Abstract: An apparatus and method have been developed for protecting a hose or other utility conduit from damage caused by traffic crossing over such conduits. Substantially rectangular ramp units with covered conduit channels are interlocked to form an elongate safety ramp with a channel running the length of the ramp for receiving a conduit. The ramp units are interlocked to form a linear or branched safety ramp.

Abstract: A selectively retractable and extendable electronically controlled vehicle speed bump mounted in a street, road or roadway for controlling the speed of vehicles includes a sensor for detecting or sensing vehicle speed, a microprocessor responsive to the sensor for generating a signal to activate the speed bump, and an actuator for extending and retracting the speed bump.

Abstract: A safety net assembly and system is provided which includes at least two rods having attaching brackets at their ends. The brackets may be engaged over ledges in a frame that defines an opening over a subterranean work place. A net or webbing is slideably engaged on the rods, so that it may be opened for access and spread to cover the opening, to prevent a person from falling through the opening when the assembly or system is in place. Where there are insets in the ledges, the assembly or system may be left in place without interfering with the placement of a normal cover for the opening.

Abstract: A scarifier comprises a plurality of supported, downwardly depending, axially secured scarifying teeth supported on a scarifying-tooth supporting frame connected in loose fitting relation to a tractor to thereby operatively impart a first component of lateral play at respective scarifying tip ends. The frame also includes a bracket engaging respective shank portions of the scarifying teeth en axially secured relation with sufficient degrees of lateral freedom to provide a second component of lateral play to spaced apart scarifying points of respective ones of those teeth.

Abstract: The swing bridge for the spanning of watercourses, defined by a first bank and by a second bank on which there are tracts of road surface, is constituted by a first mobile plane restable, at its first end on the said first bank and is supported, at its other end in proximity to the said second bank with possibility of free rotation about its vertical axis passing through its own longitudinal axis of symmetry and defined by a vertical hinge pivot; the second end of the said mobile plane being hinged about its horizontal transversal axis to the said hinge pivot and having hinged to itself a connecting plane of the mobile plane with the second bank; between the mobile plane and the connecting plane there being envisaged movement organs of the said connecting plane and the mobile plane bearing inferiorly at least one floating hollow body with adjustable trim which raises or lowers the said first end and nautical propulsion organs which move the said mobile plane in rotation about the said hinge pivot after the sa

Abstract: The bridge includes a plurality of foldable portions or modules (M) interconnectible releasably in sequence longitudinally. Each module (M) includes a central deck member (9) and two lateral deck members (10, 11) articulated to opposite sides of the central deck member (9). Respective longitudinal beams (13-16) extend from the lower faces of the lateral deck members (10, 11) and, together with the homologous beams of the other modules (M), constitute the load-bearing trusses of the bridge in its condition of use.Conveniently, the bridge is constructed by a method of assembly which provides for the use of a load-bearing assembly structure or forestarling (S). This load-bearing assembly structure (S) is assembled in a position of assembly on a first side (B.sub.1) of the gap (R) to be spanned by the bridge and is then advanced until it reaches the other side (B.sub.2) of the gap.

Abstract: Heat exchange tubes are mounted on the upper face of the sole plates of the main screed and screed extenders on an asphalt paving machine. Hot oil is circulated through the heat exchange tubes to preheat the sole plates. The heating system for the oil includes a pressure drop across a flow restrictor. The heating oil is pressurized by a pump driven by a hydraulic motor supplied with pressurized oil in a second hydraulic circuit from the tractor of the paver. This second circuit is also used to operated the vibratory mechanisms on the screeds after the screeds are preheated.

Abstract: A method for constructing an asphalted road having a heating pipe laid thereunder, which comprises laying wire netting on a roadbed, placing a heating plastic pipe on the wire netting, fixing the pipe thereto and depositing asphalt concrete thereon, characterized by that a cooling medium is allowed to flow in the plastic pipe laid on the roadbed, and asphalt concrete is deposited while the inside of the plastic pipe is kept under a pressurized condition of 0.05 to 5 kg/cm.sup.2 by the cooling medium.

Abstract: A one-way snowplowable pavement marker having an auxiliary ramp at the front of a body portion connecting the spaced first and second primary ramps for supporting a snowplow blade tip when the tip is at angle up to 60.degree. from a line perpendicular to the direction of travel to protect a reflector in the marker. A cast-in-place shelf is formed behind the reflector for supporting the blade tip before and after it leaves the auxiliary ramp to prevent the reflector from being contacted by the snowplow blade.

Abstract: A method of constructing a paved surface such as a roadway in which piles (8) are placed in the ground (G) and preformed slabs (4) are laid over the piles (8) to form a continuous paved surface. The preformed slabs (4) may be short in length and may be supported at opposite ends by separate beams (6) which comprise the pile caps. In a preferred embodiment, suitable for the construction of an elevated roadway, the method further comprises the steps of supporting preformed structural elements 5, 15 on the piles 8 and supporting the preformed slabs 4 on the preformed structural element 5, 15. The preformed structural elements 5, 15 may be shaped so as to provide an open work structure. Preferably, the preformed structural elements 5, 15 comprise substantially V-shaped channels which are laid with their longitudinal axes at right angles to the longitudinal centrelines of the roadway 2, and with their flanges 14 directed downwards.

