SA95150502B1 - Traffic resistant reflective road sign for paved roads - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: A reflective paving marker consisting of a hollow structural mold (with or without studs facing downward), a stud facing downward, integrated as a unit with the molding, and thermoplastic reflectors having reflective elements visible through holes in the molding. A filler based on epoxy is used to fix the reflective plate (or reflective plates) in place in the mold by adhering tightly to the mold, the screw and the reflective plate (or reflective plates) to increase the mark's resistance to shocks. The nail shall be equipped with a set of blades extending outward along its longitudinal axis to form a cross section in the form of X. The blades are equipped with surfaces that are flat outward and circular in between. The mark is made by forming the mold (with or without supports), screwing, placing the reflective plate (or reflective plates) in the mold, filling the liquid filler into the mold, and hardening the filler material. Figure No. (1).

Description

Y Y Motion Resistant Reflective Road Marker for Pavement Full Description BACKGROUND The invention relates generally to reflective road signs designed to be mounted on a road surface. More specifically, the invention relates to road signs that are permanently installed and are resistant to movement and damage when the tires of cars traveling at high speed rub against them.

° Road signs have become widely accepted as permanent fixtures to provide Af pe signals to mark traffic lanes and control the flow of traffic on roads and are used with; or instead of; Traditional painted road lines. Many of these signs include an Sse that reflects the light emitted by oncoming vehicles in order to give a signal that the operators of oncoming vehicles can see.

0 Reflective road signs consist of an outer shell of a material designed to withstand high shock forces that are expected to be exposed to on highways. One of the first types of markings of the variety still commonly used today is shown in US Patent No. 2,777,771 granted to HEENAN In the basic structure shown in Patent No. YYV, the plastic reflective elements form first as part of the empty outer shell walls and then

VO By means of the vacuum metallization process, a layer of metal is placed on the exposed faces of the cube comer retro reflective elements, after which the shell is filled or "stuffed" With a solid epoxy type material This results in a relatively solid structure and over the years cal has been very durable during use Patent 771 and others in the past had a flat bottom and were generally bolted

0 to the surface of the roads with adhesives. And the method of fixing the sign on the road was sufficient in most areas of the southern states of the United States “Gh sunbelt” Cus snow plows are not used. The sign remains attached to the surface of regular pavement in the United States even when the asphalt material on which the sign is installed is heated by heat The summer sun, bs, does not move sideways, rotate, or sink into the pavement as a result of vehicle tires rubbing against it.

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v}. In the regions of the states of the North American states “snow belt areas”, the paving signs are subject to very large forces of uprooting or changing locations due to the force of the snow plow blade. To avoid these shocks, the signs are installed in metal castings that are buried inside the surface of the road. These castings are equipped with rails on each of the Both sides of the reflector to raise the blade over the © sign mold so that it is relatively harmless.Although these castings succeed in protecting the signs from contact with snow plow blades, they add considerable expense to the production and installation cost of each sign.With the widespread use of road signs beyond half In the Western Hemisphere, new road and bump conditions are challenging previously accepted means of permanently attaching 0 signs to pavement surfaces and protecting them from damage. For example, in Saudi Arabia, vehicles generally have much greater axle load and higher top speeds ( In addition, the quality of the asphalt material in the pavements is much lower than what is found in the United States of America or Western countries, and it is prone to softer areas. Vo use of the type of marks described in Patent 771 under GORI conditions of the type described above caused the mark to sink into the pavers due to downward impact forces on the soft pavers which are heated by the heat of the sun. Also, affixing the sign to the road using butyl adhesive materials instead of epoxy as required in that country leads to unwanted lateral slippage and rotational movement of the sign. The previous signs = 0 contain columns that enter into the paving layer, and were largely successful. Only partial to the unwanted pleasures of motion. US Patent No. 3,915,711 shows a traffic button or road sign with a column with triangular projections. More recently, Stimsonite Corporation offered model number YYO road signs that were equipped with a torque-resistant bolt to keep the sign in place. None of these clad Yos could withstand the bumps on difficult roads and severe traffic conditions found in places like Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One of the functions of this invention is to provide an improved impact resistant and reflective road sign that resists downward motion, lateral motion and rotational motion upon impact even when the

