GB2187776A - Method of and apparatus for repairing roads - Google Patents

Abstract

Road-repairing apparatus, comprising a structure provided with road wheels which, in use, support the apparatus on a road surface for travel therealong, said structure providing a traffic bearing surface including a rear ramp surface inclined upwardly from a rear end of the traffic bearing surface and a front ramp surface inclined downwardly to a front end of the traffic bearing surface, the apparatus including driving means for driving at least some of said road wheels, steering means for steering the apparatus, and road making equipment, all accommodated below said traffic bearing surface, the arrangement being such that, in use, with said road wheels engaging a road surface, said rear end and said front end of the traffic bearing surface are disposed substantially at the level of the road surface and that by operation of said driving means, the apparatus can be propelled along the road in a direction determined by said wheels, the front and rear ends of the traffic bearing surface respectively leading and trailing in said direction, and that traffic moving along the road in the same direction and in line with the apparatus, at a higher speed than the latter, can run onto said rear ramp surface from the rear of the apparatus and pass over said traffic bearing surface to run down the front ramp surface and pass on ahead of the apparatus, whilst the road surface beneath the apparatus is simultaneously being repaired by said road-making apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of and apparatus for repairing roads THIS INVENTION relates to a method of and apparatus for making or repairing roads.

It is well known that the maintenance of roads, in particular the repair of road surfaces or the "re-surfacing" of roads causes substantial traffic congestion because the road in question either has to be closed entirely or is partially obstructed so that, for example, one or more lanes of a multi-lane carriageway must be temporarily closed around the area under repair.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a method of and apparatus for repairing roads whereby the obstruction presented to traffic flow is reduced as compared with that normally encountered at present.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided road-repairing apparatus, comprising a structure provided with road wheels, in use, support the apparatus on a road surface for travel therealong, said structure providing a traffic bearing surface including a rear ramp surface inclined upwardly from a rear end of the traffic bearing surface and a front ramp surface inclined downwardly to a front end of the traffic bearing surface, the apparatus including driving means for driving at least some of said road wheels, steering means for steering the apparatus, and road making equipment, all accommodated below said traffic bearing surface, the arrangement being such that, in use, with said road wheels engaging a road surface, said rear end and said front end of the traffic bearing surface are disposed substantially at the level of the road surface and that by operation of said driving means, the apparatus can be propelled along the road in a direction determined by said wheels, the front and rear ends of the traffic bearing surface respectively leading and trailing in said direction, and that traffic moving along the road in the same direction and in line with the apparatus, at a higher speed than the latter, can run onto said rear ramp surface from the rear of the apparatus and pass over said traffic bearing surface to run down the front ramp surface and pass on ahead of the apparatus, whilst the road surface beneath the apparatus is simultaneously being repaired by said road-making apparatus.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of repairing a road surface including providing apparatus according to the first-noted aspect of the invention and driving the apparatus along a road whilst operating said road-making equipment, and allowing traffic proceeding along the road to pass the area under repair by passing over said traffic bearing surface.

An embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a roadmaking apparatus embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of a part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 Referring to Fig. 1, apparatus embodying the invention comprises a plurality of units detachably connected end to end. Each unit includes a platform providing a traffic-bearing surface and, below the platform, road wheels which support the unit on a road surface, indicated schematically at 10. In the arrangement shown, the apparatus includes a rear ramp unit 12, a front ramp unit 14 and an intermediate unit 16.The intermediate unit 16 provides a horizontal platform 22 providing a horizontal traffic-bearing surface spaced substantially above the road surface, the platform 22 being supported adjacent either end by two pairs of road engaging wheels 40. The rear ramp unit 12 provides a ramp surface 18 which is inclined upwardly and forwardly from the rear end 20 of the unit, which rear end 20, in use, is at or very close to the road surface 10. The ramp surface 18 extends to the level of the traffic bearing surface of the platform 22 of intermediate unit 16. Correspondingly, the front ramp unit 14 has a front ramp surface 24 which is inclined forwardly and downwardly from the level of the traffic bearing surface of platform 22 at the front end of unit 16 to the front end 24 of the apparatus which, in use, is at or very close to the level of road surface 10.

