EP0381886A1 - Surface marker strip - Google Patents
Surface marker strip Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0381886A1 EP0381886A1 EP89309041A EP89309041A EP0381886A1 EP 0381886 A1 EP0381886 A1 EP 0381886A1 EP 89309041 A EP89309041 A EP 89309041A EP 89309041 A EP89309041 A EP 89309041A EP 0381886 A1 EP0381886 A1 EP 0381886A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- roadway
- layer
- strip
- protruberances
- sheet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000003550 marker Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 30
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 25
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 claims description 21
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 238000004049 embossing Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052717 sulfur Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011593 sulfur Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 31
- 239000004005 microsphere Substances 0.000 description 12
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 10
- 150000002978 peroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 7
- OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methanol Chemical compound OC OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000003981 vehicle Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000004073 vulcanization Methods 0.000 description 4
- GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titan oxide Chemical compound O=[Ti]=O GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000012783 reinforcing fiber Substances 0.000 description 3
- QKUNKVYPGIOQNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 4,8,11,14,17,21-hexachlorotetracosane Chemical compound CCCC(Cl)CCCC(Cl)CCC(Cl)CCC(Cl)CCC(Cl)CCCC(Cl)CCC QKUNKVYPGIOQNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 2
- BLRPTPMANUNPDV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silane Chemical compound [SiH4] BLRPTPMANUNPDV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000009102 absorption Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- NTXGQCSETZTARF-UHFFFAOYSA-N buta-1,3-diene;prop-2-enenitrile Chemical compound C=CC=C.C=CC#N NTXGQCSETZTARF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000003490 calendering Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000013521 mastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012188 paraffin wax Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910000077 silane Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004636 vulcanized rubber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 206010059837 Adhesion Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 229920003043 Cellulose fiber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920013646 Hycar Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000006057 Non-nutritive feed additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 240000007930 Oxalis acetosella Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000008098 Oxalis acetosella Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000012790 adhesive layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000000593 degrading effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910003460 diamond Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010432 diamond Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012948 isocyanate Substances 0.000 description 1
- -1 isocyanate polyol Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000005923 long-lasting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920005862 polyol Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001451 polypropylene glycol Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007711 solidification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008023 solidification Effects 0.000 description 1
- GJBRNHKUVLOCEB-UHFFFAOYSA-N tert-butyl benzenecarboperoxoate Chemical compound CC(C)(C)OOC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1 GJBRNHKUVLOCEB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004408 titanium dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- BPSIOYPQMFLKFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N trimethoxy-[3-(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)propyl]silane Chemical compound CO[Si](OC)(OC)CCCOCC1CO1 BPSIOYPQMFLKFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920002554 vinyl polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
- E01F9/50—Road surface markings; Kerbs or road edgings, specially adapted for alerting road users
- E01F9/576—Traffic lines
- E01F9/578—Traffic lines consisting of preformed elements, e.g. tapes, block-type elements specially designed or arranged to make up a traffic line
Definitions
- the present invention relates to surface marker strips as for roadways, pavements and other surfaces, being more particularly directed to methods of providing better roadway-adhering and longer-life properties to such marker strips, and to marker strips or tapes with preformed ridges adhered to the roadways and the like of vastly improved integrity and life that, by reflection and/or retroreflection from the ridges, enable enhanced visibility, especially upon illumination by the headlights of approaching vehicles.
- a paramount problem with preformed plastic pavement marker strips of the prior art is that of providing satisfactory adherence to the road surface under the constant heavy pounding of motor vehicle traffic.
- the pavement marker has a deformable layer of elastomeric material which lacks memory positioned between the marker and the road surface, good adhesion will not always be achieved.
- This layer must deform readily and flow without memory into the irregular surface contours of the pavement. The deformability and ability to cold flow permits the absorption of the energy of vehicle tire impacts which would otherwise violently dislodge the pavement marker as the impact energy is dissipated.
- any protruberance such as a ridge or wedge on the surface very quickly disappears when impacted by vehicular traffic so that the ridges flatten out and lose shape under the pressure of the vehicle tires. This, of course, defeats the primary purpose of high visibility of the protruberances or ridges at low veiwing angles.
