AU2018282367B1 - Rumble Strip Laying Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for producing rumble strips along the side of a road coordinates a sprayer to spray patches of emulsion, onto which stones are released from a hopper. The apparatus is mounted to a truck and can be positioned to the side of the truck when in use for easy alignment with the road and monitoring.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to road making equipment, in particular apparatus for laying rumble strips along the edges of a road.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Rumble strips along the edges of country roads are a simple but very effective method of alerting drowsy or inattentive drivers as they start to drift to the side of the road. As the tyres of the vehicle pass over the rumble strip a loud noise is developed and vibration passed through the steering wheel to the driver.

[0003] If possible it would be desirous to fit all country roads with rumble strips in order to reduce the number of vehicle accidents. To fit rumble strips to every country road in a large country such as Australia is an enormous task, which without the right approach could be prohibitively expensive and take many years to complete. A cheap and effective rumble strip can be achieved by fixing patches of stones to the roadway with bitumen. Known methods of producing such rumble strips consist of intermittently spraying bitumen onto a road surface, laying a continuous strip of stones onto the bitumen and spaces in between and then sweeping the unwanted stopes away to leave a rumble strip formation. Such a method is prohibitively labour intensive [0004] The object of this invention is to provide a rumble strip laying apparatus to alleviate the above problems, or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] In a first aspect the invention provides ...

[0006] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information

2018282367 20 Dec 2018 for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

[0008] Figure 1 shows a road with a rumble strip as produced by the invention.

[0009] Figure 2 shows a truck incorporating the rumble strip laying apparatus of the invention.

[0010] Figure 3 shows a close up view of the apparatus not in use, and in a stowed position.

[0011] Figure 4 shows a close up view of the apparatus in a deployed position ready for use.

[0012] Figure 5 shows a close up view of the stone dispensing door in the open position for dispensing stones.

[0013] Figure 6 shows a close up view of the emulsion sprayer.

[0014] Figure 7 shows a close up view of a nozzle of the emulsion sprayer.

DRAWING COMPONENTS [0015] The drawings include the following integers.

road rumble strip stone patch truck bulk hopper emulsion storage tank door conveyor distribution hopper door linkage ram emulsion sprayer

2018282367 20 Dec 2018 pipe tap tap handle common linkage ram mount hose nozzle body thread aperture shield

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0016] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Certain parts shown in the drawings may have been simplified and/or scaled for the purposes of clarity or illustration. Common mechanical components such as fasteners and linkages may also have been omitted for clarity.

[0017] The present invention provides an apparatus for laying rumble strips. Whilst the various components of the invention are known, the interaction between and the refinement of the components results in an apparatus that can efficiently produce rumble strips on a road. Figure 1 shows a road 10 with a rumble strip 12 produced by the apparatus which comprises a series of evenly spaced stone patches 14 adjacent the edge of the road.

[0018] A truck 20 incorporating the rumble strip laying apparatus of the invention is shown in Figure 2 from a rear perspective view. The truck comprises a bulk hopper 22 for carrying stones, an emulsion storage tank 24, a distribution hopper 30 from which stones are dispensed, and an emulsion sprayer 50. Not seen is an electronic control system for coordinating the emulsion sprayer 50 to spray a patch of emulsion onto the road and the distribution hopper 30 to release stones onto emulsion patch to form part of a rumble strip. These components will be discussed in further detail below.

2018282367 20 Dec 2018 [0019] The major components of the apparatus are shown close up and in various operating states in Figures 3 to 6. Figure 3 shows the apparatus not in use, Figure 4 shows the distribution hopper 30 positioned ready for use, Figure 5 shows the distribution hopper 30 with door 32 opened to release stones, and Figure 6 shows a close up view of the emulsion sprayer 50 with the distribution hopper removed for clarity.

[0020] The truck 20 stores the stones to form the rumble strip in a bulk hopper 22 which has a door 26 for delivering stones to the distribution hopper 30 with the aid of conveyor 28. The distribution hopper 30 includes an auger (not shown) for moving stones towards the door 32. A sensor (not shown) within the distribution hopper detects the level of stones present and if sufficient the augur and the conveyor from the bulk hopper are disabled. The door 32 is opened and closed via a linkage 34 driven by ram 36 driven by the electronic control system. The door is shown open in Figure 5.

[0021] The distribution hopper 32 is movable from a stowed position, as seen in Figures 2 & 3, to an operational position as seen in Figures 4 & 5 in which the end of the hopper extends out from the side of the truck body, allowing the vehicle driver to readily position where the rumble strip will be laid on a road and observe operation of the apparatus. The hopper 32 may move by various means; in the preferred embodiment wheels on the hopper engage with channels on the rear of the truck. A locking mechanism secures the hopper in either stowed or operational positions.

[0022] Best seen in Figure 6 the emulsion sprayer 50 comprises a pipe 52 fitted with a series of nozzles 70 attached to taps 54. The tap levers 56 are attached to a common linkage 58 to operate in unison via ram 60 under control of the electronic control system. The sprayer 50 is attached to the distribution hopper 50 via mounts 62 so that it moves in unison with the hopper between the stowed position and operational position. Hose 64 supplies emulsion to the pipe and provides for a flexible connection to allow for movement of the pipe 52. The nozzles 70 are aligned with the door 32 of the hopper so that stones from the hopper completely cover the emulsion sprayed down by the sprayers. Preferably the emulsion comprises 68% bitumen in water.

[0023] Figure 7 shows a close up view of a nozzle 70, which comprises a body 72 with spray aperture76 mounted on top of thread 74. Shield 78 prevents lateral overspray.

2018282367 20 Dec 2018 [0024] The operation of the various components is coordinated with an electronic control system to produce stone patches of the desired length and separation. The width of the patches is determined by the width of the door 32 and aligned spray nozzles 70. The embodiment shown has a door 300mm wide to produce 300mm wide strips. For strips of other widths either different size doors or a series of doors side by side are used, selected by manipulation of the linkage 34. The number and position of spray nozzles is adjusted accordingly. The electronic control system primarily controls the ram 36 which opens the hopper door 32 to release the stones, and the ram 60 which controls the taps 54 for the spray nozzles 70. The sprays are activated for a time dependent on the speed of the vehicle to produce patches 300 mm square and separated by 700 mm. The hopper door is activated in a similar way, but delayed in relation to the sprayers to ensure that the stones land on the emulsion patch. Allowance is made for the actuation time of the various components. Once the stone shave been placed, a single pass of a roller is sufficient to secure them in place.

[0025] The reader will now appreciate the present invention which provides an apparatus for efficiently laying rumble strips.

[0026] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0027] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims (6)

1. An apparatus for producing a rumble strip of stone patches on a road using a truck, comprising a sprayer for spraying emulsion and a hopper with a door for releasing stones onto the emulsion, wherein the action of the sprayer and the hopper is coordinated by an electronic control system to spray the emulsion from the truck for pre-determined times and then release the stones onto the sprayed emulsion to produce stone patches of a pre-determined length and spacing.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is movable between a stowed position within the nominal width of the truck and an operational position adjacent the truck.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the actions of the sprayer and hopper are variable in accordance with the speed of the truck.

4. The apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hopper comprises a plurality of selectable doors operably selectable to determine the width of the stone patches.

5. The apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sprayer comprises nozzles with shields to prevent lateral overspray of the emulsion.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the sprayed emulsion is around 300mm in length and separated by some 700mm.