Pyrotechnic patty and method for attaching pavement markers
First Claim
1. A pyrotechnic patty for attaching a pavement marker to a roadway surface by heating an adhesive pad, comprising:
- one or more oxidizers; and
one or more fuels;
wherein the oxidizer and the fuel are blended and formed into a relatively flat patty, and the compositions and amounts of the oxidizers and fuels are selected such that, upon ignition, the patty is effective in melting the adhesive pad and producing a sufficiently low amount of residual products so that the pavement marker is adequately attached to the roadway surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pyrotechnic patty for rapidly attaching a raised pavement marker to a paved roadway surface is disclosed. The pyrotechnic patty consists of a stable mixture of oxidizer and fuel formed into a fattened shape that, once ignited, deflagrates rapidly producing a large amount of heat. The heat melts an adhesive pad that, after cooling and solidifying, permanently attaches the pavement marker to the paved surface. Preferably, the adhesive pad is formed of bitumen and the pyrotechnic patty is formed of a composition, in predetermined proportions, of potassium nitrate, aluminum nitrate, shredded newspaper, aluminum, and sulfur. The pyrotechnic patty is controllably ignited by passing an ignition current through a nichrome wire. The pyrotechnic patty is particularly suitable for use in an automatic marker attachment system.
18 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A pyrotechnic patty for attaching a pavement marker to a roadway surface by heating an adhesive pad, comprising:
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one or more oxidizers; and one or more fuels; wherein the oxidizer and the fuel are blended and formed into a relatively flat patty, and the compositions and amounts of the oxidizers and fuels are selected such that, upon ignition, the patty is effective in melting the adhesive pad and producing a sufficiently low amount of residual products so that the pavement marker is adequately attached to the roadway surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for pyrotechnic installation on a roadway surface, comprising:
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a pavement marker having a flat bottom surface and a raised top surface; an adhesive pad that melts when heated to a predetermined temperature, the adhesive pad having substantially flat top and bottom surfaces, wherein the top surface of the adhesive pad is attached to the bottom surface of the pavement marker; and a flattened pyrotechnic patty having a top surface and a bottom surface, and including at least one oxidizer and at least one fuel, wherein the top surface of the pyrotechnic patty is attached to the bottom surface of the adhesive pad. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for attaching a pavement marker to a roadway surface, comprising:
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providing an adhesive pad that melts at a predetermined temperature; providing a pyrotechnic patty that, when ignited, rapidly produces heat sufficient to melt the adhesive pad; placing a sandwich comprising the pavement marker, the adhesive pad and the pyrotechnic patty over a location on the roadway surface to which the pavement marker is to be attached; igniting the pyrotechnic patty to cause it to deflagrate and produce sufficient heat to melt the adhesive pad; applying pressure to a top surface of the pavement marker while the adhesive is still melted so that the adhesive contacts both a bottom surface of the pavement marker and the roadway surface; allowing the adhesive to cool so that the pavement marker is firmly attached, by the adhesive, to the roadway surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification