US2262497A

US2262497A - Road striping machine

Info

Publication number: US2262497A
Application number: US217197A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S Holesworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-07-02
Filing date: 1938-07-02
Publication date: 1941-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1958-11-11

Description

Nov. 11, 1941- I 4 'w. s. HOLEISWORTH ROAD STRIPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1958 INVENTOR. W/Y/lbm ifio/eswar/fi c; 3 ATTORNEY.

Nov. 11, 1941- w. s. HOLESWORTH ROAD STRIPING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Q wfi 1 $3 mm m mHzhfl g mm w m g lEH :Qfl R. 1 Ne g Q m Mm M, R Q fi \Q Q M E @Rmw &

NOV. 11, 1941. w, s, o swo T 2,262,49T

ROAD STRIPING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet s "H v INVENTCR II l4 ////a/77 5 //0/e5 War/h Nov. 11, 1941. w. s: HOLESWORTH 2,252,497 ROAD STRIPING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1958 4,Sheets-She et 4 INVENTOR. I Wf/fiam 5. ho/es war/f7 ZJ BM ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROAD s'rmrmq MACHINE William Holesworth, Reno, Nev. Application July z, 1938; Serial No; 217,197

7 Claims 1(CL 91-:12)

The invention relates to machines for applye ing to a highway a center line or a plurality of lines, commonly referred to as stripes, for the guiding of traflic over the highway.

, An object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the character described which will have a relatively high output capacity capableof striping a substantially larger number of miles per day than machines heretofore used and portions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spray means capable of applying to which, when not in operation, will have a high the road substantially any stripin material cruising speed for rapidly moving the machine from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character above which will be entirely self-contained and constructed in a single unit with many attendant features of advantage in a unitary structure. Among other features of advantage of the present machine is greater safety afforded the operator of the machine. have been used, it has been common to place an operator directly over a front pilot unit which was positioned out ahead of the propelling unit and the operator so placed was in constant danger of being struck by oncoming cars or heedless drivers cutting in ahead too quickly. In the present machine the operator is carried in a central portion of the device and is well protected against accidental collisions and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide trated i ure 1.

a machine of the character above which will be of substantially minimum width so as to enable the positioning of the machine at the center of i a normal road without obstructing traffic passing In t smaller scale and illustrating the relative alignon opposite sides of themachine. ner the hazard to the operator of the machine and also to trafiic generally is minimized, and oncoming and passing cars may pass freely without crossing over the freshlypainted stripe or without being forced outwardly to'the shoulders orditch of the roadway.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which in an emergency may be quickly maneuvered from 4 one side of the road to the other, and in so maneuvering the machine, the operator may quickly and readily interrupt the application of striping material to the roadway and move from which can besprayed or atomized and which is provided with a spray head or nozzle which is constructed and arranged to prevent clotting of the material in the spray head or nozzle.

The invention possesses other objects and 3 features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth inthe following descriptionof the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompany- Heretofore, where a plurality of nit fl ing and forming partof the specification. It is to be understood, however; that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within thescope of the in- J vention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of a roadstriping machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

a Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine illus- Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of part of the actuating means for the paint agitator used by the machine.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the machine on a Figure 5 is a side elevation of the machine on the same-scale as illustrated in Figure 4 and illustrating the relative positions of the pilot wheel.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the pilot wheel construction and is taken substantially on the plane of line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the pilot Wheel and supporting structure therefor. Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the striping unit and supporting and operating structure, and is shown in a somewhat enlarged scale the stripe on the roadway without dripping of Over t at Of Figure 1- material off the portion being striped.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which will enable the operator to more easily and ac- FigureB is a plan view of the striping unit. Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the striping unit and is taken substantially on the plane of line III-l0 of Figure 9.

curately follow a line or stripe which has been I Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view of the striping unit and is taken substantially on the plane of line I |l of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the spray nozzle.

Figure 13 is a bottom view of the spray nozzle.

Figure 14 is a front elevation of the assembly of gauges and control valves used to regulate the flow of striping material.

