The invention also relates to equipment for producing a profile marking, the equipment comprising means for applying marking material on the portion of a road to be marked and means for providing substantial ine- qualities on the surface of the marking material.

The invention further relates to a profile marking which is produced of marking material and whose surface is substantially uneven.

Profile markings refer to markings provided on the surface of a road or a similar, paved traffic route, whereby information can be given about the location of lanes and edges of the road, crossroads, pedestrian crossings and other similar road sections. The profile markings are characterized by having an uneven surface so that when a vehicle drives on a profile marking, a vibration and/or sound effect will be conveyed to the vehicle and further to a driver to sense, the purpose being to draw the driver's attention to the position of the vehicle on the traffic route. For instance, a profile marking arranged as an edge line warns the vehicle driver of inadvertently getting too close to the edge of the road where a risk of driving off the road is very likely. The profile markings must be clearly distinguishable from other portions of the road in daylight and in dark, in dry and wet weather conditions. Luminance and ret- roreflection of the marking material must fulfill the requirements set by the authorities. Moreover, the profile markings must resist to wear resulting from traffic in all seasons. It should be noted that hereinafter traffic routes are de- noted by the term'road'which, apart from roads, thus comprises parking ar- eas, pedestrian and bicycle ways and other areas that are paved with asphalt, concrete or some other, similar paving material.

In accordance with the prior art, the profile marking typically con- sists of rib-like protrusions that rise several millimeters from the road surface and whose distance from one another can be in the order of one centimetre to tens of centimetres. The materials of the profile markings are two-component special materials or hot mixes, the properties of which differ from those of other materials used for road markings. Therefore, the materials are expensive

and, in addition, their storage, transport and handling cause extra costs. Spe- cial equipment needed for producing profile markings, which likewise differs from apparatuses needed for producing other road markings, also cause extra costs. Because profile markings are particularly slow to produce, in the order of a few kilometres in an hour, producing larger markings, in particular, causes disturbance and hazardous situations to other traffic. Further, the prior art pro- filed markings cannot be driven over until about half an hour from the applica- tion, which refers to time required for the marking to harden/dry. During that time the marking must be protected with cones or like devices that inform the road users, which naturally causes further costs. All in all, production and maintenance of profile markings cause so high costs that their use is limited.

The material of known profile markings does not adhere well to a new asphalt surface, so the profile marking detaches relatively soon from the newly paved road. Moreover, in winter time, when the road is cleaned for snow, the ribs of the known profile markings, which protrude from the road surface, are easily caught by the plough, whereby they break and lose a sub- stantial part of their functional properties. The markings have to be repaired, which causes considerable costs. Since repairing is very slow, it causes rela- tively long-ter disturbance to road traffic.

Daylight visibility of the known profile markings is not so good as that of other road markings, because the areas between the ribs are substan- tially plain road surface that does not distinguish in any way from the rest of the road surface. For the same reason, the visibility of the markings is not best possible in wet conditions, even though the marking comprises a plurality of substantially vertical surfaces that improve retroreflection. Moreover, friction of an extremely smooth-textured marking material against a vehicle tyre or a pedestrian's footwear is considerably low, which in some cases may cause problems to road users.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and equipment for producing a profile marking, and a profile mark- ing having good properties.

The method of the invention is characterized in that the marking material is substantially a hot mix or a hot paint and that inequalities are pro- vided by blowing pressurized air onto the surface of marking material applied but not yet hardened on the road.

The equipment of the invention is characterized in that means for applying marking material comprise a mix applicator which is arranged to ap- ply the marking material that is substantially hot mix or hot paint and that the means for providing substantial inequalities on the surface of the marking material comprise at least one air jet nozzle arranged to blow pressurized air against the surface of the applied marking material that is not yet hardened.

The profile marking of the invention is characterized in that the marking material is substantially hot mix or hot paint and that inequalities of the surface are provided by blowing pressurized air against the surface of the non-hardened marking material applied on the road surface.

The basic idea of the invention is that the profile marking is pro- duced of a marking material that substantially comprises hot mix or hot paint commonly used in road markings, and the inequalities on the surface of said profile marking are provided by blowing pressurized air against the applied, non-hardened marking material. Further, the basic idea of a first preferred em- bodiment is that after blowing the pressurized air, the marking material is cooled so as to accelerate the hardening of the material. Furthermore, the ba- sic idea of a second preferred embodiment is that grooves which increase sound effect are provided in the marking material before the material sets to its final hardness. Further, the basic idea of a third preferred embodiment is that the grooves are produced with a roller that is wetted with water so as to re- duce adhesion of the marking material onto the roller. Still further, the basic idea of a fourth preferred embodiment is that light reflecting particles, such as glass beads, are arranged on the surface of the marking.

