A flooring element suitable for connection to other elements in a flooring system. The flooring element comprises a body, a female connector and a retainer. The body defines a connector surface that is horizontal when in use. The female connector comprises a connector recess which is suitable for receiving a male connector and also which defines a connector opening in the connector surface. The retainer is connectable to the body such that, while it is connected to the body, the retainer is movable between and open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the retainer is arranged to restrict movement of the male connector to guard against the male connector exiting the connector recess through the connector opening. When in the open position, the retainer does not restrict movement of the male connector thereby permitting the male connector to exit the connector recess through the connector opening.

A crane mat is disclosed having a plurality of panels of lumber positioned in alternating transverse directions with respect to one another, where the top and bottom panels are oriented parallel to the direction of vehicular traffic. The top and bottom panels may include a plurality of spaced apart grooves extending longitudinally from a first longitudinal end of the crane mat to a second longitudinal end of the crane mat for enhancing traction of a vehicle when traversing across the crane mat by transporting rain or moisture off the mat, or for receiving mud or other debris. The crane mat may include a plurality of edge protectors positioned on respective sides of the crane mat to protect the crane mat from handling damage. In various embodiments, the crane mat may be manufactured using either softwood, hardwood, or any combination of softwood and hardwood.

Mats and methods of making the same are described. The mats include a main body defined by a plurality of sidewalls and two exterior surface walls opposing each other, a lip structure extending outwardly from the plurality of sidewalk around a portion of a periphery of the main body, and at least one fiber-reinforcement layer arranged between the two exterior surface walls of the mat. The methods include depositing a first deposition layer of material within a mold, positioning at least one fiber-reinforcement layer on the first deposition layer, depositing a second deposition layer of material within the mold over the at least one fiber-reinforcement layer and the first deposition layer, and treating the first deposition layer, the at least one fiber-reinforcement layer, and the second deposition layer to form a mat.

A connector pin includes a stem extending between a head and an opposite foot. The stem includes a neck having a plurality of sections which may be planar forming edges. A retention member including a collar and arms extending therefrom is retained around said pin, the inner surface of the collar correspondingly configured to the sections and edges of the neck for a frictional fit. The pin is insertable and retained within a receiver in overlapping mats. Pockets in the receiver hold the retention member arms and prevent rotational motion of the retention member. The pin is selectively movable relative to the retention member by rotational motion by application of force to the pin sufficient to overcome the threshold level of friction holding the sections of the neck at the collar. Locking the pin is achieved when extension members of the pin foot are misaligned with the retention member arms.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for facilitating drifting for wheeled vehicles, in accordance with some embodiments. Further, the apparatus may be disposable on a surface. Further, the apparatus may include a body comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposing the top surface. Further, the bottom surface may be in contact with the surface based on the disposing of the apparatus on the surface. Further, the top surface may be configured for inducing wheel slipping in at least one wheel of at least one wheeled vehicle moving on the top surface while engaging a brake of the at least one wheeled vehicle. Further, the inducing of the wheel slipping in the at least one wheel may be based on a loss of traction between the at least one wheel and the top surface. Further, the inducing of the wheel slipping allows drifting for the at least one vehicle.

A system and method for the construction of a hemp mat having consistent density whereby the hemp fiber mat may be used to strengthen ice or other entities for any number of applications and different types of construction designed such that it may be sturdy enough to stay bonded when it is transported, unrolled, and soaked during ice road construction but loose enough to break apart during spring to reduce blockage and environmental damage to the waterway on which the ice road was constructed.

A vehicle support structure, which in petroleum wellsite operations is commonly called a rig mat or a ground stabilizing mat, includes: a main body including an upper surface, an underside, a front end and a rear end, the main body defining a planar structuring with a thickness; a front pad coupled to the main body and positioned adjacent the front end; a rear pad coupled to the main body and positioned adjacent the rear end, the front pad and the rear pad each configured to be moveable between a supporting position protruding from the underside of the main body and a retracted position in plane or retracted from the underside; a front pad drive mechanism for the front pad, the front pad drive mechanism configured to drive the front pad to move between the supporting position and the retracted position and to move the front pad forward and backwards and side to side relative to the main body; and a rear pad drive mechanism for the rear pad, the rear pad drive mechanism configured to drive the rear pad to move between the supporting position and the retracted position and to move the rear pad forward and backwards and side to side relative to the main body, the front pad and the rear pad being configured to operate to support the main body in an elevated position relative to a ground surface and configured to move the main body forward and backwards and side to side relative to the front pad and the rear pad and over the ground surface. In use as a rig mat, a method for well site operations includes: placing the rig mat at a position on a first well site; positioning a rig on the rig mat; and adjusting the position of the rig mat while the rig remains supported on the rig mat such that the rig is centered on a wellhead of the well site.

Mats having a body having a thickness defined between a first side and a second side, a lip extending from the body and having a thickness less than the thickness of the body, the lip having a plurality of ribs and a plurality of channels defined between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs, and a plurality of lip stiffeners arranged within the channels of the lip and defining a transverse rib extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the plurality of ribs.

A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.

A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.