[0002]. In particular, said invention refers to a paving device for airports, destined to support aeroplanes, helicopters, lorries and suchlike.

[0003]. The invented device comprises a series of modular paving elements, known as"grelles", suitable for connection to create paving.

[0004]. For emergency intervention by men and equipment in geographical areas such as war zones or areas where there are floods, earthquakes or suchlike, it is necessary to set up parking areas in which to arrange the vehicles used, such as aeroplanes, helicopters or lorries, as quickly as possible with minimum involvement of men and equipment.

[0005]. These vehicles are usually very heavy and have to be arranged on suitable paving, otherwise the soil, especially where it is muddy or sandy, might collapse and the vehicles would sink.

[0006]. The paving must also be easy to assemble and

disassemble to make operations as streamlined as possible.

[0007]. Some commonly used systems involve the use of flat elements equipped with tongue and groove joints which often require laborious and costly production systems.

[0008]. An example is shown in document WO 97/18353.

[0009]. The aim of this invention is to prepare a paving device, especially for airports, suitable for supporting vehicles such as aeroplanes, helicopters, lorries and suchlike which, as well as being quick to assemble and disassemble, is easy to make.

[0010]. The aim is achieved by a device which complies with the claim 1. The claims deriving from this describe variants of the same.

[0011]. The characteristics and advantages of this invention are made obvious by the description of an example of use, given by way of non-restrictive example, with reference to the annexed figures, in which : [0012].-figure 1 represents a plan of a paving device according to this invention; [0013].-figure 2 shows a cross-section of the device according to the invention; [0014].-figures 3a to 3c represent a plan, lateral

view and cross-section of a paving element of the device; [0015].-figures 4a to 3c represent a plan, lateral view and longitudinal section of a first profile piece of the device; [0016].-figures 5a to 3c represent a plan, lateral view and longitudinal section of a second profile piece of the device; [0017].-figure 6 represents a plan of a plate of the paving device ; [0018].-figure 7 shows a diagram of the connection between the first and second profile pieces and the plate; [0019].-figure 8 represents a plan of a cross-section of a ramp of the device; [0020].-figure 9 represents a cross-section of an adapter profile piece of the device; [0021].-figure 10 shows the connection between the ramp, the adapter profile piece and the paving element.

[0022]. In accordance with the annexed figures, 1 indicates a paving device according to the invention.

[0023]. Said paving device 1 comprises at least one paving element 2, known in jargon as a"grella".

[0024]. To clarify the description below, a longitudinal direction L-L and a transversal direction T-

T are established for the device. The transversal direction is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0025]. With reference to that stated above, a transversal direction and a longitudinal direction are also established for the individual paving element 2.

[0026]. Said paving element 2 presents longitudinal sides 4 and transversal sides 6.

[0027]. Preferably, said transversal side measures about 0.5 metres. Preferably, said longitudinal side measures about four metres, in a form of realisation known as"long element"2a and about two metres-in a form of realisation known as"short element"2b.

[0028]. In a preferred form of realisation, paving device 1 presents a longitudinal succession of long elements 2a and short elements 2b. Said device also presents a transversal alternate succession of long elements 2a and short elements 2b.

[0029]. In other words, said device 1 presents a chequered arrangement of long elements 2a and short elements 2b.

[0030]. Each paving element 2 presents a ribbed structure comprising an upper wall 8, facing upwards in an assembled configuration of the device, a lower wall

10, destined to come into contact with the soil on which the paving device rests, and strengthening walls 12 arranged between the upper wall 8 and the lower wall 10, to create the ribbing of element 2.

[0031]. In other words, said paving element 2 presents a structure formed of a series of adjacent tubular elements which create a succession of longitudinal cavities 12a.

[0032]. Device 1 comprises longitudinal joints which join said paving elements 2 along the transversal direction.

[0033]. In other words, said longitudinal joints are able to oppose actions which tend to transversally divide or separate said elements 2.

[0034]. In particular, said paving element 2 comprises said longitudinal joints, or joints which run along the longitudinal sides 4 of said element.

[0035]. Said longitudinal joints comprise a protrusion 14 which runs along the longitudinal side 4 of element 2.

[0036]. Furthermore, said longitudinal joints comprise a recess 16 which runs along the longitudinal side 4 of element 2, on the opposite side to said protrusion.

[0037l. Said protrusion 14 of each element 2 is suitable for introduction into the recess 16 of the next

element 2, creating a tongue and groove type joint.

