Systems and methods for automating the application of friction-modifying coatings

• US 9,567,716 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DBI Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: DBI Holding LLC
• Inventors: Rainwater, Keith, Howorko, Rick, Howorko, Matthew, Rainwater, Jeff, Stone, Jack D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addie, Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US14/835,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20160138228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 404/31, 404/75, 404101-111
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/044 Slits, i.e. narrow openings defined by two straight and parallel lips; Elongated outlets for producing very wide discharges, e.g. fluid curtains B05B1/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/18 using fluids, e.g. gas streams
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/005 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/00 Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/02 performed by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/00 Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces to obtain special surface effects, finishes or structures
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/16 for applying or spreading liquid materials, e.g. bitumen slurries E01C19/1054, E01C19/21, E01C19/45, E01C19/4813, E01C21/00, E01C23/02, E01C23/03, E01C23/065, E01C23/096, E01C23/0973, E01C23/0993 , E01C23/16 take precedence; spreading-out or smoothing-down means as parts of spraying apparatus E01C19/178
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/17 Application by spraying or throwing
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/176 Spraying or throwing elements, e.g. nozzles; Arrangement thereof or supporting structures therefor, e.g. spray-bars
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/20 Apparatus for distributing, e.g. spreading, granular or pulverulent materials, e.g. sand, gravel, salt, dry binders E01C19/21, E01C19/4813, E01C19/482, E01C23/098, E01C23/166 take precedence; fertiliser distributors A01C15/00 ; permanently-installed devices for applying gritting or thawing materials E01H10/005; mobile spreaders specially adapted for treating wintry roads E01H10/007
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/201 with driven loosening, discharging or spreading parts, e.g. power-driven, drive derived from road-wheels E01C19/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/21 for simultaneously but separately applying liquid material and granular or pulverulent material, e.g. bitumen and grit, with or without spreading with rolling E01C19/4813; for filling grooves and gritting the filling
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2019/2065 Sensing the quantity of the material actually being distributed
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/06 Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface working freshly laid paving E01C19/42 - E01C19/44, E01C23/02; mining picks E21C35/18; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in place or on the road

Abstract

A system and method for the application of friction-modifying coatings to roadways, walkways, pathways and other areas subject to vehicular, human or animal traffic, the system and method comprising the controlled, simultaneous application of binder and filler to a surface of a substrate, using a mobile device which passes over the substrate as the binder and filler are being applied. The system includes a frame coupled to a vehicle. A spray bar is mounted on the frame and includes an array of spray nozzles coupled to a resin container. An air knife is mounted on the frame and coupled to an air compressor for generating an air curtain. An aggregate dispenser bar including at least one aggregate dispenser is coupled to an aggregate bin and mounted on the frame for dispensing aggregate.

Claims

1. An assembly for applying binder, the assembly comprising:

a frame coupled to a vehicle;

a spray bar mounted on the frame and including an array of spray nozzles coupled to a container of resin for spraying the resin onto a surface;

an air knife bar mounted on the frame and coupled to an air compressor for generating compressed air, the air knife including a tube defining a slit in the tube extending across the length of the tube through which the compressed air is ejected to create an air curtain for smoothing the resin on the surface to prepare it for receiving aggregate from dispensers; and

an aggregate dispenser bar including at least one aggregate dispenser coupled to an aggregate bin and mounted on the frame for dispensing aggregate.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame is coupled to the vehicle via a parallelogram linkage configured with a hydraulic actuator to raise and lower the frame.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame is coupled to the vehicle via a parallelogram linkage configured with a hydraulic actuator to raise and lower the frame and coupled to a bin containing aggregate for dispensing aggregate.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the spray bar is extendable.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the air knife bar is extendable.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the aggregate dispenser is extendable.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the resin is a polyester polymer.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the resin is an epoxy polymer.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the spray bar includes a port inlet for catalyst.

10. An assembly for applying binder, the assembly comprising:

a frame coupled to a vehicle;

a spray bar defining a slit extending substantially across the length of the bar, the spray bar being mounted on the frame and coupled to a container of resin for spraying the resin onto a surface;

an air knife bar mounted on the frame and coupled to an air compressor for generating compressed air, the air knife bar including a tube defining a slit in the tube extending across the length of the tube through which the compressed air is ejected to create an air curtain for smoothing the resin on the surface to prepare it for receiving aggregate from an aggregate dispenser; and

an aggregate dispenser bar including at least one aggregate dispenser coupled to an aggregate bin and mounted on the frame for dispensing aggregate.

11. A method for applying binder, the method comprising steps of:

spraying resin through an array of spray nozzles onto a surface, the array of spray nozzles being defined on a spray bar mounted on a frame coupled to a vehicle;

smoothing the resin to prepare it for receiving aggregate by generating an air curtain over the resin by ejecting air through a slit defined in a tube constituting an air knife bar mounted on the frame and coupled to an air compressor; and

dispensing aggregate from at least one aggregate dispenser bar onto the smoothed resin, the at least one aggregate dispenser bar being coupled to an aggregate bin and mounted on the frame.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising using a hydraulic actuator to raise and lower the frame via a parallelogram linkage coupled to the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising extending the spray bar.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising extending the air knife bar.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising extending the aggregate dispenser bar.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the resin is a polyester polymer.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the resin is an epoxy polymer.