Abstract: Method for forming a retro reflective traffic regulating road surface marking and roadable areas produced therewith.

Abstract: In a speed reducer, a reaction sun is fixed to a frame and an output sun is coaxial with the reaction sun. An idler carrier assembly, rotatable about the common axis of the two suns, carries a planet shaft supporting a reaction planet and an output planet for conjoint rotation and in radial alignment, respectively, with the reaction sun and the output sun. Rotation of the idler carrier assembly effects orbiting of the planet shaft and its planets about the common axis of the suns. Endless loop force-transmitting elements connect corresponding suns and planets. Rotary input power is applied to the planet shaft effecting conjoint rotation of the planets and orbiting of the planets about the suns' axis. The epicyclic motion of the output planet effects rotation of the output sun.

Abstract: Self-propelled pavement patching apparatus is provided and includes a backhoe whose bucket has teeth and a cutting blade at opposite ends thereof and screeding edges underneath, another patch material distributing and screeding device mounted on the apparatus for movement therewith, a hopper for dispensing patch material to a conveyor for selective delivery of patch material to the backhoe or the screeding device. The apparatus is tricycle-type having two wheels at the outside and a third wheel for driving and steering. A roller adjacent one side wheel provides for compacting patching material over pavement defects, and the roller is lowered to raise that wheel from the pavement to form an outrigger corresponding to a conventional outrigger foot adjacent the other outside wheel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of bridge erection i.e., an arrangement for erecting a bridge girder. More particularly, it is concerned with an erection method, in which a bridge girder is smoothly extruded, together with a movable member, on a temporary support member which is disposed on an upper shoe until the girder reaches a position near the installation position, whereupon a coupling member for connecting the upper shoe with a sole plate which is pre-fixed to the girder, is attached to the sole plate, then in this condition the girder is again moved forward up to the installation position while pushing the end portion of the temporary support member on the upper shoe by the coupling member so as to displace the temporary support member and the movable member by the coupling member, whereby the bridge girder and the support structure are fixed in engagement with each other without the need to lift the bridge girder.

Abstract: A spreader/grader is attachable to a three-point hitch associated with a tractor and includes a pair of curved cutting blades which are adjustable so as to control cutting depth. The cutting blades are mounted between a pair of side runners and include curved cutting edges to facilitate spreading or grading operations. The positioning of the blades is variable both with respect to cutting depth and to angular orientation with the surface being graded through the use of hydraulic ram adjustment mechanisms provided at respective ends of the blades. Both blades may be attached to the spreader/grader so as to present cutting edges directed in the same direction and their respective cutting depths may be varied from each other through the use of the hydraulic ram adjustment mechanisms, or alternatively, one or both of the blades may be positioned with their cutting edges reversely directed from the direction of forward movement of the pulling tractor so as to provide a grading or feathering operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for the setting of paving blocks includes a movable chassis, an outrigger arm mounted on the chassis for heightwise adjustment, and grab tong devices suspended from the outrigger arm, the grab tong devices each being operable to grip a group of paving blocks laterally. Each of the grab tong devices has opposed jaws, one of which is fixedly mounted and the other of which is movably mounted, and linkage means are provided to operably mount the movable jaw such that upon suspension of the grab tong device from the outrigger arm with paving blocks disposed between the opposed jaws, the linkage means is operable to effect a clamping action on the paving blocks to thereby provide for lifting of the paving blocks with the clamping force being proportional to the weight being lifted.

Abstract: A concrete vibrator machine movable longitudinally of a roadway, or the like, with a vibrator unit movable back and forth transversely of the roadway, with the vibrator mechanism thereof disposed in the concrete to be vibrated, and with the vibrator mechanism being raisable and lowerable relative to the concrete to be vibrated.

Abstract: A rocker-sliding bearing for bridges or similar structures and a method of lining the concave top side surface of a curved baseplate of a rocker-slider bearing wherein the rocker-slider bearing includes a flat top plate, an intermediate plate having a flat top side and a convex curved underside surface, a bedplate and a baseplate having a correspondingly concave curved top side surface in turn secured to the bedplate, the curved surface on the top of the baseplate including a lining of corrosion-resistant material and the curved surface of the intermediate plate including a lining with a low coefficient of friction relative to the highly corrosion-resistant material on the curved surface of the baseplate wherein the lining on the curved surface of the baseplate includes a preformed curved disc positioned on the baseplate and secured to the concave top side thereof.

Abstract: A motor powered rotary trowel employs a plurality of radially arranged trowel blades which can be adjustably tilted on their support arms in either direction and are mounted on a drive shaft which can be driven in either direction thereby enabling the weight of the trowel to be selectively supported on the edges on one side or the other of the trowel blades. In an alternative embodiment, selected parts of the trowel are arranged to fold to facilitate transport.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method, system and means for controlling or conveying away liquids or moisture that may permeate or penetrate asphalt-surfaced roadways, pavements, bridge deck constructions and the like and includes a membrane or membrane construction functioning as a moisture or liquid barrier or control means disposed between a roadway, pavement or bridge deck wear surface layer and a concrete substrate for retarding, resisting or preventing deterioration of roadways, pavements, bridge deck constructions and the like.