¢ Installed on soft roads or other poor quality roads. Another function of this invention is to provide an improved impact-resistant and reflective road sign that resists motion caused by high-speed impacts by high-speed vehicles equipped with le-pressure tires even when installed on soft roads or other roads of poor quality. Also the (aa) other functions of this invention is to provide an improved road sign to be installed. Permanently impact-resistant and reflective, withstands movement caused by high-speed impacts on high-speed vehicles equipped with high-pressure tyres; But they are relatively inexpensive in terms of the cost of manufacture, installation, and other additional tasks of the invention are evident from the following discussion of the invention and its preferred configuration. General description of the invention: This invention provides an improved, shock-resistant and reflective road sign that resists downward movement, lateral movement, and rotational movement when vehicles collide with it. The innovative mark is useful 1 _ especially in countries where the combined mark is liable to be hit by heavier vehicles traveling at greater speeds and with higher tire pressures than usually occurs in the United States. Also, this invention is particularly useful for installation on poor quality roads confined from dud or crumbling asphalt pavements. The invention does not require the purchase or installation of any additional structures to protect the mark such as moldings 0 used for road markings in the North American states "snow countries". The innovative road sign is equipped with a hollow mold formed from shock-resistant aluminum, and its upper part is generally parallel to the road surface, and the side walls are inclined from the top towards the bottom. A nail protrudes downward from the top of the mold and is equipped with a set of blades, each of which extends along the length of the nail. And the nail is formed from the same shock-resistant material, Yo, from which the mold is formed, and it forms one piece with the mold. The mold contains a reflective plate located at a level identical to the level of its inner surface. The reflector plate is a piece of thermoplastic with two slanted front and back sections bearing the YA

. Reflective elements in the form of cube corners and a central part that touches the inside of the upper part of the mould. The corners of the reflective cubes can be seen through the mould. Z In an alternative formation of the sign, the hollow mold shall contain Al supports from the upper part of the mold towards the bottom until the supports are level with the road surface.

° In this configuration, the reflectors are independent of one another and are not connected to one another as part of a single plastic panel. The mold is filled with a material that hardens in place to hold the reflective plate in the mold, to provide additional tensile strength to the sign, and to create a flat bottom for contact with the road surface. The filler surrounds and contacts the part of the pin that passes from the top of the die downward through the axis of the die. The filler material, which is preferably epoxy, secures the nail

0, the reflector plate and the molding and increases the tightness of the plate to the molding. The use of a liquid filler material that hardens with time allows easy placement of the material in the cavity of the inner mold and ensures obtaining a flat surface that forms the bottom of the mold.

Also, this invention incorporates a new and non-intuitive Ade ZY reflective method

And improved. The method includes steps to form a hollow block as a single piece with a nail through

Vo face down in impact-resistant aluminum and place a reflective thermoplastic sheet around the nail when it meets the top of the mold so that the corners of the reflective blocks are visible

Through the front and back sides of the template. The reflective plate touches the top of the mould

It is fixed in that position by filling the mold with epoxy. Either the epoxy is left to dry over time as a result of exposure to air and heat, or it is permanently hardened by another curing process. Complete

0 Installing the sign by inserting the protruding nail into the road while placing the bottom of the visible part above the ground in a flat manner on the road surface. The nail is hammered in order to facilitate its secure insertion into the ground, and the shape of the nail blades prevents rotational movement. Likewise, the screw prevents lateral movement of the mark as a result of a lateral impact and prevents downward movement in soft paving due to overhead impacts. Add the aggregate component of the template unit -

Gland Yo, made of aluminum and epoxy filling, has tensile strength for the sign and reduces the possibility of damage to the sign due to severe impacts.

