Abstract: A dock leveler including a ramp is movable to a raised position by inflation of an inflatable member, such as an air bag assembly. One or more filler members are located within an internal cavity defined by the air bag assembly, to occupy void volume therein. The filler members expedite inflation of the bag assembly when an inflating device is operated to introduce air under pressure into the bag assembly. The filler members also function to maintain the bag assembly in an engaged condition with the underside of the ramp, and to prevent the air bag assembly from fully collapsing in order to prolong bag life.

Abstract: A road intersection comprising a main road having at least two traffic lanes in each direction and an inside and an outside lane in each direction having parallel center lines, and a secondary road having at least one traffic lane in each direction intersecting said main road. There is provided a traffic island in the intersection extending parallel to and disposed between the inside lanes of the main road so as to block the lanes of the secondary road. A pair of opposed detour roads is disposed on either side of the intersection, and each detour road is located vertically above or below the main road in a manner such that the land space lying vertically under each detour road is substantially within the boundaries of the land space lying vertically under the main road.

Abstract: An access pathway is provided as a device that may be temporarily or portably deployed for wheelchair users accompanied by an assistant. The device, which is a pathway that may be carried by the user or provided at a site when required, is installed in cooperation with a pre-existing anchor at the site, and may be subject to temporary loan, such as from a central community service provider or a library. A convenient and inexpensive system is thus provided that achieves wheelchair access in many circumstances.

Abstract: Drainage gutters for installation in the ground are known which comprise a gutter body at the upper edges of which are integrally cast frames into which a cover can be placed. As they are installed in the ground the drainage gutters are sealed from the ground along their upper edges by means of first sealing devices. To produce a watertight seal between each two drainage gutters that abut one another by their end faces, second sealing devices are provided. These sealing devices each comprise grooves that can be filled with a sealant. The known drainage gutters are not completely watertight with respect to the ground. It is proposed to provide connecting channels between the first and the second grooves, so constructed that the sealant of the first sealing devices can be introduced so as to be continuous with the sealant of the second sealing devices by way of a complete or integral transition region.

Abstract: Retroreflective glass or plastic beads have fluorescent properties when irradiated with ultraviolet light and are emplaced in signs in patterns indicative of alphanumeric characters, or embedded in a hot melt comprising road stripes or embedded in the road asphalt or aggregate during construction of the road, to provide effectively bright and clear indications of signs or the extent and direction of the road. The glass beads comprise spherodized soda lime, borosilicate, phosphosilicate or aluminosilicate glasses with low levels of rare-earth dopants mixed therein, such as compounds containing one of the rare earths, or lanthanides. The plastic beads may have fluorescent materials mixed therein, typically organic pigments or dyes based on coumarin and rhodamine or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stress absorbing composite for road repair that comprises a low stiffness geotextile, a viscoelastic material disposed over the low stiffness geotextile, and a high stiffness geotextile disposed over the viscoelastic material. Also provided is a method for retarding reflective cracking in an overlay using a stress absorbing composite and a repaired road containing a stress absorbing composite.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a traffic stripe having improved reflectivity includes a vehicle having an apparatus for applying the traffic stripe, an applying assembly for dispersing a reflective material over the traffic stripe, another applying apparatus for applying an anti-adhesion agent, and a deformation apparatus disposed rearward thereof for forming interval grooves in the traffic stripe. The application of the anti-adhesion agent directly onto the traffic stripe or onto the deformation apparatus prevents the freshly applied traffic stripe from lifting off the road surface and adhering to the deformation apparatus.

Abstract: An improved screed control device includes two pairs of interacting cylindrical surfaces for controlling the "angle of attack" or elevation of a screed of a paver, a first pair of the two pairs of interacting surfaces having either right-hand or left-hand threads and the other pair of interacting surfaces having threads with handedness opposite from that of the first pair. A reversing pin is adapted to selectively maintain one pair of the two pairs of interacting surfaces stationary relative to each other as a hand-crank arrangement operationally causes the other pair to threadably interact. Handedness of the control device is accomplished by moving the reversing pin to a different set of co-linearly aligned apertures such that the threadably interacting pair of the two pairs of interacting surfaces are caused to become stationary relative to each other and the stationary pair to become threadably interacting relative to each other.

