Device for supporting a roll of material to a vehicle

A device for supporting a roll of material to a vehicle utilizing a first and second arm having a tensioning mechanism for tightening the roll of material. The device also includes a support bracket which adjustably holds the second arm in relation to the first arm. The support bracket and first arm are mounted to a selected position on the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The presentation invention relates to a novel and useful apparatus for 
laying paving fabric. 
A recent development in the construction and repair of asphalt surfaces 
includes the laying of a sheet of paving fabric generally formed from 
polypropylene, polyethylene or the like. It has been found that the use of 
paving fabric permits the binding of the old asphalt to the new asphalt 
overlay while maintaining a moisture impermeable barrier. The result is 
that reflective cracking of asphalt surfaces is prevented in the future. 
In the past, the paving fabric has been placed down manually but this has 
proved to be unsatisfactory since the sheet matieral being unrolled must 
be aligned with the paving surface perimeter and must be free of wrinkles. 
Reference is made to the U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,854 to McClure which 
describes a device for tensioning fabric rolls. The prior art fabric roll 
laying devices suffer from the inability to accomodate different sized 
rolls and the elimination of wrinkles from the fabric after it is placed 
on the surface being paved. In addition, the prior devices have been 
unwieldy and are not compactly transported from one worksite to another. 
A paving machine which overcomes the obstacles and shortcomings of the 
devices of the prior art would be a great advance in the field of 
constructing and repairing paved surfaces. 
In accordance with the present invention a novel apparatus for laying 
paving fabric is provided. 
The device of the present application is normally vehicle mounted and 
dispenses paving fabric from a roll. The apparatus employs a first member 
which has a lateral or transverse dimension and a second member having a 
lateral or transverse dimension such that the members are spaced from one 
another. The roll is supported from the second member and permitted to 
unwind with vehicle movement. The fabric is then laid over the surface in 
this manner. 
Means is also used for applying a downward force on the unwound paving 
fabric as it passes beneath the vehicle. Said force applying means being 
connected to the first member. Such means for applying a downward force on 
the unwound paving fabric may include a first element and a second element 
lying adjacent the first element and being angularly disposed in relation 
to the same. 
The means for applying a downward pressure or force on the unwound paving 
fabric may include brushes in the form of first and second elongated brush 
units each connected to said first and second elements respectively. The 
brush units may form an angle with the apex of the angle lying closer to 
the fabric than the legs of the angle. Thus, a vee or a chevron is formed 
with points toward the direction of travel of the vehicle. The first and 
second elements may be supported by said second member, although a portion 
of the first and second elements remains spaced from the second member. 
Means is also found to adjust the downward force provided by the means for 
applying the downward force. 
The apparatus of the present invention may also embrace the use of means 
for adjusting the lateral dimension of the second member. Such adjustment 
may take the form of one or more sections being telescopically movable in 
relation to one another. Of course, the means for supporting the roll 
would be attached to an elongated section of the telescopically movable 
sections. 
To maintain the tension on the roll, a bar may be connected to either the 
first or second member between the fabric roll and the surface. The bar 
may take the form of a cylindrical member fastened to arms extending from 
the first or second members. In addition, a platform may be provided on 
these arms to steady or hold the fabric roll as it is being loaded on the 
machine. 
The apparatus of the present invention may also entail the provision for 
means for rotating a portion of the first and second members upwardly. 
Such rotation would place the apparatus in a compact configuration that 
adds to the mobility of the apparatus. 
The present application may also be deemed to include a device for 
supporting a roll of material on a vehicle. The device has first and 
second arms each including means for tensioning the roll of material. A 
support bracket adjustably holds the second arm in relation to the first 
arm. Means is also found for positioning the support bracket to a selected 
position on the vehicle. 
The support bracket may take the form where the support bracket has a 
sleeve which slidingly engages the second arm. Means holds a portion of 
the second arm in the sleeve. In addition, the support bracket may rotate 
in relation to the vehicle. Also, a transverse member may be provided to 
permit the support bracket to slide transversely from one side of the 
vehicle to the other. 
The front arm may be angularly connected to the vehicle to permit the roll 
of material on the vehicle to be close to a vertical structure. 
A mechanism for stretching the unwinding from the roll may also be deemed 
as part of the present invention. The mechanism externalizes in a leg 
affixed to the vehicle and extending therefrom. First and second bars are 
held to the leg and may include means for positioning the same in relation 
to one another. 
It may be apparent that a novel and useful apparatus for laying paving 
fabric has been described. 
Is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for 
laying paving fabric from a roll on a surface which may be operated by a 
person having a minimum of training and experience. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for 
laying paving fabric which lays the fabric in proper alignment and without 
wrinkles. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus 
for laying paving fabric which may employ paving fabric rolls of various 
sizes. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for 
laying paving fabric which may be collapsible in part to facilitate 
transportation of the apparatus from job site to job site. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for 
supporting a relatively short roll of fabric for paving on either side of 
the vehicle supporting such device. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for 
stretching a fabric being unrolled to prevent wrinkles from occurring in 
the layed fabric. 
