Abstract:
The invention is a method and device for measuring the inclination of a roadway using highly precise digital inclinometer and a frame for holding and suspending the digital inclinometer over the width of a lane of traffic. The device and method require a single, and only a single, human operator. The device is lightweight and highly portable.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/393,031 filed on Oct. 14, 2010. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCED OR INCORPORATED MATERIAL 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of roadway construction. More specifically, it relates to a device and a method for measuring the inclination of the road, relative to the perpendicular side of the road, using a precise measuring tool and a precision frame for holding the tool. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically, a roadway course will have a slope or a crown extending downwards from the center of the road towards the sides of the road. In the field of roadway construction, the slope of a roadway course perpendicular to the side of the road is of great importance as it allows water, debris, and other hindrances to roadway traffic to exit the road. Too much slope, however, can also pose a roadway hazard. Such hazards are amplified when the subject roadway receives heavy and/or fast traffic such as a United States Interstate Highway. As a result, Engineers have determined very precise slope mandates which determine best practice in roadway design and installation. Both construction codes and paving contracts include these roadway inclination design mandates and it is incumbent upon contractors to insure that their roads meet the precise specified slopes. Likewise, it is incumbent upon roadway owners, such as states and local governments, to insure that they are receiving the precision engineered, sloped roadways for which they are paying. 
     Typically, slope has been measured and checked using traditional surveying methods. These methods include using several humans to hold and position levels and poles and then to calculate the slope based on observed readings. These methods are labor intensive and take time to perform calculations respective of the slope. Other methods include using imprecise inclinometers mounted on the rear of a roadway paving or screeding machines to capture a reading as the road is constructed. 
     The present invention provides a method and device for measuring the slope of the roadway with a high degree of precision. The device and method also reduces requisite labor to a single human and eliminates the need for complex calculations. The device is thus an apparatus which may easily be operated and maneuvered by a single person whereby the reading of the slope to a high degree of precision is easily accomplished. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that may be easily transported from jobsite to jobsite. It is still a further object of the present invention to optionally, and alternatively, provide a device that will measure a full lane of traffic but also measure a smaller portion of a lane. 
     To this end, the present invention contemplates a digital inclinometer that precisely measures slope across a roadway with an error of less than 2.0 arcminutes. This digital inclinometer is fixed in a lightweight, rigid frame designed to span at least the width of a lane of traffic. The frame can be easily moved by a single person and can be disassembled and transported. It may also be, optionally and alternatively, shortened as necessary to span smaller distances. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the assembled device. 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view showing the perpendicular alignment bar attached to the assembled device next to the side of the road. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the perpendicular alignment bar attached to the assembled device and highlighting how a human operator utilizes a hand truck to align and operate the device. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the device. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the device. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the device 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view showing the device positioned on a roadway cutaway. 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the short version of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention. The following example is provided to further illustrate the invention and is not to be construed to unduly limit the scope of the invention. 
     The present invention is a method and device for measuring the inclination of a roadway. Specifically, the invention is a device and method of using the device for measuring the inclination of a roadway that is perpendicular to the side of the road ( 181 ). The device encompasses a digital inclinometer ( 100 ) having an error of less than two arcminutes plus one digit and a frame for holding the inclinometer that is machined from magnesium and aluminum. The components of the frame are precisely machined to several thousandths of an inch. 
     The device comprises a latitudinal support arm ( 110 ), a pair of legs ( 130 ), a digital inclinometer ( 100 ) having an error of less than two arcminutes plus one digit, an inclinometer bracket ( 150 ) for holding the inclinometer, a handle ( 140 ), and a hand-truck attachment plate which is also referred to as a transportation bar ( 160 ). The entire device weighs less than fifty pounds. 
     The latitudinal support arm ( 110 ) is designed to span one lane of traffic. It is made of rectangular, hollow magnesium tubing that has been precisely machined to have level surfaces varying less than several thousandths of an inch from end to end. The use of hollow magnesium tubing is not a mere design choice; rather, it critically solves the problem of being able to machine the device to precise tolerances and, and at the same time, being able to maintain a light weight so that a single person can easily maneuver the device. The latitudinal support arm further comprises a center support arm ( 111 ) and both a left ( 112 ) and right ( 113 ) support arm. When both the left ( 112 ) and right ( 113 ) support arms are attached, the device spans a full lane of traffic. When only the center support arm ( 111 ) is used the device spans about four feet of a lane of traffic. In alternate embodiments, the latitudinal support arm is a single piece and does not separate into center, left, and right portions. 