- the ridges were comprised of a harder or more rigid material such as, for example, polyvinyl choride or epoxy or some other rigid or semi-rigid material, they would soon be engulfed by the non-memory cold flow characteristic of the base material under the pressure of the traversing traffic. Once depressed into the base material, the ridges would no longer protrude above a film of rain water and would thus be useless as high visibility ridges for wet night visibility.
- the ridges After vulcanizing the top layer containing the ridges, the ridges can be stretched or flattened or otherwise depressed or deformed by vehicular traffic, but, because of their memory characteristics, will be restored to their original shape after cessation of said traffic. While the elastic property of the vulcanized top portion comprising the ridge structure contains sufficient memory to permit such restoration of shape, such is not enough to inhibit deformability of the soft elastomeric bottom portion which conforms to the road surface and which, with its non-memory property, readily absorbs the shock energy of the wheel impacts of the vehicular traffic.
- An object of the invention accordingly, is to provide a new and improved marker strip or tape for roadways and the like that is not subject to the previously described short-comings of prior devices but that, through a layered combination of a non-vulcanized lower rubber-like surface that conformably adheres to the roadway and an upper vulcanized rubber-like surface containing the marker ridges provides long-lasting adhesion and integrity of the ridges during use.
- the invention embodies a roadway marker strip for adhesively attaching along its bottom surface to the roadway, comprising a rubber-like sheet the bottom layer and surface of which is of cold-flow characteristics and the upper layer and surface of which is deformed into successive protruberances such as ridges and wedges from which incident light from a vehicle traveling along the roadway may be reflected or retro-reflected to indicate the roadway direction, with the upper layer being cross-link-vulcanized to enable restoration of depression of the protruberances caused by vehicle wheels traveling thereover while the strip conformably adheres to the roadway.
- a roadway marker strip for adhesively attaching along its bottom surface to the roadway, comprising a rubber-like sheet the bottom layer and surface of which is of cold-flow characteristics and the upper layer and surface of which is deformed into successive protruberances such as ridges and wedges from which incident light from a vehicle traveling along the roadway may be reflected or retro-reflected to indicate the roadway direction, with the upper layer being cross-link-
- the base material 1 of the marker strip or tape is shown as comprised of a non-vulcanized rubber mixture in sheet form which lacks memory and is easily deformed because it is soft and exhibits cold flow characteristics. It is comprised of a rubber polymer such as acrylonitrile-butadiene in a non- vulcanized state.
- reinforcing fibers, a pigment, and other processing aids are also included.
- An example of a typical formulation is listed in Table I in which the reinforcing fiber is given as wood pulp-like cellulose fibers.
- Other types of fibers including thermoplastic reinforcing fibers may be used without seriously degrading the deformability characteristic of the sheeting.
- the bottom portion or layer of this material is left in this un-vulcanized cold-flow non-memory condition, and is attached by adhesive 6 ( Figures 5 and 6) along the bottom surface to the roadway R.
- the top portion of the rubber sheeting material comprising the marker strip is to be vulcanized to provide it with memory characteristics.
- the top layer may be treated as by a shallow layer of peroxide material 1′ which penetrates the rubber sheeting to a limited depth depicted by the speckled area of Figures 1 and 2. Because of the presence of peroxide or equivalent treatment, this region of the rubber sheeting can be readily cross-linked or vulcanized by the addition of heat.
- the sheet of Figure 1 Prior to the heat, it has the same characteristics as the remainder of the sheet; i.e. it is soft, easily deformed and lacks memory.
- the sheet of Figure 1 has been embossed in the top surface with protruding wedges or ridges 3 and then heat is applied immediately thereafter in order to cross-link or vulcanize and harden this ridged top layer that had been permeated with peroxide, imparting to the ridges a permanent memory such that they can maintain shape with cold flow after vehicular depression, while the bottom of the sheeting 1 remains unvulcanized (not cross-linked) and thus deformable and memory-free to provide the necessary shock energy absorption of vehicular traffic and with conformability, to assist the adhesion in securing the marker to the road surface R.
