Abstract: A method for applying an asphalt layer on a construction surface comprises the steps of placing an asphalt lattice having an admixture of fibrous and particulate matter onto the construction surface, and heating the lattice with a flame so as to melt the asphalt mixture causing it to flow over the surface and fill any depressions and cracks thereon. The asphalt layer thus formed is in intimate contact with the surface and can be used as waterproofing or as a primer layer for further applications of asphalt.

Abstract: A surface of a fresh concrete body is dried by first covering the surface to be dried with a layer of bibulous granules having a great internal surface area for a time sufficient to draw generally all of the water out of the body via the surface and then preventing water from entering the layer from its side turned away from the body. The granules are finely divided hygroscopic particles, with an internal surface area of at least 200 m.sup.2 /g, preferably at least 800 m.sup.2 /g. The hydrophilic particles take up the moisture from the concrete and hold it in the layer of particles lying on the surface. This reduces the partial vapor pressure on the surface of the concrete body which effectively draws further liquid out of the concrete. The particles are a mixture of a cross-linked polymer that only swells in water and silica. The particles are carried in a coherent mat and are applied as a layer to the surface by laying the mat thereon.

Abstract: Snow lying on a road or building structure is melted and removed without sprinkling water on the snow by pumping up from a well and circulating underground water, which is contained in an underground aquifer and warmed by geothermy of the aquifer utilizing the heat retaining function thereof, through pipe arrangement laid under the surface of the road or building structure. The used and cooled underground water is returned into another artesian well without being wasted and exposed to the atmosphere. Underground water warmed by the solar heat and stored in the aquifer in a hot season may be preferably used in a cold snow season. An antifreezing liquid may be filled and circulate in the pipe arrangement to perform effective heat transfer through a heat exchanger between the antifreezing liquid and the underground water which circulates from one well to the other well. A pipe having excellent crystal structure of the welded joint portion can be used for the pipe arrangement.

Abstract: A method for renewing a road surface based on bituminous mix and granular mix, comprising removing the road surface to be replaced, by scarifying; collecting the removed material and conveying it to devices for screening and crushing to predetermined particle size, and then to a mixer where aqueous bitumen emulsion is added, the mixture obtained being recycled directly to form the new road surface by depositing and levelling the mixture after spraying bitumen emulsion, and finally rolling the road surface thus formed. A self-propelled machine for implementing said operations is also provided.

Abstract: An asphalt-paved road surface is rejuvenated in two stages. First, an exposed upper asphalt layer is heated to a selected temperature and depth. The heated upper asphalt layer is then removed from the road surface to expose a lower asphalt layer. In the second stage of the process, the lower asphalt layer is heated to a selected temperature and depth. The lower layer is then either broken up and left in place, or else it too is removed from the road surface. In the former case, asphalt removed from the upper layer is replaced on top of the ruptured lower layer; in the latter case, asphalt removed from the upper layer is comingled with asphalt removed from the lower layer. The removed/ruptured or comingled asphalt (as the case may be) is then pressed back against the road surface to repave the road.

Abstract: A roadway is shown as being formed of various strata or layers starting with a lowermost bed layer or stratum of compacted earth carrying a layer or stratum of compacted dry concrete mix; a layer of moisture impervious material covers the top of the stratum of dry concrete mix; a roadway pavement of wet concrete mix is carried atop the moisture impervious material; and air passages are formed through the roadway pavement as to be situated transversely thereof.

Abstract: A method of removing pavement marking materials on an asphalt surface which comprises heating the surface of the asphalt roadway in which the pavement marking materials have been installed to a temperature just below that at which the pavement marking materials will liquify using an infrared heater and then cooling the pavement marking materials to a temperature below about 100.degree. F. and then peeling off the pavement marking materials from the asphalt surface.

Abstract: A method of installing preformed pavement marking materials on an asphalt surface involving using infrared heat to raise the temperature of the surface so that the asphalt is sufficiently softened so that preformed pavement marking materials may be pressed into said asphalt surface.

Abstract: An asphaltic pavement preconditioning machine to remove and grind up old asphalt so that it can be rejuvenated. The method and apparatus heats a strip of asphalt, grinds a first strip portion and moves the ground asphalt to a second strip portion leaving behind an exposed unsoftened layer. Both the ground material and the previously heated unground asphalt in the second strip are then ground. The exposed hard asphalt in the first strip is heated, softened and then ground and moved onto the first strip portion. The heat from the ground asphalt lying over the center strip portion softens the unground asphalt there which is subsequently ground together with the ground material and left for further processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for renewing the surface of asphaltic paving at low cost and for immediate reuse. The asphalt surface is heated to about 300.degree.-500.degree. F. The surface is broken to a depth of about two inches and the lower material thoroughly mixed in situ with the broken surface material. After mixing, the material is further heated to fuse the heated mixture into a homogeneous surface. The surface is screeded for leveling and compacted by a road roller. A road machine is disclosed having a steam manifold for heating the asphalt, transversely reciprocating breaker bars having teeth adjusted to the depth desired, toothed mixing cylinders for mixing the broken material, and a second steam manifold for reheating the mixed material. Reciprocating screed bars on the road machine level the mixed and heated material. Final compacting may be done with a conventional road roller.

