Mobile pavement marking removal apparatus

Abstract

A mobile pavement marking removal apparatus comprises a housing with a hollow interior and a bottom opening for permitting an abrasive media to be impacted onto a surface. The housing is mounted onto the vehicle such that the open bottom of the housing is adjacent the surface. A nozzle holder on the housing holds two nozzles aimed at the bottom opening of the housing to cause a blast of abrasive media to pass through the bottom opening and impact on the surface. The nozzles are connected in fluid communication by a supply hose to a source of abrasive media delivered by a stream of compressed air. An outlet in the housing permits recovery of the abrasive media and removed paint from the interior of the housing after the abrasive media has impacted the surface. A return hose carries the abrasive media and removed paint to a storage receptacle on the vehicle.

1 . A mobile pavement marking removal apparatus mountable onto a vehicle, for removing paint from a horizontal surface, said mobile apparatus comprising: 
 a housing defining a substantially hollow interior, and having a bottom opening for permitting an abrasive media to be impacted onto said surface;    means for mounting said housing onto said vehicle such that said open bottom of said housing is adjacent said surface;    a nozzle holder mounted on said housing for holding at least one nozzle therein;    a first nozzle mounted in said nozzle holder so as to be aimed at said bottom opening of said housing to cause a blast of abrasive media to pass through said bottom opening and impact on said surface, and connected in fluid communication by a first supply hose to a source of abrasive media delivered by a stream of compressed air;    an outlet in said housing for recovering said abrasive media and removed paint from the interior of said housing after said abrasive media has impacted said surface; and,    a return hose connected in fluid communication to said outlet for carrying said abrasive media and removed paint recovered by said outlet to a storage receptacle.    
     
     
         2 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is slanted forwardly and downwardly.  
     
     
         3 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising wheels mounted on said housing for supporting said mobile pavement marking removal apparatus on said surface.  
     
     
         4 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said wheels are mounted onto said housing by means of a mounting frame.  
     
     
         5 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said mounting frame comprises a left and right horizontal rails.  
     
     
         6 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a pliable skirt mounted in depending relation on said housing for sliding contact with said surface.  
     
     
         7 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a structural frame, and a front wall, a back wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall mounted on said structural frame.  
     
     
         8 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rubber liner mounted within said housing in protective relation with respect to said walls of said structural frame.  
     
     
         9 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said outlet is in said front wall of said housing.  
     
     
         10 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said outlet is adjacent said bottom opening of said housing.  
     
     
         11 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second nozzle mounted in said nozzle holder so as to be aimed at said bottom opening of said housing to cause a blast of abrasive media to pass through said bottom opening and impact on said surface, and connected in fluid communication by a second supply hose to a source of abrasive media delivered by a stream of compressed air.  
     
     
         12 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said nozzle holder is mounted on said housing by means of an oscillating mounting means.  
     
     
         13 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said oscillating mounting means comprises an elongate arm member connected at one end to a slider mechanism on said housing and connected at the opposite other end to an offset mounted on a motor means.  
     
     
         14 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said motor means comprises an electric motor.  
     
     
         15 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said nozzle holder comprises a first clamp and a second clamp.  
     
     
         16 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said first clamp and a second clamp are secured to a circular disc that is rotatably mounted in a frame portion of said elongate arm member.  
     
     
         17 . The mobile pavement marking removal apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said circular disc has a first aperture for receiving said first nozzle therein and a second aperture for receiving said second nozzle therein.  
     
     
         18 . A mobile pavement marking removal apparatus mountable onto a vehicle, for removing paint from a horizontal surface, said mobile apparatus comprising: 
 a housing defining a substantially hollow interior, and having a bottom opening for permitting an abrasive media to be impacted onto said surface;    means for mounting said housing onto said vehicle such that said open bottom of said housing is adjacent said surface;    a nozzle holder mounted on said housing for holding at least one nozzle therein; and,    an outlet in said housing for recovering said abrasive media and removed paint from the interior of said housing after said abrasive media has impacted said surface.