The apparatus possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns 
particular characteristics and features which will become apparent as the 
specification continues.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the 
following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention 
which should be referenced to the hereinabove drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ENBODIMENTS 
The apparatus as a whole is shown by reference character 10 in the 
drawings. 
The fabric laying machine 10 includes as one of its elements a first 
structural member 12 and a second structural member 14. Members 12 and 14 
extend transversely and laterally in relation to the paving surface. First 
member 12 and second member 14 are also spaced in relation to one another 
in that first member 12 lies behind second member 14. A post member 16 
holds first and second members in cantilever fashion. Braces 18 aid in 
this disposition. A bracket 20 connects to beam 22. Bracket arms 24 and 26 
connect to collars 28 and 30 respectively, which fit on support means 32 
provided by vehicle 34. 
A roll 36(shown in phantom) is held by tensioning spools 38 and 40 such as 
the tensioning spool shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,854. Supports 42 and 44 
hold tensioning spools in place and are substantially identical in 
construction to one another. Support 42 includes a pivot 46 which is moved 
by hydraulic means 48. The movement about pivot 46 would cause tensioning 
spools 38 and 40 to generally move in or out of roll 36. The hydraulic 
means 48 is shown in part as a hydraulic cylinder. The remaining portions 
of hydraulic means 48 are of conventional configuration. Likewise, 
hydraulic means 50 would similarly operate support 44. 
Arms 52, 54, and 56 extend from second member 14 downwardly at an angle. By 
example arm 56 includes a semi-cylinderical termination 58 for holding a 
rod or pipe 60. Unwound fabric from roll 36 would pass beneath pipe 60 and 
to the surface, as will be hereinafter explained. 
Means 62 is also included in the present invention for applying a downward 
force on the unwound paving fabric. Means 62 may take the form of a first 
element 64 and a second element 66 which meet at an apex or point of 
abutment 68. First and second elements 64 and 66 may be included as an 
integral part of first structural member 12 or formed separately as shown 
in FIG. 1. By way of illustration first element 64 is held to a jack 70 by 
plate 71. Jack 70 would constitute means for adjusting the downward force 
or pressure of first element 64. Likewise, jack 72 and jack 74 are fixed 
to second member 14. Brush units 76 and 78 are fixed to the bottom portion 
of elements 64 and 66 by the plurality of brackets such as bracket 80. Of 
course, brush units 76 and 78 may be held to first and second elements 64 
and 66 by any other known fastening means. Referring to FIG. 3 it may be 
seen that first and second elements 64 and 66 form a vee or chevron 
pointing in the direction of movement of the apparatus 10 shown by 
directional arrow 82. It has been found that this angle of configuration 
of the brush unit 64 and 66 greatly contributes to the removing of 
wrinkles from the paving fabric being unwound from roll 36 as it is placed 
on the surface. 
The paving apparatus 10 also includes means 84 for adjusting the lateral 
dimension of the second member 14. With reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b it 
may be seen that second structural member 14 includes an inner or first 
elongated section 86, a middle or second elongated section 88, and an 
outer or third elongated section 90. It should be noted that FIGS. 2a and 
2b depict the left side of apparatus 10 and that the means for adjusting 
member 14 includes a similar mechanism for the right side of apparatus 10. 
With reference to FIG. 2a it may be seen that support 44 is connected to 
third elongated section 90 by the use of the pivot block 92. Adjustment 
means 94 permits the rotation of support 44 upwardly and downwardly as 
needed to properly tension the roll 36. A set screw or pin 98 is removed 
to permit third elongated section 90 to slide over second elongated 
section 88. The removal of pin, 98 will permit the second section 88 to 
slide over the top of first section 86, shown in FIG. 2b. Thus, tensioning 
spool 40 may be moved laterally by the use of means 84. In addition, 
adjustment means 94 permits rotation of spool 40 upwardly and downwardly 
and hydraulic means 50 would permit the rotation of spool 40 inwardly and 
outwardly. 
With reference to FIG. 5 it may be seen that one of set pins 96 is shown 
holding third section 90 to second section 88. Pivot block 92 includes a 
pivoting rod 100 while hydraulic means 50 is shown to include u-shaped 
bracket 102 and hinge pin 104. 
Turning to FIG. 4 it may be seen that apparatus 10 further comprises means 
106 for rotating a portion of first and structural members 12 and 14 
upwardly. Means 106 includes hydraulic cylinders 108 and 110 operated by a 
conventional hydraulic system such as one having a three quarter ton 
capacity, 111/4" stroke manufactured by A.R.P.S Manufacturing Inc. In 
comparison, the hydraulic cylinder systems 48 and 50 would be similar to 
one having a seven ton capacity and a 6" stroke manufactured by Lantex 
Hydraulics, Inc. of Lanchester, Tex. Moreover, the screw adjustment jacks 
70, 72 and 74 as well as the jacks shown on the right side of the 
apparatus 10 may be of the type having a 2" diameter 11/2 ton capacity 
manufactured by Atwood Jacks. Hydraulic jacks may be used instead. 