The apparatus thus, in effect, provides a bridge, capable of carrying traffic from one end of the apparatus to the other, over the part of the road surface 10 occupied by the apparatus. As shown, the units 12, 14 and 16 have superstructure, on either side of the traffic-bearing surface, and constituting a parapet or crash barrier. The front ramp unit 14accommodates, under the platform 24, a driver's seat 28 and steering wheel 30 and includes a set of steerable wheels 32 and two pairs of rear wheels 33. A periscope 34, extending upwardly from the driver's compartment to above the level of the platform 26 and superstructure of the unit 14 allows the driver occupying the seat 28 to have an unobstructed view of the road ahead.The driver's seat 28, steering wheel 30, steerable wheels 32 and wheels 33 and periscope 34 are duplicated in the rear ramp unit 12 (and are correspondingly referenced), such duplication being provided to allow steering of the apparatus when reversing or proceeding rearwardly.

The intermediate unit 16 provides, between the wheels 40 at its forward end and the wheels 40 at its rear end, a tarmac head 42 for applying tarred chips or other surfacing material and, behind the tarmac head 42, surfacing rolls 44. It will be appreciated that, where appropriate, the tarmac head 42 might be preceded by equipment, known per se, for stripping from the existing road surface an upper layer to be replaced by the tarmac head 42. It may be more convenient to provide the surface stripping equipment in a second intermediate unit, otherwise similar to unit 16 and interposed between the unit 16 and the front ramp unit 14. Thus, the particular form of the apparatus required for any particular application may be assembled by incorporating the selected intermediate units between the front and rear ramp units.

The various units 14, 16, 18 are preferably linked together in such a manner as to allow limited relative movement between the units, for example so as to allow the apparatus to follow bends in the road (for which limited angular movement in a substantially horizontally plane is required, and to allow the apparatus to follow undulations in the road surface (for which limited angular movement in a vertical plane is required). To this end, adjacent units may be linked, at a level close to the road surface by a solid tow bar pivotably connected to either unit, whilst at the level of the traffic-bearing surface, adjacent units may be linked by a telescopically extendable bar (preferably of square cross-section) pivotally connected to the adjacent sections.The pivotal connection of the solid and telescopic bars with the adjacent units may be effected, in manner known per se, by ball hitches. The traffic-bearing surface in the region of the junctions between units may be provided by overlapping, relatively slidable, steel plates.

At least one of the units has road wheels which are driven by driving means (and in the preferred embodiment, each unit has at least one pair of its road wheels driven by respective driving means). The driving means is preferably capable of driving the apparatus, at choice, in either of two speeds, namely a slow speed range, of from .05mph to 3mph, used during a road repairing or re-surfacing operation, and a high speed range of from 15 to 20mph, used when it is simply desired to move the apparatus from one location to another, without carrying out simultaneous road repairing or re-surfacing work.

At least the extreme ends, indicated at 46 and 48 of the ramps 14 and 18 can be pivoted upwardly, to give a substantial clearance with respect to the ground, by means of respective hydraulic actuators.

Alternatively, or in addition, all of the road wheels of each unit may be carried at the ends of hydraulically extensible legs or struts extending downwardly from the respective unit, for example as shown in Fig. 2 in which the struts or legs are indicated at 50.

As Fig. 2 also shows, at each of the respective positions along a unit, the unit may have four roadwheels spaced apart abreast of the unit, arranged as two pairs of wheels with each pair having a respective common axle and each axle having a respective hydraulically extensible strut.

The ramp ends, tarmac head, rollers, etc.

may simply be raised clear of the road, for straightforward transport of the apparatus, by extending the struts or legs to raise the platform, etc. from the road. However, the tarmac head and rolls, or other equipment, such as surface stripper, may be provided with independent hydraulic means whereby they may be lifted for transport.

The legs or struts 50 may also be adjusted in length for other purposes, for example shortened, to allow the platforms to be lowered to allow the apparatus, and any vehicles passing thereover, to pass under low motorway bridges, (the road repairing or re-surfacing functions of the apparatus may have to be suspended or restricted during such passage).

