GB2468860A

GB2468860A - Attachment for a lute for laying and leveling bituminous material

Info

Publication number: GB2468860A
Application number: GB0904958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darrell Everest
Original assignee: Darrell Everest Paving & Surfa
Current assignee: Darrell Everest Paving & Surfa
Priority date: 2009-03-23
Filing date: 2009-03-23
Publication date: 2010-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-23
Also published as: GB2468860B; GB0904958D0

Abstract

The attachment comprises a spray bar 18 for mounting adjacent and parallel to a lute blade 12 and which is connected to a container 20 for holding an organic solvent. A feed line 22 from the container may connect to the centre of the spray bar and may also comprise a valve 24. The container may be made from a deformable plastics material or include a piston in order to subject the solvent to increased pressure. Alternatively the spray bar may have apertures which are spaced and dimensioned in order to provide a continuous drip feed under gravity. Also claimed is a lute including the attachment. The spray bar is preferably mounted above the blade, the blade preferably having a rounded upper edge 19.

Description

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LUTE FOR BITUMINOUS MATERIALS

This invention relates to lutes for laying and smoothing bituminous materials such as tarmacadam or asphalt, and more particularly to an attachment for keeping the blade of a lute clean and free from solidified bituminous material during use.

Bituminous surfacing materials such as tarmacadam or asphalt, a mixture of aggregate and bitumen, are generally laid by heating to render them pourable and malleable and can then be smoothed manually by means of a lute, which comprises an elongate blade of wood or other rigid material attached transversely to one end of an elongate handle.

A problem that arises with the use of such a lute is that after laying the viscosity of such materials increases as they gradually solidify, and deposits are liable to accumulate in the lute blade. Such deposits have to be removed by dipping into or spraying with an organic solvent, usually diesel oil. This has the effect of slowing down a process that relies on rapid action to lay and smooth out the asphalt or other bituminous material before it hardens.

The present invention provides an attachment for a lute for laying and levelling bituminous materials, of the type comprising an elongate handle with a transverse blade mounted on one end, said attachment comprising a spray bar for mounting adjacent and parallel to the lute blade, the spray bar being connected to a container for an organic solvent. The spray bar may suitably be secured just above the upper edge of the blade, being provided with an array of downwardly directed apertures or nozzles spaced along its length. A feed line from the solvent supply is preferably connected to the spray bar at a central position, enabling the solvent to flow in both directions along the spray bar for even distribution along the length of the lute blade. To assist in this, means may be provided for placing the solvent in the supply to slightly increase pressure, to ensure that it travels to both ends of the spray bar. The container may, for

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example, be made of a deformable plastics material, or may have an internally mounted piston actuated by a lever mounted on the lute handle. Alternatively, the nozzles or apertures of the spray bar may be dimensioned so as to provide a continuous drip feed under gravity along the length of the spray bar while it is connected to the solvent supply.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lute for laying and levelling bituminous materials, fitted with an attachment in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of one end of the device on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 1, an asphalting lute comprises shaped blade (12) transversely mounted on one end of an elongate handle (10) and secured by a screw or the like (11). Diagonal bracing struts (14) extend between the rear side of the blade (12) and the handle, being secured to the handle at (15) to impart rigidity to the blade.

A spray bar (18) is mounted above the upper edge (19) of the blade and secured in position by brackets (18). As can be seen in Figure 2, downwardly directed apertures or nozzles (25) open above the upper edge of the blade. Depending on their size, such apertures may be spaced at intervals from 5mm to 25mm, and their size may be determined by the viscosity of the diesel oil or other solvent that is intended to be used.

The spray bar has at a central position a rearwardly facing pipe connection (21), to which is attached a feed pipe (22). This may suitably be of a flexible plastics material, and is connected to a solvent container (20) via a valve (24). The container is mounted on the handle (10) by means of mounting brackets (27).

Before use, the container cavity, which presently has a filling aperture (not shown) at the end remote from the blade (12), is filled with diesel oil or other solvent, with the valve (24) closed. The valve is then opened when using the lute to spread and level asphalt or other bituminous material. During normal use of the lute, the solvent container (20) will be above the spray bar (16), so that the solvent may be fed by gravity to the apertures in the spray bar from which it drips out onto the upper edge (19) of the blade which, as can be seen in Figure 2, is slightly rounded, causing the solvent to flow off onto both sides of the blade to prevent asphalt sticking to it.