     Each of the left ( 112 ) and right ( 113 ) support arms are respectively attached to the center support arm ( 111 ) via a plate and a plurality of nuts and bolts ( 116 ). That is, there is disclosed both a left ( 114 ) and a right ( 115 ) attachment plate. The left ( 112 ) and right ( 113 ) support arms each have a hole (respectively  118  and  119 ), machined perpendicular to the ground, disposed at one end for attachment of one of the pair of legs ( 130 ). At the end of the respective left ( 112 ) and right ( 113 ) support arms, on the end opposite the hole for the attachment of the legs, are a plurality of holes ( 117 ), machined parallel to the ground, through which the plurality of bolts ( 116 ) pass when the left ( 114 ) and right ( 115 ) attachment plates are utilized to attach the left ( 112 ) and right ( 113 ) support arms to the center support arm ( 111 ). The center support arm ( 111 ) also has a pair of holes (respectively  120  and  121 ), machined perpendicular to the ground, wherein one hole is disposed at each end for attachment of the pair of legs. The legs ( 130 ) are attached to the center support arm ( 111 ) only when the left and right support arms are not being utilized such as when only a small section of road needs to be tested as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The pair of legs ( 130 ) comprises a flat platform ( 131 ) for supporting the device, a vertical riser portion ( 132 ), for raising the device off of the roadway, and an outwardly threaded portion ( 133 ) which passes through the respective perpendicular holes disposed on the latitudinal support arms ( 118  and  119 ). An inwardly threaded nut ( 134 ) is also contemplated for securing the legs ( 130 ) to the latitudinal support arms ( 110 ). 
     The handle ( 140 ) removably attaches to the top side of the center support arm ( 111 ) of the latitudinal support arm ( 110 ). The handle further comprises a pair of attachment brackets ( 141 ), which are fixedly mounted on the center support arm ( 111 ), a pair of parallel elevation members ( 142 ), and a perpendicular member ( 143 ). The perpendicular member ( 143 ) is fixedly attached to the pair of parallel members ( 142 ) and it runs parallel to the center support arm ( 111 ). The pair of parallel members ( 142 ) removably attaches to the attachment brackets ( 141 ) via a set screw ( 144 ) configuration. 
     The inclinometer bracket ( 150 ) effectively attaches the digital inclinometer ( 100 ) to the center support arm ( 111 ) of the longitudinal support arm ( 110 ). However, alternate embodiments including allowing the digital inclinometer ( 100 ) and inclinometer bracket ( 150 ) to be mounted to either the left ( 112 ) or right ( 113 ) support arms for use when the underlying asphalt surface is too hot or soft to stand on and take an accurate measurement. The inclinometer bracket cradles the digital inclinometer and assures that the bottom surface of the digital inclinometer ( 100 ) is in complete and continuous contact with the top surface of the center support arm ( 111 ) of the longitudinal support arm ( 110 ). In the preferred embodiment, the inclinometer bracket ( 150 ) further comprises a pair of braces ( 151 ) which attach to the sides of the center support arm ( 111 ) of the longitudinal support arm ( 110 ) via screw means ( 152 ). These braces ( 151 ) also contact the sides of the digital inclinometer ( 110 ). The inclinometer bracket ( 150 ) further comprises a traverse plate member ( 153 ) that is attached to the pair of braces ( 151 ) via a threaded screw and nut configuration ( 154 ) such that the nuts can be tightened to secure the digital inclinometer ( 100 ) in place. 
     The digital inclinometer ( 100 ) is an inclinometer that can be purchased by the public. An example is the Wyler Clinotronic 45 Plus brand inclinometer. Wyler AG 2010 Catalog, [online], pages 56-59, [retrieved on 2011-03-29]. Retrieved from &lt;URL: http://www.wylerag.com/pdf_katalog — 2010/CLINO_PLUS_p56-59.pdf. 
