Abstract: Discloses methods and apparatus for use with road construction equipment and apparatus (such as, for example, pavers, road millers and cutters, graders, and the like) including sensing apparatus for sensing and determining a selected edge of an existing pavement structure and controlling the road construction equipment or apparatus (or an element of such equipment or apparatus) in a desired manner with respect to such selected edge.

Abstract: Obtainment of specific asphalt paving densities during roadbed repair by preshaping hot mat top surfaces concurrent with or/and prior to compaction. Like a shaped munition, a preshaped top surface on recently laid hot asphalt mat transmits surface compacting forces in precalculated directions and carries therewith asphaltic materials so as to obtain desired finished paving densities. A conventional strike off bar is modified with base indentations which partially and wholly, according to desired specifications, grade or top dress hot asphaltic mat with desired, force-transmitting shaped planes. Adjunct apparatus is employed by way of translating and rotating plates to partially or wholly cover the indentations so as to effect various, but differing, desired shapes; such adjunct apparatus includes a unique, edge and rut compaction shoe.

Abstract: Discloses apparatus and methods for providing a longitudinal joint between a cold (previously laid) and a hot (freshly laid) mat of paving material, such as asphalt, and wherein after the rolling of the paving material the joint region between the cold and the hot mats is of a high and substantially uniform density. To this end, there is provided a quantity of additional fresh (hot) paving material formed into a shaped charge and disposed adjacent the edge of the cold mat section. The quantity of additional fresh paving material contained in the shaped charge and the configuration of the shaped charge are made such that after appropriate rolling of the paving material, the lateral and transverse compaction forces generated force sufficient fresh paving material into the joint region between the cold and hot mat sections to bring the density of the paving material in such joint region to substantially the specified density and substantially the same as that of the cold and hot mat sections.

Abstract: Obtainment of and control of specific asphalt paving densities during roadbed repair by preshaping hot mat top surfaces prior to compaction. Like a shaped munition charge, a preshaped top surface on recently laid hot asphalt mat transmits compaction forces in precalculable directions and carries therewith asphaltic materials so as to obtain desired finished paving densities. A conventional strike off bar is modified with base margin indentations which partially and wholely, according to desired specifications, grade or top dress hot asphaltic mat with desired, force-transmitting planes. Adjunct apparatus is employed by way of translating and rotating plates to partially or wholely cover the indentations so as to effect various, but differing, desired mat surface shapes. An improvement to the conventional vibrating screed is also employed to shape the initial asphaltic mat shape while simultaneously tamping the shape gradually into its desired and compacted final form.