US 2019/0353280 A1Published application

Smoketape

AssigneeEas IP, LLC

InventorsRyan C. Dunn, Bryan D. Wright, Donald A. Tubbs, Joshua M. Parman

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Abstract

Signal tape (790) is disclosed which helps to prevents damage to buried infrastructure such as a natural gas pipeline. The invention provides an immediate and forceful warning to excavation equipment operators of the proximity of and of impending damage to buried infrastructure. The signal tape (790) comprises a strong core material (793) which may be a woven aramid fiber tape firmly attached to a series of spaced smoke generators (792, 792′). The core material and smoke generators are sealed within thermoplastic layers (796, 796′) of thin tape for environmental protection. A strike by excavation equipment, for example a backhoe bucket will cause the core material to come to the surface where it can be seen. As the core material (793) moves, it ignites at least one smoke generator (792, 792′) which is then pulled to the surface emitting a dense cloud of colored [and odorous] smoke. Portions of the protective tape are also pulled to the surface.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An elongated signal tape comprising:

a core material and protective material enclosing said core material;
said protective material comprising a top sheet of thermoplastic material having a first predetermined length and a first predetermined width and a bottom sheet of thermoplastic material having a second predetermined length and a second predetermined width with said first and said second predetermined lengths being approximately equal and with said first and second predetermined widths being approximately equal;
said core material further comprising a generally non-stretchable material positioned between said top and bottom thermoplastic sheets, said material having:
a predetermined third length,
an outer surface,
a maximum lateral dimension of approximately one inch [or approximately 2.54 cm],
a minimum predetermined tensile strength;
said core material having at least one smoke generator fastened thereto along said predetermined third length;
said at least one smoke generator comprising a smoke producing composition and an igniter portion embedded in said smoke producing composition with an ignition wire having first and second ends with said first end embedded within said igniter portion
and with said second end attached to said core material such that relative motion between said core material and said smoke generator will cause said igniter wire to be pulled out of said igniter portion, thus igniting said at least one smoke generator;
and,
said elongated marker tape further comprising adhesive, bonding at least one of the top or bottom sheet of thermoplastic material to a substantial portion of the outer surface of said core material and also bonding the outer edges of said top and bottom thermoplastic sheets together.

9 more elements

An elongated signal tape comprising:

protective material comprising a top sheet of thermoplastic material having a first predetermined length and a first predetermined width and a bottom sheet of thermoplastic material having a second predetermined length and a second predetermined width with said first and said second predetermined lengths being approximately equal and with said first and second predetermined widths being approximately equal;
a stretchable core material having a non-stretched predetermined length and being positioned between said top and bottom thermoplastic sheets, with said stretchable core material being capable of being stretched, without breaking, to approximately 1.5 times its non-stretched predetermined length, said core material having:
an outer surface,
a maximum lateral dimension of approximately one inch [or approximately 2.54 cm],
a minimum predetermined tensile strength, said core material further comprising a generally non-stretchable material positioned between said top and bottom thermoplastic sheets, said material having:
a predetermined third length,
an outer surface,
a maximum lateral dimension of approximately one inch [or approximately 2.54 cm],
a minimum predetermined tensile strength;
said core material having at least one smoke generator fastened thereto along said predetermined third length;
said at least one smoke generator comprising a smoke producing composition and an igniter portion embedded in said smoke producing composition with an ignition wire having first and second ends with said first end embedded within said igniter portion
and with said second end attached to said core material such that relative motion between said core material and said smoke generator will cause said igniter wire to be pulled out of said igniter portion, thus igniting said at least one smoke generator;
and,
said elongated marker tape further comprising adhesive, bonding at least one of the top or bottom sheet of thermoplastic material to a substantial portion of the outer surface of said core material and also bonding the outer edges of said top and bottom thermoplastic sheets together.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.