Controlled squeegee apparatus

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide means for instantaneous control, and to change the sealant pattern length when applying asphalt sealant material. This is accomplished through integrating controlled actuated wings into a squeegee design, with an additional rotary actuator for additional rotation control. The present invention consists of a base mounting frame with means of mounting the apparatus to road maintenance machinery, a main squeegee frame, a squeegee wing actuator arrangement, squeegee blades, means of attaching the squeegee blade to the apparatus, and a rotary actuator attached to the main frame for additional control.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . A road-surfacing squeegee apparatus for the variable distribution and
 leveling of road surfacing material, to be mounted to a road-surface machine in such a way that the squeegee apparatus can trail the road-surfacing machine in order to instantaneously control, distribute and level the road surfacing material being applied as a top coat for protecting and sealing a road surface, comprising:   a said main frame, a said rotating squeegee frame, and one or more pivoting squeegee wing actuator arrangement(s);   the assembly includes a hydraulic rotary actuator to rotate the said rotating squeegee frame and one or more linear hydraulic actuator(s) to rotate one or more pivoting squeegee wing(s).   
   
   
       3 . A said main frame as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a rigid metal structure to serve as means for mounting the hydraulic rotary actuator and to   serve as means to attach to a road-surface machine.   
   
   
       4 . A hydraulic rotary actuator as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the hydraulic rotary actuator mounts to the said main frame and the output shaft of the hydraulic rotary actuator is fixed to a said pivoting point of the said rotating squeegee frame;   the hydraulic rotary actuator provides the operator instantaneous rotation of the said rotating squeegee frame.   
   
   
       5 . A rotating squeegee frame as in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a rigid metal structure to rotate with the output shaft of the hydraulic rotary actuator;   means to fasten squeegee material; and   means to attach one or more pivoting squeegee wing actuator arrangement(s).   
   
   
       6 . One or more squeegee wing actuator arrangement(s) as in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a linear hydraulic actuator;   a rigid metal structure to serve as means for fastening squeegee material;   means to pivotally attach to the said rotating squeegee frame;   a ram bracket to be to be rigidly fixed to the rigid metal structure of the pivoting squeegee wing actuator arrangement and to be pivotally fixed to the end of the hydraulic linear actuator;   the ram bracket translates the linear motion of the hydraulic linear actuator to the rotational motion of the pivoting squeegee end.   
   
   
       7 . One or more linear hydraulic actuators as in  claim 6 , wherein:
 One end of the linear hydraulic actuator(s) is pivotally fixed to the said rotating squeegee frame;   the opposite end(s) of the hydraulic actuator(s) are pivotally fixed to the ram bracket of the squeegee wing actuator arrangement;   the linear hydraulic actuator(s) provide(s) the operator instantaneous rotation of the pivoting squeegee ends.   
   
   
       8 . A hydraulic rotary actuator as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the hydraulic rotary actuator mounts to the said main frame and the output shaft of the hydraulic rotary actuator is fixed to a said pivoting point of the said rotating squeegee frame;   the hydraulic rotary actuator provides the operator instantaneous rotation of the said rotating squeegee frame.   
   
   
       9 . A rotating squeegee frame as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a rigid metal structure to rotate with the output shaft of the hydraulic rotary actuator;   means to fasten squeegee material; and   means to attach one or more pivoting squeegee wing actuator arrangement(s).   
   
   
       10 . One or more squeegee wing actuator arrangement(s) as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a linear hydraulic actuator;   a rigid metal structure to serve as means for fastening squeegee material;   means to pivotally attach to the said rotating squeegee frame;   a ram bracket to be to be rigidly fixed to the rigid metal structure of the pivoting squeegee wing actuator arrangement and to be pivotally fixed to the end of the hydraulic linear actuator;   the ram bracket translates the linear motion of the hydraulic linear actuator to the rotational motion of the pivoting squeegee end.   
   
   
       11 . One or more linear hydraulic actuators as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 One end of the linear hydraulic actuator(s) is pivotally fixed to the said rotating squeegee frame;   the opposite end(s) of the hydraulic actuator(s) are pivotally fixed to the ram bracket of the squeegee wing actuator arrangement;   the linear hydraulic actuator(s) provide(s) the operator instantaneous rotation of the pivoting squeegee ends.