Abstract: An apparatus for use in shearing paving material applied to a surface is provided. This apparatus includes a blade for shearing the asphalt mixture to a desired thickness, cylinders for raising and lowering the blade in response to elevational changes in the surface, at least one signal generator associated with each cylinder and adapted to produce a signal indicative of the elevation of the surface, and at least one signal receiver associated with each signal generator. This blade apparatus is coupled with a prime mover. The receiver is operable to activate the cylinders in response to a signal received from the generator. The blade is raised and lowered as the elevation of the surface changes in response to signals emanating from the generator allowing surface level variations to be evened out while paving.

Abstract: A wheeled vehicle, preferably a trailer, carries highway markers in a storage frame that is horizontally rotated to selectively align each of a plurality of parallel, circularly spaced, slide bearings, each configured to confine a linear array of highway markers against circumferential and radial movement, while allowing sliding along the length of the array. A powered abutment feeds the highway markers to a transfer station. A transfer mechanism picks up a highway marker by attraction and moves it between the transfer station and a highway station. A video camera records the highway station environment and wirelessly sends a video stream to a monitor plugged in the driver's cab. A releasable electrical connector between a tow vehicle and a trailer wheeled vehicle transmits a lights-on signal to control the operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for painting traffic marks on a road surface without requiring any professional painting skills. The apparatus having: a first support and second support being parallel to each other and a coupling unit to couple the supports. There is also a gantry unit, having: at least one Y-axial gantry coupled to and being movable along the first and second support, and an X-axial gantry coupled to the Y-axial gantry to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the first support and second support. The apparatus further includes: a jet unit coupled to the X-axial gantry, with a jet nozzle to spray paint downwards; a feeding device, having a first feeding unit to move the Y-axial gantry and a second feeding unit to move the X-axial gantry. There may be a third feeding unit to move the jet unit. There is also a control unit to control operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A system is for sensing a property of a material mat from a construction vehicle. The system includes a sensor for sensing the material property and a positioning mechanism connected with the vehicle and with the sensor. The mechanism displaces the sensor between first and second positions with respect to the vehicle as the vehicle displaces with respect to the material mat. The first sensor position is spaced a substantial distance above the mat upper surface. The second sensor position is located proximal to or on the mat surface such that the sensor is able to sense the material property in the second position. A controller operates the mechanism to sequentially displace the sensor from the first to second positions, permit the sensor to remain disposed at the second position for a period of time, and displace the sensor from the second to first positions after the period of time.

Abstract: A wheeled strike-off apparatus is movable over a surface of uncured concrete or subgrade materials and is operable to establish a desired grade of the uncured concrete surface or subgrade surface. The apparatus includes a wheeled support and a plow assembly. The wheeled support may have a front frame portion and a pair of front wheels rotatably mounted at the front frame portion, and may have a rear frame portion and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted at the rear frame portion. The plow assembly may be adjustably mounted to the front frame portion and may be vertically adjustable relative to the frame portion via an actuator. The plow assembly includes at least one plow member for engaging and establishing the desired grade.

Abstract: A contouring machine control system, contouring/smoothing method, and kit for enabling a contouring machine to automatically contour three-dimensional surfaces includes a contouring member, such as a screed or dirt grading blade, a target either attached to the contouring member or located at a remote location, a tracking device at the other of the contouring member or remote location that tracks the target and measures the position of the target in three dimensions, a proximity sensor adjacent one end of the contouring member to detect its height above a physical reference, and a controller/computer for controlling the height of the two ends of the contouring member. One of the ends is controlled as a function of a stored profile of the desired surface to be contoured and the target or tracking device position, while the second end is controlled as a function of the current height of the proximity sensor above the reference.

Abstract: A drag box for use in applying cold mix asphalt paving material to a surface includes a pugmill for distributing the cold mix over the surface, a strike blade for shearing the asphalt mixture to a desired thickness, cylinders for raising and lowering the strike blade in response to elevational changes in the surface, at least one signal generator associated with each cylinder and adapted to produce a signal indicative of the elevation of the surface, and at least one signal receiver associated with each signal generator. The drag box is pulled behind a prime mover but preferably is not rigidly coupled with the prime mover. The blade is raised and lowered in response to signals emanating from the generator as the elevation of the surface changes, allowing surface level variations to be evened out while paving.

Abstract: Accordingly there is disclosed a safety door system, comprising a hopper body containing a powered implement powered by a hydraulic control system, for dispensing liquid or granular materials or for agitating the liquid or granular materials; a safety door for covering and preventing access into the hopper body during use; a hydraulic actuating cylinder operative to open the safety door; and an interlock device coupled between the hydraulic actuating cylinder and the hydraulic control system such that the powered implement within the hopper body is prevented from operating whenever the safety door is not in its closed position. In another embodiment there is disclosed a method of limiting access to a hopper body of a mobile pavement repair system during its use, the hopper body having a powered implement within the hopper body and powered by a hydraulic motor.

