Road structure – process – or apparatus – Apparatus – With means for in situ material preparation – e.g. – mixing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-04-10
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Apparatus
With means for in situ material preparation, e.g., mixing
C404S093000, C404S094000, C404S107000, C404S108000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213680
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for pavement marking and, in particular, to apparatus and methods for forming long-lasting pavement marking by filling a groove in the pavement with marking grout.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, most concrete or asphalt pavements are painted or taped to form pavement markings, such as lane striping, turn arrows, etc. Due to poor wear resistance, these methods necessitate frequent renewal by reapplying the tape or re-painting the marking at considerable expense and effort.
Another method for marking pavements is to permanently attach a reflective element to the pavement. Because these reflectors typically protrude significantly above the surface of the pavement, they can not be used in areas where snow removal is required. Such protruding elements also disrupt the flat surface of the pavement.
Still another method involves creating an indentation on a soft concrete road surface, filling the indentation with white mortar and finishing the surface to provide pavement stripes or other marks.
In spite of these methods, there remains a need for an apparatus and a method for providing a long-lasting pavement marking. It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus which are efficient, and involve a minimal amount of manual labor. It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for forming pavement markings which are highly mechanized and automated. It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for forming pavement markings which include feedback control of various operations. It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for forming pavement markings which are relatively quick in that a high amount of marking can be formed in a limited amount of time. It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for forming pavement markings which are long lasting relative to paint and tape. It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for forming pavement markings on a formed surface, such as cured concrete or compacted asphalt. It would advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for forming pavement markings which are applicable under various weather conditions. It would be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for forming pavement markings which results in a relatively smooth pavement surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming long-lasting pavement markings. In particular, the present invention provides a pavement groove filling method and apparatus which can be used for forming long-lasting markings on pavement.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a grout dispensing apparatus is provided. The grout dispensing apparatus includes a grout hopper for storing grout, an material gate having open and closed positions operatively connected to the grout hopper for dispensing the grout from the grout hopper into a pavement groove when the material gate is in the open position, a side form for confining the grout substantially within the side boundaries of the pavement groove, and a strike-off pan for leveling the grout in the pavement groove.
In preferred embodiments, the grout dispensing apparatus can include one or more of the following:
a grout-hopper vibrator for vibrating the grout hopper;
a grout-hopper grout agitator for maintaining homogeneity of the grout in the grout hopper;
a smoothing plate for smoothing the grout surface in the pavement groove;
a smoothing-plate vibrator operatively connected to the smoothing plate for vibrating the smoothing plate;
a visibility-enhancing agent application device for spraying and/or embedding a visibility-enhancing agent on the grout surface in the pavement groove;
a grout-surface air spray device for removing non-embedded visibility-enhancing agent from the grout surface in the pavement groove;
a curing-agent application device for spraying a curing agent onto the grout surface in the pavement groove;
a rollable support system having a longitudinal and/or transversal suspension system;
a lifting mechanism for lifting the grout dispensing apparatus off from a pavement surface and returning the apparatus to the pavement surface; and/or
a guiding device for guiding the grout dispensing apparatus into a proper position to fill the pavement groove.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a grout preparation apparatus is provided. The grout preparation apparatus includes a product hopper for storing a dry particulate material, a product dispensing device for dispensing at least a portion of the dry particulate material from the product hopper, a grout mixer operatively connected to the product-dispensing device for mixing the dry particulate material with a liquid to produce the grout, and a surge hopper operatively connected to the grout mixer for storing the grout. Preferably, the grout preparation apparatus is operatively connected with a grout dispensing apparatus.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the grout preparation apparatus can include one or more of the following:
a product-hopper vibrator for vibrating the product hopper;
a product-hopper air pad located in the interior of the product hopper for providing air flow into the product hopper to reduce the amount of agglomeration formation by the dry particulate material;
a product temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the dry particulate material;
a product heater operatively connected to the product temperature sensor for heating the dry particulate material;
a product dispensing device in the form of an auger;
a liquid storage device operatively connected to the grout mixer for storing liquid;
a liquid inlet operatively connected to the liquid storage device for supplying liquid to the grout mixer;
a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage device;
a liquid heater operatively connected to the liquid temperature sensor for heating the liquid;
a surge-hopper grout agitator for maintaining homogeneity of the grout in the surge hopper;
a surge-hopper grout level sensor, wherein the surge-hopper grout level sensor is operatively connected to the grout mixer for controlling the production of grout; and/or
an ultrasonic surge-hopper grout level sensor.
Preferably, the grout preparation apparatus further includes a grout dispensing device for dispensing the grout from the surge hopper to the grout hopper of a grout dispensing apparatus. The grout dispensing device can be a peristaltic pump. The grout hopper can include a grout-hopper grout level sensor operatively connected to the grout dispensing device for controlling the grout dispensing device. The grout preparation apparatus and/or the grout dispensing apparatus can further include a groove clearing air spray device for clearing the pavement groove of debris and/or a mist spray device for spraying water mist into the pavement groove.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a self-propulsion device is provided. The self-propulsion device includes an engine for self-propulsion, a control panel operatively connected to the engine, a swing arm, wherein the swing arm allows placement of the control panel on the right side or the left side of the self-propulsion device, and a grout dispensing apparatus and/or a grout preparation apparatus.
Preferably, the self-propulsion device includes a speed control dial for controlling the speed of the self-propulsion device and/or a steering device for controlling the direction of travel of the self-propulsion device.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for making a long-lasting pavement marking is provided. The method includes the steps of removing a portion of the pavement to create a pavement groove, placing grout in the pavement groove, leveling the grout in the pavement groove to substantially the same level as the pavement, and embedding a visibility-enhancing agent in the grout. Preferably, the pavement groove is
Crosby Jack L.
Edwards John L.
Huffman Brian D.
Randall Roger D.
Schaeffer James Kenyon
Hartmann Gary S.
Interstate Highway Construction
Lillis Eileen D.
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
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