Abstract: The invention here disclosed comprises a method and apparatus for rejuvenating an asphalt roadway surface resulting in up to approximately three inches of new repaved roadway surface produced at speeds of up to approximately twenty-two feet per minute. The method includes the steps of heating a top layer of roadway, scarifying that heated layer, adding a recycling agent and thoroughly mixing and screeding the road surface to form a recycled material, adding new asphalt mix to the recycled material and milling the combination to form a mixed material and leaving a sub-layer plane in the roadbed. The mixed material is next conveyed away to a paving station located at the end of the process. During this conveying, the sub-layer left by the milling cut is heated, scarified, treated and worked in a manner similar to the treatment performed on the top layer of road surface.

Abstract: A pot hole filling formulation comprises a polyolefin preferably ethylene acrylic acid in combination with an aggregate preferably gravel particles of one-quarter inch dimension or larger. The polyolefin, preferably in pellet form is mixed with the aggregate and applied to the pot hole. A heat source melts the polyolefin and causes it to flow within the pot hole to fill up the crevices in the pot hole. A second layer of aggregate is applied to the top surface of the fill before the polyolefin hardens to improve the skid resistant qualities of the fill as well as to minimize any deleterious effects of ultraviolet light from the sun.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process for making a roadway marking strip adhere to a roadway surface without the need for any preliminary preparation, using a flame that simultaneously contacts the self-adhesive primer coating of the roadway strip and the roadway surface itself. This invention also concerns a process for covering the adhesive primer layer on the roadway strip with a thin sealing layer, and thus-formed roadway strip.

Abstract: A microwave energy reflecting zone (12, 12a, 12b) is provided below the surface of a pavement (11, 11', 11a, 11b) at a depth that is less than the maximum depth that such energy can penetrate into paving materials. The reflective zone, which is formed of electrically conductive material (16, 16a to 16h), results in energy and cost savings in subsequent paving or pavement repair operations that involve microwave heating of thermoplastic pavement and in which it is not necessary to heat down to the full depth to which such energy can penetrate paving materials. The heating is concentrated or localized within a predetermined upper portion of the pavement. The energy concentrating pavement may, for example, be more economically resurfaced when that becomes necessary by microwave heating followed by remixing and recompaction of the heated upper portion of the pavement material.

Abstract: This invention concerns treatment of the heat-fusible materials by use of a fusing agent, according to which a fusing agent capable of producing red hot "embers" by combustion is applied to the surface of a worked object such as a sign formed from a heat-fusible material and worked at a construction site or to the area to be newly worked, and then said fusing agent is ignited and burned so that the combustion heat of the resultantly produced "embers" is directly conducted to the material to be worked to thereby remove the fused material from the worked area or fuse and affix the material to the working area.

Abstract: To remove ice and snow from pavement (1) having a carbonaceous top surface (4), a 915 M-Hz micro-wave generator with wave guide (8) is passed over the ice (13) followed closely by a scraper (10). Concrete pavements (1) are first coated with a reflective (2), heat-insulating (3) and carbonaceous (4) top coat or other carbonaceous coating while asphalt pavements need not be so coated. The micro-waves at this frequency pass through the ice (13), the carbonaceous top surface (4) absorbs the micro-waves and becomes heated thereby, the interface (12) between the ice (13), so freed, is scraped off without damaging the pavement (1).

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for heating a road surface, in which hot air controlled to a predetermined temperature is blown against the road surface so as to heat the road surface. The apparatus includes a hot air generator provided with a burner and a thermal control unit, and a duct formed with blowing pores for blowing the hot air against the road surface.

Abstract: A material spreader for spreading a topping material over a wet concrete surface utilizes a pair of hoppers which are driven back and forth on a bridge support spanning the surface. A gasoline engine mounts above the hoppers and furnishes power for a reversibly controllable hydraulic hopper drive motor. The motor is part of a hydraulic system in which the hydraulic fluid is cooled by using both a hopper wall as well as the flowing material being spread as heat sinks.

