US2365233A - Interlocking grating panel - Google Patents

Description

Dm 19 1944' c. N. wlLsoN 2,365,233

INTERLOCKING GRATING PANEL Filed Jan. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l [NVE N TOR @verges MMSQI,

Dmn 19, 1944. C, N, WILSON 2,365,233

INTERLOCKING GRATING PANEL Filed Jan. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5 FIG. 4

INVENTOR melted D. 19, 1944 INTERLOCKIN G GRATIN G PANEL Charles N. Wilson, Fort Belvoir. Va.. assigner to the United States of America, represented by the Secretary of War Application January 27, 1941, Serial No. 376,217

6 Claims. (Cl. 94-13) (Granted under the att of March a, 1883, as amended April 30. 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manugovernmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royaltyl thereon. 1

This invention relates to metal grating and more particularly to grating of the type that is especially suited for use as airfield runways, taxiways, roadways. ramps, bridge surfacing, garage flooring, etc.

An important object of my invention is to provide an interlocking grating panel which is of strong and rigid construction capable of successfully withstanding the heavy shocks and stresses to which it is normally subject in use without breaking or deforming.

Another object of my invention is to provide an interlocking grating panel of the above character which is of comparatively simple construction so as to lend itself to rapid and economical manufacture.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an interlocking grating panel of the above character which is capable of quick assembly with duplicate panels by means of interlocking cou pling elements carried by and forming part of the panel without the need for supplemental locking means, such as bolts, pins, rivets, wires, bands or other connectors such as are now commonly used for tying together grating units and which provide a weak and insecure fastening for such units besides being liable to become lost or separated from the panel units.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred `'embodiment of the invention, reference being`had to the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an interlocking grating panel;

' Figure 2 is a side view of the panel of Fig. 1;

.Figure 3 is a detail view showing a pair of coupling elements connecting two adjacent panels;

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the coupling elements, taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 shows one of the fixed coupling elements;

Figure 6 shows the movable coupling element; and

Figure 7 illustrates the lother form of fixed cou pling element that is associated with the panel.

Grating for use as temporary roadways or airplane runways, for example, is frequently manufactured in units of generally square or rectangular shape so as to be readily transportable from storage to the place of intended use. These units are there assembledend-to-end and side-by-side 'factured and used by or for the Government for so as to provide a rm, continuous, non-skid supporting surface for the wheels of trucks or airplanes. Heretofore it has been common practice to make these grating units of open-ended construction and to interconnect certain of the structural elements of the units by means of bolts, rivets or straps.

Such grating units, however, are liable to deformation under the heavy shocks and impacts to which they are subjected in service and as a consequence the individual units tend to separate and break their fasteners, thus causing gaps between units and allowing the units to bend out of shape. Independent fasteners, furthermore, are open to the disadvantage thatv they are slow and tedious to apply, difficult to locate and place at night under poor lighting conditions, and frequently become lost in shipment.

In accordance with my invention the grating panel is so constructed as to strongly resist deformation and the fastening or coupling means are so located with respect to the grating elements that the reaction to any forces tending to separate contiguous panels is transmitted along substantially straight lines to opposite sides ofthe panel frame, thereby effectively preventing spreading of the panels out of their original square or rectangular shape and preventing gaps from occurring between adjacent panels.

The interlocking grating panel illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a rigid frame l enclosing an openwork grating section 2, both frame and grating being made of similar at strips of metal, such as rolled iron, bent to shape. The frame, here shown as of substantially square outline, is constituted of side sections la andend sections Ib. Extending straight between the end sections of the frame and in a direction parallel to the side sections and to each other are-main longitudinal bars 3, these bars at their ends being bent at right-angles to provide feet 3a which flatly abut the end sections lb to which they are rigidly secured by rivets 4.

Arranged intermediate and parallel to the main longitudinal bars 3 are supplementary longitudinal bars 5, and bent so as to extend back and forth between the longitudinal bars 3 and 5 and between the supplemental longitudinal bars and the frame l in a manner such as to define nearly equilateral triangles therewith are truss bars 6. These truss bars are flattened at their apices where they contact the longitudinal bars and frame and are secured to the longitudinal bars 3 by rivets 1.

longitudinal bars and serve to connect pairs of The rivets 1 extend through the truss bars located upon opposite sides of the longitudinal bars. By virtue of this arrangement, the sides of the triangles formed by the truss bars extend approximately in alignment from side-toside diagonally of the panel.

