Wire fabrics and structure – Fabrics – Interlocking loops
Utility Patent
1999-07-26
2001-01-02
Worrell, Danny (Department: 3741)
Wire fabrics and structure
Fabrics
Interlocking loops
C245S007000, C245S011000, C404S070000, C404S134000
Utility Patent
active
06168118
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a reinforcing mat for reinforcing the top layer of a ground or road, which top layer consists of bitumen, asphalt or a hydrocarbon-containing material of like nature, in which the reinforcing mat is a mat woven with longitudinal wires and provided with reinforcement elements running in the transverse direction of the mat.
A reinforcing mat which has been utilized with success for reinforcing asphalt is sold by the applicant. N. V. BEKAERT S.A., under the name “Mesh Track”. “Mesh Track” is a galvanized steel wire woven mat or mesh, reinforced at regular intervals by two- or three-wire strands fitted in the transverse direction of the mat. Special methods for embedding a reinforcing mat in asphalt roads are described, for example, in European patent applications 429.106 and 505.010 submitted by N. V. Bekaert S.A.
One important purpose of embedding such a reinforcing mat in asphalt roads is to prevent the formation of cracks and tracks in the asphalt roads.
The formation of cracks and tracks in asphalt roads is prevented by the reinforcing mat, which acts to reinforce the asphalt of the road by absorbing the tensile stresses, while the asphalt transfers the compressive stresses. In addition, the transverse reinforcements provide a better distribution of the loads and the granulated asphalt material gets jammed in the mesh openings of the mat.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been determined that the reinforcement elements fitted in the transverse direction of the reinforcing mat function primarily to absorb the tensile stresses caused by the heavy traffic. This prevents the sideways displacement of the asphalt road, thus preventing the formation of cracks in the longitudinal direction of the road.
It is of great importance that the reinforcement elements fitted in the transverse direction of the mat should be sufficiently anchored in the asphalt road to effectively reinforce this road and thus to prevent the formation of cracks and tracks. When the anchoring of the reinforcement elements is improved, it then becomes possible to obtain better reinforcement of the asphalt with the use of less reinforcement material.
The first object of the invention is to provide a new type of reinforcing mat in which reinforcement elements fitted in the transverse direction of the mat produce a very firm anchoring in an asphalt road.
Tests have demonstrated that the use of reinforcement elements consisting of helically twisted steel profiled wires of essentially rectangular cross-section considerably improves the anchoring.
Furthermore it has been determined that the reinforcement elements by preference consist of successive zones of essentially the same length, in which each two successive zones are twisted at an angle of approximately 90° in relation to one another.
In an especially preferred embodiment of the mat according to the invention, each two successive zones of the reinforcement elements are twisted alternately in clockwise and counterclockwise directions relative to one another at an angle of approximately 90°.
One important advantage of the new reinforcing mat according to the invention is that the helically twisted reinforcement elements fitted in the mat function as distance blocks for the mat in the asphalt road which is to be reinforced, and this serves to improve the anchoring even further.
Another important advantage of the new reinforcing mat according to the invention is that the mat according to the invention can easily be rolled up and unrolled. It is of great importance that during rolling up, and particularly also during unrolling, the reinforcement elements should not shift in the transverse direction of the mat.
For the reinforcing mats known up to the present time with reinforcement elements in the form of two- and three-wire strands, however, it has been determined that while the reinforcing mat is being unrolled onto the ground to be covered with asphalt the ends of the strands get caught in one another. This problem is totally avoided with the reinforcing mat according to the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3145001 (1964-08-01), Bruninga
patent: 3682419 (1972-08-01), Vanderfaeille
patent: 4081159 (1978-03-01), Baldwin
patent: 4309124 (1982-01-01), Bertels
patent: 0 015 027 (1980-09-01), None
patent: 0 229 416 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 0 429 106 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 0 655 531 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 331 848 (1903-10-01), None
patent: 921 473 (1947-05-01), None
Vancraeynest Yves
Veys Johan
N.V. Bekaert S.A.
Shlesinger & Arkwright & Garvey LLP
Worrell Danny
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