Single Prime Mover Mark Removal System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pavement marking removal systems require multiple internal combustion engines for operation, leading to weight distribution issues, increased maintenance, and fuel costs, as well as the creation of unsightly grooves in the pavement surface due to the need to remove underlying material.
Innovation Solution
A high-pressure liquid cleaning system mounted on a single truck with a single prime mover, featuring a dual-mode drive-line that transitions from transport to work mode, utilizing a mechanical-hydrostatic transmission to power both the vehicle and bed-mounted equipment, allowing for efficient marking removal without additional engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple internal combustion engines are used to power high-pressure water pumps and vacuum systems, then sufficient power is available for effective stripe removal, but vehicle weight increases and weight distribution among axles becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power sources into a single integrated hydraulic power unit that supplies hydraulic power to both the water pump and vacuum system, eliminating the need for multiple separate engines and reducing overall vehicle weight while maintaining sufficient power for stripe removal operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic power unit that uses hydraulic fluid under pressure to drive both the high-pressure water pump and the vacuum system, replacing multiple mechanical engines with a single hydraulic power source that reduces weight and simplifies the vehicle's power train
2Power
If multiple internal combustion engines are installed on the vehicle, then adequate power is provided for water pump and vacuum operations, but maintenance costs and fuel consumption increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple engine-powered systems into a single hydraulic power unit, reducing the number of engines from multiple to one, which directly lowers maintenance requirements and fuel consumption while still providing adequate power for both water pump and vacuum operations
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic power unit serves multiple functions simultaneously, powering both the high-pressure water pump and the vacuum system through a single power source, eliminating the need for separate engines and thereby reducing overall maintenance costs and fuel usage
3Power
If multiple engines are mounted on the vehicle frame, then sufficient power is available for all systems, but proper weight distribution among axles cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple engines into a single hydraulic power unit with a unified weight, allowing for optimized placement on the vehicle frame to achieve proper weight distribution among axles, while still providing sufficient power for marking removal operations
4Productivity
If cutting devices are used to remove pavement markings, then effective removal of painted lines is achieved, but unsightly and potentially dangerous grooves are left in the pavement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cutting devices with a high-pressure water jet system that removes pavement markings through hydraulic erosion rather than mechanical cutting, effectively removing markings without creating grooves in the underlying pavement surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a high-pressure water pump to generate a jet of water at extremely high pressure that erodes and removes painted markings from the pavement surface through hydraulic force, eliminating the need for mechanical cutters that would create grooves
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
Enables efficient and effective removal of pavement markings with reduced weight and maintenance costs, eliminating the need for multiple engines, while maintaining high-speed transport and increased water flow capacity for extended operation times.
Implementation Method 1
The system employs a combination liquid and vacuum reservoir connected to a high pressure pump for directing ultra high pressure water through a blast head
Implementation Method 2
cleaning system for removing coatings from a hard surface by high pressure liquid
Implementation Method 3
The drive-line of the vehicle is constructed and arranged to operate in two distinct modes, e.g. a transport mode and a work mode
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a cleaning system for removing coatings from a hard surface by high pressure liquid. The system employs a combination liquid and vacuum reservoir connected to a high pressure pump for directing ultra high pressure water through a blast head mounted on a front portion of the vehicle. The cleaning system is preferably mounted on a single truck with a single prime mover. The drive-line of the vehicle is constructed and arranged to operate in two distinct modes, e.g. a transport mode and a work mode. In the transport mode, a first transmission coupled to the rear portion of the prime mover delivers torque from the engine to the rear wheels of the vehicle. In the work mode, the prime mover is utilized to mechanically drive the bed mounted equipment as well as provide motive force in the form of mechanical-hydrostatic transmission to propel the system at a speed suitable for marking removal.