Modular rig mat system

Abstract

A mat assembly includes a glulam beam including a first billet including a first stack of adjacently adhered wooden boards, wherein a plurality of the boards of the first stack include a groove extending into a first face of each board, and a second billet including a second stack of adjacently adhered wooden boards, wherein a plurality of the boards of the second stack include a tongue extending from a first face of each board; wherein the tongues of the second stack extend into and are adhered to the grooves of the first stack.

1 . A mat assembly, comprising:
 a glulam beam, comprising:
 a first billet comprising a first stack of adjacently adhered wooden boards, wherein a plurality of the boards of the first stack comprise a groove extending into a first face of each board; and 
 a second billet comprising a second stack of adjacently adhered wooden boards, wherein a plurality of the boards of the second stack comprise a tongue extending from a first face of each board; 
 wherein the tongues of the second stack extend into and are adhered to the grooves of the first stack. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mat assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame disposed about and coupled to the glulam beam. 
     
     
         3 . The mat assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises:
 two longitudinal channels;   two horizontal channels coupled to the two longitudinal channels, forming a rectangular perimeter; and   an I-beam extending between and coupled to the two horizontal channels;   wherein the height of the I-beam is less than the height of the two longitudinal channels.   
     
     
         4 . The mat assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the height of the I-beam is approximately ½″ less than the height of the longitudinal channels. 
     
     
         5 . The mat assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third billet comprising a third stack of adjacently adhered wooden boards, wherein a plurality of the boards of the third stack comprise a tongue extending from a first face of each board and a groove extending into a second face of each board; and   a fourth billet comprising a second stack of adjacently adhered wooden boards, wherein a plurality of the boards of the fourth stack comprise a tongue extending from a first face of each board;   wherein the tongues of the fourth stack extend into and are adhered to the grooves of the third stack.   
     
     
         6 . The mat assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of straps extending between the longitudinal channels and coupled to the I-beam. 
     
     
         7 . The mat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of the boards of the first stack are pressed together at a pressure of at least 125 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         8 . A mat assembly, comprising:
 a frame, comprising:
 two longitudinal channels; 
 two horizontal channels coupled to the two longitudinal channels, forming a rectangular perimeter; and 
 an I-beam extending between and coupled to the two horizontal channels; 
 wherein the height of the I-beam is less than the height of the two longitudinal channels; 
   a glued and laminated beam disposed longitudinally between the I-beam and a longitudinal channel.   
     
     
         9 . The mat assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a triangular gusset having an aperture extending therethrough and coupled to one horizontal channel and one longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         10 . The mat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the height of the I-beam is approximately ½″ less than the height of the longitudinal channels. 
     
     
         11 . The mat assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of straps extending between the longitudinal channels and coupled to the I-beam. 
     
     
         12 . The mat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal channels intersect the horizontal channels at a plurality of miter joints. 
     
     
         13 . The mat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a longitudinal channel has a curved edge with a radius of at least one inch. 
     
     
         14 . The mat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a longitudinal channel has a curved edge with a radius that is approximately three times the size of the thickness of the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         15 . The mat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a longitudinal channel has a curved edge with a radius that is approximately twice the size of the thickness of the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         16 . A mat system, comprising:
 a plurality of mat assemblies, wherein each mat assembly comprises a plurality of wooden beams coupled to a frame comprising a gusset having an aperture extending therethrough; and   a link assembly coupled to the plurality of mat assemblies, wherein the link assembly comprises a plurality of fasteners;   wherein the fasteners of the link assembly extend through the gusset of each of the plurality of mat assemblies.   
     
     
         17 . The mat system of  claim 16 , wherein the link assembly comprises a link frame having four elongate portions. 
     
     
         18 . The mat system of  claim 17 , wherein each elongate portion of the link frame comprises an aperture extending therethrough and configured to receive one of the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         19 . The mat system of  claim 16 , further comprising a flexible bushing configured to secure the link assembly to a mat assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The mat system of  claim 16 , wherein the fasteners are bolts.