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Brief Explanation of the Drawings: Z This invention becomes more fully understood by using the accompanying drawings, in which similar numbers indicate similar elements. Figure (1) is a top view of the preferred configuration for the invention of the reflective ° road sign. Jal (7) is a bottom view of the preferred configuration for the invention of the reflective road sign. Figure (“) is a bottom plan view of the hollow die and screw Monolithic of the preferred formation. Including the reflective thermoplastic sheet inserted in it. Figure (1) is a cross-sectional view of the preferred formation installed in the path (Yo) taken at line (1-1) in Figure (7). Figure (V) is a view Bottom diagram of the hollow block and single screw for an alternative to the reflective road sign invention. It is a lateral sectional view of the hollow block and single nail for an alternative formation taken at line (3-9) in Figure AV) Detailed description: With reference to Figures (1) to (1), the preferred formation of the road sign (01) For this invention, it consists of a die (YY) and a nail projecting towards the bottom (; 7) and reflectors (776). The Yo mold is provided with an upper wall (YA) that is generally level and parallel to the road surface on which the sign is to be installed. Two side walls (01”) are slanted downward from the top wall to define the sides of the mold, while the front and back sides of the mold have (VY) holes to allow for YA visibility.

. Y . reflectors. And the special shape of the mold reduces the stress resulting from impacting the wheels of vehicles, whether with respect to the tires or with respect to the sign itself. At its bottom, they diverge from the mold towards the front and towards (YY). The lips shall be extended at the same level as the pavement when the sign is installed in the road. The flanges can be attached to the pavement with adhesives to reinforce the basic method of permanently fixing the © sign to the pavement using a screw. They are a single integral piece forged from aluminum (Y€) and the nail (YY) The molding is impact resistant . The nail protrudes downward (in relation to the way when (YY), the template (Y£) and the nail (YY) of the template (YA) mark) are installed from the axis of the upper wall slightly as the nail protrudes more (V4) they intersect at a circular collar (;?). The nail 0 tapers away from the upper wall and is shaped to locate four blades (6) extending downward along the nail and outward away from the nail. The presence of these blades leads to the sector becoming outward. (YA) sie the nail in the form of *”. And each of the aforementioned connections has a face in which the nail in its parts between the blades is curved to form a soft semi-sliding area. Whereas, the screw is attached to the mold 06 before leaving it. And about a quarter to a fifth of the screw is present inside the cavity of the mold as (1) (2) shown in the two unified figures (4). Figure (0) shows the mold and the screw with the additional reflective plate (40) after it has been placed in and in contact with the mold (77) but before the filling material is placed. Figure (6) shows a sectional and side view 0 of the formation Preferred as installed in the pavement of the road through the line (=) of the figure (Y). The reflective plate (£4) contains two reflective parts (77) and a flat middle part (47). The front and rear reflectors are inclined (7). At an angle to the center flat portion (47) of the plate when the (71) 5?_reflector (40) are perfectly aligned with the plane edges of the two die holes with the center portion directly in contact with the inside (YY) of the plate position Reflector (40) in mold (YA) top wall (4”) Reflective plate (£0) has a round hole (££) that fits snugly around collar

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for template. The slot allows the reflective plate (+) to (YA) where the pin meets the top wall slide down along the pin to its final assembly point where it makes contact with the inside of the die (YY) reflective plate (YT) and when it rests Reflective plate (£4) In this position are the die reflectors (77). Those parts of the reflective plate (VY) visible through the two holes (£0)© contain reflective elements in the form of cube corners (£0) On its inner side, the back (£4) faces of the corners of the cubes are coated with a reflective material, as is known technically. As a result, the reflectivity of the corners of the cubes (£0) is not lost when the filling touches them in the mould. It is (YY). ) The front faces of the reflective plate (£4) which are visible through the slots of the mold are subject to contact with vehicle tires and other objects that can stain the surface and damage the optical quality of the reflectors, which reduces their optical quality. Accordingly, it is possible to stick strips (40) very thin untreated glass (£7) on the visible parts of the reflective panel and the use of glass sheets for this purpose is described in US Patents No. ,??? and No. 5,740,714 incorporated herein. 4 The mark contains a padding (7;) that rests on the entire interior of the hollow mold Vo of the mold and the reflective plate (£0) and part of (V4) is in contact with the inside of each of the side walls contained within the mold. The filling forms a flat part located in the same plane (YE) as the nail of the mould. As a result, the geometry (YY) in which the lower surface of the lower flanges is located (01). The bottom of the part above ground level of the mark (YY) and the flanges (£V) forms the filling and the bottom can be fixed The surface of the paving is leveled with adhesives, which helps prevent the 0 mark from being embedded in the soft paving or from cutting into the paving, as can happen when marks with a notched bottom are used. Lead to create resistance to shocks, and another metal or plastic material can be used as it is known technically in this field 5?_ in order to provide the appropriate strength.The shocks that the mold is exposed to are transmitted downward through the screw and distributed through it. Not only is the shock absorption in the area of contact of the mold with the pavement, but also along the contact surface of the nail, including the flat faces of the blades, with the lower surface of the pavement and the ground around it. (©*)