Abstract: A motorized retractable speed bump or warning device wherein the raising and lowering of the retractile is controlled by multiple remote means from signals generated by traffic conditions. The motorized retractable speed bump, wherein a retractile comprising of bi-folding hinged plates, which are elevated to present a visible obstruction to motor vehicles, and a position restraining device, operated by rotary and or linear motor drive means, by on/off manual push button switching, or through a series of Programmable Logic Controllers, by way of analog or digital signals emanating from permanently mounted speed detecting devices.

Abstract: A bridge laying apparatus for longitudinally displacing a bridge section includes a pinion shaft; a pinion secured to the pinion shaft for moving with the pinion shaft as a unit; a bearing rotatably and axially slidably supporting the pinion shaft; and a hydraulic power cylinder unit. The power cylinder unit includes a cylinder coaxially surrounding the pinion shaft and defining a cylinder chamber; and a hollow piston axially slidably accommodated in the cylinder chamber and being axially driven by a pressure prevailing in the cylinder chamber. The hollow piston surrounds the pinion shaft. There is further provided a coupling arrangement connecting the hollow piston with the pinion shaft for axially displacing the pinion shaft and the pinion into an axially advanced and into an axially withdrawn position.

Abstract: A portable barrier strip having retractable tire-puncture means for puncturing a vehicle tire. The tire-puncture means, such as spikes, have an armed position for puncturing a tire and a retracted position for not puncturing a tire. The strip comprises a plurality of barrier blocks having the tire-puncture means removably disposed in a shaft that is rotatably disposed in each barrier block. The shaft removably and pivotally interconnects the plurality of barrier blocks. Actuation cables cause the shaft to rotate the tire-puncture means to the armed position for puncturing a vehicle tire and to the retracted position for not puncturing the tire. Each tire-puncture means is received in a hollow-bed portion of its respective barrier block when in the retracted position. The barrier strip rests stable in its deployed position and substantially motionless as a tire rolls thereon and over.

Abstract: A paving stone configured to be arranged in a paving stone bond in an area-covering grid-shaped lattice of paving stones comprised of lattice elements. The paving stone has side walls and includes a plurality of spacers disposed on the side walls thereof. Each of the spacers has an abutting surface adapted to be positively joined to a respective abutting surface of a spacer on an adjacent paving stone in the lattice of paving stones. In this manner, a crossing joint is formed between the paving stones. The abutting surface of each of the spacers includes a stepped contour for positively meshing with a corresponding stepped contour on the respective abutting surface of the spacer on the adjacent paving stone, the plurality of spacers being disposed on the side walls of the paving stone such that the stepped contours of their respective abutting surfaces are identically oriented in either of two rotational directions defined around the side walls of the paving stone.

Abstract: An improvement in apparatus for assisting the transit of a person seated in a chair transport device in either direction between a lower level and an upper level in which a longitudinally extended pathway having upper and lower ends is disposed between the lower level and the upper level to accommodate a support on a side of a chair and in which the pathway includes at least one stop for maintaining the location of the chair at a predetermined location along the length of the pathway, the stop being at a location along the length of the pathway intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof.

Abstract: A tire puncturing spike strip is disclosed which can be placed on a road surface in front of a moving vehicle. The spike strip is comprised of essentially rectangular modular frame units with low height for easy storage in a trunk of a police vehicle, and the frame units have interlocking ends which can be quickly assembled in any desired length for placement across a roadway with spikes in a normal down position to allow safe passage of vehicles over the strip, but said spikes may be selectively and remotely activated to their up position electromechanically by an operator to target a specific fleeing vehicle. Once the fleeing vehicle crosses over the strip, the spikes may be electromechanically returned to their down position to allow pursuing police cars to safely cross over the strip and apprehend the disabled fleeing vehicle.