- the protruding ridges or wedges 3 may be in the form of transversely extending parallel rows, successivelysively longitudinally spaced along the strip, and may be segmented into ridge or wedge blocks, if desired, preferivelyably with a trapezoidal crosssection providing inclined or near-vertical front and rear surfaces 1 ⁇ for reflecting incident low-angle headlight illumination as described in said patents.
- the rubber sheeting base material consists of a two-ply laminate comprising a vulcanizable upper layer 2 laminated on top of a non-vulcanizable rubber sheeting layer 1.
- Layer 2 may contain the same ingredients as layer 1 in addition to vulcanizing agents, such as sulfur (Table II) or other compounds which react with the rubber to cross-link or vulcanize it to completion after the protruberances 3, Figure 4, have been formed.
- vulcanizing agents such as sulfur (Table II) or other compounds which react with the rubber to cross-link or vulcanize it to completion after the protruberances 3, Figure 4, have been formed.
- the top-embossed surface of Figure 4 has a retro-reflecting bead-bonding layer 4 covering the en tire surface.
- This layer may be any suitable bead bonding layer such as a vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyurethane, an epoxy or any material which will satisfactorily bond the glass retroreflective microspheres 5 to the structure, curing during the curing of the upper layer of the strip.
- the bead bonding layer 4 can be applied to the surface either prior to or after the ridges are embossed or otherwise formed.
- the coating of glass microspheres or beads 5 is applied to this layer 4 prior to solidification of the layer. After vulcanization of the top ridged layer, the beads become secured in a partially embedded manner therein with the beads partially exposed including especially on the inclined or near-vertical front and rear surfaces 1 ⁇ of the ridges or protruberances facing traffic.
- the glass microspheres 7 are embedded in the cross-linked top portion of the rubber sheeting of Figure 2. This can be accomplished prior to embossing or during the embossing process itself.
- the glass microspheres 7 are only par tially embedded on the near-vertical or inclined faces of the ridges 3, whereas those shown typically at 8 are fully embedded during the embossment.
- silane is helpful either incorporated with the base material or as a coating on the microspheres or both.
- the adhesive layer 6, shown in Figures 5 and 6 bonds the marker to the road surface R and should exert as little influence as possible on the conformability characteristics of the product to insure good adhesion to the road surface.
- the marker strips or tapes of the invention may be formed by the following illustrative methods of construction which provide the ability to maintain the ridged shape and still permit road surface conformability to assist in good adhesion thereto.
- the embossed material was then heated at 350°F for 3 minutes during which time the upper layer 1′ (Figure 2) of the rubber sheeting impregnated with the peroxide became cross-linked.
- the surface durometer was measured at 65-70, whereas before treatment with the peroxide it was only 40.
- the embossed strip containing the ridged pattern was then positioned beneath a flat sheet of metal and the wheel of a 1 1/2 ton pick-up truck which was allowed to stand over this strip for 10 minutes, depressing the ridges. Inspection of the sample showed that the ridges had flattened to approximately 10% of their normal height. After a 10-minute waiting period, it was observed that the strip showed full recovery of the ridges and restoration to original shape. A similar test but without application of the peroxide failed to recover at all when subjected to the wheel loading for as short a time as 15 seconds.
- the ingredients in TABLE 1 were compounded into sheet form as in EXAMPLE 1 to form two separate sheets 1 and 2 ( Figure 3).
- the sheet 1 was calendered to a thickness of 0.040 inch.
- the layer 2 after the addition of precipitated sulfur in the amount of 3% total weight of rubber, was calendered to produce a 0.020 inch thick sheet.
- the sheets 1 and 2 were then laminated together and impressed with a ridged pattern 3 and heated at 350°F for 9 minutes during which time the sulfur reacted with the rubber to effect vulcanization of the upper embossed layer 2 ( Figure 4).
- the strip was subjected to the truck tire weight for 10 minutes and reacted in a similar manner to the previous test, recovering fully after a 10 minute waiting period.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
- Decoration Of Textiles (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
- Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
- Road Paving Structures (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to surface marker strips as for roadways, pavements and other surfaces, being more particularly directed to methods of providing better roadway-adhering and longer-life properties to such marker strips, and to marker strips or tapes with preformed ridges adhered to the roadways and the like of vastly improved integrity and life that, by reflection and/or retroreflection from the ridges, enable enhanced visibility, especially upon illumination by the headlights of approaching vehicles.
