The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing and the methods for their utilization. In some examples, discrete material formats for use in an Additive Manufacturing Array are disclosed. Methods of using the additive manufacturing robot, discrete materials, and the roadways produced with the additive manufacturing robot are provided. A combined function Addibot, with Additive Manufacturing capabilities, cleaning capabilities, line painting capabilities and seal coating capabilities which may be used in concert with a camera equipped aerial drone for design and characterization function is described.

The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing and the methods for their utilization. In some examples, discrete material formats for use in an Additive Manufacturing Array are disclosed. Methods of using the additive manufacturing robot, discrete materials, and the roadways produced with the additive manufacturing robot are provided. A combined function Addibot, with Additive Manufacturing capabilities, cleaning capabilities, line painting capabilities and seal coating capabilities which may be used in concert with a camera equipped aerial drone for design and characterization function is described.

A pavement joint sealing system that meters out an appropriate amount of sealant over potentially varying speeds and especially with potentially varying joint dimensions. Given the joint dimensions, the system is able to determine and enforce an effective ratio between the applicator speed and the sealant flow rate.

The robotic maintenance vehicle (RMV) has a propulsion system, a control system, an electrical power source, a maintenance module, a multi-axis robot, an optical system, and a location translator. The maintenance module is configured to hold different kinds of road maintenance materials. The multi-axis robot is configured to convey the road maintenance material from either the maintenance module to the road, the road to the maintenance module, or both. The optical system and the location translator are configured to be controlled by the control system and operate in conjunction to instruct the multi-axis robot where to pick up and/or place the road maintenance material. The multi-axis robot is configured to be selectively coupled to a distal arm tool.

Applicator and method for applying melted rubber to pavement comprises a melting vat having a substantially planar bottom with a surface area, and a wide-area a heating element beneath the melting vat having a surface area more than half the surface area of the planar bottom of the melting vat and positioned beneath the melting vat. The heating element may be comprised of an aluminum oxide ceramic blanket. A double-walled construction of the vat with exhaust holes in the outer wall allows exhaust to evenly melt rubber in the vat to reduce burning of the rubber, flame blowouts, and improve fuel efficiency.

Thermoplastic compositions useful for sealing longitudinal joints of substrates, for example, roadways and pavement, are provided herein. Formulations including the composition and methods of using the thermoplastic composition to seal longitudinal joints are also disclosed.

A vehicle (1), preferably an unmanned and/or autonomous vehicle, for example a robot, the vehicle (1) comprising: a propulsion system (10), arranged to propel the vehicle (1), comprising a set of wheels (11) including a first wheel (11A) and/or a set of tracks (12) including a first track (12A); a deposition apparatus (20) for depositing a foam F comprising a polymeric composition (PC); and a controller (30) arranged to control the deposition apparatus (20) and optionally, the propulsion system (10); wherein the deposition apparatus (20) comprises: a set of reservoirs (100), including a first reservoir (100A) and a second reservoir (100B) arranged to receive therein a first component (C1) and a second component (C2) of the polymeric composition (PC), respectively; optionally a set of pumps (200), including a first pump (200A) and a second pump (200B) arranged to pump the first component (C1) and the second component (C2) from the first reservoir (100A) and the second reservoir (100B), respectively; a blending chamber (300) in fluid communication with the set of reservoirs (100) via a set of inlet passageways (400), including a first inlet passageway (400A) and a second inlet passageway (400B), wherein the blending chamber (300) is arranged to blend the first component (C1) and the second component (C2) thereinto provide a precursor (P) of the poly-meric composition (PC); and a set of deposition nozzles (500) in fluid communication with the blending chamber (300) via a set of outlet passageways (600) including a first outlet passageway (600A), the set of deposition nozzles (500) including a first deposition nozzle (500A) comprising a static mixer (700A) arranged to mix the precursor (P) to generate the foam (F), at least in part, therefrom.

A method for adhering a tubular body onto a surface that includes smoothing a portion of the surface to create a smoothed segment of the surface and applying a tubular body directly onto the smoothed segment of the surface after the smoothing of the portion of the surface. The surface at the smoothed segment is smoother than the remainder of the surface. The method further includes applying an uncured protectant onto the tubular body while the tubular body is on the smoothed segment of the surface and curing the uncured protectant into a cured protectant while the uncured protectant is on the tubular body on the smoothed segment of the surface. The cured protectant protectively encases and adheres the tubular body to the surface.

The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing and the methods for their utilization. In some examples, the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus may perform surface treatments that support the building of walls. Other examples may involve the support of creating and repairing advanced roadways.

A portable dispensing device for dispensing a crack sealant, comprises an outer housing, a melting kettle for holding crack sealant to be melted, a guide mechanism in the housing below the kettle for positioning a burner below the kettle, a burner assembly removably mounted in an air gap between the outer housing and the melting kettle using the guide mechanism, the removable burner assembly configured to direct a flame against a surface of the melting kettle, a control valve fluidly connected to the melting kettle to dispense melted crack sealant, and a handle assembly for manually moving the portable dispensing device.