Process for forming a guideline on a road surface

• US 5,698,259 A
• Filed: 10/26/1995
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fiat Auto S.p.A. (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Fiat Auto S.p.A. (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Collinucci, Luigi
• Primary Examiner(s): Utech, Benjamin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEEKS, TIMOTHY HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/548,427
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 427/448, 427/449, 427/455, 427/456, 427/136, 427/137, 427/250, 404/93, 404/94, 404/12, 180/168, 219/76.14
• US Class Current: 427/136
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/224 the material having originally the shape of a wire, rod or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/06 the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle, e.g. the pump being driven by a vehicle wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 4/131 Wire arc spraying
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 4/18 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/206 by applying fusible particulate material to the surface, e.g. by means of a gaseous stream
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 11/00 Road engineering aspects of Embedding pads or other sensitive devices in paving or other road surfaces , e.g. traffic detectors, vehicle-operated pressure-sensitive actuators, devices for monitoring atmospheric or road conditionspressure-sensitive elements G01L; traffic control systems G08G
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/30 Arrangements interacting with transmitters or receivers otherwise than by visible means, e.g. using radar reflectors or radio transmitters E01F11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0289 with means for avoiding collisions between vehicles vehicle fittings for automatically controlling speed including means for detecting potential obstacles B60K31/0008; avoiding obstacles by action on the steering system B62D; radar, sonar, lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93

Abstract

A metal detector and distance sensor for a motor vehicle. A departure of the motor vehicle from a correct path indicated by one or two metal lines covered with paint in the road is signaled. The metals lines are formed by projecting a jet of metal in the gaseous state at high speed onto the road surface. A covering of paint is then formed over the metal line on the road surface. A turbine supplied by an air compressor projects the jet of metal in the gaseous state from a vehicle or a trailer having a metal supply device and a painting device thereon. A display indicates the direction of departure from the correct path and the distance separating the motor vehicle from a preceding vehicle. Alarm signals can be emitted upon the departure.

Claims

1. A process for forming on a road surface at least one guide line which contains metal detectable by a metal detector, comprising the steps of:

fusing metal in an arc torch and producing a jet of vaporized metal;

accelerating the jet of vaporized metal by compressed air;

further accelerating the jet of vaporized metal in a turbine;

projecting the resulting jet of vaporized metal onto a road surface to form a metal coating on a portion of the road surface; and

covering the metal on the road surface with paint.

2. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of accelerating the jet of vaporized metal in a turbine accelerates the metal to an almost supersonic velocity.

3. A process as defined in claim 2 comprising the further step of mounting a device in an automotive vehicle or trailer to perform the steps of fusing metal, accelerating the jet of vaporized metal by compressed air and a turbine, projecting the resulting jet of metal onto a road surface, and covering said metal with paint.

4. A process as defined in claim 2, wherein the metal is fused to form vaporized metal containing gaseous metal vapor entrained in air, wherein the step of accelerating the jet of vaporized metal in a turbine accelerates the metal to an almost supersonic velocity, and wherein the metal is zinc or aluminum.

5. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the jet of metal is projected onto the road surface at an almost supersonic velocity.

6. A process as defined in claim 5 comprising the further step of mounting a device in an automotive vehicle or trailer to perform the steps of fusing metal, accelerating the jet of vaporized metal by compressed air and a turbine, projecting the resulting jet of metal onto a road surface, and covering said metal with paint.

7. A process as defined in claim 5, wherein the metal is aluminum.

8. A process as defined in claim 5, wherein the metal is zinc.

9. A process as defined in claim 1 comprising the further step of mounting a device in an automotive vehicle or trailer to perform the steps of fusing metal, accelerating the jet of vaporized metal by air compressed air and turine, projecting the resulting jet of metal onto a road surface, and covering said metal with paint.

10. A process as defined in claim 9, wherein the metal is aluminum and the arc torch is an electric arc torch.

11. A process as defined in claim 9, wherein the metal is zinc and the arc torch is an electric arc torch.

12. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal is aluminum.

13. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal is zinc.

14. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal is fused to form vaporized metal containing gaseous metal vapor entrained in air and wherein the step of accelerating the jet of vaporized metal in a turbine accelerates the metal to an almost supersonic velocity.