Snowplowable pavement marker and method and apparatus for installing same

Claim 3

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said three recesses are cut simultaneously.

Claim 4

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said keel recesses are cut simultaneously in one cutting operation, said support member recess being cut in another cutting operation separated in time from said one cutting operation.

Claim 5

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said keel recesses respectively define arcs of first circles having the centers thereof lying along a first horizontal axis, said support member recess defining an arc of a second circle having a center lying along a second horizontal axis spaced from said first horizontal axis.

Claim 6

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said three arcuate recesses respectively define arcs of three circles having centers lying on a common horizontal axis.

Claim 7

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said relatively deep recesses respectively define arcs of first circles having the centers thereof lying along a first horizontal axis, said relatively shallow recess defining an arc of a second circle having a center lying along a second horizontal axis spaced horizontally from said first horizontal axis.

Claim 8

The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said keel recesses are deeper than said support member recess.

Claim 9

Apparatus for cutting in a finished roadway pavement a plurality of arcuate recesses for installation therein of a pavement marker which includes two longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart keel members extending below a plane and a support member interconnecting said keel members and extending below the basal plane, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be positioned along the pavement in an operating position, two laterally spaced-apart first circular cutting blades carried by said frame for rotation about a common first horizontal axis and disposable in cutting engagement with the associated pavement without moving said frame from said operating position to form two arcuate keel recesses in the pavement, a second circular cutting blade carried by said frame between said first cutting blades for rotation about a second horizontal axis and disposable in cutting engagement with the pavement without moving said frame from said operating position to from an arcuate support member recess in the pavement, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said first and second cutting blades for effecting rotation thereof about said axes, and limit means carried by said frame for limiting the depth of the recesses cut by said first and second cutting blades, whereby without movement of said frame along the pavement said recesses may be formed in a substantially continuous operation for respectively receiving therein the keel members and support member of an associated pavement marker for installation thereof on the roadway with the roadway surface lying substantially in the plane.

Claim 10

Apparatus for cutting in a finished roadway pavement a plurality of arcuate recesses for installation therein of a pavement marker which includes two longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart keel members extending below a plane and a support member interconnecting said keel members and extending below the basal plane, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be positioned along the pavement in an operating position, two laterally spaced-apart first circular cutting blades carried by said frame for rotation about a common first horizontal axis and disposable in cutting engagement with the associated pavement without moving said frame from said operating position to form two arcuate keel recesses in the pavement, a second circular cutting blade carried by said frame between said first cutting blades for rotation about a second horizontal axis and disposable in cutting engagement with the pavement without moving said frame from said operating position to from an arcuate support member recess in the pavement, drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said first and second cutting blades for effecting rotation thereof about said axes, and limit means carried by said frame for limiting the depth of the recesses cut by said first and second cutting blades, whereby without movement of said frame along the pavement said recesses may be formed in a substantially continuous operation for respectively receiving therein the keel members and support member of an associated pavement marker for installation thereof on the roadway with the roadway surface lying substantially in the plane.

Claim 11

The apparatus set forth in claim 8, and further including a plurality of said second circular cutting blades disposed in side-by-side relationship.

Claim 12

The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second cutting blades are arranged so that said keel recesses are deeper than said support member recess.

Claim 13

The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second horizontal axes are coaxial.

Claim 14

The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein said second axis is spaced horizontally from said first axis.

Claim 15

The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second cutting blades have different radii.

Claim 16

Apparatus for cutting in a finished roadway pavement a plurality of arcuate recesses for installation therein of a pavement marker which includes two longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart keel members extending below a plane and a support member interconnecting said keel members and extending below the plane, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be positioned along the pavement in an operating position, two laterally spaced-apart first circular cutting blades carried by said frame for rotation about a common first horizontal axis, said first circular cutting blades being movable between a retracted position out of engagement with the associated pavement and a cutting position disposed for cutting engagement with the pavement to form two arcuate keel recesses therein, a second circular cutting blade for rotation about a second horizontal axis disposed outwardly beyond the perimeter of said first blade, said second cutting blade being movable between a retracted position out of engagement with the pavement and a cutting position disposed for cutting engagement with the pavement to form an arcuate support member recess therein, first drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said first and second cutting blades for effecting rotation thereof about said axes, second drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said first and second cutting blades for effecting movement thereof independently of each other between the retracted and cutting positions thereof, and limit means carried by said frame for limiting the depth of the recesses cut by said first and second cutting blades, whereby without movement of said frame along the pavement said keel recesses and said support member recess may be sequentially formed for respectively receiving therein the keel members and support member of an associated pavement marker for installation thereof on the roadway with the roadway surface lying substantially in the plane.

Claim 17

Apparatus for cutting in a finished roadway pavement a plurality of arcuate recesses for installation therein of a pavement marker which includes two longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart keel members extending below a plane and a support member interconnecting said keel members and extending below the plane, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be positioned along the pavement in an operating position, two laterally spaced-apart first circular cutting blades carried by said frame for rotation about a common first horizontal axis, said first circular cutting blades being movable between a retracted position out of engagement with the associated pavement and a cutting position disposed for cutting engagement with the pavement to form two arcuate keel recesses therein, a second circular cutting blade for rotation about a second horizontal axis disposed outwardly beyond the perimeter of said first blade, said second cutting blade being movable between a retracted position out of engagement with the pavement and a cutting position disposed for cutting engagement with the pavement to form an arcuate support member recess therein, first drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said first and second cutting blades for effecting rotation thereof about said axes, second drive means carried by said frame and coupled to said first and second cutting blades for effecting movement thereof independently of each other between the retracted and cutting positions thereof, and limit means carried by said frame for limiting the depth of the recesses cut by said first and second cutting blades, whereby without movement of said frame along the pavement said keel recesses and said support member recess may be sequentially formed for respectively receiving therein the keel members and support member of an associated pavement marker for installation thereof on the roadway with the roadway surface lying substantially in the plane.

Claim 18

The apparatus set forth in claim 14, and further including a plurality of said second circular cutting blades disposed in side-by-side relationship.