US1950169A - Apparatus for inserting markers in pavements - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1934. J. FARASEY 1,950,169

APPARATUS FOR INERTING MARKERS IN PAVEMENTS Filed Jan. 2:5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @151, 02226, MJWM/ March 6, 1934. J. FARASEY APPARATUS FOR INSERTING MARKERS IN PAVEMENTS Filed Jan. 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATNT ()FFICE APPARATUS FOR INSERTING MARKERS 1N PAVEMENTS Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for placing inserts or markers in asphalt, bituminous or similar pavements. In the past, it has been customary to paint directional and instructional 8 signs on the surface of the pavement. As weather conditions and passing vehicles wear the paint off very rapidly, this custom is being replaced by the use of markers. In general, two types of markers have been used, namely, a flat marker which lies on top of the pavement and is secured thereto by a spike or other retaining means, and a marker which is inserted into the pavement so as to be flush with the surface thereof. This latter type generally has been used only when they are set in place during the construction and resurfacing of the pavement. The former type are raised from the surface of the road, and therefore are subjected to great wear and soon require replacement.

The generalobject of this invention is to provide an apparatus for economically inserting markers in previously constructed asphalt, bituminous or similar pavements.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which will efiectively soften the surface of the pavement, so that a small portion thereof may be removed to receive a marker, and in a manner such that only the portion of the pavement which is to be removed is softened.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which will soften the surface of an asphalt or similar pavement, and simultaneously sever that portion from the remaining surface area so that the portion may be readily stripped from the base material and a marker or other removable insert substituted for the removed portion and cemented in place.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings. The essential characteristics will be summarized in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective, partially broken away, and illustrates my apparatus; Fig. 2 is a perspective of a portion of the pavement, illustrating the manner of removal of the softened and severed portion of the surface material; Fig. 3 is a perspective and illustrates the marker, positioned in the pavement; Fig. 4 is a section through the marker and the pavement and is illustrated by the lines 4-4 on Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the pavement and illustrate modified forms of markers; Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of my apparatus; Fig. 8 is a centrally located vertical section, through the apparatus, and in a plane parallel to Fig. 1; Figs. 9 and 10 are horizontal sections, and are indicated by the lines 99 and 1010 on Fig. '7, respectively; Fig. 11 is a section and is indicated by the lines 11-41 on Fig. '7.

Asphaltic pavements and the like generally comprise a concrete base, upon which is laid a course asphalt or a base composed of other suitable bituminous materials, on top of which is laid the usual surface or asphalt wearing coat. 'This surface coat is generally about one inch in depth, and of a considerably finer material than theasphalt base material. It has been found that when the surface coat is heated to the proper temperature, it becomes pliable and readily separates from the base. Heretofore heat has been applied to the surface of the pavement, and a section of the heated pavement has been cut with suitable cutters. The section of pavement enclosed within the marginal edges of the cut was then removed by spades or similar tools. It has been found, however, that when the pavement is so heated there is a tendency for the surface material to deteriorate adjacent the cut portions, and separate from the base. Hence, the general 30 practice is to simply eliminate the heating and cut or pry the surface coat loose from the base, as this does not materially loosen the surface coating adjacent the cut out or removed portions. This method, however, is costly and the portion 35 of the pavement removed cannot readily be confined to predetermined limits.

I propose to supply an apparatus which will heat a predetermined portion of the surface coat which is desired to be removed, and which will simultaneously sever such portion from the balance of the surface of the road or pavement. Thereafter the portion may be removed from the base with a spade-like instrument. A marker or insert, the same size and shape as the removed portion of the pavement, may then be inserted and thereafter cemented in place.

To heat and sever the surface of the pavement,

I prefer'to use an apparatus which may be readily transported from place to place, and which 109 may be manually moved along the surface of the pavement, so that a plurality of markers may readily be inserted in the pavement.

As shown in Fig. l, the apparatus comprises an upright tube or frame member 10. Mounted in the upper portions of this tube is a furnace element 15, such as an oil burner 15. Fuel oil is supplied to the burner under pressure from a suitable source, (not shown) but generally comprising an oil container and the usual hand pump 119 mechanism associated therewith. Rigidly secured to the burner 15 are a pair of horizontally extending handle members 16, which project through openings 17 in the upper portion of the tube 10, and serve as handles to permit the device to be readily moved from place to place by the operator. The tube 10 serves as a combustion chamber and its lower end is open and in direct communication with a flared .hood 30, which terminates in a rectangular box-like member 31, having vertical side walls 32. -The internal area of the box portion 31 is the same size and shape as the markers which are to be inserted in the pavement. The lower surface of the hood 30 is open, as indicated at 33 in the drawings. The hood so serves as an expansion chamber and is provided with suitable openings 34, which permit the fumes of combustion to escape therefrom. The device is set in place in position on the pavement, where the marker is to be placed, the burner ignited and the heat thereof softens the exposed surface of the pavement, which is within the confines of the side .32 of the hood, which prevent the heat from affecting the balance of the pavement.

The contour of the hood 30 may be varied, as desired, to accommodate various shaped markers. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, I show varied forms or shapes of markers. In each instance, the shape of the hood 30 will be varied, so that it will substantially conform to the contour of the marker to be used.

lfhe apparatus is so constructed that the portion of the pavement Within the confines of the sides 32 of the hood-shaped member 30 will be severed from the balance of the surface material in the pavement, as the heat is applied. To this end, the lower edges of the side members 32 of the hood are sharpened, as indicated at 36. This knife-like edge is adapted to rest on the pavement and as the latter is heated, the weight of the device will force the edges 36 into the pavement.