Abstract: A method for laying a snow road or an airplane runway on a snow or ice covered surface includes the removal of a predetermined and relatively small portion of the snow or ice surface, which is melted to water and mixed with the snow or ice remaining on the snow surface. The mixture of water and snow or ice is leveled so as to form a road surface when the mixture freezes. Preferably, the snow remaining on the surface is mechanically worked with a rototiller, while the melted snow is injected into the snow being worked. The method is particularly advantageous in that it can be carried out without requiring melting of all the snow necessary to form the snow road, or requiring the addition of any water from an external source, other than the portion of snow removed from the snow surface. An apparatus for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: A process for recycling asphalt pavement by serially heating and milling the asphalt until the desired depth of asphalt has been removed and then mixing the heated asphalt with additives, if needed, for reapplication to the pavement.

Abstract: A method of vitrifying soil at or below a soil surface location. Two or more conductive electrodes are inserted into the soil for heating of the soil mass between them to a temperature above its melting temperature. Materials in the soil, such as buried waste, can thereby be effectively immobilized.

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 method and an apparatus for controlling the temperature of asphalt and concrete bodies (1) in connection to storing of heat in the ground or in rocks, whereby channels (3) are drilled into the ground or the rock at or underneath the asphalt or concrete body the temperature of which is to be controlled, and in the said drilled channels (3) are inserted adaptor elements comprising two or more inner tubes or channels (6; 17) for supply and removal of a heat transport medium. The inner tubes (6; 17) in the adaptor elements are preferably formed so as to open on different levels of the channel (3) and also preferably the adaptor element is formed with cross partition walls (13) providing severaL zones distributed along the channel whereby heat can be transported between the zones and between a particular zone and the body the temperature of which is to be controlled.

Abstract: In a stockpile asphalt emulsion composition an improved asphalt phase comprises 50-98% of paving grade asphalt, 1-10% added sulfur, and 1-35% liquid hydrocarbon.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for repairing asphalt concrete road surfaces wherein a tractor a steam box and a car mounted with a screw cutter are coupled in this order and a series of linearly operated equipment is used on the asphalt concrete paved road surface, including a heater car, an asphalt finisher and a road roller in this order after the car. Each of the equipment is made to advance at low speed and the asphalt concrete paved road surface is artificially heated by the steam box to impart fluidity to the road surface, after which it is cut with the screw cutter and the cut asphalt concrete is conveyed into a heating chamber of the heater car, and water content in the asphalt concrete is removed by heating and stirring.

Abstract: A liquid asphalt composition comprises a mixture of asphalt and a hydrocarbon having over about 55% by weight aromatic content, which mixture is useful for being added to asphalt-aggregate recycle compositions during processing.

Abstract: Weathered asphaltic concrete road surface material is mined at each of a series of road locations and heated at or near the site of mining and future laydown to form particulate agglomerates of aggregate and asphalt in a form receptive to asphalt rejuvenation additives, mixed with such asphalt additives and passed to a laydown apparatus and returned to a road location near or at that location from which the weathered asphaltic concrete was initially taken. The steps of mining, rejuvenation and laydown and related storage and screening are simultaneous and continuous.

Abstract: Pavement (12) is rapidly heated in depth by irradiation with microwave energy accompanied by supplemental surface heating which counteracts an inverted temperature gradient otherwise produced by microwave heating. Energy efficiency is increased by performing the surface heating with thermal energy derived from the exhaust gases of a motor (19) which drives a generator (18) to energize the microwave source (68). An energy applicator (36) simultaneously applies both the microwave energy and hot gas to a selected area of pavement while blocking release of microwave energy in upward and outward directions and is preferably attached to a mobile support (37) through support and positioning linkage (38) which enables shifting of the applicator between localized areas of pavement to be heated.

Abstract: In a stockpile asphalt emulsion composition an improved asphalt phase comprises 40-70% of paving grade asphalt, 10-50% sulfur, and 5-30% liquid hydrocarbon.

Abstract: In a process for producing asphalt-aggregate compositions in a conventional type dryer-mixer drum in which aggregate is exposed directly to flame and hot gases of combustion while it cascades in the rotating drum, and in which the flame and hot gases of combustion are directed into an input end of the drum, the improvement comprises separating the aggregate into a plurality of different portions or increments each having different particle size ranges, introducing the coarse or larger aggregate particles into the drum and directly exposing them to the flame, its radient heat, hot gases of combustion at the input end, and introducing the finer or smaller aggregate particles downstream from the input end and away from direct exposure to the flame and extremely hot gases in a temperature zone which will avoid overheating the fine particles.

Abstract: A paving composition is prepared by mixing heated asphalt with a composition comprising an epoxy resin and an amine having 2 active hydrogens and either an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms or an alkylphenyl group in which the alkyl has 8 to 22 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for drying concrete to the appropriate moisture content for proper impregnation of the concrete with a polymer or a monomer for in situ polymerization. This is accomplished by heating the concrete until its temperature at the desired depth of polymer penetration is at least about 230.degree. F. In another embodiment of the invention the dried concrete is impregnated with a monomer composition capable of polymerization and is polymerized within the concrete.

