Method and apparatus for filling potholes with liquid pothole filler

An apparatus for filling potholes with a liquid pot-hole filler comprising:

• a liquid asphalt delivery system;
• a compressed air system;
• an aggregate delivery system;
• an activator delivery system;
• a mixing unit;
• said liquid asphalt delivery system including a liquid asphalt tank and conduit for delivering liquid asphalt to said mixing unit;
• said aggregate delivery system including an aggregate hopper and conduit for delivering aggregate to said mixing unit;
• said activator delivery system including an activator container and conduit for delivering activator to said mixing unit;
• said compressed air system being operable to supply compressed air to said liquid asphalt tank, thereby forcing liquid asphalt through said liquid asphalt conduit to said mixing unit, whereby liquid asphalt is mixed with aggregate and activator in said mixing unit;
• said mixing unit being connected to a delivery opening through which the mixture of liquid asphalt, aggregate and activator are delivered into a pot-hole to be filled;
• said aggregate delivery system conduit including a first conduit extender unit which is connected to a second conduit extender unit by a first swivel unit, said first swivel joint including a top portion with a top opening and a bottom portion with a bottom opening, said top and bottom portions including a swivel bearing there between whereby they can be readily rotated relative to one another;
• said first swivel joint including an internal sleeve connected to one of said top and bottom swivel portions and extending from said top opening to said bottom opening to the inside of said swivel bearing, for guiding aggregate through said swivel joint and protecting said swivel bearing;
• a water clean out system which includes a water tank, a pump and a first conduit from said pump to said mixing unit whereby said mixing unit can be cleaned out when not in use mixing and delivering said mixture to a pot-hole to be filled;
• a valve operably associated with said pump and said first conduit;
• and a second conduit extending from said valve to said liquid asphalt delivery conduit;
• said valve being switchable to alternatively open flow through said first conduit and close it to said second conduit, or vice versa, whereby the flow of water from said pump can be directed directly to said mixing unit through said first conduit, or can be directed through both said liquid asphalt delivery conduit and said mixing unit via opening flow to said second conduit. said mixing unit including a rate adjustable auger which mixes and delivers a mixture of liquid asphalt, aggregate and activator;
• a computer programmed to automatically turn on said auger after it has been shut off for a short time, and to operate said auger at a substantially increased rate of operation relative to rates normally used to mix and deliver said aggregate, whereby said mixing unit is substantially cleaned of said mixture.

An apparatus for filling potholes with a liquid pot-hole filler comprising:

• a liquid asphalt delivery system;
• a mixing unit;
• said liquid asphalt delivery system including a liquid asphalt tank and conduit for delivering liquid asphalt to said mixing unit;
• said aggregate delivery system including an aggregate hopper and conduit for delivering aggregate to said mixing unit;
• said activator delivery system including an activator container and conduit for delivering activator to said mixing unit;
• said liquid asphalt delivery system being operable to supply liquid asphalt through said liquid asphalt conduit to said mixing unit, whereby liquid asphalt is mixed with aggregate and activator in said mixing unit;
• said mixing unit being connected to a delivery opening through which the mixture of liquid asphalt, aggregate and activator are delivered into a pot-hole to be filled;
• said aggregate delivery system conduit includes a first conduit extender unit which is connected to a second conduit extender unit by a first swivel unit, said first swivel joint including a top portion with a top opening and a bottom portion with a bottom opening, said top and bottom portions including a swivel bearing there between whereby they can be readily rotated relative to one another;
• said first swivel joint including an internal sleeve connected to one of said top and bottom swivel portions and extending from said top opening to said bottom opening to the inside of said swivel bearing, for guiding aggregate through said swivel joint and protecting said swivel bearing.

An apparatus for filling potholes with a liquid pot-hole filler comprising:

• a liquid asphalt delivery system;
• a mixing unit;
• said liquid asphalt delivery system including a liquid asphalt tank and conduit for delivering liquid asphalt to said mixing unit;
• said aggregate delivery system including an aggregate hopper and conduit for delivering aggregate to said mixing unit;
• said activator delivery system including an activator container and conduit for delivering activator to said mixing unit;
• said liquid asphalt delivery system being operable to supply liquid asphalt through said liquid asphalt conduit to said mixing unit, whereby liquid asphalt is mixed with aggregate and activator in said mixing unit;
• said mixing unit being connected to a delivery opening through which the mixture of liquid asphalt, aggregate and activator are delivered into a pot-hole to be filled;
• a water clean out system which includes a water tank, a pump and a first conduit from said pump to said mixing unit whereby said mixing unit can be cleaned out when not in use mixing and delivering said mixture to a pot-hole to be filled;
• a valve operably associated with said pump and said first conduit;
• and a second conduit extending from said valve to said liquid asphalt delivery conduit;
• said valve being switchable to alternatively open flow through said first conduit and close it to said second conduit, or vice versa, whereby the flow of water from said pump can be directed directly to said mixing unit through said first conduit, or can be directed through both said liquid asphalt delivery conduit and said mixing unit via opening flow to said second conduit.

An apparatus for filling potholes with a liquid pot-hole filler comprising:

• a liquid asphalt delivery system;
• a mixing unit;
• said liquid asphalt delivery system including a liquid asphalt tank and conduit for delivering liquid asphalt to said mixing unit;
• said aggregate delivery system including an aggregate hopper and conduit for delivering aggregate to said mixing unit;
• said activator delivery system including an activator container and conduit for delivering activator to said mixing unit;
• said liquid asphalt delivery system being operable to supply liquid asphalt through said liquid asphalt conduit to said mixing unit, whereby liquid asphalt is mixed with aggregate and activator in said mixing unit;
• said mixing unit being connected to a delivery opening through which the mixture of liquid asphalt, aggregate and activator are delivered into a pot-hole to be filled;
• said mixing unit including a rate adjustable auger which mixes and delivers a mixture of liquid asphalt, aggregate and activator;
• a computer programmed to automatically turn on said auger after it has been shut off for a short time, and to operate said auger at a substantially increased rate of operation relative to rates normally used to mix and deliver said aggregate, whereby said mixing unit is substantially cleaned of said mixture.

A method for filling potholes with a liquid pot-hole filler comprising:

• providing a liquid asphalt delivery system;
• a compressed air system;
• an aggregate delivery system;
• an activator delivery system;
• a mixing unit;
• said liquid asphalt delivery system including a liquid asphalt tank and conduit for delivering liquid asphalt to said mixing unit;
• said aggregate delivery system including an aggregate hopper and conduit for delivering aggregate to said mixing unit;
• said activator delivery system including an activator container and conduit for delivering activator to said mixing unit;
• said compressed air system being operable to supply compressed air to said liquid asphalt tank;
• operating said aggregate delivery system to deliver aggregate to said mixing unit;
• operating said activator delivery system to deliver activator to said mixing unit;
• operating said compressed air system to force liquid asphalt through said liquid asphalt conduit to said mixing unit, whereby liquid asphalt is mixed with aggregate and activator in said mixing unit;
• said mixing unit being connected to a delivery opening through which the mixture of liquid asphalt, aggregate and activator are delivered into a pot-hole to be filled.