Abstract: A stripping device for a soil compacting roller having tamping feet is equipped with a spar on which are provided stripper teeth and an optionally adjustable spar mount which permits readjustment of the stripper teeth on the soil compacting roller. The spar preferably comprises a pipe having a circular cross section and a spar mount and on at least one end having a pair of half shells which surround the pipe and are detachably connected for clamping the pipe in a rotationally fixed and displacement-fixed manner. This permits readjustment of the stripper teeth by a swiveling movement of the spar, which results in a large gap width for removing stripped-off soil material in a small area on which soil material can be deposited.

Abstract: A security barrier includes a horizontal composite beam extending across a roadway is mounted between vertical posts at either end of the beam. Hydraulic cylinders fastened at each beam end and to the vertical posts cause the beam to be raised and lowered, as needed. When the beam is at its lowest position, it allows for the normal flow of traffic over the top of the beam. When the beam is in its fully-raised position, it provides a vehicle barrier thirty-six inches above grade. A hydraulic power unit and components control the direction and speed of beam movement. The security barrier also includes electronic control and monitoring of the beam, and hydraulic system.

Abstract: A paving machine having a dowel bar insertion assembly and a form piece permit precise placement of at least one dowel bar, in a mass of concrete, before smoothing and leveling of the concrete mass into a desired surface. A detection device activates a drive device to eject the dowel bars into the concrete mass at a desired interval.

Abstract: A grading rake having a handle and a rake head, and having stiff but bendable, flexible polymer tines in the rake head, with the tines angled back toward the handle, and with the end of the tines truncated and parallel to the plane of the handle and rake head.

Abstract: A construction joint implement and method for its use in the construction of surface pavement (e.g., roads, highways, airports, and parking lots of concrete or asphalt) comprise a trapezoidal shaped reinforcing beam or a modified reinforcing beam made of a rigid material such as concrete and placed along the entire length of the joint and not bounded to either part of the slab. The beam supports both edges along the entire length of the joint and avoids the need for Dowel bars. The beam has a large base which distributes the load on large area, leading to decreasing pressure and reduced deformation on the base. Water stops may be built in on both sides of the beam to make the beam fully waterproof. Multiple beams divide the width of pavement into strips. Every strip can then be filled independently using smaller-sized paving machines (e.g., roller or vibro screeds).

Abstract: A counter balance mechanism for a mechanically-operated, vertically-storing dock leveler that can upwardly bias the dock leveler at desired angles of rotation and downwardly bias the dock leveler at other angles of rotation, and neutrally bias the dock leveler at yet other angles of rotation. A method for assisting the operation of a mechanically-operated, vertically-storing dock leveler of desirable simplicity is also provided.

Abstract: A light weight motorized concrete finishing machine with a set of blades that rotate on a single plane, held by a hub assembly that resists deflection, specially equipped with quick release system for trowel blades. Blade pitch is controlled by an actuator that can be adjusted manually or remote powered. The unit is equipped with a remote means of hands free operation of blade pitch and throttle control. Right to left directional motion of machine is controlled by an articulated steering mechanism.

Abstract: A vibrating tamping bull-float is used for smoothing the top surface of freshly poured concrete, while pushing coarse aggregate down into the concrete while allowing cement cream to surface. Additionally it levels the concrete in the area surrounding the vibrating tamping bull-float. It includes a plurality of float body portions: a stable platform portion and at least one vibrating portion which tamps as you push and pull the vibrating tamping bull-float across the surface of the freshly poured concrete.

Abstract: A system and device for obtaining a topographical profile of a road bed, and then delivering an asphalt mat that varies in thickness according to that profile. The system enables variance in the mat thickness across the width of the mat as well as in the normal longitudinal direction. The process is begun by obtaining a three-dimensional profile of the surface to be paved. A scanning means is moved over the road surface to obtain a profile of the entire length and width of the surface to be paved to obtain a detailed topographical profile. In a second phase of the operation, the scanning means is utilized in combination with an asphalt delivery mechanism. The scanning means tracks the exact position of the asphalt delivery mechanism, correlates that to the scanned profile, and thereby controls the operation of the asphalt delivery mechanism.

Abstract: A pavement temperature monitoring system (10) is used on paver vehicle (12) that is capable of forming a pavement material mat (11) upon abase surface (13), as paver vehicle (12) travels generally in a single direction. A temperature sensor (14) can be either a thermal imager, a thermal scanner, or a thermal imager operating in line “scan” mode. The temperature sensor (14) is mounted on a rear end (12a) of the paver vehicle (12) in such a way that the entire width of the formed mat can be scanned or imaged. A display device (16) is capable of receiving a plurality of electrical signals from the thermal scanner generating and displaying a graphical image (17) of the formed mat temperature profile.

Abstract: A Method of manufacturing a hollow, one piece, reflective pavement marker, including at least one retro-reflective face. The method includes molding a plurality of cube-corner reflective elements within a plurality of cells, defined by plural load carrying and partitioning walls. The pavement marker includes a profiled lower surface to improve agglutination to a roadway. The pavement marker can be made from high impact and abrasion resistant thermoplastics.

