Sealant Ring with Heat Protection Cap for Pavement Joint Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for sealing the border between road caps and asphalt surfaces are inefficient, prone to water infiltration, and often result in unsatisfactory connections due to temperature-related expansion and contraction issues, leading to cracks and damage during installation and use.

Innovation Solution

A system featuring a sealant ring with a heat protection cap that prevents contact with hot asphalt during application, ensuring the sealant remains intact and bonds uniformly with the asphalt surface upon compaction, using a material with a melting temperature range that aligns with the rolling temperature of the asphalt, and an air gap that closes during compaction to form a seamless seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealant ring is provided on the road cap to bond with the road surface course, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the sealant melts and bonds with the applied asphalt layer during application, causing the sealant to be destroyed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidsealant integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The heat protection cap is placed on the road cap before the asphalt layer is applied, preventing the sealant ring from melting during asphalt application. This preliminary protective action ensures the sealant remains intact and functional when the asphalt is later removed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heat protection cap acts as an intermediary element between the sealant ring and the hot asphalt layer. It temporarily protects the sealant from direct contact with the asphalt during application, preventing unwanted bonding while allowing the sealant to function properly after the asphalt is removed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the sealant ring is exposed during asphalt application, then bonding with the road surface course is improved, but the sealant melts and runs off uncontrollably during application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding uniformityVSAvoidsealant control
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The heat protection cap is installed before asphalt application to prevent the sealant from melting and running off. This preliminary protection ensures that when the asphalt is subsequently removed, the sealant remains in its original position and can bond uniformly with the road surface course.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heat protection cap is temporarily extracted from the system - it is placed on the road cap during asphalt application, then removed before rolling. This temporary extraction allows the sealant to remain protected during the critical application phase while enabling proper bonding afterward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the road cap is temporarily covered with asphalt layers during construction, then construction flexibility is improved, but the sealant ring is damaged by contact with hot asphalt

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction flexibilityVSAvoidsealant durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat protection cap is placed on the road cap before any asphalt layers are applied, providing preliminary protection against the hot asphalt. This allows the road cap to be temporarily covered during construction without damaging the sealant ring, maintaining both construction flexibility and sealant durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heat protection cap provides beforehand cushioning or protection for the sealant ring against the harmful thermal effects of hot asphalt during temporary covering. This prior protection ensures the sealant remains intact and functional even when asphalt layers are applied and subsequently removed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Reliability

If bitumen strip is pressed firmly to ensure adhesion, then sealing is improved, but the process is time-consuming and often omitted on construction sites

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing qualityVSAvoidinstallation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant ring is pre-installed on the road cap during manufacturing, and the heat protection cap is placed before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site application of bitumen strips, improving installation efficiency while maintaining sealing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heat protection cap is a simple, disposable component that is easily installed and removed on-site. Its temporary use replaces the need for complex, time-consuming bitumen strip application, significantly improving construction productivity without compromising sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

This solution creates a uniform, homogeneous sealant border that prevents water infiltration and damage, ensuring a durable and crack-free interface between the road cap and asphalt, even under varying temperatures and handling conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a sealant ring (7) which is designed to become liquid at the temperature occurring during asphalt paving in order to create a joint that is largely filled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

the sealant ring (7) is designed to become liquid at the temperature occurring during asphalt paving

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

Since asphalt is subject to expansion and contraction due to weather-related temperature fluctuations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3339514B1System for avoiding gap formation after the installation of a street cover in a pavement
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 HESTER KOLJA
  • EP3339514B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3339514B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3339514B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for preventing joint formation after the installation of a road cap (1) in a road surface (2), wherein the road cap (1) has a cover (5) and, in the installed state, is provided in its upper boundary region with the road surface (2) with a sealant (6) to prevent cracking in the road surface (2). A uniform and homogeneous sealant border (6'), free of depressions, is created by equipping the road cap (1) at its upper outer edge with a sealant ring (7) designed such that the sealant (6) of the sealant ring (7) can bond with the road surface layer (2') within a temperature range corresponding to the rolling temperature of the road surface layer (2'), by providing a heat-insulating cap (8) that protects the sealant ring (7) from softening during asphalt paving, and by making the heat-insulating cap (8) removable before the road surface layer (2') is rolled.wherein an air gap (9) is created in the width of the outer wall (10, 10') of the heat protection cap (8), so that heat transfer during application from the asphalt of the road surface course (2') to the sealing ring (7) is prevented, and that only during rolling does the air gap (9) close due to the material compaction of the road surface course (2') in such a way that the road surface course (2') bonds with the sealing agent (6) of the sealing ring (7) to form a sealing agent surround (6').