The road striping machine as depicted in the accompanying drawings consists as above indicated, of a self-contained, self-propelled vehicle which is arranged to be driven over a highway or the like for applying a line or stripe thereto. The vehicle comprises a main body frame or chassis |6 which is supported on the road by' means of rear wheels H and I8, and steerable front wheels I9 and 2|, the wheels being mounted on the frame by axle and spring assemblies as is common in automotive design. The source of driving power for the machine is derived from a motor 22 mounted on the chassisadjacent the rearend 23 thereof, and is connected forwardly to avariable speed transmission mechanism 24, which is in turn connected to a drive shaft 26 extending forwardly of the transmission mechanism, and into a differential mechanism 21. The latter is provided with transversely extending driven shafts 28 and 29 which extend across the transverse width of the machine and are supported on the parallel sides 3| and 32 of the chassis frame and are connected at their opposite ends '33 and 34 to the hub supports 36 and 3] of the rear wheels by means of sprockets 3B and '39 on the shafts, and sprockets 4| and 42 on thewheel hub supports and

chains

43 and 44 connecting the

sprockets

38 and 4|, and 39 and 42 respectively. If desired, and as'here shown, brake drums 46 and 4|.may be secured to the driven shafts 28 and 29 and coacting brake shoes (not shown) carried by the chassis forapplying brak ing force to the driven shafts 28 and 29, rather than the wheels themselves.

An operator's seat 48 is provided on the left side of the machine adjacent the transmission mechanism 24 and just forwardly of the engine, so that the operator is positioned towards the rear of the vehicle and adjacent to the rear axle. Mounted forwardly of the operators seat and adjacent the front end 49 of the chassis frame is a container for material adapted to be applied to the road in forming the stripe. The container is preferably of a relatively low elevation so as to afford clear visibility thereover for the driver in watching theroad. Preferably, the container is adapted for receipt'of paint or other liquid and preferably, .there is provided within the container an agitator 52 for providinga constant stirring of the paint during the operation of the machine. The agitator as here shown, is in the form of a fiat bottomed plate 53 having a pair of upstanding ribs 54 and 56 for stirring the paint and is supported on a vertical shaft 51 mounted through a bearing member 58 provided on the top wall 59 of the container. In accordance with the present construction, the agitator is arranged to be driven through a relatively short oscillatory movement and is driven by the engine of the vehicle by means of an eccentric 6| provided on the brake drum 41, and which is normally engaged with a follower 62 appropriately connected to the agitator. The means for connecting the follower to the agitator here includes a crank arm 63 mounted on the upper end of the shaft 51 and which is pivotally and slidably connected to one end 64 of a 'lever 66 fixed to a vertical shaft 61 carried at the side of the container. A crank arm 68 is connected to the lower end of the shaft and is in turn connected to a slide rod 69 reciprocally carried in a plurality of slide bearings H and 12 on the frame,- and to the rearward end of which the follower 62 is fastened. The follower is normally held in engagement against the cam 6| by means of a helical spring 13 carried on the rod 69 and which is compressed between a stop 14 and the guide bracket 12 for the rod.

Means is provided for withdrawing the follower from the eccentric when the agitator is not to be used and such means in the present construction consists of a cam I6 rotatably carried on the top wall 59 of the container adjacent to the crank and lever 63 and 64 and is provided with .a handle 11 to enable turning of the cam to an extent deflecting the lever 64 by an amount withdrawing the follower from the cam. When the cam 76 is rotated to present a less eccentric portion of its circumference to the lever 64, the latter may rotate sufficiently to return the follower into engagement with the cam 6|.

The container is provided with an inlet fitting l9 for entry of paint or other material into the container.

A gasoline fuel tank 8| is mounted over the top of the engine on a supporting frame 82 for supplying fuel to the engine. Preferably, the striping material from the container 5| is applied under pressure by a material applying unit 83 and as a suitable source of pressure for this purpose, I use a compressor 84 which is mounted in the engine compartment of the vehicle and which is driven from the 'rearend of the engine crank shaft by means of apulley wheel (not shown) on the crank shaft and which is connected by means of a belt to a pulley wheel 86 on an auxiliary shaft 81 and on which is mounted a second pulley wheel 83, which is connected by a belt 8 to a pulley wheel 9| on the shaft 92 of the compressor 84. Preferably, means is provided for placing the compressor into and out of operation and as here shown, such means is provided in the driving connection of the compressor and is in the present construction, embodied in the form of a sliding clutch section 93 mounted on the shaft 81 and movable into and out of engagement with a clutch section 94 on the pulley wheel 86. Means for so displacing the clutch section 93 here includes a yoke 96 which is pivoted to a bracket 91 on the frame and is reciprocated by means of a link 98 extending forwardlyinto the drivers compartment .and there connected to an operating lever 99 which is pivoted to the frame.