- A paramount problem with preformed plastic pavement marker strips of the prior art is that of providing satisfactory adherence to the road surface under the constant heavy pounding of motor vehicle traffic. Unless the pavement marker has a deformable layer of elastomeric material which lacks memory positioned between the marker and the road surface, good adhesion will not always be achieved. This layer must deform readily and flow without memory into the irregular surface contours of the pavement. The deformability and ability to cold flow permits the absorption of the energy of vehicle tire impacts which would otherwise violently dislodge the pavement marker as the impact energy is dissipated. With an elastic material, adhesion to the road surface is weakened when the road is wet because the stretch-return action of such a memory material causes a pumping action to occur in which water-bearing dirt is forced between the material and the road surface. Dirt then becomes deposited between the adhesive material and the road surface and ultimately destroys the adhesive properties holding the pavement marker to the road.
- While for some applications, techniques for adhesion of the type employed with marker strips of my earlier U.S. Letters Patent Nos. 3,920,346; 4,040,760; 4,069,787; 4,236,788 and 4,681,401 involving a thick mastic, provided a measure of the deformability and cold flow characteristics discussed above, for extensive use and under severe traffic and temperature varying circumstances, however, this technique proved at best to be only a compromise. Additionally, the mastic adhesive proved difficult to apply to the product in an economical manner. During extensive heat of summer, the adhesive had a tendency to flow readily as it became warm, with the result that the pavement-marker would creep or move with very heavy traffic. Sometimes the extremely low temperatures of winter, moreover, would reduce the bonding force between the adhesive and the pavement marker with the disasterous result of removal by snowplow action.
- This problem of adequately securing a preformed plastic pavement-marker tape to the road surface was also recognized and partially solved in prior are U.S. Letters Patent Nos. 3,399,607; 3,587,415 and 4,117,192 and others. The techniques proposed in these patents involved base materials which exhibit desirable characteristics of deformability and lack of memory or cold flow which will provide conformability to the road surface and will absorb the shock energy of vehicular traffic. While useful for preformed flat surface pavement-marker tapes, however, such techniques do not adequately solve the problem for strips or tapes having preformed ridges such as those disclosed in my said earlier patents cited above. Because such prior art material has no memory and exhibits cold flow characteristics, any protruberance such as a ridge or wedge on the surface very quickly disappears when impacted by vehicular traffic so that the ridges flatten out and lose shape under the pressure of the vehicle tires. This, of course, defeats the primary purpose of high visibility of the protruberances or ridges at low veiwing angles. If the ridges were comprised of a harder or more rigid material such as, for example, polyvinyl choride or epoxy or some other rigid or semi-rigid material, they would soon be engulfed by the non-memory cold flow characteristic of the base material under the pressure of the traversing traffic. Once depressed into the base material, the ridges would no longer protrude above a film of rain water and would thus be useless as high visibility ridges for wet night visibility.
- As disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,490,432 which incorporates the teachings of Patent No. 4,388, 359, an attempt was made to solve this problem by including reinforcing fibers with the mix of the non-memory cold-flowing elastomeric base material. It was hoped that the fiber would offer sufficient stiffness to overcome the problem of losing the protruberances upon impact of high volume vehicular traffic. This, however, has not proven to be a completely successful solution; and in a short time, the protruberances become, in practice, flattened into the base material where they lose their function and utility.
- Underlying the present invention, on the other hand, is the discovery that a combined-layered non-vulcanized and vulcanizable rubber sheeting can admirably provide a superior solution to the above-mentioned problems. The conformability and shock energy absorbing features of a non-vulcanized elastomeric rubber sheeting when combined with a vulcanizable elastomeric rubber serving as the top portion of the tape or strip and in which the protruber ances or ridges are formed enables the attainment of the novel results herein. After vulcanizing the top layer containing the ridges, the ridges can be stretched or flattened or otherwise depressed or deformed by vehicular traffic, but, because of their memory characteristics, will be restored to their original shape after cessation of said traffic. While the elastic property of the vulcanized top portion comprising the ridge structure contains sufficient memory to permit such restoration of shape, such is not enough to inhibit deformability of the soft elastomeric bottom portion which conforms to the road surface and which, with its non-memory property, readily absorbs the shock energy of the wheel impacts of the vehicular traffic.