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q | The torque forces that the mold is subjected to from vehicle impacts are resisted by the screw structure. The lath (7") prevents rotational motion by pushing against the surrounding pavement and ground along its sharp arched edges during impact. The taper of the screw allows for easy insertion into the smaller cylindrical hole and also prevents the © mark from moving downward into the soft pavements. The reflective panel is formed from a thermoplastic material known technically in the technique of manufacturing reflectors in the form of cube corners. The use of a silver mirror-like surface placed on the back surface of the corners of the cubes is generally known artistically. It is preferable that the grouting material be epoxy, but any other technically known grouting material may be used. It is better that it be a hardening liquid that can be poured or otherwise placed inside the mold while it is upside down. It is preferable that the epoxy or other material hardens when exposed to air. Gravity causes the surface of the epoxy to harden so that it becomes flat to form the bottom surface (EA) and a layer of sand or beads can also be added on the surface of the level (48) epoxy to give the desired VO texture to the bottom as it is known technically. The innovative tag is manufactured by first forming the mold (YY) and the screw (;7) from impact-resistant material. The reflective dal (£0) is then inserted so that it slides down onto the pin and secured so that the hole (££) is snug around the collar (VE) Filling material is poured into the inner cavity of the inverted die piece/pin bottom up to That the upper surface 0 _ of the filling becomes equal with the lower lips (YY), and the epoxy material is hardened by contact with air, heat, or any other known method Lid, and finally Ja is placed on the surface when the epoxy material becomes Partially hard and still sticky. The mark is installed in the way (0) by first drilling a cylindrical hole (0) with a diameter slightly less than the average diameter of the nail. Then the hole is blown clean and an adhesive sala (4*) YO known Jala drilled the hole and around the (07) paving surface with which the jad was in contact with the die. Finally the nail (YE) of the mark was inserted into the hole and the mark was forcibly pushed into the desired position in the path. It was found that although the Preferred forming design provides sufficient strength for small to medium sized signs such as those measuring 10cm x 01cm but it is YA

A Additional structural support must be provided for larger marks such as those of CX aud size. The alternative formation structure shown in figures (=) provides this additional support. As with the preferred formation, the alternative formation consists of a template (YY ) and a downward projecting nail (YE) and reflectors (11(©). However, JY adds a set of All (0A) cross-braces projecting downward (relative to the roadway when the sign is installed) from the wall The upper (YA) of the mold (YY) between the two side walls (001). The supports (0A) extend to the level at which the lower flanges (YY) lie and are therefore situated substantially in the same plane. When the sign is installed in the road, it is preferred that the template (YY), the supports (0A) and the screw (YE) be a single, compact piece formed from shock-resistant aluminum. The screw (? 7) ) in this formation also provided with blades (V7) having flat faces (TA) Figure (A) shows the template, supports and screw in which the reflective plates (10) are placed Jala template (710) before Filling material placement The reflecting plates (10) shall be inclined at an angle VO: so that they lie at the same level as the edges of the holes (YY) of the mould. When the reflective panels (1) are placed in the mold the reflectors (V1) are visible through the holes (YY) in the mold (YY) and unlike the preferred configuration the reflectors (776) in this alternative formation are not cast as part Made of a single piece of thermoplastic surrounding the screw. ) and the part of the nail (Y£) located within the mould. The shim holds the different parts of the mark together and defines a plane part in the same geometric plane as the lower surface of the lower flanges (FY) of the mould. An alternate profile is made for this mark Innovative first, JS mold (YY) Yo, supports (04) and screw (YE) of impact-resistant material. Then reflective plates (+1) are placed in the mold (YY) so that Reflectors (Y1) are visible through the holes (7) of the mold (77). Filling material is poured into the inner cavity of the piece consisting of the mold, supports and screw which has been turned so that the bottom is on top until the upper surface is YA.