The ends of the two adjacent truss bars included between a pair of longitudinal bars 3 terminate short of the end sections I b, and these ends are joined by terminal pieces 8, also made of flat strip metal. These terminal pieces are oi generally spread V-shape and have their ends ilattened, as indicated at 8a, so as to overlie the flattened ends of the truss bars 6. The flattened ends of the truss bars and terminal pieces are secured to the longitudinal bars 3 by means of rivets 1c. The terminal pieces are flattened at their apices, as indicated at 8b, and bear against spacer blocks forming part of the fixed coupling elements 9 and I. The ends of the supplementary longitudinal bars are toed up to provide feet 5a which rest against the attened areas upon the terminal pieces which overlie the spacer blocks, the supplementary bars, terminal pieces and spacer blocks all being rigidly secured to the end sections Ib of the frame by rivets I i.

The frame I at spaced distances throughout its perimeter is formed with inwardly oiset portions I2, and adapted to slide along these offset portions are movable coupling elements I3. These movable coupling elements, best illustrated in Fig. 6, each comprises a ring I3a encircling and slidable along one of the side or end sections oi the frame, and a key I3b extending from the ring in a direction parallel to the outer face of the frame. Anchored in place by the rivets Ii are the fixed coupling elements 9 and I G. Coupling element 9, as best shown in Fig. 5, comprises a ring 9a encircling and bridging the outer face of the frame and a spacer block 9b projecting laterally beyond the plane of this ring and provided with an opening I4. The iixed coupling element I0, best illustrated in Fig. '7, consists of a ring Illa, corresponding to ring 9a, and a spacer block IlJb constituting one side of the ring, this spacer block having an opening I5 therethrough. The openings I4 and I5 in coupling elements 9 and lli) are of corresponding size so as to receive a rivet II (see Fig. 4) but are differently located with respect to the ring. 'I'hat is, the opening I4 in coupling element 9 islocated to one side of the plane of the ring 9a by a distance equal to slightly more than the width of the ring Ilia of coupling element IU, while the opening I5 is located in the plane of the ring lila. This arrangement is necessary in order to permit the ilxed coupling element 9 to occupy a position laterally adjacent the fixed ,coupling element I0 when the grating panels are assembled in abutting relation. When so assembled the movable coupling element I3 may be slid along the frame until the key I3b passes through the rings 9a and I0a of the xed coupling elements, thus interlocking the panels as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 1 is shown the manner of assembling the panels for forming a roadway or runway. The panels extending lengthwise of the eld are assembled end-tfo-end in aligned relation, while the laterally 'abutting panels are disposed in staggered relation in order to break up the continuity of the end joints. The frame I provides a rigid enclosure for a. section of grating while the coua,ses,ass

truss bars l. including terminal pieces 8. that straight longitudinal bars or along the approxiplings locking the panels together are situated mately aligned sides of the triangles formed by the truss bars to opposite sides or ends of the frame. Ihe coupling elements being permanently associated with the panels. they are conveniently available when needed and may be easily manipulated to quickly and positively connect the panels together to form a level and continuous roadway or runway ail'ording excellent traction to the wheels of a vehicle. Because the panels are fabricated entirely of the same size and kind of stock, they may be produced rapidly and economically by quantity production methods and without specialized tools or machinery.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for obvious modiiications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A grating panel comprising a continuous enclosing frame having substantially parallel side and end sections, main longitudinal bars extending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementary longitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to and intermediate the main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of the end sections, said truss bars being rigidly secured to and extending continuously back and forth between opposing faces of said main and supplementary longituinal bars and between said side sections and the opposing faces of the adjoining supplementary bars to define therewith a series of triangularly shaped openings, the sides of which extend in approximate alignment diagonally of the panel, terminal pieces connecting those ends of adjacent pairs of truss bars located upon opposite sides of the supplementary longitudinal bars, and means rigidly securing the ends of the supplementary longitudinal bars and said terminal pieces to said end sections to provide a unitary panel structure affording uniform stress distribution.