- An object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide a new and improved marker strip or tape for roadways and the like that is not subject to the previously described short-comings of prior devices but that, through a layered combination of a non-vulcanized lower rubber-like surface that conformably adheres to the roadway and an upper vulcanized rubber-like surface containing the marker ridges provides long-lasting adhesion and integrity of the ridges during use.
- Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and are more particularly delineated in the appended claims.
- In summary, however, from one of its important aspects, the invention embodies a roadway marker strip for adhesively attaching along its bottom surface to the roadway, comprising a rubber-like sheet the bottom layer and surface of which is of cold-flow characteristics and the upper layer and surface of which is deformed into successive protruberances such as ridges and wedges from which incident light from a vehicle traveling along the roadway may be reflected or retro-reflected to indicate the roadway direction, with the upper layer being cross-link-vulcanized to enable restoration of depression of the protruberances caused by vehicle wheels traveling thereover while the strip conformably adheres to the roadway. Preferred and best mode embodiment details are hereinafter presented. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
- Figure 1 of which is a cross-section through an single ply rubber sheeting prior to embossing the protruberances or ridges;
- Figure 2 is a cross-section through a single ply rubber sheeting after embossing the protruberances or ridges;
- Figure 3 is a cross-section through a double ply rubber sheeting prior to embossing the protruberances or ridges;
- Figure 4 is a cross-section through a double ply rubber sheeting after embossing the protruberances or ridges; and
- Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sections similar to Figures 2 and 4 after the protruberances have been formed and showing retro-reflection glass microsphere distribution on the surfaces.
- Referring to the drawings, the base material 1 of the marker strip or tape is shown as comprised of a non-vulcanized rubber mixture in sheet form which lacks memory and is easily deformed because it is soft and exhibits cold flow characteristics. It is comprised of a rubber polymer such as acrylonitrile-butadiene in a non- vulcanized state. In addition reinforcing fibers, a pigment, and other processing aids are also included. An example of a typical formulation is listed in Table I in which the reinforcing fiber is given as wood pulp-like cellulose fibers. Other types of fibers including thermoplastic reinforcing fibers may be used without seriously degrading the deformability characteristic of the sheeting. In accordance with the invention, the bottom portion or layer of this material is left in this un-vulcanized cold-flow non-memory condition, and is attached by adhesive 6 (Figures 5 and 6) along the bottom surface to the roadway R. The top portion of the rubber sheeting material comprising the marker strip, however, is to be vulcanized to provide it with memory characteristics. Toward this end, the top layer may be treated as by a shallow layer of peroxide material 1′ which penetrates the rubber sheeting to a limited depth depicted by the speckled area of Figures 1 and 2. Because of the presence of peroxide or equivalent treatment, this region of the rubber sheeting can be readily cross-linked or vulcanized by the addition of heat. Prior to the heat, it has the same characteristics as the remainder of the sheet; i.e. it is soft, easily deformed and lacks memory. As illustrated in Figure 2, the sheet of Figure 1 has been embossed in the top surface with protruding wedges or
ridges 3 and then heat is applied immediately thereafter in order to cross-link or vulcanize and harden this ridged top layer that had been permeated with peroxide, imparting to the ridges a permanent memory such that they can maintain shape with cold flow after vehicular depression, while the bottom of the sheeting 1 remains unvulcanized (not cross-linked) and thus deformable and memory-free to provide the necessary shock energy absorption of vehicular traffic and with conformability, to assist the adhesion in securing the marker to the road surface R. The protruding ridges orwedges 3 may be in the form of transversely extending parallel rows, successively longitudinally spaced along the strip, and may be segmented into ridge or wedge blocks, if desired, preferably with a trapezoidal crosssection providing inclined or near-vertical front and rear surfaces 1˝ for reflecting incident low-angle headlight illumination as described in said patents. - Figures 3 and 4 illustrate another method of accomplishing the same effect. In this case, the rubber sheeting base material consists of a two-ply laminate comprising a vulcanizable
