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US 11,598,055 B2Granted
Mobile rubber applicator with wide-area ceramic blanket heater
OwnerDavid W. Price, IIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Applicator and method for applying melted rubber to pavement comprises a melting vat having a substantially planar bottom with a surface area, and a wide-area a heating element beneath the melting vat having a surface area more than half the surface area of the planar bottom of the melting vat and positioned beneath the melting vat. The heating element may be comprised of an aluminum oxide ceramic blanket. A double-walled construction of the vat with exhaust holes in the outer wall allows exhaust to evenly melt rubber in the vat to reduce burning of the rubber, flame blowouts, and improve fuel efficiency.
Claims9
An applicator for applying melted rubber to pavement comprising:
- a melting vat having a substantially planar bottom, sides and a rubber exit port such that melted rubber in the vat can flow by force of gravity onto the pavement,
- the planar bottom of the melting vat having a surface area,
- a valve for controlling a discharge of melted rubber through the rubber exit port,
- the applicator having a plurality of ground engaging members, each ground engaging member comprising a ground-engaging wheel;
- a handle connected to the vat to allow it to be pushed;
- a valve actuator handle proximate the handle to allow the valve to be controlled,
- a heating element having a surface area more than half the surface area of the planar bottom of the melting vat and positioned beneath the melting vat, such that heat from the heating element projects upward to thereby engage the substantially planar bottom of the melting vat, the heating element positioned on a slidable tray, the slidable tray comprising a bottom surface preventing the heating element from exposure to the pavement;
- a Z-Channel extending upward from the slidable tray to thereby shield the heating element from wind, and
- a fuel inlet port in communication with the heating element.
6 more elements
A vat for preparing rubber for application to pavement comprising:
- a melting vat having a substantially planar bottom having a surface area, bottom edges, sides and a rubber exit port such that melted rubber in the vat can flow by force of gravity onto the pavement,
- a hinged lid affixed to the vat movable between an open position in which the vat is exposed to the exterior to allow blocks of solid rubber to be placed in the melting vat and a closed position in which the lid covers the vat,
- a handle connected to the vat to allow it to be pushed;
- a valve actuator handle to allow the valve to be controlled,
- a heating element having a surface area more than half the surface area of the planar bottom of the melting vat and positioned beneath the melting vat, such that heat from the heating element projects upward to thereby engage the substantially planar bottom of the melting vat, the heating element positioned on a slidable tray, the slidable tray comprising a bottom surface preventing the heating element from exposure to the pavement;
- a Z-Channel extending upward from the slidable tray to thereby shield the heating element from wind, and
- a fuel inlet port in communication with the heating element.
4 more elements
An apparatus for providing sealant to be applied to pavement cracks comprising:
- a melting vat having a bottom, sides and a rubber exit port such that melted rubber in the vat can flow by force of gravity from the vat,
- the bottom of the melting vat having a surface area,
- a valve for controlling a discharge of melted rubber through the rubber exit port,
- the apparatus having a plurality of ground engaging members;
- at least one handle connected to the vat to allow it to be moved;
- a valve actuator handle allowing the valve to be controlled,
- a lid affixed to the vat movable between an open position in which the vat is exposed to the exterior to allow blocks of solid rubber to be placed in the melting vat and a closed position in which the lid covers the vat
- a heating element having a surface area more than half the surface area of the bottom of the melting vat and positioned beneath the melting vat, such that heat from the heating element projects upward to thereby engage the bottom of the melting vat, the heating element positioned on a slidable tray, the slidable tray comprising a bottom surface preventing the heating element from exposure to the pavement;
- a Z-Channel extending upward from the slidable tray to thereby shield the heating element from wind, and
- a fuel inlet port in communication with the heating element.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.