Mounted at the front end 49 of the vehicle frame for positioning forwardly of the body part proper of the vehicle, is a frame l9| for a pilot wheel I92 which is arranged to be lowered onto the highway so as to follow or be guided along a line or stripe which is laid out on the highway and to assist the operator in following such line or stripe. The frame It]! consists in a pair of longitudinal members I63 and I04 which are pivoted to the forward end 49 of the frame at the opposite transverse sides of the frame and converge forwardly to a forked support I96 of the guide wheel. Mounted across the top of the latter is a bar I01 which is used to support a plurality of vertical pins I98 which are used by the operator for sighting over the top of the pilot wheel and down the road. The pivotal connection of the frame |0| to the vehicle frame end 49' enables 'theraising of the frame IU I-and I the pilot wheel, asindicated in dotted lines in I Figure 5, to a substantially vertical position when the striping operation has been terminated and the machine arranged for rapid transit over the highway. I c As an important feature of the present construction, the paint or material applying means "83, the center of the steeringwheel III}, andthe operators seat 48, and the pilot wheel I02 are all placed in substantially longitudinal alignment relative to themachine, which feature the operators line of vision where it meets the road. the horizontal line drawn from thelpilot wheel to the applying unit, and the vertical line means 83 will intersect a vertical line drawn I through the center of the operators seat. Thus through the operators seat form a right angle triangle. As will be noted, the applying unit is slightly rearward of the drivers seat and a line drawn upward from the applying unitto the operator's line of vision at the aforesaid vertical line would form a second trianglecoplaner with I the first.

As a further important feature in enabling the operator to accurately control the position of the applying means 83 on the desired line on the road, the applying means 83 is positioned substantially immediately adjacent the rear axle of the I vehicleso that any turning of the vehicle will be minimized at the applying means 93. In this way, any minor variations in direction of travel are reduced to a negligible amount at the applying means 83. Preferably also, the drivers seat is positioned substantially immediately adjacent the rear axle, so that the vehiclewill turn about a vertical axis substantially adjacent to the drivers seat, whereby an extremely long leverage is obtained between the driver and the forward pilot wheel and any lateral variations in the. movement of the vehicle will be greatly amplified Thus the operator may, by keeping the pilot wheel approximatelydirectly I over an old stripe on the road to be renewed or at the pilot wheel.

any other line laid out on the highway, very accurately and precisely maintain the position of the paint or material applying means 83 directly on such stripe or line. Thus, where a long straight stripe is to be applied to the highway, the operator need only sight over one or several of thepins I98 and down the old stripe on the highway to very accurately position the applying means 83on theold stripe and may, due to the simplicity of effort, proceed over the highway at a relatively high speed. It is possible with the an hour and to place a more uniform stripe than per hour.

The paint or other materialapplying means 83 is mounted on the under side of the vehicle in presentmachine to stripe well over four miles engagement with the road andis preferably arranged to be lowered and raised onto and from the roadway so that the'means may be retracted from the road atthe end of the striping operation topermit relatively high speedmovement of thevehicle. As here showriin Figures 1, 2, 9, 10 and. 11; the applying .unit is supported from pair of longitudinalmembers III and H2 which 'are pivoted at their forward ends I I3 to a mounted to the frame I09. In this manner the drawing of the lever IIE towards the operators seat, as

illustrated in Figure l, willcause a rotation of the bell crank II9 ma clockwise direction to raise the frame I09, and conversely the movement of the lever IIG away from the drivers seat will'cause arotation of the bell crank H9 in a counter-clockwise direction and a lowering of the frame I09. Preferably, the leveris provided with a suitable pawl and ratchet I22 and operating control I23 therefor for retaining the lever in adjusted position. I