upper layer 2 laminated on top of a non-vulcanizable rubber sheeting layer 1.Layer 2 may contain the same ingredients as layer 1 in addition to vulcanizing agents, such as sulfur (Table II) or other compounds which react with the rubber to cross-link or vulcanize it to completion after theprotruberances 3, Figure 4, have been formed. Once vulcanized, the protruberances or ridges will maintain their shapes because the vulcanization process provides the material with a memory and a degree of surface hardness. - In Figure 5, the top-embossed surface of Figure 4 has a retro-reflecting bead-bonding layer 4 covering the en tire surface. This layer may be any suitable bead bonding layer such as a vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyurethane, an epoxy or any material which will satisfactorily bond the glass retroreflective microspheres 5 to the structure, curing during the curing of the upper layer of the strip. The bead bonding layer 4 can be applied to the surface either prior to or after the ridges are embossed or otherwise formed. The coating of glass microspheres or beads 5 is applied to this layer 4 prior to solidification of the layer. After vulcanization of the top ridged layer, the beads become secured in a partially embedded manner therein with the beads partially exposed including especially on the inclined or near-vertical front and rear surfaces 1˝ of the ridges or protruberances facing traffic.
- As shown in the cross-section of Figure 6, the glass microspheres 7 are embedded in the cross-linked top portion of the rubber sheeting of Figure 2. This can be accomplished prior to embossing or during the embossing process itself. The glass microspheres 7 are only par tially embedded on the near-vertical or inclined faces of the
ridges 3, whereas those shown typically at 8 are fully embedded during the embossment. In order to promote adhesion of these microspheres to the product, it has been found that silane is helpful either incorporated with the base material or as a coating on the microspheres or both. Theadhesive layer 6, shown in Figures 5 and 6, bonds the marker to the road surface R and should exert as little influence as possible on the conformability characteristics of the product to insure good adhesion to the road surface. - The marker strips or tapes of the invention may be formed by the following illustrative methods of construction which provide the ability to maintain the ridged shape and still permit road surface conformability to assist in good adhesion thereto.
- The ingredients listed in Table 1 below, were compounded using a lab roll mill and calender to form a sheet approximately 0.050 inch thick by 4 inches wide by several feet long. A squeegee was then used to apply a liquid layer of methanol and t-butyl perbenzoate onto the surface of the sheeting where a limited penetration of the surface with resulting peroxide occured. After drying with warm air for 30 seconds, the sheeting was then passed between a nip roller and a patterned embossing drum to impress a
ridged pattern 3 into the top surface of the sheeting. The embossed material was then heated at 350°F for 3 minutes during which time the upper layer 1′ (Figure 2) of the rubber sheeting impregnated with the peroxide became cross-linked. The surface durometer was measured at 65-70, whereas before treatment with the peroxide it was only 40. - The embossed strip containing the ridged pattern was then positioned beneath a flat sheet of metal and the wheel of a 1 1/2 ton pick-up truck which was allowed to stand over this strip for 10 minutes, depressing the ridges. Inspection of the sample showed that the ridges had flattened to approximately 10% of their normal height. After a 10-minute waiting period, it was observed that the strip showed full recovery of the ridges and restoration to original shape. A similar test but without application of the peroxide failed to recover at all when subjected to the wheel loading for as short a time as 15 seconds.
- Similar shape recovery or restoration from depression has been observed with actual vehicular travel as well.
