Rollable Runner Assemblies for Reusable Temporary Roadways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mats or runners used to prevent vehicles from forming ruts in soft ground surfaces are heavy, require specialized equipment for transport and deployment, and are often unusable after a few uses.
Innovation Solution
Temporary roadway assemblies comprising flexible, resilient, and rollable runner members with ground and vehicle traction surfaces, connected by elastic connectors, which can be easily deployed and transported using a dispenser system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional heavy mats or runners are used to prevent rut formation, then vehicle support and traction are improved, but weight and transport complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The roadway assembly is divided into multiple interconnected runner members that can be individually handled and deployed. Each runner member is a discrete unit that can be connected to form a continuous surface, allowing the system to provide substantial support while remaining manageable in weight and size for transport and deployment operations.
2Reliability
If traditional heavy mats are used to provide traction, then vehicle support is improved, but ease of transport and deployment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The roadway assembly is divided into multiple interconnected runner members that can be individually handled and deployed. Each runner member is a discrete unit that can be connected to form a continuous surface, allowing the system to provide substantial support while remaining manageable in weight and size for transport and deployment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The runner members are designed to be flexible and resilient, allowing them to be rolled up for compact transport and then unrolled or laid out for deployment. The flexible connectors allow the assembly to adapt to ground contours and vehicle loads dynamically, providing ease of operation during both transport and deployment phases.
3Reliability
If traditional mats are used to prevent sinking, then vehicle traction is improved, but durability and reusability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The runner members are constructed from composite materials combining a base panel structure with traction elements. This composite construction provides both the structural integrity needed for durability and the surface characteristics needed for traction. The modular design allows wear to be localized to replaceable components, extending the overall service life of the roadway assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular runner member design allows individual components to be replaced or recovered as needed. If one runner member becomes worn or damaged, only that specific unit needs to be replaced rather than the entire assembly, significantly improving reusability and reducing waste of functional components.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If flexible runner members are used to provide durability, then multiple uses are enabled, but structural stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The runner members are pre-assembled with connectors attached in a factory setting, ensuring proper alignment and connection strength before field deployment. This preliminary assembly action ensures that when the runners are deployed and connected on-site, the structural stability is already optimized, allowing flexibility for reusability without compromising connection integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible connectors are designed to provide both flexibility for movement and reconfiguration and sufficient structural stability when loaded. The connectors can accommodate ground irregularities and vehicle loads while maintaining a stable load-bearing structure, enabling the system to be both reusable and structurally sound throughout multiple uses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides durable, multiple-use support and traction for vehicles, preventing rut formation and sinking, while being easily storable and transportable.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of flexible, elastic, or resilient runner member connectors may be configured to connect adjacent ones of the plurality of runner members
Implementation Method 2
The ground traction element may be configured to engage the ground surface and facilitate traction of each corresponding runner member with respect to the ground surface
Implementation Method 3
The vehicle traction element may be configured to facilitate traction between vehicle wheels on the vehicles and each corresponding runner member
Data Source
AI summary
Temporary roadway assemblies may include a plurality of runner members. Each runner member may include a base panel having a base panel outer surface and a base panel inner surface. A ground traction surface may be disposed at the base panel inner surface. At least one ground traction element may be provided at the ground traction surface. The ground traction element may be configured to engage the ground surface and facilitate traction of each corresponding runner member with respect to the ground surface. A vehicle traction surface may be disposed at the base panel outer surface. At least one vehicle traction element may be provided at the vehicle traction surface. The vehicle traction element may be configured to facilitate traction between vehicle wheels on the vehicles and each corresponding runner member. A plurality of runner member connectors may be configured to connect adjacent ones of the plurality of runner members.