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For filling at the same level as JS of the lower flanges (YY) and supports (0A), the filling material (£V) shall be hardened by contact with air, heat, or by any other method known technically. Finally, sand (04) is placed on the flat surface (£4) when the filling material has become partially hard and is still viscous. This formation of the road mark (OF) is installed in the same way as the preferred formation of the innovative mark. Although what is currently believed to be the preferred formation and the alternative formation of the invention has been described, it must be understood that various modifications may be made to it without deviating from the intended purpose of the invention which has been identified in the claims set forth below:

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Claims (1)

1 Elements of protection : A reflective road sign consisting of 1-1 7 hollow block formed from impact-resistant material; The formwork has an upper wall that is generally 0 parallel to the road surface and two side walls that are inclined downward from the upper wall; The mold has a front face that is wide open; A nail protruding downward from ° the inner surface of the upper wall of the mold in a perpendicular position to it centered with respect to ell Sl 1 and the nail is formed from the same shock-resistant material from which the mold is formed and y is formed as a single unit with the mold; reflective device formed from thermoplastic material; A The reflective device shall have a first part containing reflective elements in the form of 4 cube corners located on its back side; The reflective medium is slanted downward on the y front face of the die with the reflectors formed from the corners of the cubes visible through 11 the front face; Stuffing device to place the filling inside the mold to secure the VY reflective device to the mould. 1 ?- The reflective road sign according to Claim (1) where the mold and nail are formed from aluminum Y. Ade = F 1 The reflective road sign according to Clause (1) where the nail is equipped with a Y set of The blades extend along the length of the nail and the blades protrude outward from the nail. Reflective methods according to the element of protection (£) where the nail is tapering all its length Y. Ade - + 1 Reflective methods according to the element of protection (©) where the blades are faceted towards ,. The outside is flat Y Ade - #1 reflective method Claim (1) where the first part of the reflective Y device is covered with a thin sheet of untreated glass. Ade —A 1 reflective method Claim (1) (where the mold is open with a large amount of dn)" behind the mold and where the reflective medium includes a second part containing YA YY 1 and reflective elements in the form of cube corners, and the reflective medium is slanted towards the bottom on the back face of the mold, with the possibility of seeing the reflectors in the form of cube corners through the back face.° Where the said reflective medium is (A) The reflective road sign according to Clause 4-1 includes a third part in contact with the inner surface of the mould; The aforementioned third part together with both the aforementioned first part and the aforementioned second part constitute an integral piece of the aforementioned 1-0 reflective device. with the nail near its meeting point with the upper wall of the mould. Where the second part of the device (V) reflective road sign according to protection element 1-11 touches a large part of the inner surface of the upper wall. Y reflective road sign according to of protection (1) where the grouting medium is epoxy. 11-1 which also consists of supports extending (1) reflective roads according to protection Ade-1” 1 downward from the upper wall of the mold to add structural support to the mold Where the supports are composed of (VF) the reflective road sign according to the element of protection 14-1 template. lial two parallel supports Y dl 13 the reflective roads according to the protection element (1) where the supports are composed Ade 10 1 of at least one support that connects the two parallel supports and is perpendicular to them. Y where the nail has (VF) reflective ways according to the element of protection Ade -11” 1 A set of blades extends along the length of the nail and is The blades project outward from the Y of the nail. v where the nail has (V1) reflective ways in accordance with Clause Ade -117 1 X Four blades arranged so as to form a Y-shaped cross-section where the nail is Tapering on (VY) reflective road marking according to element Ae —VA 1 its entire length. Y where the blades have faces in the direction of (VA) reflective road sign according to element 1 —14 outside protection Y is flat. Where the first part of the means (VY) is the reflective methods according to protection element Ade -701 1 Ya Reflective Vee covered with a thin film of untreated glass.: Reflective road consisting of Ade YY 1 aluminum hollow block; The formwork has an upper wall which is generally Y parallel to the road surface and two side walls sloping downward from the upper wall; and the template is v z ; > It is open to a large extent on its front and back sides; A nail protruding towards the bottom of the upper wall of the mold is placed perpendicular to it; And the nail is formed from aluminum and forms a single 0 unit with the mold.” The screw