Method and apparatus for laying a traffic calming surface

• US 20050031412A1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prismo Limited
• Original Assignee: Prismo Limited
• Inventors: Loader, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,168,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/75
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/235 Rolling apparatus designed to roll following a path other than essentially linear, e.g. epicycloidal
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/238 Wetting, cleaning or heating rolling elements, e.g. oiling, wiping, scraping
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/29 Rolling apparatus adapted to apply a rolling pressure less than its weight, e.g. roller finishers travelling on formrail combined with spread-out, strike-off or smoothing means; Rolling elements with controlled penetration or a controlled path of movement in a vertical plane, e.g. controlled by the formrails, by guides ensuring a desired configuration of the rolled surface
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/43 Machines or arrangements for roughening or patterning freshly-laid paving courses, e.g. indenting rollers
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/529 specially adapted for signalling by sound or vibrations, e.g. rumble strips; specially adapted for enforcing reduced speed, e.g. speed bumps

Abstract

The present application relates to methods for laying a traffic calming surface, in which molten material is deposited on the surface of a road or path and is then moulded so as to form a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile which extends along the intended direction of travel. The profile can be formed by employing at least one pair of longitudinal rails which are positioned on the surface of the road so as to be spaced apart from each other and such that they are aligned with the intended direction of travel. The upper surface of the rails exhibits the required profile so that molten material deposited between the rails can be spread between the rails to form the required surface.

Claims

1-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A method of laying a traffic calming surface, the method comprising the steps of:

i) depositing molten material on a surface of a road or path;

ii) molding the molten material such that an upper surface thereof has a predetermined profile which extends along an intended direction of travel.

48. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the profile is a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile.

49. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the material is deposited between at least one pair of substantially longitudinal rails which are positioned on the surface of the road so as to be spaced apart from each other and such that they are substantially aligned with the intended direction of travel, and wherein upper surfaces of the rails have a predetermined profile which extends along respective lengths of said rails.

50. A method as claimed in claim 49 wherein the profile is a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile.

51. A method as claimed in claim 49 wherein the rails are positioned on the ground so as to be mutually parallel.

52. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the material is molded by means of a moveable member which extends between the rails, and which is moved over the rails in contact with the molten material such that the upper surface of the material is molded to form the continuous sinusoidal profile.

53. A method as claimed in claim 52 wherein the moveable member defines or exhibits a substantially linear edge which extends between the pair of rails and comes into contact with the molten material as the moveable member is moved across the upper surface of the rails.

54. A method as claimed in claim 52 wherein the moveable member comprises a cylindrical drum.

55. A method as claimed in claim 52 wherein said moveable member is formed of metal.

56. A method as claimed in claim 55 wherein said moveable member is formed of steel.

57. A method as claimed in claim 52 wherein said moveable member is heated.

58. A method as claimed in claim 57 wherein said moveable member is heated to between 300°

C. to 550°

C.

59. A method as claimed in claim 52 wherein the molten material is deposited in front of the moveable member before the molten material is molded.

60. A method as claimed in claim 49 wherein the material is molded by tamping the molten material deposited between the at least one pair of rails, such that the upper surface of the material forms a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile.

61. A method as claimed in claim 49 wherein the rails are secured to the surface of the road.

62. A method as claimed in claim 49 wherein the rails are formed of aluminum.

63. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the material is molded by means of a moveable member mounted on a rolling means, the moveable member exhibiting or defining a substantially linear edge which extends across a width or a part of the width of the deposited material wherein the rolling means has a non central axis of rotation such that as the moveable member progresses with the linear edge in contact with the molten material, it rises up and down so as to form a continuous substantially sinusoidal profile in the upper surface of said molten material.

64. A method as claimed in claim 63 wherein the rolling means comprises at least one pair of wheels.

65. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein a molding member, the underside of which exhibits a continuous substantially sinusoidal profile, is pressed into the molten material after the molten material has been deposited on the ground.

66. A method as claimed in claim 48 wherein the wavelength of the resultant substantially sinusoidal profile is 0.28 m to 0.48 m.

67. A method as claimed in claim 66 wherein the wavelength of the resultant substantially sinusoidal profile is 0.3 m to 0.4 m.

68. A method as claimed in claim 67 wherein the wavelength of the resultant substantially sinusoidal profile is 0.35 m.

69. A method as claimed in claim 48 wherein the wavelength of the resultant substantially sinusoidal profile is approximately equal to the contact patch length of a tire.

70. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein a peak to trough amplitude of the resultant traffic calming surface is 4 mm to 12 mm.

71. A method as claimed in claim 70 wherein the peak to trough amplitude of the resultant traffic calming surface is 6 mm to 7 mm.

72. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the resultant traffic calming surface has a length of 5 m to 20 m.

73. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the molten material comprises a polymer modified bitumen based compound.

74. A method as claimed in claim 73 wherein the molten material comprises a synthetic bitumen mixed with filler and aggregate.

75. A method as claimed in claim 74 wherein the molten material comprises binder resin, polymer and plasticizer.

76. A method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the molten material comprises concrete or grout.

77. A method of laying a traffic calming surface wherein molten material is accommodated within a vessel, the vessel having a opening at or near the lower end thereof so that the molten material can flow out of the vessel wherein the vessel is provided with a means to control the flow of material such that, in use, the material is deposited on the ground so as to form a traffic calming surface, the upper surface of which has a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile.

78. An apparatus for use with a method of laying a traffic calming surface, the apparatus comprising at least one pair of longitudinal rails, the upper surface of which have a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile which extends along the length thereof.

79. An apparatus as claimed in claim 78 wherein the rails are formed of metal.

80. An apparatus as claimed in claim 79 wherein the rails are formed of aluminum.

81. An apparatus as claimed in claim 78 wherein undersides of the rails are substantially flat thereby allowing the rails to be positioned on a planar surface.

82. A moveable member for spreading molten material on a road surface, the moveable member exhibiting or defining a substantially linear edge which comes into contact with said molten material wherein the moveable member is moved over the material and is arranged to create a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile in an upper surface thereof.

83. A moveable member as claimed in claim 82 wherein the moveable member comprises a cylindrical drum.

84. A moveable member as claimed in claim 82 wherein said moveable member is formed of metal.

85. A moveable member as claimed in claim 82 wherein said moveable member is heated.

86. A moveable member as claimed in claim 85 wherein said moveable member is heated to between 300°

C. to 550°

C.

87. A moveable member as claimed in claim 82 wherein said moveable member is provided with a rolling means wherein the rolling means has a non central axis of rotation such that as the moveable member progresses with the linear edge in contact with the molten material, the moveable member rises up and down so as to form a continuous substantially sinusoidal profile in the upper surface of said molten material.

88. An apparatus for laying a traffic calming surface, comprising a means for molding molten material so as to form a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile in an upper surface thereof.

89. An apparatus for laying a traffic calming surface, comprising:

i) at least one pair of longitudinal rails, upper surfaces of which have a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile which extends along a length of said rails wherein molten material is deposited between said rails; and

ii) a moveable member which extends between the rails, and which is moved over the rails in contact with the molten material such that an upper surface of the material is molded to form a continuous, substantially sinusoidal profile.