TABLE I Material Parts by Weight Acrylonitrile butadiene non-crosslinked elastomer ("Hycar 1022" supplied by B.F. Goodrich) 100 Chlorinated paraffin ("Chlorowax 70-S" supplied by Diamond Shamrock) 70 Chlorinated paraffin ("Chlorowax 40") 5 Reinforcing wood-pulp-like cellulose fibers¹ 120 Pigment² 130 Glass microspheres (0.003 inch average diameter with a refractive index of 1.5) 200 Silica filler ("Hysil 233" supplied by PPG Industries) 20 1 ("Interfibe" supplied by Sullivan Chemical) 2 Titanium dioxide ("Tronox CR800" supplied by Kerr-McGee Chemical) TABLE II Material Parts by Weight Precipitated sulfur 3 - The ingredients in TABLE 1 were compounded into sheet form as in EXAMPLE 1 to form two separate sheets 1 and 2 (Figure 3). The sheet 1 was calendered to a thickness of 0.040 inch. The
layer 2, after the addition of precipitated sulfur in the amount of 3% total weight of rubber, was calendered to produce a 0.020 inch thick sheet. Thesheets 1 and 2 were then laminated together and impressed with aridged pattern 3 and heated at 350°F for 9 minutes during which time the sulfur reacted with the rubber to effect vulcanization of the upper embossed layer 2 (Figure 4). As in EXAMPLE 1, the strip was subjected to the truck tire weight for 10 minutes and reacted in a similar manner to the previous test, recovering fully after a 10 minute waiting period. - The procedure of EXAMPLE 2 was repeated except that a layer of isocyanate polyol liquid polyurethane such as sold under the trademark "Amershield" of Ameron Company, was applied on top of the sulfur-containing layer and a layer of glass microspheres 5 (Figure 5) was applied to the liquid polyurethane layer 4 prior to embossing the ridged pattern. After the polyurethane was dry to the touch, the material was embossed and then subjected to 350°F heat for 9 minutes. The truck tire test results were similar to those of EXAMPLE 1 and the glass microspheres were noted to be unchanged and firmly anchored.
- The procedure of EXAMPLE 2 was repeated except that, prior to embossing, the sulfur-containing
top surface 2 was given an overcoat of a 20% solution of Dow Corning Z6040 "Silane" in methanol, followed by application of glass microspheres. The treated sheet was then subjected to 350°F for 30 seconds and then embossed with a ridged pattern. The embossing procedure caused the beads 7 to be partially embedded on the near vertical faces and almost entirely embedded on the horizontal surfaces (Figure 6). After embossing, the sheet was heated at 350°F for 9 minutes to complete the vulcanization of the sulfur containing layer. The truck tire test results were similar to those of EXAMPLE 1 and the glass microspheres were observed to be unchanged and securely anchored to the vulcanized rubber. - Further modifications will also occur to those skilled in this art and such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (11)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT89309041T ATE98310T1 (en) | 1989-02-10 | 1989-09-06 | SURFACE MARKING STRIPS. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US30931289A | 1989-02-10 | 1989-02-10 | |
US309312 | 1989-02-10 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0381886A1 true EP0381886A1 (en) | 1990-08-16 |
EP0381886B1 EP0381886B1 (en) | 1993-12-08 |
Family
ID=23197671
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP89309041A Expired - Lifetime EP0381886B1 (en) | 1989-02-10 | 1989-09-06 | Surface marker strip |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0381886B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2718779B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR970002857B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1020775C (en) |
AT (1) | ATE98310T1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA1322486C (en) |
DE (1) | DE68911288T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2049328T3 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1997001677A1 (en) * | 1995-06-29 | 1997-01-16 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wet retroreflective marking material |
WO1997001678A1 (en) * | 1995-06-29 | 1997-01-16 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Retroreflective material |
WO1998044202A1 (en) * | 1997-03-31 | 1998-10-08 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wide incident angle reflective plate |
US6303058B1 (en) | 1996-06-27 | 2001-10-16 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Method of making profiled retroreflective marking material |
US6703108B1 (en) | 1995-06-29 | 2004-03-09 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Wet retroreflective marking material |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0792399A1 (en) * | 1994-11-17 | 1997-09-03 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Conformable magnetic articles for use with traffic-bearing surfaces |