The invention has an advantage that the marking material of the profile marking is the hot mix or hot paint commonly used for producing road markings, whereby the material costs and the storage, handling and other costs of the material are considerably lower than in using prior art profile marking materials. It is not necessary to use special equipment for producing the profile markings, and the equipment according to the invention can be arranged, with minor investment and work costs, in the existing machines in- tended for applying hot mix or hot paint. The method of the invention can be over ten times faster than prior art methods, so the costs caused by producing the profile markings are reduced respectively. Fast work also means less disturbance to traffic. The marking material can be driven over shortly after application: by cooling the material with water, it can be driven over in a few

minutes after marking, and as a consequence, the markings need not be pro- tected with cones or other similar means while drying, which further reduces costs caused by marking. The marking material adheres well also to new as- phalt, which reduces the need for later repairs. The profile marking of the in- vention will not get easily damaged while the road is cleaned for snow, since it is continuous and does not comprise particular protrusions raising to a dis- tance from the surface of the road, which protrusions would be exposed to impact-type mechanical contacts with the blade of a snowplough which dam- age the marking. The daylight visibility of the marking is similar to that of a common road marking, i. e. it is clearly better than in prior art solutions, be- cause road paving is not seen through the marking. Excellent visibility in wet conditions is also achieved by the profile marking of the invention, because the surface of the marking comprises innumerable minor surfaces substantially vertical to the road plane, which reflect the vehicle headlights back to the driver to see. Moreover, as the surface of the marking is rough-textured, the friction coefficient of the marking against a tyre or the like is high, and conse- quently the marking will not hazard the control of the vehicle, for instance, if one of the tyres is on the marking while the vehicle brakes.

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail, with reference to the attached drawing, in which Figure 1 is a schematic, partly cross-sectional side view of one em- bodiment of a profile marking in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic and considerably simplified view of one em- bodiment of equipment in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic and partly cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a profile marking of the invention. For providing the pro- filed marking, about 0.3 to 5 mm thick layer of marking material 2, which is substantially of the same kind of hot mix or hot paint that is commonly used in road markings, is applied on paving material 1. The marking material 2 is heated until flowable and applied onto a road on which it hardens while cooling down. The composition of the hot mix and hot paint is well known per se to the person skilled in the art, so it will not be described in greater detail herein. It is possible to modify the marking material 2 to suit even better for the material of the profile markings, however such that the basic properties of the hot mix and hot paint will be retained. A surface 5 of the non-hardened marking mate- rial 2 is subjected to pressurized air blow, which renders said surface 5 sub-

stantially uneven. After the marking material 2 has cooled down and hardened, said inequality remains as a permanent profile of the surface 5. The inequal- ityies on the free surface 5 are random and irregular in nature and they are affected by the pressure used, magnitude of the air flow and possible periodic- ity of the flow. It is substantial, however, that the surface 5 comprises innu- merable substantially vertical surfaces with respect to the road plane, from which surfaces light 6 of the vehicle headlights reflects back toward said vehi- cle and the driver's visual field. The whole area of the profile marking is thus easily perceived in dark, and particularly, in wet conditions. On the other hand, since the profile marking is solid and continuous, and not interrupted by por- tions of plain road surface, the visibility of the marking is excellent in daylight.

When one of the wheels of the vehicle on the road drives over the profile marking, the uneven surface 5 of the marking causes vibration which is conveyed through the structures of the vehicle to the driver to sense. Fur- thermore, the contact between the tyre and the surface 5 produces a sound which, in turn, draws the driver's attention to the road and to the position of the vehicle on the road. Thus, the profile marking warns the driver of the vehicle shifting from one section of the road to another, for instance, from a traffic lane to a verge of the road. It is possible to affect the properties of the inequalities of the surface 5, for instance a mean depth of the inequality, by adjusting the pressure, flow and periodicity of the pressurized air blow. In this connection it should be noted that the scale of the profile markings in the figures is only given by way of example.

To enhance the vibration and sound produced by the profile marking, the marking material 2 is provided with grooves 3 that at least partly cut the surface 5 of the marking in a direction that is transversal to planned, main traffic directions T of the vehicles. The cross-section of a groove 3 of the embodiment in Figure 1 is substantially semicircular, but naturally, other cross- sections or combinations thereof are also possible. The distances between the grooves 3 are typically 10 to 100 cm and the width of the groove is 1 to 5 cm, but depending on the application, other distances and measurements can be used as well. Advantageously, the groove 3 does not extend to the road sur- face but a coat of marking material 2 will remain in the bottom of the groove 3.

Therefore, the daylight visibility of the profile marking, i. e. distinguishability from the road surface, is excellent, corresponding to that of a common road marking.

Before the marking material 2 hardens, light-reflecting particles 4, such as glass beads, are spread on the surface thereof, which particles en- hance the visibility of the profile marking, particularly in dark.