Abstract: A structure for supporting a road along a road axis over an underpass space spanned by the structure. The structure includes two footings underlying the road with each support assembly being securely mounted to the earth. The structure also includes an arcuate support assembly supported by the footings. The support assembly extends at least the width of the road and traverses the underpass space for supporting the road across the underpass space spanned by the structure. The support assembly includes a substantially continuous inner shell, a plurality of spatially disposed, rigid, resilient beams supported by the footings, an insulating material disposed in the cavities formed in between the rigid, resilient beams, and an outer shell encasing the rigid, resilient beams and the insulating material. A substantially fluid impermeable material substantially encases the support assembly and a fill material extends from the substantially fluid impermeable material to support the road.

Abstract: A vibration exciter for a ground compacting devices such as a vibratory plate comprises unbalanced shafts which are arranged parallel or coaxial to one another, which can be driven in counter-rotation with the same rotational speed, and which each carry at least one centrifugal weight, whereby the phase position of the centrifugal weights can be adjusted by a phase adjusting device in such a manner that the vertical components of the centrifugal forces generated by the centrifugal weights are cancelled out in each rotational position. At the same time, the horizontal components of the centrifugal forces are correspondingly added in the same direction. This phase position prevents the vibratory plate, when stationary, from introducing any vertical vibration into the ground to be compacted, but enables it to introduce shear stresses via a ground contact plate into the ground, preferably an asphalt surface, in order to compact cracks and pores.

Abstract: A sensor system for a buried waste containment site having a bottom wall barrier and sidewall barriers, for containing hazardous waste. The sensor system includes one or more sensor devices disposed in one or more of the barriers for detecting a physical parameter either of the barrier itself or of the physical condition of the surrounding soils and buried waste, and for producing a signal representing the physical parameter detected. Also included is a signal processor for receiving signals produced by the sensor device and for developing information identifying the physical parameter detected, either for sounding an alarm, displaying a graphic representation of a physical parameter detected on a viewing screen and/or a hard copy printout.

Abstract: A dock leveler including a ramp having a rear edge movably interconnected with a loading dock, an intermediate member movable relative to the ramp, and an inflatable assembly positioned to cause relative movement between the ramp and the intermediate member upon inflation of the inflatable assembly, thereby resulting in movement of the ramp. The intermediate member is movably mounted to a pit floor, a support structure, or the ramp. A roller member is mounted to an end of the intermediate member. The inflatable assembly can be operatively associated with a vacuum device to allow for selective removal of gas from the inflatable assembly. Alternatively, a hydraulic assembly and a support frame may replace the inflatable assembly and intermediate member. The dock leveler includes hook-type bracket members and mounting bores to accommodate either powering arrangement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compacting a road shoulder by a vehicle positioned on a road surface. The apparatus includes a compactor support structure detachably mounted to a front end of the vehicle and including a guide member which slidably receives a horizontally movable ram. A ram linear actuator interconnects the guide member and ram wherein activation of the ram linear actuator causes horizontal movement of the ram. A pair of laterally spaced arms are pivotally mounted to the ram and rotatably support a roller. A pair of arm linear actuators connect the arms to the ram wherein activation of the arm linear actuators causes vertical movement of the roller.

Abstract: An ergonomic hybrid transit access corridor, definable in terms of an x,y,z Cartesian coordinate system is characterized by x-axis integral, y-axis longitudinal segments each having an x-axis width in a range of about 3 to about 40 feet. The corridor includes a roadway, which may optionally include a roadway median. Symmetrically integrally outwardly about the roadway are respective parallel parking, bicycle lanes and greenscape segments, including a variety of selectable landscape and hardscape variables. Integrally symmetrically outwardly about the greenscape segments are respective greenway transit segments for selectable use by pedestrians and at pedestrian compatible speeds, said use including use by: (i) train-like vehicles, using small gauge rail tracks, having floors situated at a level not exceeding about 20 inches above the plane of the greenway transit segments, (ii) bicycles, and (iii) other pedestrian compatible vehicles.

Abstract: A screed assembly for use with a prime mover adapted to be moved over a surface to distribute material on the surface. The assembly comprises a prime mover, a screed platform having a screed plate forming a bottom surface thereof and first and second sets of tow arms operably coupled between the prime mover and the screed platform. The tow arms of each set are pivotally coupled with the prime mover and the screed platform and the pivotal coupling of one arm is vertically spaced from the pivotal coupling of the other arm of the same set. Depending upon the dynamics of the paving operation being performed, the tow arms of each set may be in a crossed or a non-crossed orientation to provide positive control of the angle of attack of the screed plate relative to the tow angle. A method of maintaining a substantially uniform depth of a material being spread over a surface by a screed is also contemplated by the invention.

Abstract: A shock absorbing member that is particularly suitable for use as a part of a crash barrier system for motor vehicles is disclosed. The shock absorbing member includes a matrix formed from granulated rubber bonded together by a glue.

Abstract: The center locks of a bascule or other type of double leaf movable bridge are fitted on bearings mounted upon the main bridge girders, so that the center lock bars may be moved, when the bridge is in the lowered position, along a horizontal axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the leaves of the bridge, effecting a shear connection at the meeting point of the two leaves of the structure so that, when the bridge is in the lowered position and the center lock bars are engaged rigidly with respective rotating sockets, the tips of the leaves at a vertical lateral plane containing the center locks are forced to deflect equally while the center locks accommodate longitudinal movement and rotational deflection of the protruding ends of the two leaves via components that are permanently engaged, optionally including capacity of independent rotation of the main bridge members on axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bridge.