Hydraulically operated slides or flaps may be provided in the top of the apparatus to allow materials to be delivered to the apparatus.

If materials have to be unloaded from the apparatus, such as debris resulting from stripping the old road surface, means may be provided for loading the unwanted material onto skips carried temporarily by the apparatus, or to trucks running alongside the apparatus or to the roadside. Such means may comprise, for example, augers or belt conveyors.

An entire main unit, similar to unit 16 but additional to the units already referred to, may be provided for receiving and storing such debris and unloading the same at the desired time and in the desired manner.

It is proposed that the apparatus would be built to a width which would cover 3 of the width of a normal three-lane motorway, i.e.

one lane plus perhaps one foot although any width could be considered.

The length of the apparatus makes it desirable to prove it with an automatic power steering system in which at least one pair of steerable wheels is provided in each section.

A preferred system comprises a short boom (not shown) projecting at 90" from the side of the apparatus, and situated between the leading (driver controlled) wheels and the wheels immediately following. From this boom, a line of paint, or other detectable material is sprayed on to the road, verge or hard shoulder, where sensors detect and control all the following steerable wheels to ensure that these all follow the same track as the leading wheels. The periscope in the front unit may be equipped with a twin angle system so that it can give a wide angle general view, and also a narrow angle enlarged view, similar to that afforded by a telescope, to give accurate steering and ramp control. Closed circuit T.V.

could also be used.

It is preferred to utilise electric propulsion for the driven wheels of the apparatus and for appropriate parts of the road repairing equipment, the required electricity being provided by a generator housed in one unit and driven, for example, by an internal combustion engine.

The apparatus preferably incorporates a hydraulic pump or pumps whereby hydraulically operated parts of the apparatus, such as power steering mechanisms, extensible hydraulic struts, rams for lifting and lowering ramp ends, servo braking systems etc., may be powered, such pumps preferably being electrically driven from the generator. The generator also provides power for lighting, etc. A master gear may be provided to give good speed control at ultra low speeds, and to give speeds of up to 30mph with the ramp ends, etc. lifted.

A telescopically extendable and retractable apparatus may be mounted at the rear of the apparatus to carry warning signs and instructions to following motorists as indicated at 55.

The sides of the apparatus are preferably adequately protected from impact by other vehicles by crash protection strips (not shown). The sides of the apparatus may also have suitable cladding to afford reasonable weather protection, and it is assumed that, provided toilet and rest facilities are built in, operators would be able to remain with the apparatus for normal working periods. Adequate lighting inside and out would enable the apparatus to operate 24 hours a day if required.

Claims (5)

1. Road-repairing apparatus, comprising a structure provided with road wheels which, in use, support the apparatus on a road surface for travel therealong, said structure providing a traffic bearing surface including a rear ramp surface inclined upwardly from a rear end of the traffic bearing surface and a front ramp surface inclined downwardly to a front end of the traffic bearing surface, the apparatus including driving means for driving at least some of said road wheels, steering means for steering the apparatus, and road making equipment, all accommodated below said traffic bearing surface, the arrangement being such that, in use, with said road wheels engaging a road surface, said rear end and said front end of the traffic bearing surface are disposed substantially at the level of the road surface and that by operation of said driving means, the apparatus can be propelled along the road in a direction determined by said wheels, the front and rear ends of the traffic bearing surface respectively leading and trailing in said direction, and that traffic moving along the road in the same direction and in line with the apparatus, at a higher speed than the latter, can run onto said rear ramp surface from the rear of the apparatus and pass over said traffic bearing surface to run down the front ramp surface and pass on ahead of the apparatus, whilst the road surface beneath the apparatus is simultaneously being repaired by said road-making apparatus.

2. A method of repairing a road surface including providing apparatus according to claim 1 and driving the apparatus along a road whilst operating said road-making equipment, and allowing traffic proceeding along the road to pass the area under repair by passing over said traffic bearing surface.

3. Road-making apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

4. A method of repairing or re-making a road surface, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.