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 6 is side elevation view, in section, of one of the
rubber blocks from the load distribution platform illustrated
in FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a load distribution platform
generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be
described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 6.
Referring to FIGURE 1, load distribution platform 10 has
a metal framework 12 made from structural steel. Metal
Framework 12 has a peripheral edge 14 and has cross members 16
which serve to divide metal framework 12 into a plurality of
openings 18. Referring to FIGURE 2, metal framework 12 has a
top 20 and a bottom 22. Each of openings 18 is bordered by an
inwardly projecting peripheral top flange 24 at top 20 and an
inwardly projecting peripheral bottom flange 26 at bottom 22.
Water and oil resistant blocks 28 made from recycled vehicular
tires are positioned in each of openings 18 confined by
peripheral top flange 24 and peripheral bottom flange 26.
Blocks 28 are preferably compressed into openings 18 using
hydraulic presses prior to peripheral bottom flange 26 being
welded in place. Peripheral bottom flange 26 is then welded
in place to prevent blocks 28 from being removed from openings
18.
While openings 18 can be made in a variety of shapes.
Rectangular openings are preferred, because it simplifies the
construction of metal framework 12. Although metal framework
can be made to virtually any dimension, the standard dimensions
currently in use are eight feet in width and forty feet in
length. Openings are preferably made either four feet in width
and four feet in length or four feet in width and eight feet
in length. The depth between top peripheral flange 24 and
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bottom peripheral flange 26 is preferably six inches. Blocks
28 that fit into openings 18 are, rectangular and plinth-like.
Referring to FIGURE 3, it is preferred that a pipe roll
30 be welded to a portion of peripheral edge 14. Pipe roll
30 is used during loading and unloading of metal framework 12
onto trucks.
Referring to FIGURE 4, it is preferred that block 28 have
a plurality of dimples 32 to create a non-slip walking surface
33. Dimples 32, as illustrated, are intended to depict squares
two inches by two inches. It is also preferred that a fire
retardant chemical be added to the recycled vehicular tires at
the time of manufacture of blocks 28 to improve their fire
retardant properties. It is also preferred that luminescent
lines be placed on blocks 28 that are positioned at peripheral
edge 14 as a safety feature, to reduce the likelihood of a
person from inadvertently falling off load distribution
platform 10 at night. Blocks 28 provide a non-static surface.
Referring to FIGURE 6, it is preferred that reinforcement
rods 34 be moulded into blocks 28. Referring to FIGURE 5,
rods 34 are welded to metal framework 12 to reduce the
possibility of blocks 28 being pushed through openings 18 by
the weight of a load. Referring to FIGURE 6, it is also
preferred that blocks 28 be trimmed along peripheral edge 36,
so that when block 28 is fit into metal framework 12, non-slip
surface 33 is substantially flush with metal framework 12.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