     The digital inclinometer ( 100 ) must be accurate and highly precise. The digital inclinometer has a measuring range of ±45 degrees and has a setting time of approximately 2 seconds. The digital inclinometer ( 100 ) has an error of less than 2 arcmin+1 digit. It is powered by battery and has an operating temperature range of 0° to 40° C. The digital inclinometer ( 100 ) may also be connected directly to a computer. 
     Also attached to the center support arm ( 111 ) of the latitudinal support arm ( 110 ) is the transportation bar ( 160 ). The transportation bar ( 160 ) is removably attached to the center support arm ( 111 ) via screw means ( 161 ). The transportation bar ( 160 ) cradles the center support arm ( 111 ) and then extends a distance both below the lower surface of the center support arm ( 111 ) and a distance outward in a direction perpendicular to the center support arm ( 111 ). The transportation bar ( 160 ) allows the device to be moved from location to location for additional measurements of incline by a simple hand truck ( 180 ) operated by a single human operator ( 182 ). The transportation bar ( 160 ) is symmetrical so that the hand truck may be applied to either side of the device. The typical hand truck ( 180 ) is well known in the art and has two wheels, a flat lower portion for moving articles and a perpendicular leaver arm that pivots about the wheels to move an article. In the present case, the flat lower portion of the hand truck is inserted so as to extend below the lowest surface of the transportation bar which is should be just above the roadways surface. Thus, the width below the center support arm ( 111 ) that the transportation bar ( 160 ) extends will be slightly less than that of the pair of parallel legs ( 130 ). 
     Removably and optionally attached at each end of left and right support arms is a perpendicular alignment tool ( 170 ). The alignment tool ( 170 ) passes through a hole disposed on the respective end of either the right or the left support arm. This hole is opposite in direction from the hole through which the pair of legs pass. The alignment tool ( 170 ) is preferably constructed from plastic pipe with an endcap on one end. When the alignment tool is inserted, the endcap of the alignment tool ( 170 ) should touch the surface of the respective left ( 112 ) or right ( 113 ) support arm thus making the alignment tool ( 170 ) exactly perpendicular to the respective right ( 113 ) or left ( 112 ) support arm. 
     While the foregoing has been a description of one embodiment of the device, the following will be a description of one embodiment of the method of using the device to measure a roadway. 
     First, providing a roadway ( 183 ). Second, providing a device for measuring the inclination of a roadway as described above. Next, the width of the roadway to be measured is determined. If the width of roadway is a full lane, then the left ( 112 ) and right ( 113 ) support arms are attached to the center support arm ( FIG. 1 ). If the width is small, then the support arms are not attached ( FIG. 7 ). Next the pair of legs ( 130 ) is attached at the respective ends of the latitudinal support arm ( 110 ). Next, the handle ( 140 ) and the transportation bar ( 160 ) are attached. Next, the digital inclinometer ( 100 ) and the inclinometer bracket ( 150 ) are attached. Next, the handtruck ( 180 ) is placed under the transportation bar ( 160 ). Next the alignment tool ( 170 ) is attached. Next, the entire device is maneuvered by a single human operator ( 182 ), and only a single human operator, to the desired location of roadway which will typically be between 50 and 100 feet behind the asphalt rollers and/or the pavement machines. The alignment tool ( 170 ) is used to align the device perpendicular to the side of the roadway ( 183 ). Next the digital inclinometer ( 100 ) is turned on by the single human operator ( 182 ) and the incline of the respective lane of the road is measured and recorded. The device is then repositioned to the next observation point, again, between 50 and 100 feet behind the asphalt rollers and/or pavement machines and another reading is obtained and recorded as described above, allowing the operator to provide timely and precise measurements that the paving machine operator can use to make adjustments to the inclination of his paving machine screed bar if necessary to keep the pavement cross slope within specified tolerances. When the final reading has been obtained, the device disassembled and stored by a single human operator ( 182 ). 
     In the event that that the heat being transferred from newly laid asphalt or other paving material may be too hot or too soft to walk on, an additional step is herein contemplated. Before the digital inclinometer and inclinometer bracket are attached to the center support arm, a temperature reading is first obtained. If the temperature reading does indeed show the surface is too hot to walk on, the digital inclinometer and the inclinometer bracket are then attached to either the left support arm or to the right support arm so that a reading might be obtained further from the center of the high temperatures. The attachment to the either the left or to the right support arm is identical to the process used to attach the inclinometer and inclinometer bracket to the center support arm.