As there is an asphaltic or bituminous composition base immediately be-neath the surface material of the road, it is desirable to provide some means of limiting the downward movement of the device, so that it will not cut the base material. To this end, angle bars 35 are secured or welded to the side 32 of the hood, in such a manner that the bottom flange of the bars 35 is spaced above the knife edges 36 a distance equivalent to the thickness of the surface material. When the device penetrates the pavement the desired amount, the surface 36 of the angle bars will coact with the top surface of the pavement adjacent the hood, and thereby restrict or stop its downward movement, at which time the operator may remove the device and thereafter, with a spade-like instrument, strip the top or surface material from the pavement, so that the markers may be set in place.

The surface of the base material which is exposed after the top has been removed, is generally rough. Therefore, I prefer to use a suitable filling material to support the marker in a position where the top of the marker will be flush with the surface of the pavement. I find it preferable to use asphalt for this purpose, similar to that which is used in the construction of the wearing surface of the pavement. This material must be heated to the proper temperature, toenable it to be spread over the roughened surface of the base. An'asphaltlc cement must also be used, so that the surface material, as well as the *marker, will adhere "to the existing pavement. This asphaltic cement likewise must be kept heated, so that it will remain in a molten condition. To this end, I find it convenient to provide means whereby the waste heat from the device may be utilized to heat the asphaltic cement and the asphalt to the proper temperature and maintain them at such temperatures. As illustrated in the drawings, a cylindrical, box-like member 40 is secured to the tube or support 10, intermediate the burner 15 and the hood 30, in the region of combustion, and a short distance above the hood 30. This box-like member is provided with a suitable dividing wall 41, which divides the box into two compartments, one of which is adapted to be filled with asphalt and the other with asphalt cement. The heat from the burner is conducted through the tube and serves to heat and maintain heated the contents of the box 40. Likewise, the hot gases, escaping through the openings 34 in the top of the hood, contact with the outer surfaces of the box and aid in maintaining it at the proper temperature.

The markers M generally comprise a base composed of comparatively hard rubber, B, and have a top coating, preferably of colored rubber, C, which is formed integral with the base. The bottom surface of the base is provided with a plurality of recesses, D. These recesses or cavities tend to increase the vacuum formed when force is exerted to remove the block, and also fill up to some slight amount with the asphalt which is placed upon the base of the pavement to level it, and thereby serve to increase the bond between the marker and the base material of the pavement. These recesses also serve to prevent the joint between the marker and the pavement from being disrupted by the expansion and contraction of the marker or pavement, due to climatic conditions, and the passing of heavily loaded vehicles over the surface of the marker.

From the foregoing description'it will be seen that I have provided an efficient appaartus for the insertion of instructional and directional markers in previously constructed pavements of the asphaltic types.

It will also be seen that I have provided an efficient and simple apparatus which may be manually moved from place to place upon the surface of the pavement, and which will heat a predetermined area of the pavement and simultaneously sever that portion, for a predetermined depth, from the remaining surface material.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a portable heating unit including a fuel burner, of a perforated casing in communication with the products of combustion of the heating unit, said casing having an open face adapted to coact with the surface of the pavement and provided with side and end members adapted to penetrate the pavement, and means carried by the side members and outside-of saidcasing to limit the depth of such penetration without limiting the area subjected to the heat.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing having continuous side walls adapted to rest on the surface of the pavement and enclose a predetermined .area

thereof, aheating-element in-communication with 1' the casing, and adapted to heat the entire :sur face area of the pavement within the marginal edges cf the casing, wherein the entire structure is supported by thepasing in such a manner that its weiglit will 'cause the walls of the casing to penetrate the pavement and sever the marginal edges of the heated area from the remaining surface, and means carried by the casing and outside of the walls thereof to limit the depth of such penetration.

3. In a device for severing the marginal edges of sections of asphaltic or similar pavements, a vertically extending hollow frame member open at the opposite ends, a fuel burner mounted within and spaced apart from the walls of said frame member adjacent the upper end thereof, whereby said frame provides a combustion chamber for the burner, a casing having an open bottom and continuous side walls to coact with and entirely confine a predetermined area of the pavement, said casing providing a support for said hollow frame member and an expansion chamber for the burner, the lower innermost edges of the walls of said expansion chamber being bevelled to penetrate the pavement and sever a predetermined area from the whole, means secured to the outer walls of said last-named chamber to limit the distance of the penetration, and a handle secured to the upper end of said frame member whereby the pressure on the structure may be increased as desired.

4. In a device for severing the marginal edges of and heating predetermined sized blocks of asphaltic pavements, a casing having an open bottom to coact with the surface of the pavement to be heated, said casing having vertically extending continuous side and end walls, a vertically extending hollow frame supported by said casing and in communication therewith, the sectional area of the frame being materially less than the sectional area of the casing, said frame being open at its upper end, said casing being provided with a plurality of openings whereby air currents may circulate through the structure, a burner supported by said frame within its upper end and spaced apart from the walls thereof whereby the frame provides a combustion chamber for the burner and the casing provides an expansion chamber therefor, a container surrounding the frame intermediate its upper end and arranged to receive asphalt or similar material whereby the burner may simultaneously heat the surface of the pavement and material in such container, the weight of the entire structure and the material in the container acting to cause the structure to penetrate the pavement as the heat is applied.

5. In a device of the character described, a heating element, a tubular frame adapted to support the heating element, and serve as a combustion chamber therefor, an expansion chamber in communication with the combustion chamber, said expansion chamber having continuous knife-like edges adapted to support the structure and penetrate the pavement and sever from the remaining pavement the entire area over which the expansion chamber is superimposed, and means exteriorly of said knife-like edges and adapted to limit the depth of penetration.

JAMES FARASEY.

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