Abstract: An automatic ground marking apparatus including a carriage (1) responsive to carriage control signals for traversing the ground (5), the carriage having a controllable steering and drive system, a controllable marking system and a position determining system (6) arranged to determine the position of the carriage. The ground marking apparatus further includes a processor (8) responsive to the position determining system and operatively executing a software product for generating the carriage control signals to cause the carriage (1) to mark out a predetermined sign (14) on the ground. The position determining system (6) suitably employs a laser beam (4) and reflective tracking prism (2), and the predetermined sign may be defined by data points stored in a file (9) accessed by the processor (8) (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Sensors (18, 20 and 22) and an interactive display (12) are added to an airless gas powered line striping machine (10) to provide the operator with a variety of information about the operating parameters. In addition to the pressure sensor/transducer (14) required to control the pressure through a clutch, the system includes a sensor (reed switch in the preferred embodiment) (18) to count pump strokes or drive revolutions, a sensor (22) to monitor when the gun trigger is activated and a sensor (26) to monitor wheel rotation (hall effect sensor detecting pulses from gear mounted on wheel in the preferred embodiment). A digital display (12) is included to read out measured and calculated values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a soil compacting device comprising a motion detection device for detecting an actual value for the travelling motion of the soil compacting device. Inside a travel control device, the actual value is compared with a set value that is predetermined by the operator. When a difference between these two values is determined, the travel control device corrects the travelling motion by controlling a steering device or a drive of the soil compacting device. In another embodiment of the invention, a number of vibration plates are connected by the means of connecting elements to form a soil compacting system, which is also provided with a travel control device. The travel control device controls the individual drives in order to steer the entire soil compacting system.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus (2) for dispensing reflective elements, such as glass beads (4), onto a surface, typically a road surface, the apparatus (2) being attached to a vehicle. The glass beads (4) are placed in an inlet means (6) and directed along a path around a drive means (10), which drive means (10) imparts a velocity to the glass beads for subsequent delivery onto the surface through an outlet means (20). The glass beads (4) exit the outlet means (20) at a velocity having substantially the same magnitude as the magnitude of velocity at which the vehicle travels and a direction substantially opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle.

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 transducer arrangement and method that generates control signals indicating relative positions of the ends of a hydraulically movable screed head. The generated control signals of the present invention are used by a conventional control circuit controlling the hydraulically movable screed head with laser receivers in a column block situation, which interrupts the reception of a laser beam from a laser transmitter by one of the laser receivers, to provide an estimated absolute position of the interrupted receiver side of the screed head until the column block situation clears. Normally, absolute measurements are available on both sides of the screed head via the laser receivers receiving the laser beam.

Abstract: A structure to be coupled to a machine for treating surfaces, comprising a centre web (1) joined to a machine (2) in which are movably and tightly fined with the aid of bearings a pair of telescoping superposed arms (6-6′) whose segments can be locked at any relative position, the segments ending in clips (19) for attaching the vertical tubes (24) that in turn incorporate on their lower corresponding sensors, with another clip (25) provided in the centre web (1) for attaching another sensor at this intermediate position. The sensors are thus capable of adopting any relative separation with adjustment operations that are extremely quick and simple, by simply releasing and again locking, while the height of said sensors can also be adjusted by loosening and tightening the clips (19).

Abstract: An automatic ground marking apparatus including a carriage (1) responsive to carriage control signals for traversing the ground (5), the carriage having a controllable steering and drive system, a controllable marking system and a position determining system (6) arranged to determine the position of the carriage. The ground marking apparatus further includes a processor (8) responsive to the position determining system and operatively executing a software product for generating said carriage control signals to cause the carriage (1) to mark out a predetermined sign (14) on the ground. The position determining system (6) suitably employs a laser beam (4) and reflective tracking prism (2), and the predetermined sign may be defined by data points stored in a file (9) accessed by the processor (8).

Abstract: A work machine having a frame, a work tool and an articulation apparatus so as to pivot at least one support wheel mounted at the frame from a projecting position to a retracted position and vice versa.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing protective coverings from temporary raised pavement markers (TRPM) fixedly secured upon roadway surfaces comprises a platform, and a plurality of toothed implements disposed beneath the platform for encountering and removing the protective coverings mounted upon the upstanding vertical reflective portions of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPM). The toothed implements are mounted upon a chain which is driven by a motor mounted upon an upper surface portion of the platform, and a blower is also mounted upon the upper surface portion of the platform. An exhaust duct, fluidically connected to the intake side of the blower, passes through a suction port defined within the platform so as to be fluidically connected to the underside of the platform, and in this manner, the removed protective coverings of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPM) may be removed from the roadway surface and conveyed to a suitable debris collection bag.

