# US 2014/0270953 A1 · Road strengthening and reinforcement during a recycling process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0270953 A1 - Document ID: US20140270953A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/125,142 - Filed: 2012-04-13 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-15 - Assignees: Tony Duffy Engineering Limited - Inventors: Tony Duffy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140270953A1 ## CPC - E01C 19/002: {Apparatus for preparing and placing the materials and for consolidating or finishing the paving} - E01C 19/05: Crushing, pulverising or disintegrating apparatus ({preparing and placing involving breaking E01C19/466} ; in general B02C); Aggregate screening, cleaning, {drying} or heating apparatus; {Dust-collecting arrangements specially adapted therefor} - E01C 19/48: for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface {, e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ (E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004)} - E01C 23/03: Arrangements for curing paving; Devices for applying curing means; Devices for laying prefabricated underlay, e.g. sheets, membranes (reinforcing elements E01C23/04); Protecting paving under construction or while curing, e.g. use of tents (road barriers E01F13/00) - E01C 23/04: Devices for laying {inserting or positioning} reinforcing elements or dowel bars {with or without joint bodies (installing or inserting joint bodies per se E01C23/023, E01C23/026)}; Removable supports for reinforcing {or load transfer} elements (non- removable supports therefor {E01C11/02} E01C11/16; side forms adapted to supporting reinforcement E01C19/50); Devices, e.g. removable forms, for making essentially horizontal ducts in paving, e.g. for prestressed reinforcements - E01C 23/065: {Recycling in place or on the road, i.e. hot or cold reprocessing of paving in situ or on the traffic surface, with or without adding virgin material or lifting of salvaged material; Repairs or resurfacing involving at least partial reprocessing of the existing paving (in situ mixing of hydraulic cement concrete E01C19/025; apparatus for in-plant recycling E01C19/1004, E01C19/1036)} - E01C 2301/06: Windrow pickup - Y10T 29/49716: Converting - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to an optional additional process during routine rehabilitation or recycling of road surfaces. More particularly, the invention relates to a process whereby a geomaterial, whether mesh, membrane, textile, grid or fabric membrane is placed underneath in-situ road surface material, which has been loosened as part of a regenerative or recycling process, as an added structural benefit to the rehabilitated road structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for converting a paver to an in-situ road-recycling device, the apparatus having a frame mountable onto the front of the paver, comprising: (i) means for lifting and delivering loosened material from a road or a pavement surface to a reservoir on the paver device to expose road base or road subgrade surface; (ii) optional means for treating the loosened material with at least one fluid and/or at least one stabilizing additive; (iii) at least on height adjustable wheel or roller provided on the frame to assist in the lift depth adjustment of the apparatus in order to reach a predetermined lift depth of loosened material; (iv) optional means for laying a geomaterial onto exposed road base or road subgrade surface; wherein the material is re-laid onto the road base or the road subgrade by the paver in a predetermined profile in a single pass. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising mounting means provided on the frame for mounting the apparatus on the front of the paver, the mounting means further being for raising and lowering the frame to lift a predetermined lift depth of loosened material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pick up head, wherein the at least one height adjustable wheel or roller is provided on the frame behind said pick up head. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for laying a geomaterial is a geotextile roll is mounted onto underside of the frame and adapted for dispensing on forward movement of the paver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the means for laying the geotextile is telescopically extendible to accommodate wider rolls of geotextile. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for delivering or transferring the lifted material to a reservoir means on the paver, wherein said means is a conveyor system comprising an endless conveyor belt having a chain and sprocket arrangement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for adding water or at least one other additive or fluid onto the lifted (recycled) material and/or the reservoir of the paver. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the conveyer is provided with laterally disposed slats and/or rakes, which are optionally interchangeable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the endless conveyor belt arrangement has a first lead pulley or sprocket, and second working pulley located underneath the first sprocket proximate to the ground, and a third idler pulley located above the second working pulley in a position clear of where the material enters the apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for lifting the loosened material from the road or pavement surface comprises a feeder assembly adapted for forming a directed flow of lifted loosened material, the feeder assembly comprising at least one auger, a pick up head having a cutting edge for transferring material to the transferring means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the feeder assembly further comprises horizontally and vertically actuatable side blades, arms or wings located on opposite sides of the feeder assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the feeder assembly further comprises a blade that may be mounted at the bottom of the feeder/lifting means for leaving a clean surface is left behind the paver for relaying. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is suitable for lifting in-situ loosened material from a depth of from about 100 mm to about 150 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the slats and/or rakes may present themselves at right angles to ground before becoming engaged with the loosened material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A paver machine comprising the apparatus of claim 1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method of retrofitting a paver comprising mounting the apparatus according to claim 1, onto the front of a paver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An in situ recycling process for in situ insertion of a geomaterial underneath a loosened road or pavement surface material comprising the steps of: (i) adapting a paver to operate as an in-situ recycling machine by mounting an apparatus as defined in claim 1 onto the paver; (ii) lifting at least part of the loosened material with the adapted paver to leave at least part of the road base or road subgrade exposed, wherein loosened material has a depth of from about 1 to 300 mm; (iii) laying a geomaterial onto the exposed road base or road subgrade; (iv) optionally treating the lifted material with at least additive; and (v) relaying the treated material to a predetermined profile on top of the geomaterial, characterised in that the process is carried out in-situ in a single pass by the adapted paver.