Micro Glass Bead Application Device for Road Marking Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing road marking techniques using micro-glass beads suffer from low durability due to detachment from the road marking layer and weak retroreflection caused by the low adhesion force resulting from the small contact area and immersion of micro-glass beads in the road marking material.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a belt having holes, drums, and a blowing mechanism is used to apply micro-glass beads onto the road marking layer, ensuring uniform distribution and increased immersion through controlled pressure, enhancing adhesion and retroreflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If micro-glass beads are applied manually or using simple devices, then the application process is simple, but the durability of road marking is low due to bead detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic system where compressed air is directed through a distribution manifold to blow micro-glass beads onto the road marking surface. This pneumatic application method ensures uniform bead distribution and proper immersion depth, significantly improving adhesion and durability compared to manual application while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the immersion depth of micro-glass beads by adjusting pneumatic pressure parameters and bead application quantity. By optimizing these parameters, the beads achieve optimal immersion depth that maximizes adhesion force between the beads and road marking material, thereby improving durability without complicating the application process
2Illumination intensity
If micro-glass beads are applied to increase visibility, then retroreflection is enhanced, but beads easily detach due to low adhesion force from small contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the immersion depth parameter of micro-glass beads in the road marking material. By controlling the beads to achieve optimal immersion depth through pneumatic pressure adjustment, the contact area between beads and material is maximized, thereby increasing adhesion force while maintaining the beads' visibility and retroreflection properties
3Ease of operation
If micro-glass beads immerse slightly in road marking layer by gravity, then application is simple, but adhesion force is low resulting in bead detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces gravity-based application with pneumatic pressure-driven application. Compressed air is used to blow micro-glass beads onto the road marking surface with controlled force, ensuring optimal immersion depth and distribution. This pneumatic method maintains operational simplicity while significantly improving adhesion by ensuring proper bead immersion and contact with the material
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the application mechanism from passive gravity-based dropping to active pneumatic pressure-based delivery. By controlling pneumatic pressure parameters, the system achieves optimal bead immersion depth and distribution, maximizing adhesion force while keeping the operation simple and efficient
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly increases the durability and retroreflection of road markings by improving the adhesion of micro-glass beads to the road marking layer, reducing detachment and energy consumption while maintaining the desired level of visibility.
Implementation Method 1
the blowing means is disposed at the free edge to blow the micro-glass beads present in the holes in the lower portion of the belt in the direction of the road surface
Implementation Method 2
the mass of each micro-glass bead is low, whereas the viscosity of the material of a road marking layer is quite high. Hence the micro-glass beads immerse by gravity slightly in the road marking layer
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the field of road construction, in particular to devices for applying elements of road marking. The technical result of the subject invention is to increase the durability of the resulting road marking when in service. Before the road marking material has had time to harden, the micro-glass beads 6 are applied to the road marking layer 11. When the belt 2 with holes 3 travels through the container 4, the micro-glass beads 6 are supplied from the feeding device 5 onto the lower portion of the belt 2 with holes 3 inside the container 4. Some micro-glass beads 6 fall into the holes 3 and travel relative to the base 15 along with the lower portion of the belt 2. When the lower portion of the belt 2 with micro-glass beads 6 in the holes 3 and on the surface passes through the outlet 14 with the scraper 7, those micro-glass beads 6 that are completely present in the holes 3 of the belt 2 pass freely through the hole 3 and further travel along the base 15 together with the lower portion of the belt 2. When traveling on the belt 2 through the outlet 14, the micro-glass beads 6 which are present on the surface of the lower portion of the belt 2 or partially present in the holes 3 get stuck on the scraper 7 and can not escape the container 4. After leaving the container 4, the lower portion of the belt 2 with the micro-glass beads 6 in the holes 3 crosses the free edge 13 of the base 15 and ceases to contact therewith. Under action of gravity, the micro-glass beads 6 fall downwards and leave the holes 3 in the belt 2. The falling of the micro-glass beads 6 is further accelerated by increased pressure from the blowing means 9.