Abstract: The invention is a road scarifier for cutting road surfaces, comprising: a frame provided with a cutter, supported by tracks by means of hydraulic actuators suitable for modifying the position of said cutter with respect to the road surface; driving means to obtain the setting in motion of the machine and the rotation of said cutter; right and left sensors arranged at the sides of the machine and suitable for measuring the distance from the road surface; sensors to show the inclination of said machine with respect to the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A process of milling by first surveying the actual profile of a traffic area and generating actual profile data. The desired profile data is generated from an initial basic data set and the desired profile data of the traffic area is corrected with respect to longitudinal waviness. The current position of the milling machine is determined and the milling depth is adjusted as an actual value. The milling depth is thereafter controlled as a function of the difference between the actual value and the desired value, including data of a traffic area whose length exceeds that of the longest longitudinal wave of the traffic area which is leveled or milled.

Abstract: A controller is for a heating system of a paving screed including a screed plate. The heating system is connected with the screed and configured to transfer thermal energy to the screed plate and includes an actuator configured to adjust thermal energy output of the heating system. The controller includes a temperature sensor connectable with the screed and configured to sense temperature of the screed plate. The sensor is also configured to generate electrical signals proportional to sensed temperature. An electrical logic circuit is electrically connected with the sensor and is electrically connectable with the actuator. The logic circuit is configured to compare a temperature signal from the sensor with a desired temperature value and to automatically operate the actuator such that the actuator adjusts thermal energy output of the heating system so as to maintain screed temperature about the desired temperature value.

Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) controlled marking apparatus for staking and a method of using the apparatus to stake a surface. The apparatus uses a standard architectural or other surface site application program and a stakeout driver program in a standard computer and includes a GPS receiver, a stakeout tool, an autopilot, a vehicle, a geographical drawing converter, and a location comparator. The geographical drawing converter converts an image of a drawing pattern to geographical mark locations. The autopilot guides the vehicle to the geographical mark locations. The location comparator detects a location march between the geographical mark locations of the drawing pattern and a current geographical location determined by the GPS receiver. Information for the location match is used by the stakeout tool for driving a stake into the ground.

Abstract: An apparatus having a horizontal compacting roller and a side edge confinement roller or shoe for compacting an asphalt concrete lane. A sensor is on the carrier vehicle for sensing the position of a defined edge of the lane, and a control is provided for steering the carrier vehicle so that the horizontal roller and the edge confinement force roller or shoe follow the defined edge of the lane to provide uniform density.

Abstract: A finishing machine for the laying of the asphalt surface having a conveyer, and a hopper for the storage and the distribution of material. The conveyer, that moves material from the hopper to the auger, has a couple of chains connected with one another by transversal splines that are suitable for the transport of the material. The material crawls on a plurality of fixed plates secured to the frame of the machine, and the chains run on the plates. The last plate, which supports the passing material, is floating in comparison with the fixed plate which precedes it. The last plate is on a weighing device, and the device is connected with a control power unit. The control power unit detects a signal relevant to the reading of the weight of the material. The signals are detected at time intervals, depending on the angular speed of the hopper, and allows weighings to take place after all the weighed material has been unloaded from the weighing plate.

Abstract: A soil compacting device has a damping system which couples an upper mass and a lower mass together with a spring system in a vibration system. The damping properties of the damping system can be modified while the device is in operation. Therefore, when the soil compacting device passes over soils having different properties, it can constantly be adjusted in an optimal manner to the ground underneath it by acting on the vibration properties of the overall vibration system.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle mounted highway striping system is provided for single operator driving and controlling of the stripe painting operation. Tracking control systems are provided for striping about curved vehicle paths. Automated tracking systems correct tracking errors with the only interactivity of the operator being the steering function of aligning the vehicle path with a designated striping pattern path. A video monitor comparing the striping vehicle position relative to a designated striping path is worn as a headpiece by the driver. Thus, a semi-transparent video tracking pattern displays lateral positioning of a stripe being painted by the moving vehicle as the driver keeps eyes directed upon the roadway. Automatic tracking around curves is provided. The painting vehicle is steered to follow a designated path position on the video monitor.

Abstract: A roadway crack repair system includes a crack cleaning module and a crack sealing module. Each module includes a steerable vehicle for navigating the roadway, a platform being laterally movable on the vehicle in response to a control signal, a sensor being mounted on the platform for detecting local variations in the roadway during movement of the vehicle, a sensed continuous local deviation indicating a roadway crack. A controller is responsive to the sensor for generating the control signal as a sensed lateral position of the crack relative to the sensor, causing the sensor to accurately follow the crack when the vehicle is generally driven along the crack. A router is mounted on the platform behind the sensor of the crack cleaning module for cleaning and widening the crack, and a vacuum system removes loose material from the roadway behind the router.

Abstract: A contouring device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly that is supported at opposite ends by a pair of fluid cylinders. The fluid cylinders are controlled to raise and lower the ends of the contouring assembly independently of each other, thereby allowing the contouring assembly to create a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of one of the fluid cylinders is based on a comparison of the measured position of a first end of the contouring assembly with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. The measurement of the position of the first end of the contouring assembly is achieved by a tracking device which tracks the position of a target positioned on the first end of the contouring assembly and which determines the three dimensional position of the target.