Disclosed herein are methods and systems for enhancing road markings using Infrared (IR) retroreflective spherical elements, comprising immersing a plurality of IR retroreflective spherical elements in one or more paint materials to produce a composition applied to paint road markings on one or more surfaces of one or more road segments. Each of the plurality of IR retroreflective spherical elements is at least partially transparent in visible light spectral range and in one or more infrared spectral ranges and is at least partially coated with one or more IR reflective materials characterized by (1) reflecting more than a first value of light in the one or more infrared spectral ranges, and (2) transferring more than a second value of light in the visible light spectral range. The painted road markings expressing driving information relating to the one or more road segments.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for enhancing road markings using Infrared (IR) retroreflective spherical elements, comprising immersing a plurality of IR retroreflective spherical elements in one or more paint materials to produce a composition applied to paint road markings on one or more surfaces of one or more road segments. Each of the plurality of IR retroreflective spherical elements is at least partially transparent in visible light spectral range and in one or more infrared spectral ranges and is at least partially coated with one or more IR reflective materials characterized by (1) reflecting more than a first value of light in the one or more infrared spectral ranges, and (2) transferring more than a second value of light in the visible light spectral range. The painted road markings expressing driving information relating to the one or more road segments.

Disclosed are various embodiments for a contrast road marking apparatus and method for applying contrasting thermoplastic markings to a roadway in a single pass. The contrast road marking apparatus includes two or more ribbon guns configured to apply a first thermoplastic marking to a roadway surface area and a second thermoplastic marking, which comprises a color that contrasts with a color of the first thermoplastic marking, to another roadway surface area. The resulting contrast road marking has no visible or substantially negligible overlap or gap between the individual thermoplastic markings.

Disclosed are various embodiments for a contrast road marking apparatus and method for applying contrasting thermoplastic markings to a roadway in a single pass. The contrast road marking apparatus includes two or more ribbon guns configured to apply a first thermoplastic marking to a roadway surface area and a second thermoplastic marking, which comprises a color that contrasts with a color of the first thermoplastic marking, to another roadway surface area. The resulting contrast road marking has no visible or substantially negligible overlap or gap between the individual thermoplastic markings.

Trafficked pavement substrates utilize markings to segregate traffic (e.g., divide lanes traveling in the same direction, divide sides of the road traveling in opposite directions). A dry polymer modified cement mixture may be used to provide the markings. The dry polymer modified cement mixture is prepared by mixing a dry polymer modified cement blend (ordinary Portland cement, aggregate and polymer powders) with water. The location of the lines is identified, and the dry polymer modified cement mixture is applied onto the identified areas as a thin layer. The dry polymer modified cement blend may include polymers to provide colored markings. Glass beads may be embedded into the dry polymer modified mixture before it cures to retroreflect light shined thereon. The trafficked pavement substrate may have troughs formed therein and the dry polymer modified cement markings may be formed therewithin so that the markings are flush.

Trafficked pavement substrates utilize markings to segregate traffic (e.g., divide lanes traveling in the same direction, divide sides of the road traveling in opposite directions). A dry polymer modified cement mixture may be used to provide the markings. The dry polymer modified cement mixture is prepared by mixing a dry polymer modified cement blend (ordinary Portland cement, aggregate and polymer powders) with water. The location of the lines is identified, and the dry polymer modified cement mixture is applied onto the identified areas as a thin layer. The dry polymer modified cement blend may include polymers to provide colored markings. Glass beads may be embedded into the dry polymer modified mixture before it cures to retroreflect light shined thereon. The trafficked pavement substrate may have troughs formed therein and the dry polymer modified cement markings may be formed therewithin so that the markings are flush.

A method for generating a magnetic field, a method for detecting a lane by using a magnetic field, and a vehicle using same are disclosed. According to the present invention, magnetic fields outputted from lanes coated with road-marking paint containing magnetic particles are detected with a magnetic sensor attached to a vehicle, and a plurality of lanes can be detected on the basis of the detected magnetic fields.

A method for generating a magnetic field, a method for detecting a lane by using a magnetic field, and a vehicle using same are disclosed. According to the present invention, magnetic fields outputted from lanes coated with road-marking paint containing magnetic particles are detected with a magnetic sensor attached to a vehicle, and a plurality of lanes can be detected on the basis of the detected magnetic fields.

An improved manner of marking concrete is provided by an embedded concrete marking. The embedded concrete marking is made of concrete that is different than the concrete into which the marking is embedded. A method of creating an embedded concrete marking comprises identifying a location on the surface of concrete where an embedded concrete marking is to be created, cutting a trench into the surface of the concrete at the identified location, pouring a concrete mixture into the trench to a level where a float height of the concrete mixture is above the surface of the concrete, the concrete mixture being different when dry than the concrete into which the trench has been cut, letting the concrete mixture at least partially harden, and removing a portion of the hardened concrete mixture to create a top surface of the concrete mixture that will form an embedded concrete marking.

A melting kettle for processing of thermoplastic material. The kettle disclosed herein obtains heat transfer by use of an oil jacketed tank with an adjoining main tank for storage of hot oil and a hose tank for recovery of the hot oil. Oil expelled from the oil jacket is directed to the main tank through an opening. Spillage of oil from the hose tank is directed to the main tank through an aperture. The melting kettle reduces the space needed for oil storage, and increases operator safety by eliminating additional transfer lines. Dual kettles benefit by having the adjoining main tank placed therebetween.