Patent GB-783187-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to devices for marking indicator lines on road surfaces
IPC: E01C23/24
Filed: 1954-11-01
Abstract: 783,187. Line-markers for roads &c. WOELLWARTH, W. D. Oct. 24. 1955 [Nov. 1, 1954; May 18, 1955], Nos. 31569/54, and 14410/55. Class 132(2) In a steerable road-marking machine having a heated container for marking material flexibly connected to one or more vertically movable distributer boxes each having on its rear face near the bottom an outlet provided with a closure, the closure is open when the box is lowered and closed when it is in the raised position. A chassis 1 is driven by an engine 5 and has either one or two steerable wheels 2 at the front, seats 6, 8 being provided for the steersman and the operator respectively. A heated container 9 for the marking material has outlets 12 leading into ducts 13 supplying distributers 14, valves (not shown) being provided in the outlets 12 to cut off the marking material when the machine is idle. The heating means may be controlled thermostatically and a motor-driven stirrer may be provided in the container. Ducts 13 and the distributers may also be heated, preferably only when the line is being marked. Each distributer consists of a box running on skids 25 and having an outlet controlled by a valve 17. The distributer is carried from the chassis by pivoted links 15 and is urged on to the road by a spring 16. Linkwork 18 is connected to the valve 17 and to a rod 20. When the latter is raised, the valve is first closed and then the distributer is raised, the reverse sequence occuring when the distributer is allowed to decend under the influence of spring 16. A hand lever 23 is pivoted to the chassis and has an arm 21 connected to the top of rod 20. When lever 23 is moved to upright position the distributer is thus raised and it can be locked in this position by engagement of a finger 35 with a fixed stop on the machine; when it:is lowered, the distributer descends and the valve opens to mark the line. For automatic operation, the finger 35 on the lever 23 is engaged by a lever 30 rocked by a cam 27 on a camshaft 26 rotated through a dog-clutch by engine 5. The cams are interchangeable to vary the pattern marked. A separate container may be provided for each distributor so that different coloured materials may be used. The width of the distributer outlets may be adjustable to vary the width of line. In a modified valve, Fig. 3, the distributer outlet includes a semi-cylindrical valve 70 the bulk of which moves out of the outlet as it is closed and into the outlet as it is opened to give clean ends to the line. It is actuated from camshaft 26 through a rack and pinion mechanism 44, 45 and material is urged towards the outlet by a screw 46. The machine may carry in sequence, a road b rush, a road heater, an adhesive applicator, the distributer, and a cold-air blast. The second Provisional Specification describes sighting devices for guiding the chassis on both straight and curved paths, two modified forms of discharge valve, and various means for delaying the operation of the distributer until the latter has reached the point at which the steersman actuated the control therefor.