2. A grating panel comprising a continuous en. closing frame having substantially parallel side and end sections, main longitudinal bars extending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementary longitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to and intermediate the main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of the end sections, said truss bars being rigidly secured to and extending continuously back and forth between opposing faces of said main and supplementary longitudinal bars and between said side sections and the opposing faces of the adjoining supplementary bars to define therewith a series of triangularly shaped openings, the sides of which extend in approximate alignment diagonally of the panel, terminal pieces connecting those ends of adjacent pairs of truss bars located upon opposite sides of the supplementary longitudinal bars, said terminal pieces including a central portion and divergent leg portions, the free ends of the leg portions being connected to those of said truss bars, and a single fastening means rigidly securing an end of each of the supplementary longitudinal bars and the central portion of each of said terminal pieces to a corresponding end section to provide a unitary panel structure affording uniform stress distribution.

3. A grating panel comprising a continuous enclosing frame having substantially parallel side and end sections, main longitudinal bars extending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementary longitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to and intermediate the main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of said end sections, said truss bars being rigidly secured to and extending continuously back and forth between opposing faces of said main and supplementary longitudinal bars and between the side sections and the opposing faces of the supplementary bars adjoining said side sections to define therewith a series of triangularly shaped openings, the sides of said openings extending in approximate alignment diagonally of the panel, terminal pieces connecting those ends of adjacent pairs of truss bars located on opposite sides of the supplementary longitudinal bars, said supplementary longitudinal bars having their ends abutting and flatly engaging the terminal pieces, and means rigidly securing both the supplementary longitudinal -bars and terminal pieces to said end sections to provide a unitary panel structure affording uniform stress dis tribution.

4. A grating panel comprising a continuous enclosing frame having substantialy parallel side and end sections, main longitudinal bars extending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementary longitudinal bars extending substantially parallel to and intermediate the main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of said end sections, said truss bars being rigidly secured to and extending continuously back and forth between opposing faces of said main and supplementary longitudinal bars and between the side sections and the opposing faces of the supplementary bars adjoining said side sections to define therewith a series of triangularly shaped openings, the sides of said openings extending in approximate alignment diagonally of the panel, terminal pieces overlying and connecting those ends of adjacent pairs of truss bars located on opposite sides of the supple-V mentary longitudinal bars, means rigidly securing the ends of the truss bars and terminal pieces to the main longitudinal -bars, said supplemental hars having their ends bent so as to foot against and flatly engage the terminal pieces, and means rigidly securing the ends of the supplementary longitudinal bars and the terminal pieces to said end sections to provide a unitary panel structure affording a uniform stress distribution.

5. In an interlocking grating panel, a frame enclosing said panel having substantially parallel side and end sections, said frame having inwardly offset portions along said side and end sections, and coupling elements associated with said oiset portions for locking a pair of abutting panels together, said coupling elements comprising a movable ring slidably mounted upon said frame, a. xed ring secured to said frame, certain of said fixed rings being mounted upon the side and end sections of said frame in a manner such that the companion fixed rings on the opposing sections of said abutting panels will be disposed in lateral juxtaposition, and a key upon the movable ring constructed and arranged to enter the juxtaposed pairs of xed rings for locking the abutting panels together.

6. A grating panel comprising a continuous enclosed frame having substantially parallel side and end sections, said frame having inwardly offset portions along its side and end sections, main longitudinal bars extending between and rigidly secured to the end sections, supplementary longitudinal bars extending substatinally parallel to and intermediate the main longitudinal bars, truss bars terminating short of said end sections, said truss bars being rigidly connected to and extending continuously back and forth Ibetween opposing faces of said main and supplementary longitudinal bars and between the side sections and the opposing faces of the adjoining supplementary'bars to define a series of triangularly shaped openings, the sides of said openings extending in approximate alignment diagonally of the panel, terminal pieces connecting those ends of adjacent pairs of the truss bars located on the opposite sides of the supplementary longitudinal bars, said supplementary longitudinal bars having their ends abutting and flatly engaging the terminal pieces, coupling elements associated with the offset portions of said frame for lockinga pair of abutting panels together, said coupling elements comprising fixed rings secured to said frame, certain of said fixed rings having spacer elements interposed between the terminal pieces and the frame, means rigidly securing the supplementary longitudinal bar, terminal pieces and spacer elements 'to the end sections of the frame, certain of said xed rings being mounted upon the side and end sections of the frame in a manner such that the companion iixed rings ofthe opposing sections of said abutting panel will be disposed in lateral iuxtaposition, and a movable ring slidably mounted upon the frame having a key constructed and arranged to enter the juxtaposed pair of xed rings for locking said panels together.

CHARLES N. WILSON.

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