Method and apparatus for heating surface markings

• US 20040103988A1
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flint Acquisition Corp.
• Original Assignee: Integrated Paving Concepts Inc.
• Inventors: Wiley, Patrick Carl
• Granted Patent: US 6,998,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/308.2
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/43 Machines or arrangements for roughening or patterning freshly-laid paving courses, e.g. indenting rollers
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/028 Positioning or producing markings, e.g. by forcing marking materials into the surface, by scoring
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/14 for heating or drying foundation, paving, or materials thereon, e.g. paint E01C23/03 takes precedence; heating or drying devices incorporated in the paving E01C11/26; surface soil stabilisation by fusing, calcining or burning soil in situ E01C21/02; for street cleaning E01H1/08; melting snow or ice on surfacing E01H5/10

Abstract

This application relates to a method and apparatus for heating a surface marking, such as a thermoplastic pattern in an asphalt substrate. The marking may be selected for functional or decorative purposes. The method involves gradually applying heat to the marking to avoid scorching and to ensure a consistent bond with the underlying substrate, even in the case of markings having a very large surface area. In one embodiment the method a portable heating apparatus is provided having infrared heaters mounted for reciprocal movement in a travel path periodically passing over the marking and the underlying substrate. The heating method permits direct visual monitoring of the work site to achieve optimum adhesion of the marking to the asphalt or other substrate.

Claims

1. A method of binding a thermally settable marking to a substrate comprising:

(a) positioning said marking on said substrate;

(b) gradually heating said marking and said substrate in situ by periodically passing at least one heater in proximity to said substrate; and

(c) allowing said marking to bind to said substrate when said marking is heated to a sufficiently pliable state.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said marking is compressed into said substrate after it is positioned thereon.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said settable marking is thermoplastic.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said substrate is asphalt.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein said marking is at least partially in-laid within said asphalt.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing a heating apparatus having a support frame extending over said marking, wherein said heater is mounted for movement on said support frame in a travel path which periodically passes over said marking to thereby gradually increase the temperature thereof.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said heater moves in a reciprocating motion in said travel path.

8. The method as defined in claim 6, comprising a plurality of heaters coupled to said support frame.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, further comprising a heat sensor for sensing the temperature of said substrate in the vicinity of said marking and a controller for controlling the operation of said plurality of heaters based on said temperature.

10. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein the surface area of said substrate traversed by said heater during said travel path exceeds 10 square feet.

11. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein visual monitoring of said marking is not obstructed by said heating apparatus when said heater is at a location in said travel path removed from said marking.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said heater is an infrared heater.

13. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said plurality of heaters are infrared heaters.

14. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said marking and substrate are allowed to partially cool after each successive pass of said heater.

15. A portable heating apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame movable on a support surface, said frame having an elongated rail extendable above a substrate;

(b) at least one infrared heater mounted for reciprocal movement on said rail along a travel path passing over said substrate; and

(c) a sensor for sensing the temperature of said substrate.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of infrared heaters mounted on said frame each moveable along said travel path.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of said heaters based on the sensed temperature of said substrate.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said heaters move in close proximity to said substrate during said travel path.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said support surface supporting said frame comprises said substrate.

20. A method of thermally setting a marking on a substrate comprising:

(a) positioning said marking on said substrate;

(b) gradually heating said marking and said substrate in situ by periodically passing at least one heater in proximity to said substrate; and

(c) allowing said marking to set on said substrate when said marking is heated to a sufficiently high temperature.