US 2026/0218461 A1Published application

System for making a geo-stabilized construction mat with exposed ribbing and associated methods

AssigneeLOW IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES USA, Inc

InventorsDale E. Polk, JR., Karl L. Polk

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Abstract

A system for making for making a geo-stabilized construction mat includes a mold having a mold cavity and articulating rib forms movable between an extended position and a retracted position. A first vacuum pump is configured to pull a vacuum on the mold cavity. A vacuum plate is movable between an up position and a down position. A second vacuum pump is configured to pull a vacuum on the vacuum plate. A controller controls the first and second vacuum pumps in response to the mold cavity receiving a pliable thermoplastic sheet while the articulating rib forms are in the extended position within the mold cavity and the vacuum plate is in a down position making contact with the mold cavity so that the pliable thermoplastic sheet covers the articulating rib forms and inner surfaces of the mold cavity. The pliable thermoplastic sheet forms the geo-stabilized construction mat with exposed ribbing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for making a geo-stabilized construction mat comprising:

a mold having a mold cavity, and comprising articulating rib forms movable between an extended position within the mold cavity and a retracted position below the mold cavity;
a first vacuum pump configured to pull a vacuum on the mold cavity;
a vacuum plate movable between an up position and a down position, with the down position making contact with the mold cavity;
a second vacuum pump configured to pull a vacuum on the vacuum plate;
and
a controller coupled to the articulating rib forms, the first vacuum pump and the second vacuum pump, and configured to perform the following:
control the first and second vacuum pumps in response to the mold cavity receiving a pliable thermoplastic sheet while the articulating rib forms are in the extended position and the vacuum plate is in the down position,
with the vacuum from the first vacuum pump pulling down on the pliable thermoplastic sheet to cover the articulating rib forms and inner surfaces of the mold cavity,
with the vacuum from the second vacuum pump pulling up on the pliable thermoplastic sheet so that ends of the articulating rib forms remain covered by the pliable thermoplastic sheet, and
with the pliable thermoplastic sheet forming the geo-stabilized construction mat with exposed ribbing.

7 more elements

A method for making a geo-stabilized construction mat with a system comprising a mold having a mold cavity and articulating rib forms movable between an extended position within the mold cavity and a retracted position below the mold cavity, a first vacuum pump configured to pull a vacuum on the mold cavity, a vacuum plate movable between an up position and a down position, and a second vacuum pump configured to pull a vacuum on the vacuum plate, the method comprising:

placing a pliable thermoplastic sheet in the mold cavity while the articulating rib forms are in the extended position and the vacuum plate is in the up position;
moving the vacuum plate from the up position to a down position to make contact with the mold cavity;
operating the first vacuum pump so the vacuum therefrom pulls down on the pliable thermoplastic sheet to cover the articulating rib forms and inner surfaces of the mold cavity,
operating the second vacuum pump so that the vacuum therefrom pulls up on the pliable thermoplastic sheet so that ends of the articulating rib forms remain covered by the pliable thermoplastic sheet;
moving the vacuum plate from the down position to the up position;
and
ejecting the geo-stabilized construction mat with exposed ribbing from the mold cavity.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.