Bitumen coating of particulate material
AssigneeTotalfinaelf Bitumen Limited
InventorLeslie Hoad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for bitumen coating particulate material comprises a chamber (2) having baffles or deflectors (4), a particulate material inlet (8) and a particulate material outlet (10). In use, a foamed bituminus formulation is directed into the chamber via an outlet (12) and an air stream is directed from an inlet (14) towards the bituminous formulation, to atomise the formulation. The atomised formulation then contacts particulate material which passes in a convoluted path through the chamber via inlet (8). Prior to contact with the atomised bituminous formulation, heated air which passes into the chamber via a second gas inlet (16) heats the surface of the stone. After the particulate material has been coated it is discharged via outlet (10) for subsequent use.
Claims27
A method of bitumen coating particulate material, wherein a foamed bitumen formulation is dispersed and contacted with particulate material to be coated.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the foamed bitumen formulation is dispersed by means of a dispersion process which involves contacting the foamed formulation with a dispersing fluid stream.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein dispersion of the foamed bitumen formulation involves atomisation thereof.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the foamed bitumen formulation is contacted with said particulate material in a chamber.
Apparatus for bitumen coating particulate material, the apparatus comprising a chamber having a particulate material inlet, a foamed bituminous formulation feed means arranged to feed foamed bituminous formulation into the chamber and dispersion means arranged to disperse the foamed bituminous formulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.