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.

A molten thermoplastic circulation system that is used in conjunction with thermoplastic melter kettles. The molten circulation system includes a vertical material transfer tube that is coupled to a melter kettle and includes an auger. The vertical material transfer tube is coupled to the top and bottom of a melter kettle so as to transfer molten thermoplastic between the bottom and top of the melter kettle. The vertical material transfer tube is at least partially surrounded by a heat chamber through which a heated fluid such as hot combustion gases or heated oil can flow. In use molten thermoplastic material that is heated at a higher temperature at the bottom of a melter kettle near the combustion chamber is transferred through the vertical material transfer tube to the top of the melter kettle to improve melting efficiency.

A hot applied thermoplastic pavement composition and method of using is described wherein the composition comprises; a modified polyamide resin in the range of between 3 and 10 percent by weight, wherein the composition contains rosin-modified esters, a copolymer, 30-70 percent by weight of a glass bead intermix, a range of between 1 and 15 percent by weight of either white or yellow pigment, the balance of the composition being selected from the group consisting of; one or more plasticizers, inorganic fillers, waxes, antioxidants and light stabilizers.

A hot applied thermoplastic pavement composition and method of using a hot applied thermoplastic pavement composition includes a modified polyamide resin in the range of between 3 and 10 percent by weight, wherein the composition contains rosin-modified esters, a copolymer, 30-70 percent by weight of a glass bead intermix, a range of between 1 and 15 percent by weight of either white or yellow pigment, the balance of the composition being selected from the group consisting of one or more plasticizers, inorganic fillers, waxes, antioxidants and light stabilizers.

Melting kettles for use on vehicles for continuous processing of material for applying lines, stripes, bitumen, crack sealant or the like. The kettles disclosed herein provide heat transfer by use of oil jacketed tanks. A coil may be placed along a lower section for heat transfer through a burner for heating recirculated oil. A coil may be placed in a lower section and an upper section for heating an oil jacket, as well as heat transfer from the entire circumference of a coil placed in the upper section. An upper coil can be fluidly coupled to a lower coil and positioned within the chamber a spaced apart distance from the interior wall of the melter kettle. A mixer system rotates paddles to cause continuous transfer of material around the upper coil. The melter kettle is cylindrical, but can be corrugated to increase heatable surface area.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a road marking (2). The method comprises the steps of: placing a mesh (1) and road marking pieces (10), one on top of the other, provide heat to the road marking pieces (10) in an area where the mesh (1) is placed, and forcing the mesh (1) and the road marking pieces (10) against each other to at least partially integrate the mesh (1) in the road marking pieces (10).
A road marking (2) manufactured according to this method is also disclosed.

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 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.

Melting kettles for use on vehicles for continuous processing of material for applying lines, stripes, bitumen, crack sealant or the like. The kettles disclosed herein provide heat transfer by use of oil jacketed tanks. A coil may be placed along a lower section for heat transfer through a burner for heating recirculated oil. A coil may be placed in a lower section and an upper section for heating an oil jacket, as well as heat transfer from the entire circumference of a coil placed in the upper section. An upper coil can be fluidly coupled to a lower coil and positioned within the chamber a spaced apart distance from the interior wall of the melter kettle. A mixer system rotates paddles to cause continuous transfer of material around the upper coil. The melter kettle is cylindrical, but can be corrugated to increase heatable surface area.

Systems and methods are provided for use with a thermoplastic road marking system (e.g., paint truck). The systems and methods control an insertion or replenishment rate of unmelted thermoplastic paint feed stock into a thermoplastic melter based, at least in part, on the rate that thermoplastic melt is being applied to a marking surface. By substantially matching the replenishment rate into the thermoplastic melter with the application rate, thermal variance within the thermoplastic melter is reduced, which improves the consistency of marking lines applied to surfaces.