Process for manufacturing modular refracting elements

Description

[0001] The invention concerns the sector of road signs and road safety devices, and in particular it concerns road markings.

[0002] Road markings are currently made with white paint. The use of paint is widespread and makes it possible to carry out road markings rather quickly, even if they are complex or special. On the other hand, however, paint has the drawback that it fades very quickly, due to the passage of vehicles. Furthermore, paint has scarce reflecting properties and therefore in case of insufficient light or fog the road markings are not clearly visible.

[0003] A method for forming a concrete block is disclosed in WO-A 98/22269. In this way a refracting block is built made up of a base mix and a facia mix comprising a uniform distribution of glass beads.

[0004] The process according to the pre-amble of claim 1 is known from JP-A 62 282906.

[0005] The object of the invention is constituted by a new process for carrying out modular refracting elements to be inserted in the road surface.

[0006] These and other direct and complementary aims are achieved through the new process for carrying out modular refracting elements to be inserted in the road surface, said elements being constituted by a cement mix body to which a refracting layer is applied, which comprises binder, aggregate and glass or ceramic microspheres, as well as through the relevant modular refracting element obtained therefrom.

[0007] The modular refracting element is carried out by introducing into apposite moulds a quantity of cement mix slightly smaller than the quantity needed to fill the mould completely. The layer comprising binder, aggregate and microspheres is laid on the upper surface of the element and then compressed.

[0008] The characteristics of the new process for carrying out modular refracting elements to be inserted in the road surface and of the modular element obtained therefrom will be highlighted in greater detail by the following description of one among many possible applications of the invention, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0009] Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the modular element (M).

[0010] The modular element (M) comprises a body (M1) to which a layer of refracting mix (M2) is applied.

[0011] The body (M1) is preferably parallelepiped-shaped, or can be carried out in any other suitable geometric shape.

[0012] Said body (M1) is preferably made of cement mix and is suitable for being applied and fixed to the road surface or to the road sub-base.

[0013] The reflecting layer (M2) is constituted by a mix of microspheres, binder and aggregate.

[0014] The microspheres have indicatively very small diametre, of the order of millimetres, and are constituted by glass, pure glass, semi-pure glass or are ceramic coated.

[0015] The binder can be constituted by cement, chemical bonding agent, or another type of binder suitable for binding the microspheres to one another and to the body (M1).

[0016] The reflecting layer (M2) is applied to the upper part of the body (M1) and its upper edges are inclined, radiused or rounded.

[0017] The modular refracting element (M) constituted as described above offers considerable advantages.

[0018] The modular refracting element (M) can be inserted both in the already made-up road surface and in the road sub-base, on which the road surface must be laid.

[0019] The modular refracting element (M) does not lose its reflecting characteristics over time, since it doesn't wear out due to the passage of vehicles, or only its upper layer wears out, showing the underlying reflecting part.

[0020] The modular refracting element (M) is much more luminous, both in good and in bad visibility and light conditions.

[0021] The modular refracting element (M) can be used to carry out any type of road markings, for example road center or road side lines, as shown in Figure 2, since the shape of the reflecting layer (M2) with inclined or rounded edges constitutes a raised section producing sound waves that can be sensed by the drivers.

[0022] The refracting element (M) constituted as described above is carried out according to the process described below and represented diagrammatically in Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e.

[0023] The cement mix that makes up the body (M1) is poured into apposite moulds (S1), preferably multiple moulds, in a slightly smaller quantity than that needed to fill each mould completely (Figure 3a).

[0024] Said cement mix is vibrated and compressed by relevant counter-moulds (S2), in such a way as to give it the shape of a parallelepiped or in any case to obtain a flat upper surface (Figure 3b).

[0025] Successively, a suitable quantity of refracting mix (M2) is poured into the same moulds (S1) (Figure 3c).

[0026] Further microspheres are spread, strewn or laid onto said refracting mix (M2), after properly compacting it through vibration (Figure 3d).

[0027] A further compressing action makes it possible to compact said refracting mix (M2), and shaping its perimetric edges (Figure 3e).

[0028] Finally, the combination of body (M1) and refracting mix (M2), compacted and shaped as described above, are left to harden.