Abstract: An internal fastening band for an internal manhold chimney seal is disclosed, as well as a means for expanding the band and a means for removing the band. One end of the band is narrower than the other end so that when overlapped the ends of the band nest into one another to form a continuous expansion band. The first end portion has a plurality of apertures longitudinally spaced along the fastening band, and a plurality of slots spaced between the apertures and an end of the fastening band. The second end portion also has a aperture along a tab for engaging one of the slots to connect the first end portion to the second end portion with the particular slot being selected to adjust the continuous circular fastening band to a desired diameter. A tool is described for engaging an aperture in each end portion to increase the diameter of the circular expansion band and force the resilient sleeve against the inside surface of the manhole.

Abstract: A paving stone (10) is provided which includes individual sectors (20, 30) of uniform size and shape. Each sector (20, 30) is joined together to form a unique pattern such as a cross-paver (10), a Z-paver (110) or an S-paver (210). Some sectors (20, 30) are tips sectors (20) which attach to only one other central sector (30) and some sectors (20, 30) are central sectors (30) which attach to two or more other top sectors (20). Each of the sectors (20, 30) extend between a common top surface (40) and a bottom surface (50). An outside surface (60) defines a periphery of the paving stone. A V-groove (80) is positioned on the top surface (40) at margins between adjacent sectors (20, 30). The V-groove (80) includes a crease (82) on a bottom thereof which encourages vertical crack propagation from the top surface (40) through to the bottom surface (50) in a plane when a appropriate force-applying tool is utilized. When this occurs the paver (10) is modified into a paver of a different shape.

Abstract: A pull-type bifold hay rake includes a draw bar mounted at its rearward end to a cross-member, with a pair of rake arms pivotably mounted to the cross-member. A series of rotatable rakes are mounted to each rake arm for movement between a raised and lowered position. A linkage assembly is interposed between the draw bar and the rake arms for moving the rake arms between an operative open position and an inoperative closed position. A hydraulic cylinder assembly, including an extendible and retractable rod, is interconnected with the linkage and with the draw bar for moving the linkage between a first position in which the rake arms are open and a second position in which the rake arms are closed. A cable and pulley arrangement is interconnected between the hydraulic cylinder assembly and a control rod mounted to each rake arm for providing movement of the rake assemblies between their raised and lowered positions in response to operation of the hydraulic cylinder assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously cutting parallel slots in a pavement surface is provided, especially for dowel bar retrofit load transfer restoration at joints. The apparatus includes a movable frame lockable with a brake, plurality of parallel cutting blades rotatably mounted on twin cutting heads on the frame, vertical travel unit for raising and lowering the blades independently or in unison, and horizontal travel units for moving the blades horizontally. One of the twin cutting heads is mounted on each side of the frame, with hydraulic adjusting rams for independently setting the width therebetween. A slurry control system which is mounted on the frame provides the blades with coolant and vacuums up the slurry produced during cutting.

Abstract: A barrier device for a traffic bollard to protect movable secondary objects, such a vehicle doors, from damage during contact, such as when the doors are opened. Devices are provided which circumferentially span and connect to the bollard. Various attachment methods are taught, including the incorporation of the attachment device embedded in the device during the molding process. Alternatively, a trench design is disclosed to provide concealment of the attachment device following installation. The use of panels cut from the tread section of used vehicular tire casings is disclosed. One embodiment of this design bonds two such panels together placing the attachment apparatus secured longitudinally therebetween. Draw straps are disclosed as a practical attachment device. Printed images may be applied to the exterior surface to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the device or provide a platform for advertisement material.

Abstract: A self-righting warning marker includes a base having a warning sign attached thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom. The warning sign is preferably formed of a polymer which is rigid yet resilient and flexible, to prevent breakage upon contact from a vehicle or the like. The base of the marker has a pivot surface extending between a rearward face and a bottom surface so that the marker will roll along the pivot surface from an upright orientation to a horizontal orientation if contacted by a vehicle. A ballast weight within the base is located such that the center of gravity of the marker is located forwardly of the pivot surface to thereby cause the marker to be self-righting. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an illuminator is mounted on the marker, with a lens attached along an upper edge of the warning sign and a bundle of fiber optic cables extending through the panel of the warning sign to a power source in the base which includes a light and a battery.