FR2527664A1 - PLOTTER BOX FOR A DEVICE FOR APPLYING MARKING STRIPS ON A PAVEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

In the drawing box for a device for applying marking stripes made of cold-setting colour compound on roadway surfaces, the rear closure wall of the drawing box, in the direction of travel of the device, is also provided with a slide (2') which is displaceable in the vertical direction, in addition to the slide (1') which is attached on the floor and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction. It is thus possible, to lay marking stripes which have wave-shaped thickenings running in the transverse direction at regular intervals. As a result, the markings maintain good night-visibility for vehicle drivers, even in a partially worn state and in heavy rain.

Description

PLOTTER BOX FOR AN APPLICATION DEVICE
MARKING BANDS SER A PAVEMENT
The subject of the invention is a tracer box for a device for applying cold-hardening colored material marking strips on the surface of roads, with a drawer disposed at the bottom and movable in the longitudinal direction.

 A plotter box of this type is the most important element of mobile marking devices. I1 contains the cold-hardening colored mass and is used, when the drawer, arranged at the bottom and movable in the longitudinal direction, is open, to apply the marking.

 These markings are generally deposited with a layer thickness of between 0.3 and 3 mm. To improve night visibility, glass beads with a grain size between 0.05 and 0.8 mm are added to them, partly as a component already incorporated in the cold-hardening colored material, partly in the form of reflective beads subsequently spread on the surface which has not yet hardened, therefore adhesive, of the marking deposited.

 As the known tracer boxes only allow the deposit of markings with a uniform layer thickness9 the luminous effect of these reflective pearls is only guaranteed as long as they have not suffered mechanical damage and have not been covered by the film of water extending over the roadway in rainy weather If the marking has already been partially removed, the reflective pearls are very quickly covered by rainwater and become ineffective from the optical point of view.

 The invention aims to provide markings which have, even in the partially used state and r - r heavy rain, good night visibility for the driver.

The proposed invention is characterized in that the rear enclosure wall 9 in the direction of movement of the device, is provided with an additional drawer, movable in the vertical direction,
1 is particularly advantageous that, in the initial position, this drawer movable in the vertical direction, is held in the deepest position and that it can be raised using a mechanical or pneumatic lifting mechanism, up to a stop. This lifting device can advantageously be controlled using a rotary friction roller, which drives a radial cam.

 The tracer box according to the invention makes it possible to deposit markings with an essentially uniform layer thickness which present at distances of 10 to 50 cm, approximately; corrugated transverse thicknesses. These undulations are obtained by the fact that from time to time, in addition to the drawer disposed at the bottom of the plotter box, movable in the longitudinal direction, and which is open, the drawer movable in the vertical direction is also lifted for a short period. As a result, the section of the outlet orifice is enlarged for a short time, and thus allows an increased quantity of colored material to pass through.

 In order for the thicker undutlations to hold until the colored material has completely hardened, it is necessary for this material to be sufficiently thixotropic. The level of thixotropy required can be defined in accordance with DIN 1048 concerning the measurement of expansion of a cement mortar. According to DIN 1048, 7 kg of a freshly prepared cement mortar are spread out using a special container, on a flat support, and after 15 seconds, the maximum expansion of the mortar is measured in mm. The cold hardening colored materials, usually used for road marking, based on (meth) acrylate resins, under these conditions have an expansion of approximately 580 mm. If, using the tracer box according to the invention , markings with the undulations described must be deposited, a proportion of thixotropy agent must be added to the colored material, such that the expansion is only about 450 mm.

 The recommended dimensions for the markings to be applied using the plotter box according to the invention are, for example, a width of 10 to 25 cm, a layer thickness in the uniform part of approximately 1.5 mm and a layer thickness of the corrugations of between 5 and 10 mm approximately.

 The plotter box according to the invention, as well as its operation, are shown schematically in the accompanying drawings.

 Figure 1 shows the plotter box in its initial position 9 with the drawer (1) disposed at the bottom, movable in the longitudinal direction, closed, and the drawer (2) movable in the vertical direction, which is in the most low. The drawer (1) abuts in this initial position against the drawer (2) and it absolutely cannot flow out of colored material.

 FIG. 2 represents the tracer box with the drawer (Ir) at the bottom, movable longitudinally, in the open state, and the drawer (2) movable vertically, always in the lowest position. In this position, a constant, predetermined quantity of colored mass flows out and a marking is obtained with a uniform layer thickness (5).

 FIG. 3 represents the plotter box with the drawer (1 ') at the bottom, with longitudinal displacement, still open, and with the drawer (2') movable vertically, raised by the lifting device (3) up to the stop ( 4).

In this position, more colored matter flows. If this position is occupied from time to time for a short time, a marking is then obtained which, in addition to the parts
with a uniform layer thickness, transverse corrugated thickeners (6). The lifting device (3) being controlled by means of a rotary friction roller driving a radial cam, it is possible to obtain regular deviations, in the longitudinal direction9 between the undulations in excess thickness (6).

An important advantage of the plotter box according to the invention is that it makes it possible to apply, as desired, either a marking with transverse undulations in excess thickness 3 or, by not operating the lifting device (3), a marking with a constantly uniform layer thickness
On a marking applied by means of the tracer box according to the invention and strewn with reflective beads, the following approximate measurements of brightness were carried out by means of a "Retrometer 022 DR" from the company Optronik9 Berline 1. In the dry state a) over a part of uniform thickness
> 250 mcd / m (minimum allowed 65 mcd / m) b) on a ripple in excess thickness
> 350 mcd / m.

2. In the presence of a film of water of about 2 mm a) over a part of uniform thickness
> P 50 mcd / m2 b) on a ripple in excess thickness
> 200 mcd / m2.

Claims (1)

 1 Tracer box for a device for applying marking tapes on a roadway, e, r cold hardening colored material, on the surface of the roadway, with a drawer (1) disposed at the bottom, movable in longitudinal direction, box characterized in that the rear enclosure wall of the tracer box in the direction of movement of the device 9 is provided with a drawer (2) supplementaii-e movable in vertical direction.  box according to claim 1. characterized in that the drawer (2) movable in the vertical direction --- 'is maintained, in the initial position, by means of a force of l-call, in the lowest position , and that it can be lifted using a mechanical or pneumatic lifting device (3) to a stop (4).  - unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the mechanical or pneumatic lifting device (3) is controlled by means of a rotary friction roller, which drives a radial cam.