I-Shaped Winching Ends for Rig Mat Surface Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rig mats with winching ends pose safety hazards due to discontinuities between abutting mats, are costly, labor-intensive to assemble, and have reduced clearance for winch cables, leading to inefficiencies in material usage and handling.
Innovation Solution
The design features winching ends with inset sides, co-planar surfaces, and depending members that form a continuous planar interface between adjacent mats, reducing the need for gussets and additional plates, thus minimizing material and labor costs while increasing clearance for winch cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional pipe and plate winching ends are used, then structural strength is improved, but material cost and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The winching end structure merges the pipe and plate components into a single integrated I-shaped member. The flanges of the I-shaped member directly engage with the mat end plates, eliminating the need for separate pipe-to-plate connections and reducing the number of welding operations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The I-shaped winching end serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the winching interface, acts as a structural reinforcement element, and eliminates the need for separate gussets and braces. This multi-functional design reduces both material usage and assembly complexity.
2Strength
If multiple gussets and braces are added to secure the pipe, then connection strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The I-shaped winching end integrates the functions of gussets, braces, and winching pipes into a single monolithic component. The flanges of the I-shaped member serve as both structural reinforcements and winching interfaces, eliminating the need for multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for separate gussets and braces by incorporating their structural functions directly into the I-shaped winching end member, simplifying the overall assembly.
3Strength
If the pipe diameter and gussets are increased, then connection strength is improved, but clearance beneath the winching ends decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The I-shaped winching end changes the geometric parameters of the winching structure by using a flattened cross-section rather than a circular pipe. This parameter change maintains structural strength while increasing the clearance beneath the winching ends for cable passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The I-shaped member replaces the traditional circular pipe geometry with a flattened, angular cross-section. This geometric modification provides adequate clearance for winch cables while maintaining the necessary structural strength through the I-shaped profile.
4Productivity
If rig mats are arranged end-to-end with abutting winching ends, then productivity is improved, but discontinuities create safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The winching ends are designed with localized geometric features (the I-shaped profile with flanges) that specifically address the interface between adjacent mats. This local quality improvement ensures continuous surface alignment at the critical junction points where mats connect end-to-end.
Solution Approach 2:
The I-shaped winching end design ensures that adjacent mats form a equipotential surface at their interfaces, eliminating steps or discontinuities. The flanges are positioned and dimensioned to create a seamless transition between adjacent mats, providing a safe continuous working surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A rig mat implements opposing winching ends having a surface extension that is co-planar with the working surface of the rig mat. Such a co-planar surface can be a rectangular hollow tubing, the top surface of which forms the co-planar surface and a sidewall which forms a depending abutting member. The co-planar surface and the depending member enable the winching ends to form a substantially continuous planar interface between abutting winching ends of adjacent rig mats to minimize discontinuity therebetween. Fabrication is simplified and savings in weight are realized.