Figure 2 shows a schematic and considerably simplifie side view of one embodiment of an equipment according to the invention. The equip- ment is arranged in a spreading apparatus 7 of hot mix and/or hot paint known per se, the apparatus being depicted by a broken line in the figure. The spreading apparatus 7 proceeds in the direction of arrow M and its mix appli- cator 17 applies a typically 0.3 to 5 mm thick coat of spreading material 2 whose surface 5 is substantially even onto a road portion to be marked. The applied marking material 2 can be white, yellow or of any known colour, de- pending on pigments mixed in the material. At least one air jet nozzle 8 that is directed to blow pressurized air 9 against the surface 5 of the of the marking material 2 is arranged immediately behind the mix applicator 17. Pressurized air 9 required in the air jet nozzle 8 is produced by an air compressor typically included in the spreading apparatus 7 or by a compressor specifically ar- ranged in the apparatus 7 for making profile markings. Pressurized air 9 forms the surface 5 uneven and provides on said surface 5 substantially verti- cal surfaces with respect to the road surface. By changing the pressure and shape of the blow from the air jet nozzle 8 it is possible to provide inequalities having various characteristics on the surface of the profile marking. Air blow can also be carried out on a discontinuous basis such that the surface 5 of the marking material 2 alternately comprises portions that are blown substantially uneven and non-blown portions that are substantially even.

One or more particle nozzles 10 are arranged in the direction of travel of the apparatus 7 after the air jet nozzle 8. The particle nozzle drops glass beads or other similar light-reflecting particles 4, known per se to the person skilled in the art, on the surface of the non-hardened marking material 2 and the particles adhere to the hardening material 2. The amount of particles 4 to be dropped by the particle nozzle 10 per a unit area of the marking can be adjusted to suit the needs of a particular application. However, dropping of light reflecting particles 4 is not necessary in every application. The equipment of the invention can also be implemented completely without the particle noz- zle 10.

After the particle nozzle 10, in the direction of travel of the appara- tus 7, are arranged cooling means 12 which in the embodiment of Figure 2 are

water feeding means but which could also be means for feeding pressurized air. The water feeding means feed water or an aqueous solution 13 over the marking material 2 to accelerate the cooling thereof. The marking material 2 can be hardened by cooling in this manner so that in less than one minute af- ter application it allows driving on the marking, and consequently the profile marking need not be protected with plastic or foam cones or other similar warning means that guide and warn the traffic. Hence, it is possible to avoid labour, material and equipment costs to be incurred in placing and eventually removing said warning means as well as to eliminate extra disturbance to the traffic on the road. Because, when producing the profile markings of the in- vention, the speed of the spreading apparatus 7 can be more than ten times higher in comparison with the speeds used in applying prior art profile mark- ings, the inconveniences caused to other road users by the production of pro- filed markings are correspondingly less.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the last element is a roller 14 with protrusions 15 arranged on the circumference thereof which press grooves 3 in the still partly non-hardened marking material 2. The main purpose of the grooves 3 is to enhance vibration and sound to be conveyed to the vehicle driving on the marking. The number, shape and grouping of the protrusions 15 on the roller 14 can also be other than what is described in the embodiment of the figure. The number, shape and mutual positioning of the protrusions 15 on the roller 14 can also be other than what is described in the embodiment of the figure. A water nozzle 16 that wets the roller 14 with water or an aqueous so- lution in order to prevent the marking material 2 from adhering thereto. Instead of the rollers 14, the grooves 3 can also be provided by other means, such as presses providing substantially vertical motion, or other similar devices known per se. Further, instead of the grooves 3 provided by the roller 14 or the like, vibration and sound to be conveyed to the vehicle can be enhanced by form- ing spaces in the marking material 2. The spaces are typically about 1 to 5 cm wide and their mutual distance is typically 10 to 100 cm. The spaces can be formed, for instance, by guiding the mix applicator 17 such that it will not apply the marking material 2 on a continuous basis but the marking material flow from the mix applicator 17 includes interruptions which constitute spaces.

In the equipment, the mutual order of the main elements, i. e. the air jet nozzle 8, the particle nozzle 10, the cooling means 12 and the roller 14, can also be other than what is described in the embodiment of Figure 2. For in-

stance, the cooling means can be arranged between the air jet nozzle 8 and the particle nozzle 10, or the roller 14 can be arranged between the particle nozzle 10 and the cooling means 12 or in some other manner.

The drawing and the related specification is only intended to illus- trate the inventive idea. Details of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims. Therefore, the air jet nozzle 8 and the pressurized air blown thereby need not necessarily be directed perpendicularly to the surface 5 of the marking material 2, but by adjusting the angle of the nozzle 8 it is possible to provide directional surfaces that reflect light in different ways from different directions. The pressurized air 9 can be cooled and consequently it cools the marking material 2 accelerating the hardening. On the other hand, the pres- surized air can also be heated, for instance, if the marking material 2 requires slower cooling. By varying the characteristics of the particles 4, grooves 3 and pressurized air 9 blow it is possible to achieve a plurality of different variations of the profile marking and the surface thereof, by which it is possible to dis- tinguish information to be conveyed to the road user on the profile markings in various road sections.