- The applying means is connected to the rear ends I24 of the longitudinal members. III and I I2 of the frame and here includes a spray nozzle I26, a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending flat brushes I21 and. I28 and a rear transversely "extending flat brush I29. The brushes and nozzle are secured to the frame members "I and H2 through the medium of a plate'I3I which is fastened to the under side of the frame members and to which the several supporting parts are secured. The brushes I21 and I28 are fastened to vertical side plates I32 and I33 by means of a plurality of clamps I34 which engage a top body section I36 on each of the brushes and which arefastened in place by apluralityof bolts' I31, leaving the bristles I38 and I39 of the brushes extending downwardly along the sides of the plates I32 and I33 and below the bottom ends MI and" I42 of the plates, was to engage the highway. The engagement of the plates I32 and I33 along the outer sides of the bristles I38 and I39 prevents the flaring out of these'bristles and thereby assists in accuratelydefining theside edgesof the stripe being applied. Preferably, a pair of 'fiange pieces I43 and I44 are mounted atthe bottom ends MI f0r engaging irregularities in the road. The under surfaces I46 and I41 of the flange pieces I43and I44 are preferably hardened to increase the life of these pieces and the forward and rearward ends I48 and I49 of these flange pieces are preferably beveled upwardly to better engage rocks or other irregularities in the road surface. The side plates I32 and I33 are supported from the cross plate I3I by means of a pairof plates I5! and I52 which are secured at their upper ends I53 and I54 to the cross plate I3I and along their sides to the side plates I32 and I33. Preferably, the upper ends 153 and I54 of the plates shown, these plates are connected by a plurality of bolts I58 which are extended through elongated slots I59 (see Figure 10) in the plates I 5I and I52, so that the plates I32 and I33 may be "theundr side of thevehicle by means of a longi- 'tudlnally extending frame I09 consisting of a the inner surfaces of the brushes I38 and I39 by means of a plurality of spring arms I63'secured at their upper ends to the clamps I34.

The rear transverse brush I29 has the important function of closing the enclosure between the brushes and for spreading the material uniformly across the stripe. Due to the forward movement of the vehicle, there is a tendency in the case of a rough road to apply the material only to the faces of the irregularities facing the spray nozzle as the vehicle proceeds. In some instances with machines heretofore used, this effect is so pronounced as to make portions of the stripe practically invisible when viewed in one direction while being perfectly clear when viewed in an opposite direction along the roadway. In accordance with the present arrangement, however, the rear brush is arranged to carry enough material so as to completely fill the crevices in the road and to uniformly apply the material to the leading as well as the rearward faces of irregularities in the roadway.

As here shown, the rear brush I29 is secured in position by means of a pair of plates I64 and IE6 which are secured as here indicated, by bolts I61 to the opposite sides of a handle portion I68 of the brush. The plate I64 is here shown formed integrally with a sleeve I69 which extends transversely between the supporting frame members III and H2 adjacent the rear ends I24 thereof and which is held in position by means of a transverse'bolt III. In this manner the upper end of the brush is pivotally secured to the frame and the brush is thereby permitted to swing rearwardly and outwardly from the enclosure defined by the side brushes to clear any nature obstructions struck by the rear brush. The brush is normally positioned, however, in substantially vertical position by means of a light helical spring I12 which is fastened between the plate I64 and the cross plate I3I.

Various materials have. been experimented with for use in the several brushes of the applying means and I have found that ordinary good quality paint brushes at present available on th market ar quite satisfactory.

The design and construction of the spray nozzle I26 forms an important feature of the present invention. As here shown with special reference to Figure 12, the spray nozzle consists of a body or casing including a center body section I13 in the form of a T section which is connected at opposite ends by threaded insert sections I14 and I'lIi. Mounted longitudinally through sections I13, I14, and I16 is a hollow needle valve I18 which is adapted to seat at its leading tapered end I19 against a valve seat I BI provided by the section I16 and is mounted within the sections for reciprocation so as to move into and out of engagement with the seat IBI to close and open a central discharge chamber I82 in the sections surrounding the valve. The section I16 is provided with a discharge passage I83 leading from the seat I8I to a relatively narrow discharge slit I84 at the distal end of the section. Paint or other material is adapted to be fed under pressure into the chamber I92 surrounding the valve by means of an inlet passage I86 pro- 'vided in the section I26.

