Lightweight airfield matting system

Abstract

In one embodiment, a kit for airfield matting comprises a plurality of matting panels each including a rectangular mat core having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end. The first side has a first side connector. The second side has a second side connector. The first side connector of one matting panel of the plurality of matting panels is configured to couple with at least a part of the second side connector of one or more side neighboring matting panels of the plurality of matting panels to be connected therewith. The first end has a first end connector. The second end has a second end connector. The first end connector of one matting panel of the plurality of matting panels is configured to couple with the second end connector of an end neighboring matting panel of the plurality of matting panels to be connected therewith.The matting panels each have a length of not greater than about 84 inches.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for airfield matting, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of matting panels each including a rectangular mat core having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, the first side having a first side connector, the second side having a second side connector, the first side connector of one matting panel of the plurality of matting panels being configured to couple with at least a part of the second side connector of one or more side neighboring matting panels of the plurality of matting panels to be connected therewith, the first end having a first end connector, the second end having a second end connector, the first end connector of one matting panel of the plurality of matting panels being configured to couple with the second end connector of an end neighboring matting panel of the plurality of matting panels to be connected therewith;   the matting panels each having a length of not greater than about 84 inches.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the kit consists of:
 a plurality full-length rectangular matting panels each having a length of not greater than about 84 inches; and   a plurality of half-length rectangular matting panels each having a length of not greater than about 42 inches.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of matting panels each have a width of about 21 inches and a height of about 1 inch.   
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of matting panels each have a unit weight of about 3.8 lb/ft 2.      
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of matting panels each have a weight of not greater than about 50 lbs.   
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first side connector comprises a male hinge joint side and the second side connector comprises a female hinge joint side, the male hinge joint side and the female hinge joint side being configured to form a hinge joint.   
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of matting panels comprise AA6061 aluminum alloy matting panels.   
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one matting panel of the plurality of matting panels includes a rectangular mat core having two half-width mat core members which are friction stir welded to form a full-width mat core.   
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first end connector is friction stir welded to the first end of the rectangular mat core; and   wherein the second end connector is friction stir welded to the second end of the rectangular mat core.   
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the rectangular mat core is an extruded AA6061 aluminum alloy mat core;   wherein the first end connector is an extruded AA6061 aluminum alloy first end connector; and   wherein the second end connector is an extruded AA6061 aluminum alloy second end connector.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first end connector comprises an overlap end connector which is friction stir welded to the first end of the rectangular mat core; and   wherein the second end connector comprises an underlap end connector which is friction stir welded to the second end of the rectangular mat core.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the overlap end connector includes a top hook with a top hook distal portion;   wherein the underlap end connector includes a bottom hook with a bottom hook distal portion; and   where in the top hook distal portion and the bottom hook distal portion are configured to engage one another;   wherein the overlap end connector includes a top slot portion;   wherein the underlap end connector includes a bottom slot portion;   wherein the top slot portion and the bottom slot portion form a locking bar slot which is rectangular; and   wherein the kit further comprises a plurality of locking bars each configured to be disposed in the locking bar slot formed by the top slot portion of the overlap end connector and the bottom slot portion of the underlap end connector, and substantially filling the locking bar slot.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the overlap end connector includes a top hook having a top hook proximal portion and a top hook having a top hook distal portion;   wherein the underlap end connector includes a bottom hook having a bottom hook proximal portion and a bottom hook having a bottom hook distal portion;   wherein the top hook distal portion is disposed between the top slot portion and the top hook proximal portion, the top hook distal portion and the bottom hook distal portion are disposed between the top hook proximal portion and the locking bar slot, the top hook distal portion is disposed between the bottom hook distal portion and the bottom hook proximal portion, and the bottom hook distal portion is disposed between the top hook distal portion and the top hook proximal portion.   
     
     
         14 . A airfield matting system, comprising:
 a plurality of matting panels each including a rectangular mat core having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, the first side having a first side connector, the second side having a second side connector, the first end having a first end connector, and the second end having a second end connector;   the first side connector of each of some matting panels of the plurality of matting panels being configured to couple with at least a part of the second side connector of two or more side neighboring matting panels of the plurality of matting panels to be connected therewith;   the first end connector of each of some matting panels of the plurality of matting panels being configured to couple with the second end connector of an end neighboring matting panel of the plurality of matting panels to be connected therewith;   the second end connector of each of some matting panels of the plurality of matting panels being configured to couple with the first end connector of an end neighboring matting panel of the plurality of matting panels to be connected therewith; and   the matting panels each having a length of not greater than about 84 inches.   
     
     
         15 . The airfield matting system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of matting panels comprise:
 a plurality full-length rectangular matting panels each having a length of not greater than about 84 inches; and   a plurality of half-length rectangular matting panels each having a length of not greater than about 42 inches; and   wherein the plurality of matting panels each have a width of about 21 inches and a height of about 1 inch.   
     
     
         16 . The airfield matting system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the first side connector comprises a male hinge joint side and the second side connector comprises a female hinge joint side, the male hinge joint side and the female hinge joint side being configured to form a hinge joint.   
     
     
         17 . The airfield matting system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein at least one matting panel of the plurality of matting panels includes a rectangular mat core having two half-width mat core members which are friction stir welded to form a full-width mat core.   
     
     
         18 . The airfield matting system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the first end connector comprises an overlap end connector which is friction stir welded to the first end of the rectangular mat core; and   wherein the second end connector comprises an underlap end connector which is friction stir welded to the second end of the rectangular mat core.   
     
     
         19 . The airfield matting system of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the overlap end connector includes a top hook with a top hook distal portion;   wherein the underlap end connector includes a bottom hook with a bottom hook distal portion; and   where in the top hook distal portion and the bottom hook distal portion are configured to engage one another;   wherein the overlap end connector includes a top slot portion;   wherein the underlap end connector includes a bottom slot portion;   wherein the top slot portion and the bottom slot portion form a locking bar slot which is rectangular; and   wherein the airfield matting system further comprises a plurality of locking bars each configured to be disposed in the locking bar slot formed by the top slot portion of the overlap end connector and the bottom slot portion of the underlap end connector, and substantially filling the locking bar slot.   
     
     
         20 . The airfield matting system of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the overlap end connector includes a top hook having a top hook proximal portion and a top hook having a top hook distal portion;   wherein the underlap end connector includes a bottom hook having a bottom hook proximal portion and a bottom hook having a bottom hook distal portion; and   wherein the top hook distal portion is disposed between the top slot portion and the top hook proximal portion, the top hook distal portion and the bottom hook distal portion are disposed between the top hook proximal portion and the locking bar slot, the top hook distal portion is disposed between the bottom hook distal portion and the bottom hook proximal portion, and the bottom hook distal portion is disposed between the top hook distal portion and the top hook proximal portion.