Device for Patterning Surface Coatings Applied on Pavement Surfaces

Abstract

Automatically patterning a surface coating applied to a pavement surface without the need to place, remove and continuously clean stencils. The automatic patterning is provided by a matrix of interspersed spray nozzles arranged on parallel bars. Each of the plurality of spray nozzles is capable of blasting out a gas or liquid at the surface coating to create grout lines in the surface coating, where the grout lines form patterns in the surface coating. An actuator is utilized to move the parallel bars back and forth in a first direction while a vehicle traverses the surface coating in a second direction. The combination of the movement provided by the actuator and the movement provided by the vehicle is used to create the direction, angle and length of the grout lines and the patterns formed.

1 . An apparatus comprising
 a first plurality of spray nozzles aligned at defined intervals along a first plane;   a second plurality of spray nozzles aligned at defined intervals along a second plane that is parallel to the first plane, wherein the second plurality of spray nozzles are offset from the first plurality of spray nozzles, wherein each of the first plurality of spray nozzles and the second plurality of spray nozzles is capable of blasting out a material at a surface coating that has been applied on a pavement surface to create grout lines in the surface coating, wherein the grout lines provide patterns in the surface coating;   an actuator capable of moving the first plurality of spray nozzles and the second plurality of spray nozzles back and forth along the first plane and the second plane; and   a vehicle capable of moving in a direction perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material blasted out of the spray jets is a compressed gas. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the compressed gas is compressed air. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material blasted out of the spray jets is a specialty liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the patterns formed are hexagons. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of spray nozzles are mounted to a first bar and the second plurality of spray nozzles are mounted to a second bar. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first bar and the second bar are connected to the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first bar and the second bar are mounted below the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first bar and the second bar are mounted to a rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising
 storage for storing the material that is to be blasted from the spray nozzles;   a pump for pumping the material to the spray nozzles; and   conduit for providing the material to the spray nozzles.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor for controlling operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for communicating with a user. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a wheel base wider than the surface coating to be patterned. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising
 a vehicle capable of moving in a first direction;   a first bar having a plurality of spray nozzles mounted thereto at defined intervals, wherein the first bar is mounted to the vehicle in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction;   a second bar having a plurality of spray nozzles mounted thereto at the defined intervals, wherein the second bar is mounted to the vehicle a defined distance from the first bar in the second direction, wherein the plurality of spray nozzles on the second bar are offset from the plurality of spray nozzles on the first bar, wherein each of the plurality of spray nozzles is capable of blasting out a material at a surface coating that has been applied on a pavement surface to create grout lines in the surface coating, wherein the grout lines provide patterns in the surface coating;   an actuator capable of moving the first bar and the second bar back and forth along the second direction;   storage for storing the material that is to be blasted from the spray nozzles;   a pump for pumping the material to the spray nozzles; and   conduit for providing the material to the spray nozzles.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the material blasted out of the spray jets is a compressed gas. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the material blasted out of the spray jets is a specialty liquid. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the patterns formed are hexagons. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first bar and the second bar are mounted below the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first bar and the second bar are mounted to a rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the vehicle has a wheel base wider than the surface coating to be patterned.