To increase the flow of solvent, or for better control of it, the solvent container (20) may be provided with means for increasing the pressure of the solvent, causing it to flow more quickly through the spray bar and to spray out of the nozzles (25). The container may for example be made of a deformable plastics material, so that simply squeezing it will cause an increased flow of the solvent needed, for example, to cause any accumulated asphalt to drop off the blade. A further development of the invention, the container (20) could be provided with an internal plunger operated by a lever or the like at the other end of the handle (10).

If the spray bar (16) is being fed simply by gravity, normal use of the lute, wherein there is bound to be slight angular movement of the blade through rotation of the handle (10) will cause the solvent to flow to both ends of the spray bar (16).

There is thus provided a simple and efficient way of ensuring that deposits of bituminous material do not accumulate on the blade of the lute, avoiding the -3

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need for intermittent cleaning of the blade thus speeding the whole asphalt laying operation.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An attachment for a lute for laying and levelling bituminous materials, of the type comprising an elongate handle with a transverse blade mounted on one end, said attachment comprising a spray bar for mounting adjacent and parallel to the lute blade, the spray bar being connected to a container for an organic solvent.
2. An attachment according to claim I wherein a feed line from the solvent container is connected to the spray bar at a central position along its length.
3. Attachment according to claim I or claim 2, further comprising means for subjecting solvent in the container to slightly increased pressure.
4. Attachment according to claim 3 wherein the container is made of cy) deformable plastics material.

(Y)
5. Attachment according to claim 3 wherein the container has an (\J internally mounted piston actuated by a lever mountable on a lute handle.
6. An attachment according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the spray bar has nozzles or apertures spaced along its length and dimensioned to provide a continuous drip feed under gravity along the length of the spray bar while it is connected to the solvent container.
7. An attachment according to any preceding claim further comprising a valve positioned in a feed line between the solvent container and the spray bar.
8. A lute for laying and levelling bituminous materials, comprising an elongate handle with a transverse blade mounted on one end and an attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein the spray bar is mounted adjacent and parallel to the lute blade and the organic solvent container is mounted on the handle.
9. A lute according to any preceding claim wherein the spray bar is mounted above the blade with nozzles or apertures positioned to the solvent on top of the blade.
10. A lute according to claim 8 wherein the lute blade has a rounded copper edge to enable solvent to flow off it on to both sides of the blade. C) C) (\JAmendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. An attachment for a lute for laying and levelling bituminous materials, of the type comprising an elongate handle with a transverse blade mounted on one end, said attachment comprising a spray bar for mounting adjacent and parallel to the lute blade, the spray bar being connected to a container for an organic solvent.2. An attachment according to claim I wherein a feed line from the solvent container is connected to the spray bar at a central position along its length.3. Attachment according to claim I or claim 2, further comprising means for subjecting solvent in the container to slightly increased pressure.4. Attachment according to claim 3 wherein the container is made of cy) deformable plastics material.(Y) 5. Attachment according to claim 3 wherein the container has an (\J internally mounted piston actuated by a lever mountable on a lute handle.6. An attachment according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the spray bar has nozzles or apertures spaced along its length and dimensioned to provide a continuous drip feed under gravity along the length of the spray bar while it is connected to the solvent container.7. An attachment according to any preceding claim further comprising a valve positioned in a feed line between the solvent container and the spray bar.8. A lute for laying and levelling bituminous materials, comprising an elongate handle with a transverse blade mounted on one end and an attachment according to any preceding claim, wherein the spray bar is mounted adjacent and parallel to the lute blade and the organic solvent container is mounted on the handle.9. A lute according to any preceding claim wherein the spray bar is mounted above the blade with nozzles or apertures positioned to spray the solvent on top of the blade.10. A lute according to claim 8 wherein the lute blade has a rounded upper edge to enable solvent to flow off it on to both sides of the blade. * SS * * * S * S..I *55I **S * . . S. * S. S * . S * S.