shall be equipped with a group of blades extending along the length of the screw, and the blades shall protrude towards the outside of the screw; a reflective means formed from 7 thermoplastic material; The reflective medium shall have a first part containing reflective elements on A in the form of cube corners; and a second part that largely surrounds the nail near its junction with the upper wall of the mould, and touches the inner surface of the mould; The first part of the means 01 reflective is inclined downward on the front face of the mould, so that the reflectors 11 and a third part containing [lil] in the form of cube corners visible through the front face VY have reflective elements in the form of cube corners; The third part of the reflective media VY shall be slanted downwards on the back face of the mould, so that the reflectors on 6 cube corners are visible through the back face of the mould. A stuffing device for placing the Vo filling inside the mold and the provisions for fixing the reflective media in the mould. 4 : A reflective road sign consisting of 717 - 1 upper which is generally parallel to a hollow block formed from aluminium; The Y block has the road surface and two side walls sloping downward from the upper wall and the block 1 is wide open on its front face. a nail protruding downward from the upper wall ¢ of the mold perpendicular to it; The screw shall be formed from aluminum and form one unit ° with the mould; The nail shall be equipped with four blades extending along the length of the nail and shall be 1 and X JS for the connection protruding towards the outside of the nail to form a cross-section of the blades also faces towards the outside shall be flat; The reflective device shall have a first part 1 that contains reflective elements in the form of cube corners located on its back side.” And a second Ve part that surrounds the nail near its connection to the upper wall of the mould, and Adams 1 YA vo | For the inner surface of the mould; The reflective device shall be angled downwards on the front face 1 of the mould, so that the reflectors in the form of cube corners are visible through the front ¢/ face of the mould; Stuffing medium to place the filling inside the mold and secure the \o reflective medium to the mould. YY) - how to make Adle reflective ways; The method consists of: forging a hollow mold of impact-resistant aluminum Y; The formwork shall have an upper wall which is generally parallel to the road surface 1 and two side walls sloping downward from the upper wall; The screw shall be formed from the same shock-resistant aluminum 1 material from which the mold is formed, and it shall be formed as a single unit with a callall. No reflective means formed from thermoplastic material shall be placed in the mold; The reflective device A shall have a part Jf containing reflective elements in the form of corner cubes 9 located on its rear side; and the reflective device shall be placed so that the first part is inclined, Ve, on the front face of the mould, and so that the reflectors in the form of corners of 11 cubes may be seen through the front face of the mould; Filling the mold with an epoxy hardening according to VY curing; Epoxy treatment. 1 4,7- The method of making a reflective road sign according to the protection element (YY) where the mold is open Y to a large extent from its back face and where the reflective medium includes an Ob 1 part that contains reflective elements in the form of corner cubes on its back side; The reflective device shall be slanted downwards on the back face of the mould, so that ° reflectors in the form of cube corners may be seen through the back face. Yo 1 - Method of making Ade Reflective methods according to Claim (YE) wherein the Y-reflective medium includes a third part touching the inner surface of the mould; The aforementioned third part forms an integrated unit with the aforementioned first part and the aforementioned second part of the said reflecting device. 1: +7 - The method of making a reflective road sign according to the element of protection (YF), where the nail has four contacts extending laterally along the length of the nail and the blades are mounted in directions relative to 1 to each other so that they form a cross section XJ YA 1 77- How to make a reflective road sign; The method consists of: forming a hollow mold of shock-resistant aluminum; The formwork has an upper wall generally parallel ¥ to the road surface and two side walls inclined downwards from the upper wall; The mold shall be provided with at least one support located between the two side walls” The mold shall be La side ° significantly from its front face and the mold shall have a nail protruding downwards from the upper wall 1 of the mold perpendicular to it; The screw shall be formed from the same shock-resistant aluminum 7 material from which the mold is formed, and the screw shall form one unit with the mold; A A reflective device made of thermoplastic material is placed in the mould; The reflective device 9 shall have a first part containing reflective elements in the form of cube corners on its 1 rear side; Place the reflective medium so that the first part is Mile on the front face 11 of the mould, and so that the reflectors in the form of cube corners are visible through the front face 1" of the mould; fill the mold with an oS of material that will harden under its curing; curing VY Epoxy