First and second members 12 and 14 rotate about pivot 111 and 112. Again, 
similar rotation pins may be found on the right side of apparatus 10, 
FIGS. 2a, 2b and FIG. 1. Returning to FIG. 4 it may be seen that brush 
units 64 and 66 split and include brackets 114 and 116 to removably fasten 
the same together. 
With reference to FIG. 6 it may be seen that any one of arms 52, 54 or 56 
may include the construction shown by arm 118. Arm 118 includes a diagonal 
section 120 and a horizontal bracket 122 which serves as a resting place 
for roll 36 before being loaded on the tensioning spools 38 and 40. 
Directional arrow 124 shows the movement of roll 36 and the unwinding of 
the fabric sheet 126 onto surface 128 and beneath brush unit 76. 
FIG. 7 depicts a device 130 for supporting a short roll of material to the 
vehicle 34. Device 130 includes a first arm 132 having means 38 for 
tensioning the end of the short roll 134, which may have a length as small 
as eighteen inches. First arm 132 includes a first portion or a 
telescoping sleeve 138. Angled portion 136 permits the apparatus 10 to 
travel very close to vertical obstructions, such as curbs, mail boxes, 
buildings, and the like. 
A second arm 140 possesses means 40 for tensioning the end of roll 134. Arm 
140 is shown in the form of a rod which fits through a sleeve 142 in 
support bracket 144. A set screw 146 will hold second arm 140 within 
sleeve 142 at various positions. 
With reference to FIG. 8, support bracket 144 is shown to include a pin 148 
which is employed to support support bracket 144 in a vertical position to 
post member 16 by use of a string, rope, or chain (not shown). Structural 
member 150 slides along member 152 which is welded or otherwise attached 
to member 14. Structural member 150 includes a U-shaped support 154 which 
engages an end of support bracket 144. Pin 156 and cotter pin 158 hold 
support bracket 144 to U-shaped support 154. Bases 160 and 162 strengthen 
member 152 as they are both welded to member 14. 
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a mechanism for stretching the material 
unwinding from roll 134. Member 164 is welded to member 14 and angles 
downwardly. Member 166 extends horizontally in relation to member 164. A 
pair of slotted members 166 and 170 terminate in a semicircular piece 172 
to hold bar 174. Bar 174 may be taped or otherwise fastened to terminal 
member 172. A bolt 176 permits the adjustment of slotted members 170 and 
172 such that bar 170 may be positioned transversely or vertically in 
relation to member 164. A second pair of slotted members 178 terminate in 
a semicircular member 180 to hold bar 182. Thus, a second bar 182 contacts 
the material from roll 134 to offer a second stretching point thereto. The 
material then passes under brushes 76 as previously described. 
In operation, the operator of apparatus 10 would load fabric roll 36 onto 
tensioning spools 38 and 40. The sheet on 26 would be unwound and led over 
bar 60 to the bottom of brush units 76 and 78. Means 84 would adjust the 
proper lateral spacing between tensioning spools 38 and 40 while hydraulic 
means 48 and 50 would force tensioning spools 38 and 40 into roll 36 as 
desired. Adjustment means 94 would rotate the roll 36 upwardly or 
downwardly as necessary to achieve the proper height of the roll above bar 
60. The vehicle 34 would then be moved forward and the sheet 126 would be 
pressed onto surface 128 in a wrinkle-free manner. Jacks 70, 72, 74 and 
the others hereinbefore referenced, would be adjusted as needed to apply 
the proper force of the brush unit 76 and 78 to the unwound sheet 126. 
After being used, means 106 would be employed to raise the outer 
extremities of first and second members 12 and 14 for the sake of storing 
or transporting apparatus 10 from one job site to another job site. 
Where a shorter roll must be used on either side of the vehicle 34, the 
embodiments shown in FIGS. 7-10 would be employed. A short roll 134, which 
may range between ten inches and nine feet, would be placed between 
tensioning chucks 38 and 40. Support bracket 144 would be positioned on 
third member 152 by the use of set screw 184. Finally, second arm 140 
would slide through sleeve 142 and be held by set screw 146 to the proper 
position such that chuck 40 engages the end of roll 134. First arm 132 
would be telescoped along member 14 and held in place by means 186 such 
that chuck 38 fits within the other end of roll 134. The operator of the 
apparatus 10 is then ready to lay the material within four inches of any 
obstructions on the right side of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 7. Of 
course, second arm 140 may be reversed and placed on the left side of the 
apparatus as shown in FIG. 7 with a similar arm to first arm 132 thereat. 
Thus, the short roll 134 may be laid on either side of vehicle 34. With 
reference to FIG. 9, it may be seen that the material unwinding from roll 
134 may be stretched twice by use of bars 174 and 182. The mechanisms 
hereinbefore described may adjust bars 174 and 182 in relation to one 
another to achieve the maximum stretching. The end result is that the 
fabric layed upon surface 128 has a minimum number of wrinkles. 
While in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention have been set 
forth in considerable detail to the purposes of making a complete 
disclosure of the inveniton, it may be apparent to those of skill in the 
art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing 
from the spirit and principles of the invention.