Patch assembly for rapid repair of bomb-damaged runways and pavements

Claim 2

A patch assembly for the rapid emergency repair of a bomb damaged pavement, comprising, an airfield mat having a plurality of separate, flat rectangular mat panels cojoined to form a unitary flat structure capable of withstanding anticipated wheel loads of an aircraft taking off and/or landing thereover, in combination with a ramp connected section consisting of a series of adjacent inclined flat rectangular united ramp panels positioned along each of the opposite ends of, and attached to, said rectangular airfield mat, and plural tow means spaced along opposite sides of said patch assembly and interconnected with the end series of said plurality of rectangular mat panels extending along each side of said airfield mat to thereby facilitate movement of said patch assembly to a centered position extending over, and bridging a selected bomb crater, with the ramp sections on each end of said assembly being mounted for limited movement relative thereto and thereby ensuring a smooth transition to the wheels of the said landing or taking-off aircraft during their movement over said patch assembly to and from the undamaged pavement, said tow means comprising a separate tow bar assembly affixed to the side edge of each of the outermost panels formed on opposite sides of said airfield mat and further including means for simultaneously uniting said tow bar assemblies and providing an additional, side edge interlocking means for said airfield mat, each of said separate tow bar assemblies comprising a hollow tubular tow bar, a mandrel element positioned in supporting relation within said tow bar and interconnected with adjacently-arranged supporting mandrel elements positioned within the tow bars mounted adjacent to, and interconnected with said first-named tow bar, and interlocking prong-gripping elements formed outwardly of each of said tow bars and adapted for attachment with the end mat panels of said airfield mat.

Claim 3

In a patch assembly as in claim 1, wherein said end mat panels incorporate one or more recessed interlocking elements adapted for complementary engagement with said interlocking prong-gripping elements formed on said tubular tow bars to thereby facilitate a relatively rapid and releasable interconnection therebetween.

Claim 4

A patch assembly for the rapid emergency repair of a bomb damaged pavement, comprising, an airfield mat having a plurality of separate, flat rectangular mat panels conjoined to form a unitary flat structure capable of withstanding anticipated wheel loads of an aircraft taking off and/or landing thereover, in combination with a ramp connected section consisting of a series of adjacent inclined flat rectangular united ramp panels positioned along each of the opposite ends of, and attached to, said rectangular airfield mat, and plural tow means spaced along opposite sides of said patch assembly and interconnected with the end series of said plurality of rectangular mat panels extending along each side of said airfield mat to thereby facilitate movement of said patch assembly to a centered position extending over, and bridging a selected bomb crater, with the ramp sections on each end of said assembly being mounted for limited movement relative thereto and thereby ensuring a smooth transition to the Wheels of the said landing or taking-off aircraft during their movement over said patch assembly to and from the undamaged pavement, said tow means comprising a plurality of tow bars mounted along the edge of each side of said airfield mat, each of said tow bars having integrally-formed prong-shaped, locking elements extending outwardly therefrom and interconnected with a respective side edge of said airfield mat; a tow fixture incorporating a gripping element extending in surrounding and attachable relation to said tow bar and adapted to be adjusted between both a detached and an attached, gripping relation to said tow bar and further having an intermediate and integrally-formed, interconnecting element extending in a direction away from said gripping element; and a harness apparatus interconnected with said last-named element and adapted for connection to and operation by a prime mover to thereby move said patch assembly to the desired bomb crater location, said plurality of tow bars further being hollow and tubular-shaped, with a plurality of mandrel members being positioned in supporting and inserted relation therewithin and further interconnected with each other and said tow bars to thereby rigidly attach said plurality of tow bars together as a single-type, unitary assembly simultaneously and collectively reinforcing the interconnection normally holding together the plurality of mat panels comprising said airfield mat.

Claim 5

A patch assembly for the rapid emergency repair of a bomb damaged pavement, comprising, an airfield mat having a plurality of separate, flat rectangular mat panels conjoined to form a unitary flat structure capable of withstanding anticipated wheel loads of an aircraft taking off and/or landing thereover, in combination with a ramp connected section consisting of a series of adjacent inclined flat rectangular united ramp panels positioned along each of the opposite ends of, and attached to, said rectangular airfield mat, and plural tow means spaced along opposite sides of said patch assembly and interconnected with the end series of said plurality of rectangular mat panels extending along each side of said airfield mat to thereby facilitate movement of said patch assembly to a centered position extending over, and bridging a selected bomb crater, with the ramp sections on each end of said assembly being mounted for limited movement relative thereto and thereby ensuring a smooth transition to the Wheels of the said landing or taking-off aircraft during their movement over said patch assembly to and from the undamaged pavement, said tow means comprising a plurality of tow bars mounted along the edge of each side of said airfield mat, each of said tow bars having integrally-formed prong-shaped, locking elements extending outwardly therefrom and interconnected with a respective side edge of said airfield mat; a tow fixture incorporating a gripping element extending in surrounding and attachable relation to said tow bar and adapted to be adjusted between both a detached and an attached, gripping relation to said tow bar and further having an intermediate and integrally-formed, interconnecting element extending in a direction away from said gripping element; and a harness apparatus interconnected with said last-named element and adapted for connection to and operation by a prime mover to thereby move said patch assembly to the desired bomb crater location, said plurality of tow bars further being hollow and tubular-shaped, with a plurality of mandrel members being positioned in supporting and inserted relation therewithin and further interconnected with each other and said tow bars to thereby rigidly attach said plurality of tow bars together as a single-type, unitary assembly simultaneously and collectively reinforcing the interconnection normally holding together the plurality of mat panels comprising said airfield mat.

Claim 6

In a patch assembly as in claim 3, wherein said tow bars further incorporate screw-threaded attachment and interlocking means adjustable in position to rigidly interconnect said previously interconnected tow bars to said mandrel members and to said airfield mat at periodic intervals along each side thereof to thereby reinforce the normal interconnection between each mat panel; said attachment and interlocking means being further adjustable to an unlocked position whereby said tubular tow bars may be adjusted between a position of locking engagement between its integrally-formed prong-shaped, locking elements and the relatively elongated recesses integrally formed in the edge mat panels formed on each side of said airfield mat, and a second position of disengagement from said airfield mat during the complete disassembly thereof or the partial disassembly of a portion of said airfield mat while under repair.