Conformable magnetic articles underlaid beneath traffic-bearing surfaces

• US 5,853,846 A
• Filed: 10/15/1996
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Clark, Gary W., Jacobs, Gregory F., Dahlin, Thomas J., Gonzalez, Bernard A., Hopstock, David M., Keech, Robert L., Fayling, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watkins, III, William P.
• Application Number:
  US08/732,795
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 428/131, 428/40, 428/343, 428/900, 428/143, 428/149, 428/156, 428/325, 428/692, 428/694 R, 428/694 B, 428/694 BC, 428/694 BU, 404/6, 404/9, 404/14, 404/16, 404/71, 340/901, 340/905, 180/167, 180/168, 701/23
• US Class Current: 428/131
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 13/047 made of particles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/16 characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder or granules layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• 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: E01F 9/506 characterised by the road surface marking material, e.g. comprising additives for improving friction or reflectivity; Methods of forming, installing or applying markings in, on or to road surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/512 Preformed road surface markings, e.g. of sheet material; Methods of applying preformed markings
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0263 using magnetic strips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/90 Magnetic feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24372 Particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24421 Silicon containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/252 Glass or ceramic [i.e., fired or glazed clay, cement, etc.] [porcelain, quartz, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/32 Composite [nonstructural laminate] of inorganic material having metal-compound-containing layer and having defined magnetic layer

Abstract

A conformable magnetic article for underlayment beneath a traffic-bearing surface which sends a magnetic signal to a sensor traveling over the traffic-bearing structure. The magnetic article comprises at least one conformable magnetic layer comprising a binder and a sufficient amount of magnetic particles dispersed within the binder to provide a magnetic signal through the traffic-bearing structure to a sensor.

Claims

1. A conformable magnetic article for underlayment beneath a traffic-bearing surface to send a magnetic signal to a sensor traveling over the traffic-bearing surface, said magnetic article comprising at least one conformable magnetic layer comprising a binder and a sufficient amount of magnetic particles within the binder to provide the magnetic signal, the conformable layer being sufficiently conformable to meet the inelastic deformation test, wherein said article is perforated along its length.

2. The magnetic article of claim 1, wherein said article is substantially inelastic.

3. The magnetic article of claim 1, wherein said article comprises sections of alternating polarity along the length of the article.

4. The magnetic article of claim 1, wherein said magnetic article further comprises a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to a major surface of the article.

5. A system for guiding vehicles or mobile objects traveling on a traffic-bearing surface, comprising:

(a) at least one conformable magnetic article for underlaying beneath a traffic-bearing surface to send a magnetic signal to a sensor traveling over the traffic-bearing surface, said magnetic article comprising at least one conformable magnetic layer comprising a binder and a sufficient amount of magnetic particles within the binder to provide the magnetic signal, the conformable layer being sufficiently conformable to meet the inelastic deformation test; and

(b) a sensor for passing over the traffic-bearing surface, said sensor comprising means for detecting the magnetic signal through the traffic-bearing surface, wherein said magnetic article is perforated along its length.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said magnetic article is substantially inelastic.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said magnetic article comprises sections of alternating polarity along its length.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said sensor is mounted on a vehicle adapted to travel over the traffic-bearing surface.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said magnetic article further comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a major surface of the article.

10. A system for guiding vehicles or mobile objects traveling on a traffic-bearing surface, comprising:

(a) a traffic-bearing surface comprising at least two layers of material;

(b) a conformable magnetic article underlaid beneath the top surface of said traffic-bearing surface between two of said layers, said article adapted to send a magnetic signal to a sensor traveling over the traffic-bearing surface, said magnetic article comprising at least one conformable magnetic layer comprising a binder and a sufficient amount of magnetic particles within the binder to provide the magnetic signal, the conformable layer being sufficiently conformable to meet the inelastic deformation test; and

(c) a sensor for passing over the traffic-bearing surface, said sensor comprising means for detecting the magnetic signal through said traffic-bearing surface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said magnetic article is substantially inelastic.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said magnetic article is perforated along its length.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said magnetic article comprises sections of alternating polarity along its length.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said sensor is mounted on a vehicle adapted to travel over said traffic-bearing surface.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said traffic-bearing surface comprises asphalt, and wherein said two layers are the outermost two layers of said traffic-bearing surface.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said magnetic article further comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a major surface of the article.