The valve I18 is extended longitudinally through the section I14 and from an end I81 thereof for-manual displacement of the valve. The valve is normally held in closed position by means of a spring I88 surrounding the valve and abutting a shoulder I89 thereon and confined at its opposite end against a packing washer I9I mounted in the section I14. The compressed air for spraying the paint is fed through a longitudinal passage I92 and an air inlet fitting opening I93 is provided in a head portion I94 of the outer end of the valve. The provision of the air passage longitudinally through the needle valve is most effective for keeping the discharge passage I83 and the discharge slit I84 open and clean at all times. In machines heretofore used, considerable difiiculty has been encountered with the paint or other material clotting in the spray nozzle after the paint flow has been turned off for some little time. In the present case, however, it will be clear that after the valve is closed, the airwill continue to blow through the nozzle to clean out all of the paint in the discharge passage. Another important feature of the valve construction is the proximity of the valve to the discharge nozzle, which affords a substantially immediate stoppage of the paint flow upon closing of the valve. Heretofore, where the paint flow valve has been positioned at a considerable distance from the spray nozzle, difficulty has been encountered with dripping of. paint from the spray nozzle after the valve has been closed. Preferably the longitudinal axis of the spray nozzle is tilted slightly rearwardly to confine the spray to Within the brush enclosure and prevent the spraying of material out ahead of the brushes.

Actuation of the valve is arranged to be eifected by means of a lever I96 pivoted to thelongi. tudinal frame pieces I 69 and III and which is provided with a forked end I91 straddling the head portion I94 of the valve and engaging the under side of a transverse pin I98 extending through such head portion. In this manner fulcruming of the lever I96 in a counter-clockwise direction, as illustrated in Figure 10, will cause a lifting and opening of the valve and on return of the lever, the valve will be returned to a closed position by means of the spring E88 aforementioned. As an important feature of the present invention, the valve isso connected that the same will be automatically opened when sprayer unit is lowered onto the highway and will be automatically closed when the spray unit is raised from the highway. This automatic operation of the valve is effected by operatively connecting the lever I96 to the means for raising and lowermg the spray unit. As here shown, with reference to Figures 8 and 10, the lever I 96 is connected by means of a link I99 to a second lever 28I pivoted at an end to the longitudinal frame members and pivoted at an opposite end to a link 292 which extends to the lower end 203 of a lever 294 extending into the driver's compartment. When the lever 264 is adjusted toa given position, the raising and lowering of the longitudinal frame I09 will cause a fulcruming of the lever I99 so as to close and open the valve respectively. At the same time, when the spray unitis lowered onto the road the material discharge may be controlled by operating the lever 204 to regulate the rate of discharge of the paint.

The paint may be fed from the container 5! to the nozzle inlet opening I86 by means of a flexible rubber hose 266 and preferably, a trap container and also to the spray nozzle. valves are opened to provide an appropriate presajca ie't 201 .for no-neliquid particles in the paint is con- ;nected between the container and the'hosem 1 The air pressure system f'orxcontrolling the operation of theisprayiunit consists of the compressor 84 .hereinabove noted, an air tank orrcservoir 268; a series of :air pressure gauges and. control valves .as indicated: in ithe assembly shown in Figure 14, and an appropriate'set of conduits connecting the several parts. i The valve and gauge assembly is also indicated dia.

shown in Figure lto illustrate thetgeneralposi tion of the assembly on thesmachine. The air tank 2061s connected to the compressor by means ofa conduit 20!! asshownin'figure. 1, and compressed airis discharged fromthe' tank by con duit, 2H which extends forwardly from thetank to the gauge and valve assembly shown in' Fig ures 1 andl4 at the front of the drivers compartment. A main control valve 2l2 is connected in the air line 2 ahead of a T 213, from the end of spraying operations the applying unit is raised off the road as hereinabove explained,

to close the needle valve in thespray nozzleso as to shut" off the flow of spray material.- Valves 2 l2 and 224 are then closed and a suitable; cleaning solvent, such as gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, petroleum solvent, etc. is poured into the 1 container 234 and valve 236 opened so as to allow grammatically by the rectangular; outline 210" y ,derstood-that the units may be multiplied as which a branch line 214 is taken for connection to the material container and a second branch 1 line 2; is connected for supplying air to the spray nozzle. Connected in the line 2 I4 is an air pressure gauge 2I1 for indicating the air reservoir pressure and a reduction regulating valve 218 is interposed in the line to supply a reduced regulated pressure to the tank 5| through conduit 2|9 which connects the regulating valve to the spray tank. Preferably a gauge MI is connected tothe conduit 2| 9 for indicating the pressure in the material container. Conduit 2| 6 is preferably similarly connected tosa regulating valve 222 for reducing and regulating the pressure supplied to the spray nozzle. As here shown, conduit 223 is connected'tothe regulating valve 222 and provides a discharge passage therefor and is in turn connected to a manual regulating valve 224 for opening and closing the airflow to the spray nozzle. Connected to conduits 2l6 and 223at opposite sides of the regulating valve 222 are gauges 226' and 221 for indicating the air reservoir pressure and the air pres sure applied to the spray nozzle. A branch con- .duit 226 is connected between 'condult 2l6 ahead ,1 228 with the discharge end of valve 224 to the air inlet passage I93 of the spray, nozzle. Also connected to fitting 232 is a branch line 233 to which is connected a small open top container 234 for cleaning solvent, which is preferably run through this solvent to drain into the discharge line 22a Valve 236 is then closed and valves 2I2 and 23l opened so as to apply a high air pressure directly tot-conduit 229 for blowing the solvent through this conduit and through the spray passages of the spray head.

