Highway marking sphere dispensing apparatus

摘要

A marking sphere dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid-assisted marking spheres into pavement marking materials applied to a surface has a frame (108) defining a marking sphere receptacle (174) having a valve seat (176) defining an opening between the marking sphere receptacle and an expulsion duct (132). A plunger (136) is disposed coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the dispensing apparatus and defines an internal fluid passage for providing pressurized fluid. The plunger is moveable in a longitudinal direction within the marking sphere dispensing frame between a first position at which a plunger head of the plunger is seated against the valve seat to close the opening, and a second position at which the plunger head is axially offset from the valve seat to define a marking sphere inlet gap across the opening. A method for apply marking spheres uses the marking sphere dispensing apparatus.