High-friction road patch
AssigneeAuburn University
InventorsRaymond L. Powell, Jason Nelson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high-friction road patch may comprise an aggregate capable of providing sufficient friction between a road surface and vehicle wheel. In some embodiments, the patch may comprise a waterproof, asphalt overlay with a first layer of cured bitumen and calcined bauxite aggregate particles, a second layer of viscous bitumen and a reinforcement component, and a binder layer for bonding the overlay with the road surface. The resulting product may provide a sufficient skid resistance value in an overlay that is far less susceptible to or incapable of debonding as with prior art solutions.
Claims20
A layered, pre-fabricated overlay for enhancing road surface friction, comprising:
- a first layer composed of cured bitumen comprising aggregate particles at least partially embedded therein and exposed to contact with automobile tires, wherein the aggregate particles comprise calcined bauxite and wherein the aggregate particles provide increased surface friction above a surface friction of the road surface;
- a second layer disposed beneath said first layer and comprising viscous bitumen;
- said second layer further comprising a reinforcement component selected from a group consisting of:
- a) fibrous material disposed within said viscous bitumen;
- b) a mesh screen encapsulated within said viscous bitumen;
- and c) a combination of a) and b);
- and
- a binder layer on an underside of the second layer for bonding the overlay with the road surface, wherein the road surface is heated to a temperature of between 75° F. and 150° F. before the overlay is applied to the road surface.
A method for enhancing road surface friction, comprising:
- providing a pre-fabricated overlay for application to the road surface, wherein the overlay comprises:
- a first layer composed of cured bitumen and aggregate particles at least partially embedded therein, wherein the aggregate particles comprise calcined bauxite and wherein the aggregate particles provide increased surface friction above a surface friction of the road surface, and wherein the first layer is exposed to contact with automobile tires;
- a second layer comprising viscous bitumen disposed beneath the first layer, the second layer further comprising a reinforcement component that is selected from a group consisting of:
- a) fibrous material disposed within said viscous bitumen;
- b) a mesh screen encapsulated within said viscous bitumen;
- and, c) a combination of a) and b);
- and
- a binder layer on an underside of the second layer for bonding the overlay with the road surface;
- and
- applying the overlay to the road surface, wherein the road surface is heated to a temperature of between 75° F. and 150° F. before the overlay is applied to the road surface.
A layered, pre-fabricated overlay for enhancing road surface friction, comprising:
- a first layer composed of cured bitumen comprising calcined bauxite aggregate particles at least partially embedded therein, wherein the aggregate particles provide increased surface friction above a surface friction of the road surface;
- a second layer disposed beneath said first layer and comprised of viscous bitumen and a reinforcement component comprising fibrous material;
- and
- a binder layer on an underside of the second layer for bonding the overlay with the road surface wherein the binder layer comprises at least one of a) modified asphalt;
- b) neat asphalt;
- and c) asphalt-extended resin, and wherein the road surface is heated to a temperature of between 75° F. and 150° F. before the overlay is applied to the road surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.