PAVEMENT INTERFACE
Pavement interface (10) and method of creating a pavement interface. The pavement interface (10) includes a first section of pavement (12) having a zigzag-shaped trailing edge (12.1) and a second section of pavement (14) having a complemental zigzag-shaped leading edge (14.2) which abuts the trailing edge (12.1) of the first section of pavement (12). Thus, a boundary between the two sections (12, 14) of pavement is zigzag-shaped.
The invention relates generally to pavements or road surfaces, and specifically to a pavement interface.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONThe Inventor is aware that pavements are sometimes required to transition from one surface to another. For instance, in pavement re-surfacing, the pavement may transition from the old surface to the new surface (or vice versa). Similarly, it is sometimes required to dig trenches in the pavement to lay cables or pipes. The trench is then re-surfaced.
The interface from one surface to another is almost always linear and usually perpendicular to a direction of traffic flow. This means that co-axial wheels of a vehicle will impact the interface simultaneously, resulting in a substantially instantaneous or impulsive impact. While the profile of the interface is as flat as possible to minimise this impact on the wheels, there is often still at least a small ridge or depression. This impact is noisy, and causes a shock both in the vehicle and the pavement, which is uncomfortable at best, and damaging to the pavement and/or vehicle at worst.
The Inventor desires a pavement interface which will overcome or at least alleviate the above mentioned drawbacks.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONAccordingly, the invention provides a pavement interface which includes:
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- a first section of pavement having a zigzag-shaped trailing edge; and
- a second section of pavement having a complemental zigzag-shaped leading edge which abuts the trailing edge of the first section of pavement,
such that a boundary between the two sections of pavement is zigzag-shaped.
“Zigzag” in the context of this specification includes sharp apices (e.g. saw-tooth) and rounded apices (e.g. sinusoidal or undulating), and truncated apices. Pavement is understood to include any paved surface and includes a paved road surface or runway, whether made of asphalt, concrete, or other.
The interface presents a staggered or oblique edge to oncoming traffic, thus rendering the impact with the second surface more gradual (rather than instantaneous). This gradual (or at least more gradual) impact allows impact forces to be distributed over a greater time, which reduces shock and reduces all the accompanying drawbacks of shock.
The boundary, as a whole, may be elongated and may be arranged to extend orthogonally to an intended direction of traffic flow. Rising or falling edges of the zigzag boundary may be inclined by less than 45° relative to the intended direction of traffic flow, and more specifically may be inclined by 5° to 20°. Some portions of the zigzag interface may even be parallel to the intended direction of traffic flow (i.e. inclined by 0°). Thus, each apex or tooth (formed by a pair of adjacent rising and falling edges) of the boundary may be defined by an acute angle (i.e. less than 90°) and more specifically 10° to 40°.
The boundary may be segmented. For example, if a portion of road needs to resurfaced and the portion spans multiple lanes, the boundary may be created one lane at a time. Each lane may include only two or three apices.
In one embodiment, the interface may be from one type of road surface to another, e.g. an older surface to a newer one, or an asphalt surface to a concrete surface.
In another embodiment, the interface may be as a result of a trench or furrow dug in an existing pavement (e.g. to lay cables or pipes), and re-surfaced. In such case, there may be two boundaries extending generally parallel to each other—one from the existing pavement to a re-surfaced strip and another from the re-surfaced strip back to the existing pavement.
In yet another embodiment, the interface may be as a result of repair work, e.g. pothole repair. In such case, there may again be two boundaries, both zigzag-shaped, one at each of the leading and trailing sides of the repaired pothole.
The invention extends to a method of creating a pavement interface, the method including:
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- creating, in a first section of pavement, a zigzag-shaped trailing edge; and
- creating, in a second section of pavement, a complemental zigzag-shaped leading edge which abuts the trailing edge of the first section of pavement,
thereby to create a zigzag-shaped boundary between the two sections of pavement.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
In the drawings:
Referring initially to
A trailing (or terminating) edge 12.1 of the first section of pavement 12 has a zigzag shape. Similarly, a leading edge 14.1 of the second section of pavement 14 has a complemental zigzag shape, and it abuts the trailing edge 12.1. Thus, a boundary 16 between the two sections of pavement 12, 14 is zigzag-shaped. The boundary 16 extends in a direction transverse to a direction of traffic flow (generally indicated by arrow 18).
Referring now also to
The Inventor believes that the invention as exemplified is advantageous in that it provides a pavement interface which yields a smoother transition from one pavement section to another. The smoother transition results in reduced noise, and reduced impact which can prolong the life of both vehicle suspension systems and pavements by reducing the possibility of the second section of pavement becoming damaged by vehicle wheel oscillations.
Claims
1. A pavement interface which includes: such that a boundary between the two sections of pavement is zigzag-shaped.
- a first section of pavement having a zigzag-shaped trailing edge; and
- a second section of pavement having a complemental zigzag-shaped leading edge which abuts the trailing edge of the first section of pavement,
2. A pavement interface as claimed in claim 1, in which rising or falling edges of the zigzag boundary are inclined by less than 45° relative to the intended direction of traffic flow.
3. A pavement interface as claimed in claim 2, in which the rising or falling edges are inclined by 5° to 20°.
4. A pavement interface as claimed in claim 3, in which each apex or tooth of the boundary is defined by an acute angle of 10° to 40°.
5. A pavement interface as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the boundary is segmented.
6. A pavement interface as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the boundary is from one type of road surface to another.
7. A pavement interface as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 inclusive, in which the interface is as a result of a trench or furrow dug in an existing pavement, and re-surfaced.
8. A pavement interface as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 inclusive, in which the interface is as a result of repair work.
9. A method of creating a pavement interface, the method including:
- creating, in a first section of pavement, a zigzag-shaped trailing edge; and
- creating, in a second section of pavement, a complemental zigzag-shaped leading edge which abuts the trailing edge of the first section of pavement, thereby to create a zigzag-shaped boundary between the two sections of pavement.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 2, 2012
Publication Date: Jan 16, 2014
Inventor: Desmond Hugh Oates (Kempton Park)
Application Number: 14/007,904
International Classification: E01C 11/02 (20060101);