Development of the multi-function crack cleaning device was initiated by a practical request from the Department of Roads for a tool that efficiently prepares pavement cracks and joints for sealing. Department of Roads was particularly interested in the tool’s ability to remove deicing chemical buildup that forms in cracks and prevents sealant adhesion. A customized versatile Crack Cleaner Device was developed with two main integrated cleaning methods: compressed air blowing and wire brushing.
The device utilizes a pneumatically powered rotary wire brush to clean stubborn vegetation and accumulated de-icing materials from mid- to large-size pavement cracks. Directly behind the rotary brush, an air blasting nozzle further expels fine-grained particles. The purchase price for the tool itself is low, and it effectively and efficiently prepares pavement cracks and joints for sealer or filler, which will further reduce long-term pavement maintenance cost.