Abstract: A mobile transfer and transport vehicle is adapted to move a barrier system, having a plurality of pivotally interconnected and closely spaced modules, on a roadway or the like. The vehicle includes a conveyor having series of guide and support rollers for engaging, supporting, lifting and transferring the barrier system from a first side of the vehicle to a second side thereof. A drive system is mounted on the conveyor for frictionally engaging the modules to either pull or retard movement of the modules through the conveyor. The drive system aids in maintaining proper spacing between the modules, particularly when they are moved on a curved roadway.

Abstract: A cargo ramp for an aircraft is constructed of two segments which are hinged together so that they may articulate about the ramp pitch axis. The first of the two segments is hinged to the cargo bed of the aircraft so that it may articulate relative to the cargo bed, again in pitch. The second segment abuts a surface to or from which cargo is to be transferred. The hinged ramp permits straight-across loading and unloading of cargo onto vehicles which have cargo bed heights different than the cargo bed height of the aircraft. In a modified embodiment, the ramp also compensates for a differential roll angle between the second ramp segment and the vehicle cargo bed. In this embodiment, the hinge connection between the two ramp segments permits relative motion of the second segment with respect to the first segment about its roll axis, as well as in pitch.

Abstract: A security transfer device (1) for mounting on a side wall of a building such as a bank, for example, for transferring valuables between a vehicle and the building includes a duct (2) slidably mounted in a housing (3) secured in a wall (23) of the building and movable between a retracted stored position within the housing (3) and an extended in-use position projecting outwardly of the housing (3). A releasable ratchet mechanism (4) extends between the duct (2) and housing (3) . When engaged the ratchet mechanism only permits outward movement of the duct (2), thus preventing the duct (2) from being pushed back into the housing from outside the building. A lockable door (12) closes an inner end of the housing (3). The duct (2) is also closed at it's rear end (19) by a lockable security door (20).

Abstract: The embeddable paving block intended for surfacing roadways and other areas of ground, of the type including four identical arms disposed at right-angles to one another, each of the arms having shoulders distributed over the lateral faces and the ends of each of these arms, the shoulders being disposed to overlap in the plane of the surfacing the corresponding shoulders on the adjacent blocks in order to prevent the plane from opening up under the effect of any traction and in order to ensure a constant thickness of the joints.

Abstract: A mobile transfer and transport vehicle is adapted to move a barrier system, having a plurality of interconnected and closely spaced modules, on a roadway or the like. The vehicle includes a conveyor having series of guide and support rollers for engaging, supporting, lifting and transferring the barrier system from a first side of said vehicle to a second side thereof. At least some of the rollers are spring-biased into engagement with the modules when they move through curved portions of a serpentine-like transfer path through the conveyor.

Abstract: Method of constructing a cable-stayed bridge whose deck (1) is composed of wo parallel series of voussoirs connected together by connecting members known as deltas (7) which carry at their top part (8) the anchorage points for the cable stays (12). When they are placed in position the bottom parts (9) of the successive deltas are fastened to rigid filling members (14), and auxiliary prestressing cables (13) are preferably installed which connect the top part (8) of a delta to the bottom part (9) of the following delta (7), said cables being approximately in line with the cable stays.

Abstract: A lane marker which is attached to the surface of a road to define the boundary between two lanes, and which is adapted to receive light from the headlights of a rear one of two vehicles traveling in the same direction on the road and direct a portion of that light forwardly from the marker for viewing from the forward vehicle, to indicate to the driver of the forward vehicle the position of the rear vehicle with respect to the marker. The device includes a prism or other light directing unit or assembly acting by refraction and/or reflection to aim the light forwardly within a preferably limited angle assuring sufficient intensity of the light for effective viewing by the driver of the forward vehicle. The device may also reflect some of the light back to the trailing vehicle for viewing by its driver.

Abstract: A riding trowel used for concrete finishing includes a dolly wheel lifting system. The lifting system elevates the trowel out of contact with the concrete surface when transporting, adjusting, or maintenancing the trowel. The trowel comprises a rigid metallic frame normally offset from the concrete surface to be finished by a pair of downwardly projecting, bladed rotors. A pair of primary steering control levers is linked to the rotors beneath the frame for trowel operation. Each rotor assembly comprises a rotatable blade assembly depending downwardly into contact with the concrete surface. The wheel system comprises a cooperating pair of spaced apart, dolly wheel assemblies which are removably fitted to the front and back of the frame, so that the trowel may be pushed around for loading and unloading purposes in directions generally coincident with its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A marker formed of an elongate member of resilient and flexible material having two bends located between the ends of the member. One bend is relatively sharp, and extends to the rear of the marker, and the other bend is more gradual and extends upwardly in the marker. The marker in use has one end embedded in the ground, and the more gradual bend enables the marker to flatten out with a vehicle wheel driven over its marker. This reduces damage to the marker.

Abstract: A road surface treating apparatus including a wheel-supported framework having forwardly extending arms pivotally carried thereon. The arms have a transversely extending tool bar mounted to their forward ends. A tool-supporting frame is detachably and adjustably mounted on the tool bar. A cutter drum housing is pivotally mounted on the tool-supporting frame for floating pivotation about a horizontally extending, fore-and-aft axis to facilitate side-to-side rocking movement of the drum housing. A cutter drum is rotatably mounted in the housing and carries circumferentially spaced rows of cutter blades each mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. A pair of horizontally spaced, shock absorber units is connected between the housing and tool-supporting frame to damp and smooth the side-to-side rocking movement of the housing and the cutter drum mounted therein.