Preformed thermoplastic indicia for airport runways and taxiways

Abstract

Disclosed is an alkyd resin-based pre-manufactured thermoplastic airport runway signage that is applied in relatively large sections onto an airport runway. The pre-manufactured preformed thermoplastic formed as a continuous sheet and wound onto a take-up spool. The runway surface is prepared with a CCS an epoxy primer and the preformed thermoplastic is unwound from the take-up spool and positioned onto the runway surface. When the pre-manufactured thermoplastic signage is in a desired location it is initially rolled conforming to the runway surface. Heat is applied to the rolled surface to a preferred temperature with an infra-red (IR) heater to melt and adhere the pre-manufactured thermoplastic signage into the runway surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pre-manufactured thermoplastic signage for application to large aviation substrates comprising: an alkyd resin-based composite including, reflective materials, and friction materials wherein said large substrates include a bottom surface and a top surface and edges that surround the perimeter of and are attached to said bottom surface and said top surface, wherein said bottom surface is covered with a CCS polyurea epoxy primer treatment said primer treatment provided within a viscosity range of between 1 and 300 centipoise, wherein said top surface provides an area for surface indicia materials existing on said top surface, wherein said resin-based composite is formed as a continuous sheet wound onto a take-up spool: and wherein said resin-based composite is subsequently unwound and positioned to conform to said large substrates and subsequently said signage is heated to a predetermined temperature providing optimal adhesion of said resin-based composite to said large substrate; and wherein said signage includes features that allow said edges of said signage to physically interconnect and interlock with edges of other signage with the same or other features allowing said continuous sheet to be wound or unwound from spools for specific transportation and site placement. 
     
     
       2. The thermoplastic signage of  claim 1 , wherein said spool is subsequently unwound such that said signage is rolled and positioned to conform to said large substrates. 
     
     
       3. The thermoplastic signage of  claim 1 , wherein said signage is provided in sheets rather than spooled thereby providing smaller substrate sections that are shipped in boxes for convenience during installation. 
     
     
       4. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said large substrates include concrete or asphalt. 
     
     
       5. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said large substrates are a runway, taxiway, holding position or other airport surfaces. 
     
     
       6. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said resin-based composite is flexible and conformal, and said composite is present in a thickness range of about 0.050 inches to about 0.075 inches. 
     
     
       7. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said resin-based composite is 0.060 inches thick, flexible and conformal to substrate surfaces. 
     
     
       8. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said resin-based composite and associated indicia is applied to fresh asphalt immediately after curing. 
     
     
       9. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said resin-based composite is heated to said predetermined temperature using infra-red heaters or other heating devices and techniques necessary to achieve said predetermined temperature to ensure precision application and bonding of said thermoplastic signage with said aviation substrates. 
     
     
       10. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , where said resin-based composite is an alkyd-based thermoplastic composition with the addition of an aliphatic polyether based polyurethane composition that imparts flexibility and impact resistance to the solid sheet form of said thermoplastic signage. 
     
     
       11. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said resin-based composite is cut to specific lengths and widths conforming with FAA Standards AC 150/53404-1 and AC 150/5340-18 included for touchdown indicia, threshold indicia configurations, aiming point indicia, and centerlines for precision instrument runways. 
     
     
       12. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said signage includes an alphanumeric symbol on said area for surface indicia materials existing on said top surface. 
     
     
       13. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said resin-based compositions and signage is comprised of various colors and hue(s) integral and permanently molded in the resin-based composition. 
     
     
       14. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said large surfaces of said signage is trafficked within minutes after adhering said signage to any suitable aviation associated substrate. 
     
     
       15. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said signage displays specific helicopter landing and takeoff indicia including medical transport indicia. 
     
     
       16. The thermoplastic signage as in  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined temperature to ensure proper and optimal adhesion between said signage and any suitable aviation associated substrate is about 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
       17. A method for adhering large surfaces of thermoplastic signage to a suitable aviation substrate comprising an alkyd resin-based composite including, reflective materials, and friction materials wherein said large substrates include a bottom surface and a top surface and edges that surround the perimeter of and are attached to said bottom surface and said top surface, wherein said bottom surface is covered with a CCS polyurea epoxy primer treatment said primer treatment provided within a viscosity range of between 1 and 300 centipoise, wherein said top surface provides an area for surface indicia materials existing on said top surface, wherein said resin-based composite is formed as a continuous sheet wound onto a take-up spool; and wherein said resin-based composite is subsequently unwound and positioned to conform to said large substrates and subsequently said signage is heated to a predetermined temperature providing optimal adhesion of said resin-based composite to said large substrate; and wherein said signage includes features that allow said edges of said signage to physically interconnect and interlock with edges of other signage with the same or other features allowing said continuous sheet to be wound or unwound from spools for transportation and site placement.