-If. desired, a plurality of applying units 83 may;

be 'used on the machine to apply a plurality of lines orstripes toa roadway. A singleapplying means has been illustrated in the drawings due to the more popular use of this type of machine and view of-simp'licity, althoughit will be undesired.

Iclaim: 1. A road striping machine comprising, a vehicle having rear wheels and steerable front wheels for supporting said vehicle on a road, a

pilot wheel supported forwardly of said front wheels on the road, means carried by said ve-- hicle for applying a striping material to the road and being positioned substantially immediately adjacent and between said rear wheels, and a drivers compartment provided on said vehicle insubstantial alignment with said pilot wheel and said striping means. 7

2. A road striping machine comprising, a ve hicle adapted for movement over a road tobe striped, a spray head mounted on said. vehicle for movement to and from the road and adapted for connection to a source of striping material the discharge conduit 229 and thespray valve at the end of spraying operation to clean out the discharge passages.

Starting With'control valves H2, 23!, 224 and 236 in closed position the sprayer is placed in operation by opening valve 2I2 and valve 224 so as to supply air under pressure to the material These 233 for controlling the sure, as indicated by

gauges

211, 221, 226 and 221 l and from time to time the regulating valves 2l8 and 222 may be adjusted to maintain a desired pressure in the material container and in the 1 discharge line leading'to the spray nozzle. At

for applying the latter to the road, mean for moving said spray head vertically relative to the road, and a valve for controlling the flow of said material through said head and mounted directly at and carried by said head and linkage means connected to said means for automatic opening and closing of said valve upon lowering plied to the road in making a stripe thereon, a

. needle valve mounted in said nozzle and movable therein to open and closed positions, and interconnecting means for lowering and raising said nozzle relative to the road and automatically opening and closing said valve in the lowered and raised positions respectively of said nozzle.

4. Afroad striping machine comprising, a vehicle adapted for movement over a road to be striped, a spray nozzle mounted on said; vehicle for, movement to and from the road and adapted for connection to a source of material to be applied to the road in making a stripe thereon, a needle valve mounted in said nozzle and movable therein to open and closed positions, said needle valve having alongitudinal air passage therethrough adapted for connection to a source of air under pressure for spraying said material from said nozzle, and interconnecting means for lowering and raising said nozzle relative to the road and automatically opening and closing said tively of said nozzle.

5. A road striping machine comprising, a vehicle adapted to be driven over a road to be striped "and having a drivers compartment, a spray head mounted on said vehicle for movement to and from the road and adapted for con-, neotion to a source of material for spraying. onto the road for forming a stripe thereon, means controlled from the drivers compartment for lowering and raising said spray head relative to the road, valve means for controlling the flow of material from said head and connected to said means for automatic opening and closing ofsaid valve in the lowered and raised positions of said head respectively, and means controlled from said drivers compartment for providing an additional control of said valve for regulating the material discharge in the lowered position of said head.

6. A road striping machine comprising, aselfpropelled elongated vehicle having .rear wheels mounted on a transverse axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and having steerable front wheels, means carried by said vehicle for applying a striping material to the road and positioned adjacent to said transverse axis and between said rear wheels, and a drivers compar-tment mounted substantially directly over said means and in longitudinal alignment therewith.

7. A road striping machine comprising, a selfpropelled elongated vehicle having rear wheels mounted on a transverse axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and having steerable front wheels, means carried by said vehiclefor applying a striping material to the road and positioned adjacent to but forwardly of said transverse axis and between said rear Wheels and adjacent the left of said rear Wheels, and a drivers compartment mounted substantially directly over but forwardly of said means and in longitudinal alignment therewith.

WILLIAM S. HOLESWORTI-l.