Abstract: There is described a method for road surface marking with tape material, including the steps of forming an essentially bituminous primer layer on such surface and then pressingly laying a prefabricated tape material on said primer layer, such layer being formed with an essentially thermoplastic composition containing at least 60% by weight of solid thermoplastic substances fluidified for intimately contacting the road surface. The layer is capable of quickly solidifying to a viscosity of at least 10.sup.3 - 10.sup.4 cP for receiving the tape material and then up to at least 10.sup.5 cP within 30 seconds to provide a bond between the tape and said surface capable of resisting horizontal stresses of at least 1.5 Kg/cm.sup.2. Thereafter, the later further hardens at ambient temperature resist to a stress of at least 3 Kg/cm.sup.2. There are also described devices for applying such composition and tape and for melting the said solid thermoplastic substances.

Abstract: There is described a method for road surface marking with tape material, including the steps of applying a thin layer of an essentially liquid hydrophilous wetting agent on said surface, of forming an essentially bituminous primer layer thereon, and then pressingly laying a prefabricated tape material on said primer layer, such being formed with an essentially thermoplastic composition containing at least 60 % by weight of solid thermoplastic substances fluidified for intimately contacting the road surface, capable of fastly solidify at least to 10.sup.3 - 10.sup.4 cP for receiving the tape material, then up to at least 10.sup.5 cP to provide a bond of the tape to said surface capable to resist to horizontal stress of at least 1.5 kg/cm within 30 seconds, and further harden at ambient temperature to resist to a stress of at least 3 kg/cm. There are also described devices for applying such composition and tape and for melting the said solid thermoplastic substances.

Abstract: A method of erecting mass concrete structures consisting in preparing a ground bed, whereupon there is laid an insulating cushion of dry concrete mix. The insulating cushion is covered with a layer of wet concrete mix. The layer is compacted and heat-treated.

Abstract: In recycled asphalt-aggregate compositions prepared by adding a suitable amount of make-up asphalt to pieces of the used composition and heating the mixture in a rotating cylindrical drum by tumbling the composition over heated pipes as it is gradually directed towards an output end of the drum, the improvement comprising adding an amount of petroleum hydrocarbon to achieve a laid down asphalt penetration of between 25 and 300 dmn at 77.degree. F. A further embodiment of the improved process comprises venting a mixture of hydrocarbon gases and moisture vaporized from the hot composition mixture at the output end of the apparatus, condensing the moisture and removing it and returning the hydrocarbon gases to a combustion chamber for providing heat to the apparatus tubes.

Abstract: A heating system includes fluid ducts at the surface of a road and heating fluid for deicing the road surface when circulated through the ducts. A pump device for circulating the heating fluid through the fluid ducts to deice the road surface comprises a fluid pump housed beneath the surface of the road and coupled to the fluid ducts. The fluid pump has a piston and an actuator plate coupled to the piston. The actuator is pivotally mounted at the surface of the road in a manner whereby the weight of a vehicle passing over the actuator plate operates the pump device to circulate the heating fluid through the fluid ducts.

Abstract: Asphalt surface roads are subjected to an oxidizing treatment, e.g., flame treatment, to improve resistance thereof to skidding on the surface thereof.

Abstract: Process for dispersing molten sulphur in a hydrocarbon material, such as asphalt, tar and more particularly bitumen. The dispersion is effected in such a way as to produce an emulsion of sulphur in very fine particles, with dimensions not exceeding 10 microns, in the hydrocarbon material. A turbine with a gap or clearance of about 0.1 to 2.25 mm. is very useful for this purpose. The emulsions obtained are particularly suitable for road surfaces.

Abstract: Surfaces of roads, bridges, floors, etc., are easily paved by using a mixture of at least one of granular, powdery and flaky asphalt material and a suitable paving aggregate and applying heat and press thereto at the working site.

Abstract: A method of freeing a coating of ice, snow or frost frozen on to the surface of a manufactured material, such as a metal partition, a masonry or painted structure, or a paved roadway or runway, by concentrating an intense beam of visible light on to the interface between the coating and the surface adequate to raise the temperature at the interfacial zone to the melting point so as to free the coating from the surface, and apparatus for carrying out this method. The apparatus preferably includes structure for immediately breaking and removing the coating.

Abstract: When cast sulfur-asphalt compositions, e.g., sulfur-asphalt-aggregate pavements and construction articles, are being prepared by mixing and/or heating mixtures comprising sulfur and asphalt at elevated temperatures not exceeding 175.degree.C, the evolution of hydrogen sulfide is substantially reduced by carrying out the mixing and/or heating step in the presence of a hydrogen sulfide suppressant selected from the class consisting of free radical inhibitors and redox (oxidation-reduction) catalysts.