[0038]. Preferably, said paving elements are longitudinally chamfered at the ends.

[0039]. Device 1 also comprises transversal joints which join said paving elements 2 along the longitudinal direction.

[0040]. In other words, said transversal joints are able to oppose actions which tend to longitudinally divide or separate said elements 2.

[0041]. The transversal joints comprise a first profile piece 30 which runs substantially, with reference to the position assumed in the assembled configuration of device 1, along the transversal direction T-T.

[0042]. Along the transversal direction, known as the first profile piece 30, there is a succession of hook-up portions 32, alternated by insertion slots 34.

[0043]. The section of each of these connection portions 32 has a forked portion 36 for insertion into the longitudinal cavity 12a of the paving element 2.

[0044]. In particular, each forked portion 36 is inserted in the respective longitudinal cavity 12a so that its prongs touch the upper wall and the lower wall of the cavity.

[0045]. Furthermore, said section of the connection

portion 32 has a hook-up wall 38, preferably protruding from the forked portion 36, on the opposite side to the forks'prongs.

[0046]. The section of the connection portion 32 also has a discharge wall 40, preferably protruding from the forked portion 36, on the opposite side to the forks' prongs.

[0047]. The hook-up wall 38 and the discharge wall 40 are preferably connected to create a hooked element.

[0048]. The cavity of said hooked element faces upwards.

[0049]. The section of the connection portion 32 also has a foot 42, preferably protruding from the forked portion 36, on the opposite side to the forks'prongs, destined to make contact with the soil.

[0050]. The foot 42 and the discharge wall 40 are preferably connected to create a C-shaped profile.

[0051]. Furthermore, said transversal joints comprise a second profile piece 50.

[0052]. Like the first profile piece 30, the second profile piece has a succession of hook-up portions 52, alternated by insertion slots 54.

[0053]. The section of each of these connection portions 52 has a forked portion 56 for insertion into

the longitudinal cavity 12a of the paving element 2.

[0054]. Furthermore, said section of the connection portion 52 has a hook-up wall 58, a discharge wall 60 and a foot 62.

[0055]. The hook-up wall 58 and the discharge wall 60 are preferably connected to create a hooked element.

[0056]. The cavity of said hooked element faces downwards, towards the ground.

[0057]. The first profile piece 30 is suitable for coupling, with the forked portion 32 connecting with the paving element 2 and the opposite side connecting to the second profile piece 50.

[0058]. The second profile piece 50 is suitable for coupling, with the forked portion 52 connecting with the next paving element 2 and the opposite side connecting to the first profile piece 30.

[0059]. In particular, the hook-up walls 38,58 of said profile pieces are mutually coupled, ensuring the longitudinal connection between one paving element and the next.

[0060]. In the coupling configuration of the first profile piece 30 with the second profile piece 50, the respective feet 42,62 create a base for a plate 70 which should preferably have a rectangular section.

[0061]. Preferably, said profile pieces 30,50 are transversally chamfered at the ends, at an angle of forty-five degrees for example.

[0062]. According to a preferred version, said paving device 1 comprises at least one ramp 80, which has an upper wall 82 preferably inclined to offer easy access to the upper surface of he paving device.

[0063]. Said ramp 82, has a longitudinal protrusion 84 for insertion into the slot 16 on the paving device 2.

[0064]. In a variant, said ramp 82, has a longitudinal slot for insertion of the protrusion 14 on the paving device 2.

[0065]. In a preferred version, said paving device 1 comprises an adapter profile piece 90 which runs substantially in a longitudinal direction.

[0066]. Said adapter profile piece 90 has a substantially double-T section, with a first and a second longitudinal slot 92,94 which are opposing and suitable for the insertion of the protrusion 14 of the paving element 2 and the longitudinal protrusion 84 of the ramp 80.

[0067]. To clarify the assembly process used for paving device 1, the method used to assemble the first row of elements 2, or elements 2 which are positioned in

longitudinal succession, is described below.

[0068]. A first stage of the assembly method involves the preparation of the first paving element 2 of the first row.

[0069]. In particular, the first profile piece 30, with the hooked element cavity facing upwards, is associated with element 2. In other words, the connection portions 32 are inserted into the longitudinal cavity 12a of said element 2.

[0070]. The first element 2 is positioned on the ground.

[0071]. A subsequent paving element 2 is prepared.

[0072]. In particular, the second profile piece 50, with the hooked element cavity facing downwards, is associated with the next element 2. In particular, the connection portions 52 of said profile piece 50 are inserted into the respective longitudinal cavity 12a of the next element 2.

