Interlocking Mats With Grooved Seal Members for Liquid-Tight Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temporary or semi-permanent load-supporting surfaces often experience liquid leakage through gaps between interconnected components, leading to environmental and safety concerns, as well as significant cleanup challenges and expenses, with existing plastic liners being ineffective or difficult to dispose of.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of frame style seal members with elongated grooves in the mats' outer edges, allowing the seal members to extend into gaps and form a liquid-tight seal when the mats are interlocked, eliminating the need for plastic liners by creating a self-contained barrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic liners are placed below and around the support surface to capture liquids, then liquid leakage is prevented, but disposal becomes problematic and landfill space is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is extracted as a separate, removable component from the mat structure. It can be easily removed from the groove and disposed of independently, avoiding the problem of disposing of large liner assemblies. The seal member is taken out for disposal while the mat remains intact and reusable.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is designed as a disposable component that is inexpensive and easily discarded. Rather than attempting to reuse entire liner assemblies, only the consumable seal member is replaced, reducing disposal complexity and cost.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic liners are used to prevent liquid leakage, then environmental protection is improved, but the liners are sometimes ineffective at preventing liquid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is positioned specifically at the gap interfaces between mats, where liquid leakage occurs. This localized sealing approach focuses the sealing function at the critical leakage points rather than relying on a complete liner system that may have defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is pre-formed in the mat during manufacturing, and the seal member is pre-positioned in the groove before the mat is installed. This preliminary preparation ensures proper sealing alignment and eliminates the need for field adjustments or complex installation procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If frame style seal members with grooves are implemented in mats, then liquid-tight seal is formed across gaps, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into a separate, standardized groove feature in the mat and a separate seal member. This segmentation allows the groove to be manufactured using standard molding techniques, and the seal member can be produced independently using conventional sealing component manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove acts as an intermediary feature that receives and positions the seal member. This intermediate structure simplifies the overall system by providing a standardized interface that eliminates the need for complex direct bonding or mechanical fastening mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic liners are used to contain liquids, then liquid containment is improved, but cleanup time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is extracted as a removable component that can be quickly replaced if damaged or contaminated. This eliminates the need to remove and dispose of entire liner assemblies, significantly reducing cleanup time and effort while maintaining effective liquid containment.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of manufacturing a plurality of mats useful with a plurality of frame style seal members in a load-supporting surface include at least one milling machine, router or pre-formed mold forming at least first and second elongated grooves in first and second offset outer edges of at least a first side of each among at least first and second stepped-configuration, reversible mats. Each groove causes the seal member(s) seated therein to extend into a gap formed between the mats, abut at least one seal member extending from another mat into the same gap and form a liquid-tight seal therewith.