JP5643672B2 (en) * | 2011-02-07 | 2014-12-17 | 東日本旅客鉄道株式会社 | Elastic flooring |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3399607A (en) * | 1962-04-13 | 1968-09-03 | Cicogna Franco & Co | Roadway surface marking, and marked road |
US3587415A (en) * | 1967-09-05 | 1971-06-28 | Ludwig Eigenmann | Roadway surface marking,and marked road |
DE2208983B2 (en) * | 1972-02-25 | 1974-01-10 | Chemiegesellschaft Gundernhausen Mbh, 6101 Gundernhausen | Marking bodies for traffic areas and processes for their production |
DE2544059A1 (en) * | 1974-09-30 | 1976-04-08 | Ludwig Eigenmann | PRE-FABRICATED STRIP FOR FLOOR OR ROAD MARKINGS AND METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURING |
US4117192A (en) * | 1976-02-17 | 1978-09-26 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Deformable retroreflective pavement-marking sheet material |
US4388359A (en) * | 1982-04-23 | 1983-06-14 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Embossed pavement-marking sheet material |
US4490432A (en) * | 1982-04-23 | 1984-12-25 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Reinforced pavement-marking sheet material |
US4681401A (en) * | 1982-02-22 | 1987-07-21 | Wyckoff Charles W | Sheet material marker surface for roadways and the like |
-
1989
- 1989-09-06 ES ES89309041T patent/ES2049328T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-09-06 AT AT89309041T patent/ATE98310T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-09-06 EP EP89309041A patent/EP0381886B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-09-06 DE DE68911288T patent/DE68911288T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-09-18 JP JP1241669A patent/JP2718779B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-09-20 CA CA000612133A patent/CA1322486C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-09-20 CN CN89107399A patent/CN1020775C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-10-04 KR KR1019890014207A patent/KR970002857B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3399607A (en) * | 1962-04-13 | 1968-09-03 | Cicogna Franco & Co | Roadway surface marking, and marked road |
US3587415A (en) * | 1967-09-05 | 1971-06-28 | Ludwig Eigenmann | Roadway surface marking,and marked road |
DE2208983B2 (en) * | 1972-02-25 | 1974-01-10 | Chemiegesellschaft Gundernhausen Mbh, 6101 Gundernhausen | Marking bodies for traffic areas and processes for their production |
DE2544059A1 (en) * | 1974-09-30 | 1976-04-08 | Ludwig Eigenmann | PRE-FABRICATED STRIP FOR FLOOR OR ROAD MARKINGS AND METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURING |
US4117192A (en) * | 1976-02-17 | 1978-09-26 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Deformable retroreflective pavement-marking sheet material |
US4681401A (en) * | 1982-02-22 | 1987-07-21 | Wyckoff Charles W | Sheet material marker surface for roadways and the like |
US4388359A (en) * | 1982-04-23 | 1983-06-14 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Embossed pavement-marking sheet material |
US4490432A (en) * | 1982-04-23 | 1984-12-25 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Reinforced pavement-marking sheet material |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1997001677A1 (en) * | 1995-06-29 | 1997-01-16 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wet retroreflective marking material |
WO1997001678A1 (en) * | 1995-06-29 | 1997-01-16 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Retroreflective material |
US6703108B1 (en) | 1995-06-29 | 2004-03-09 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Wet retroreflective marking material |
US6303058B1 (en) | 1996-06-27 | 2001-10-16 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Method of making profiled retroreflective marking material |
WO1998044202A1 (en) * | 1997-03-31 | 1998-10-08 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wide incident angle reflective plate |
US5975706A (en) * | 1997-03-31 | 1999-11-02 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Wide incident angle reflective plate |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN1020775C (en) | 1993-05-19 |
ES2049328T3 (en) | 1994-04-16 |
DE68911288T2 (en) | 1994-06-30 |
CN1044837A (en) | 1990-08-22 |
CA1322486C (en) | 1993-09-28 |
JP2718779B2 (en) | 1998-02-25 |
DE68911288D1 (en) | 1994-01-20 |
ATE98310T1 (en) | 1993-12-15 |
KR970002857B1 (en) | 1997-03-12 |
EP0381886B1 (en) | 1993-12-08 |
JPH02221507A (en) | 1990-09-04 |
KR900013150A (en) | 1990-09-03 |
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