[0073]. The first element 2 and the next element 2 are hooked up by said hooked element, being reciprocally joined longitudinally.

[0074]. The plate 90 is inserted between the first profile piece 30 and the second profile piece 50, so as to rest on the feet 42,62 of said profile pieces.

[0075]. The method is repeated for the assembly of the first row of elements.

[0076]. To assemble the second row of elements, the first element two of the second row is prepared, coupling it to the first profile piece 30.

[0077]. The longitudinal protrusion of said first element 2 is inclined and inserted into the longitudinal slot 16 of the elements 2 of the first row.

[0078]. With the rotation of said element 2 of the second row, a rotation which lays said element on the ground, said element 2 hooks up to the elements 2 of the first row.

[0079]. The next element 2 for the second row is prepared, coupling it to the second profile piece 50.

[0080]. The longitudinal protrusion of said next element 2 is inclined and inserted into the longitudinal slot 16 of the elements 2 of the first row.

[0081]. With the rotation of said next element 2 of the second row, a rotation which lays said element on the ground, said element 2 hooks up to the elements 2 of the first row, and the second profile piece joined to it hooks up to the first profile piece 30 of the previous element 2..

[0082]. The plate 90 is inserted between the first

profile piece 30 and the second profile piece 50, so as to rest on the feet 42,62 of said profile pieces.

[0083]. Then, applying said method and preparing the first element 2 for a subsequent row, device 1 is assembled.

[0084]. In a variant of the assembly method, the paving device 1 is completed with the assembly of the ramps 80.

[0085]. Transversally, on one side, the paving device 1 without ramps has a longitudinal succession of slots 16 of each paving element 2 with, on the opposite side, a longitudinal succession of protrusions 14.

[0086]. On the side with the slots 16 of the elements 2, the protrusion 84 of each ramp 80 is inclined and inserted into the respective slot 16 of the elements 2.

[0087]. With the rotation of said ramp, a rotation which lays said ramp 80 on the ground, said ramp 80 hooks up to the elements 2.

[0088]. On the side with the protrusions 14 of the elements 2, said elements are associated with the adapter profile piece 90, thus creating a succession of slots 92 on this side.

[0089]. Then, the protrusion 84 of each ramp 80 is inclined and inserted into the respective slot 92 of the adapter elements 90.

[0090]. With the rotation of said ramp, a rotation which lays said ramp 80 on the ground, said ramp 80 hooks up to the adapter elements 90 and then to the paving elements 2.

[0091]. The paving elements, ramps, profile pieces, plates and adapter elements are preferably made of metallic material, such as aluminium. In particular, said components are made of aluminium alloy, in particular a 6000 series alloy.

[0092]. The components of the paving device are preferably manufactured using the extrusion technique.

[0093]. In use, the device has a mechanism to discharge the concentrated actions which enables the discharge of said actions onto the elements next to the element under stress.

[0094]. In particular, assuming that a single paving element is subject to a concentrated action, due for example to the presence of the wheel of an aeroplane, the protrusion-slot (tongue-groove) combination enables distribution of the action to the neighbouring elements.

[0095]. At the same time, the coupling of the profile pieces enables the distribution of said action to the neighbouring longitudinal elements.

[0096]. In particular, the plate inserted between the

profile pieces enables the distribution of this action to the next longitudinal element, even when the element under stress is the one coupled to the profile piece with the element with the cavity facing upwards.

[0097]. In this case, the action concentrated on the element lowers the discharge wall 40 of the profile piece 30, influencing the plate 90, which in turn influences the foot 62 of the coupled profile piece 50.

[0098]. Furthermore, in use, the paving device 1 adapts to suit the shape of the ground, inasmuch as the longitudinal joints and transversal joints enable rotation between said elements.

[0099]. Unusually, the paving device invented, especially for airports, is suitable for supporting vehicles such as aeroplanes, helicopters, lorries and suchlike which, as well as being quick to assemble and disassemble, is easy to make.

[00100]. An advantage of the device consists in discharging concentrated actions to the neighbouring elements, both longitudinally and transversally.

[00101]. Another advantage is that the longitudinal and transversal joints enable adaptation of the paving device to the ground.

[00102]. Also advantageous are the chamfers on the

profile pieces and the elements at the ends enable quick insertion of the plate and easy access to the same for disassembling the device.

[00103]. It is clear that a technician in the sector could make numerous variations and changes to the device described above, all of which however are protected by that stated in the following claims.