[0029] The production process of the new modular refracting element (M) as described above may include only the spreading, strewing, or laying of microspheres on the cement mix already introduced in the mould (S1) and compacted.

[0030] The production process of the new modular refracting element (M) as described above may include the introduction of the refracting mix (M2) only into the mould (S), without the successive spreading, strewing or laying of microspheres.

[0031] Therefore, with reference to the above description and the enclosed drawings, the following claims are put forth.

Claims

1. Process for producing modular refracting elements (M), including the following steps:

- introduction of cement mix to constitute the body (M1) into apposite moulds (S1),

- successive vibration of said moulds (S1),

- pressure compacting of the cement mix constituting the body (M1) by means of first counter-moulds (S2) in such a way to obtain a flat upper surface of the body (M1),

- introduction of a further layer of refracting mix (M2) into said moulds (S1),

- compacting and compression of the refracting mix (M2),

characterized in the following step:

- after the introduction of said further layer of refracting mix (M2) into the moulds (S1) further microspheres are spread, strewn or laid onto said refracting mix (M2) inside the moulds (S1),

- wherein the compacting and compression of the refracting mix (M2) is then effected by means of second counter-moulds (S3) which are shaped such that the perimetric upper edges of the layer of refracting mix (M2) are inclined, radiused or rounded.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the refracting mix (M2) is made up of binder, agglomerate and microspheres which may be ceramic coated or of pure glass.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zur Herstellung von lichtbrechenden Modulelementen (M), umfassend die folgenden Schritte:

- Einfüllen einer Zementmischung zur Bildung des Körpers (M1) in entsprechende Formen (S1),

- anschließendes Rütteln der Formen (S1),

- Druckverdichtung der den Körper (M1) bildenden Zementmischung mittels erster Gegenformen (S2), um dadurch an dem Körper (M1) eine flache Oberfläche herzustellen,

- Einfüllen einer weiteren, aus einer lichtbrechenden Mischung (M2) bestehenden Schicht in die Formen (S1),

- Verdichten und Verpressen der lichtbrechenden Mischung (M2)

- nach dem Einfüllen der weiteren, aus lichtbrechender Mischung (M2) bestehenden Schicht in die Formen (S 1),

gekennzeichnet durch die folgenden Schritte:

- auf die lichtbrechende Mischung (M2) in den Formen (S1) werden weitere Mikrokugeln gestreut, verteilt oder gelegt,

- wobei die Verdichtung und Verpressung der lichtbrechenden Mischung (M2) mittels zweiter Gegenformen (S3) durchgeführt wird, die so geformt sind, dass die oberen Umfangskanten der Schicht aus der lichtbrechenden Mischung (M2) abgeschrägt oder abgerundet werden.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die lichtbrechende Mischung (M2) aus einem Bindemittel, Agglomerat und Mikrokugeln besteht, die aus reinem Glas bestehen oder mit Keramik beschichtet sein können.

Revendications

1. Procédé de fabrication d'éléments modulaires réfracteurs (M) comprenant les étapes suivantes :

- remplir d'un mélange de ciment pour la formation du corps (M1) dans des moules (S1) correspondants,

- ensuite soumission des moules (S1) à des vibrations,

- compacter sous pression du mélange de ciment formant le corps (M1) au moyen de premiers contremoules (S2) pour donner au corps (M1) une surface lisse.

- verser une autre couche d'un mélange réfracteur (M2) dans les moules (S1),

- compacter sous pression le mélange réfracteur (M2)

- après le remplissage avec la couche du mélange réfracteur (M2) dans les moules (S1),

caractérisé par les étapes suivantes :

- répandre, distribuer ou poser sur le mélange réfracteur (M2) se trouvant dans les moules (S1) des microsphères,

- en réalisant le compactage et la compression du mélange réfracteur (M2) au moyen d'une deuxième série de contremoules (S3) ayant une forme propre à générer les bords supérieurs inclinés ou arrondis de la couche du mélange réfracteur (M2).

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1 caractérisé par le fait que le mélange réfracteur (M2) est constitué d'un liant, d'un agglomérat et des microsphères faites de verre pur ou revêtues de céramique.

Drawing