Abstract: A passenger loading bridge includes a ground level rotunda, a tunnel support vertically pivoted thereto, an elevated tunnel horizontally pivoted to the support, a drive assembly horizontally pivoted to the tunnel outer end and rigidly mounting a detachable aircraft engaging cab. Stairs are located in the tunnel support. The drive assembly swings and elevates the tunnel, while a parallelogram linkage assures that the cab is level at all elevations. The cab is offset 45.degree. to the tunnel axis and has extension and rotation capabilities. The tunnel features a load bearing floor support and walls and a roof of curtain wall construction.

Abstract: An elongated plate of elastomeric material is provided with anchoring means along its side edges for fixedly connecting the same to the sections of the road bed on opposite sides of the gap. Spring means are embedded within the plate transverse to the longitudinal axis and secured at its ends to the respective anchoring means so as to be expanded and/or contracted corresponding to the movement of the road section. The spring means preferably comprise helically wound coils spaced in parallel to each other, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plate.

Abstract: In constructing a stayed girder bridge, the end abutments and intermediate permanent bridge supports are built in place. The stiffening girder is formed of reinforced concrete or prestressed concrete and is built in sections at a location adjacent one of the abutments. As each section is built, it is connected to the previously produced sections by the reinforcing used, and the stiffening girder is moved from the one abutment toward the other by the length of the sections. When the girder reaches the other end abutment, a reinforced concrete tower is constructed upwardly from the girder at a location spaced from the abutments. A pair of stays are constructed of prestressed concrete each secured at one end to the other part of the tower. From the tower each stay extends in an opposite direction diagonally downwardly to and is secured to the stiffening girder.

Abstract: Asphalt roads or the like are repaved by heating and decomposing existing pavement with microwave energy and then remixing and recompacting the constituents of the pavement, the operations being performed at the original location of the old pavement and in some cases without removing the pavement constituents from the roadbed itself. A microwave energy applicator may be traveled along the pavement in front of remixing, grading and compacting equipment or some or all of the equipment may be integrated into a self-propelled vehicle. The vehicle may carry a microwave applicator followed by remixing means such as rotary tillers or the like and grading and compaction devices, and may travel continuously down a road which is reconditioned as the vehicle progresses. Motor generator sets on the vehicle power the microwave sources and the hot exhaust from the motors may be directed to the pavement to supplement the microwave heating and to maintain high temperatures during the additional operations.

Abstract: A transportable bridge unit has bridge spans located side-by-side and held apart with a space between the spans by crosspieces which include spars connected heightwise to the bridge spans and to a central transverse web in a manner that enables the spans to change their positions relative to each other. According to a preferred embodiment, holders are provided for interconnection of the transverse web with the spars connected to the bridge spans into which connecting pins are insertable. By removal of both pins, the bridge spans can be disconnected from the transverse web and carried adjacent one another on a transporting vehicle, while removal of only the upper one of the connecting pins from its receiving holder enables the spans to pivot about the lower connecting pin so that the spans can be folded downwardly relative to the transverse web against one another so as to be transportable in a connected condition that is reduced in its transverse extent relative to its operational width.

Abstract: An improved driving control and wheel position indicator for an extendible and retractable passenger conveyance loading ramp of the type having one end mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and the other end supported on an undercarriage having steerable, driven ground engaging wheels controlled from an operator's station in a vestibule mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on the movable end of the ramp. The system includes a wheel position indicator connected between the undercarriage and the movable vestibule including means for detecting the steered position of the ground engaging wheels and a visual display at the operator's station responsive to the wheel position detecting means for continuously indicating the true bearing of the ground engaging wheels regardless of the rotative position of the vestibule about its vertical pivot axis.

Abstract: Conveyance loading ramp has its inner end pivotally supported adjacent a building structure and the other end mounted on a mobile undercarriage having a pair of ground engaging wheels mounted one on each side of the ramp for rotation about a common horizontal axis. The undercarriage is supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis for steering and an improved hydraulic driving and steering system includes separate hydraulic motor connected in series to drive the wheels.

Abstract: A texturing broom apparatus for surface grooving freshly laid uncured concrete pavement comprising a traveling horizontal endless conveyor belt having a texturing broom, provided with a row of straight spring steel tines projecting from a base board in spaced apart side-by-side parallel relation, pivotally mounted on the conveyor belt for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane parallel to the direction of belt travel with the row of tines extending transversely across and outwardly from the belt and the tines disposed parallel to the longitudinal vertical plane of the belt. Spring means biases the pivoted broom forwardly of the direction of belt travel to a limiting idle position and the broom is supported on the belt in a position with its tines in a trailing working position disposed above and at a shallow working angle of less than about 20.degree.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for abrading and recoating road pavements by peeling or milling the road pavement surface which is to be renewed and coating it again, wherein the milled-off material is collected, heated, if desired, and mixed with aggregates, and is then applied as a new pavement. The apparatus for performing this method comprises a peeling or milling unit provided on a chassis, which is preferably automotive, a collector device for the peeled-off or milled-off material and, if desired, an additional road paver for the application of the new road pavement material, wherein in addition to said collector device a mixer is provided, in which the peeled-off or milled-off material may be mixed with the ingredients which are to be used for the renewed application.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive arrangement for a rotating unit designed to be driven by a main motor or an auxiliary motor. A shift clutch is provided for arresting an overriding clutch in both directions of rotation. In this way the torques emanating from the rotating unit can be held or suppressed.