Road structure – process – or apparatus – Apparatus – With surface marking
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-08
2001-01-16
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Apparatus
With surface marking
C404S083000, C404S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174104
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to highway repair equipment. In the repair of highways, it is often necessary to close lanes of a highway and reroute traffic onto other lanes to permit the closed lanes to be repaired. When this is done, it is common practice to warn motorists, not only by the posting of appropriate signage, but also by remarking the lane boundaries. Because the remarking of lane boundaries is temporary, it is not desirable to remark the lane boundaries with paint or any other type of relatively more permanent marking. Reflective or other types of high visibility tape have become the lane boundary marking of choice for many types of highway repair projects. This tape can then be removed from the repaired section of highway after the repair is complete and discarded. Until now, the removal of the tape has been performed manually, with the repair crew walking the section of repaired highway and pulling the temporary marking tape up in short sections. This is time consuming and labor intensive. It is an object of the invention to provide a less labor intensive and quicker way to remove temporary highway marking tape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, an apparatus for removing marking tape from a road comprises a first roller configured to engage the tape to remove the tape from the road as the roller is rotated.
Illustratively according to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a drive mechanism coupled to the first roller to rotate the first roller.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the drive mechanism comprises a second roller configured to engage the road so that rotation of the second roller along the road causes rotation of the first roller.
Additionally illustratively according to the invention, the apparatus comprises a mechanism for permitting adjustment of the downward force of the second roller on the road.
Illustratively according to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a third roller positioned to define between the first roller and the third roller a space. The tape extends into the space and is engaged by the first and third rollers.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the apparatus comprises a mast for supporting the first roller.
Additionally illustratively according to the invention, the mast includes a center section and a lower section movably coupled to the center section and having a non-use orientation and a use orientation with respect to the center section. The lower section extends from the center section toward the road when in the use orientation. The first roller is coupled to the lower section.
Illustratively according to the invention, the center section and the lower section are pivotally coupled.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the lower section is movable to position the lower section in a non-use orientation on top of the center section.
Additionally illustratively according to the invention, the mast further includes an upper section movably coupled to the center section and having a non-use orientation and a use orientation with respect to the center section. The upper section extends from the center section in a direction generally opposite the lower section when both the lower section and the upper section are in use orientations.
Illustratively according to the invention, the center section and the upper section are pivotally coupled.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the upper section is movable about the pivot to position the upper section in a non-use orientation on top of the center section.
Additionally illustratively according to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a road frame for supporting the mast. The mast is coupled to the road frame.
Illustratively according to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a carriage for movably supporting the mast from the road frame.
Further illustratively according to the invention, one of the carriage and the road frame includes a fourth roller configured to permit the carriage to move transversely relative to the road frame.
Additionally illustratively according to the invention, one of the carriage and the road frame includes a track. The fourth roller rides along the track.
Illustratively according to the invention, one of the carriage and the road frame includes at least one stop to limit the travel of the carriage relative to the road frame.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the road frame includes a pair of road wheels to permit travel of the road frame.
Additionally illustratively according to the invention, the carriage further includes a motor coupled to the carriage to move the carriage relative to the road frame.
Illustratively according to the invention, the mast is movably coupled to the carriage.
Further illustratively according to the invention, the apparatus comprises a motor coupled to the mast and the carriage to move the mast relative to the carriage.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3740297 (1973-06-01), Vidinsky
patent: 4030958 (1977-06-01), Stenemann
patent: 4242173 (1980-12-01), Stenemann
patent: 4317696 (1982-03-01), Hutchinson et al.
patent: 4796711 (1989-01-01), Chrysler
patent: 5236051 (1993-08-01), Sawyer et al.
patent: 5452652 (1995-09-01), Brooks
patent: 5772359 (1998-06-01), Marty
patent: 6029729 (2000-02-01), Sieber et al.
Barnes & Thornburg
Hartmann Gary S.
Lillis Eileen D.
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