Method and apparatus for maintaining highways

A self-contained highway maintainer apparatus comprising, in combination:

• an elongated mobile frame having a longitudinal axis;
• a storage bin disposed on said frame for storing aggregate;
• a first tank disposed on said frame for storing liquid asphalt cement;
• a first heating means disposed in said storage bin for maintaining the aggregate at a temperature of from about 70.degree. F to about 250.degree. F;
• a second heating means disposed in said first tank for maintaining the liquid asphalt cement at a temperature of from about 100.degree. F to about 195.degree. F;
• mixing means attached to said frame including a plurality of mixer elements;
• delivery means having a length disposed to receive the aggregate fed from said storage bin and discharge the same into said mixing means;
• pump means coupled to said first tank for discharging the liquid asphalt cement from said first tank into said mixing means;
• and
• a spreading means connected to said frame and disposed below said mixing onto a road surface;
• said mixing means includes at least three mixing elements aligned perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of said frame, each of said mixing elements being operatively associated with another, the first mixing element comprising a first shaft having a longitudinal center, and a plurality of first mixing blades in spaced apart relationship on said first shaft, said mixing blades being disposed on said first shaft to direct the materials being mixed towards the longitudinal center of said first shaft, the second mixing element comprising a second shaft aligned parallel to and on the same horizontal plane as said first shaft having a longitudinal center and opposite ends, said centers of said first and second shafts being aligned along the longitudinal axis of said frame, a plurality of second mixing blades disposed on said second shaft in spaced apart relationship and aligned on said second shaft to direct the materials being mixed towards the ends of said second shaft, the third mixing element comprising an auger-conveyor aligned parallel to and directly below said second mixing element having opposite ends and a longitudinal center, said auger--conveyor being arranged to direct the materials being mixed from the ends thereof towards the longitudinal center thereof, and drive means for rotationally driving said mixing elements.

A self-contained highway maintainer apparatus comprising, in conbination:

• an elongated mobile frame having a longitudinal axis;
• a storage bin disposed on said frame for storing aggregate;
• a first tank disposed on said frame for storing liquid asphalt cement;
• a first heating means disposed in said storage bin for maintaining the aggregate at a temperature of from about 70.degree. F to about 250.degree. F;
• a second heating means disposed in said first tank for maintaining the liquid asphalt cement at a temperature of from about 100.degree. F to about 195.degree. F;
• mixing means attached to said frame including a plurality of mixer elements;
• delivery means having a length disposed to receive the aggregate fed from said storage bin and discharge the same into said mixing means;
• pump means coupled to said first tank for discharging the liquid asphalt cement from said first tank into said mixing means;
• a spreading means connected to said frame and disposed below said mixing means for spreading the materials from said mixing means onto a road surface;
• a first metering means interposed between said pump means and said mixing means for metering the amount of liquid asphalt cement fed to said mixing means;
• a filler hopper for storing a filler material disposed on said frame;
• a second metering means operatively associated with said storage bin for metering the aggregate fed to said delivery means;
• a third metering means operatively associated with said filler hopper for metering said filler material to said delivery means;
• and
• a power means secured on said frame for powering said mixing means, said delivery means and said pump means;
• and
• wherein said storage bin comprises a plurality of separate compartments for storing a plurality of different aggregates and said second metering means discharges to said delivery means predetermined amounts and ratio of said different aggregates;
• said mixing means includes at least three mixing elements aligned perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of said frame, each of said mixing elements being operatively associated with another, the first mixing element comprising a first shaft having a longitudinal center, and a plurality of first mixing blades in spaced apart relationship on said first shaft, said mixing blades being disposed on said first shaft to direct the materials being mixed towards the longitudinal center of said first shaft, the second mixing element comprising a second shaft aligned parallel to and on the same horizontal plane as said first shaft having a longitudinal plane as said first shaft having a longitudinal center and opposite ends, said centers of said first and second shafts being aligned along the longitudinal axis of said frame, a plurality of second mixing blades disposed on said second shaft in spaced apart relationship and aligned on said second shaft to direct the materials being mixed towards the ends of said second shaft, the third mixing element comprising an auger-conveyor aligned parallel to and directly below said second mixing element having opposite ends and a longitudinal center, said auger-conveyor being arranged to direct the materials being mixed from the ends thereof towards the longitudinal center thereof, and drive means for rotationally driving said mixing elements;
• said delivery means comprises an endless conveyor means having a discharge end, said conveyor means being secured to said frame and disposed below said storage bin, said discharge end being positioned above said mixing means and a controllable means for driving said conveyor means;
• said mobile frame is a truck;
• and
• said power means is an auxiliary internal combustion engine operatively associated with said controllable means for driving said conveyor means, said drive means for rotationally driving said mixing elements, and said pump means.