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US 4,245,915 AGranted
Apparatus for making asphalt concrete
OwnerPaul E. Bracegirdleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for making asphalt concrete comprises mixing starting materials including aggregate and binder material and optionally, other additives, to a final temperature of about 60.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. in an indirectly heated mixing chamber which is sealed. The moisture content of the asphalt concrete mixture is controlled as a function of the moisture content of the starting materials. Apparatus for performing the process in a continuous or batch operation is also set forth.
Claims21
Apparatus for making asphalt concrete comprising:
- (a) a mixing chamber having inlet means and outlet means, and means within said chamber for indirectly heating a mixture of starting materials including aggregate and binder material while moving said mixture through said chamber, said inlet means and said outlet means being capable of selectively sealing the interior of said mixing chamber from communication with the atmosphere, and
- (b) means for controlling the moisture content of said mixture to a predetermined amount including means for adding or removing water to or from said mixture in said chamber until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount, condensing means for condensing water from gas produced by heating said mixture in said chamber, a valved first conduit means connecting said mixing chamber to said condensing means, a valved second conduit means connecting said condensing means to said mixing chamber for returning gas to said chamber, a tank connected by a valved third conduit to said condensing means for storing water condensed by said condensing means, and conduit means connecting said tank to said mixing chamber for introducing water into said chamber.
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mixing chamber having inlet means and outlet means and means within said chamber for indirectly heating a mixture of starting materials including aggregate and binder material while moving said mixture through said chamber, said inlet means and said outlet means being selectively sealable whereby the interior of said mixing chamber does not communicate with the atmosphere when sealed, and
- (b) means for controlling the moisture content of said mixture to a predetermined amount by removing moisture from said mixture within said chamber in the form of water vapor when said moisture content is greater than said predetermined amount until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount.
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mixing chamber having inlet means and outlet means and means within said chamber for indirectly heating a mixture of starting materials including aggregate and binder material while moving said mixture through said chamber, said inlet means and said outlet means being selectively sealable whereby the interior of said mixing chamber does not communicate with the atmosphere when sealed, and
- (b) means for controlling the moisture content of said mixture to a predetermined amount by adding water into said mixture within said chamber when said moisture content is less than said predetermined amount until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount.
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mixing chamber having inlet means and outlet means and means within said chamber for indirectly heating a mixture of starting materials including aggregate and binder material while moving said mixture through said chamber, said inlet means and said outlet means being selectively sealable whereby the interior of said mixing chamber does not communicate with the atmosphere when sealed, and
- (b) means for controlling the moisture content of said mixture to a predetermined amount including means for removing moisture from said mixture within said chamber in the form of water vapor when said moisture content is greater than said predetermined amount until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount, and means for adding water into said mixture within said chamber when said moisture content is less than said predetermined amount until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount.
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mixing chamber having inlet means and outlet means, and means within said chamber for indirectly heating a mixture while moving said mixture through said chamber, said inlet means and said outlet means being capable of selectively sealing the interior of said mixing chamber from communication with the atmosphere, and
- (b) means for controlling the moisture content of said mixture to a predetermined amount including means for adding or removing water to or from said mixture in said chamber until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount, condensing means for condensing water from gas produced by heating said mixture in said chamber, a valved first conduit means connecting said mixing chamber to said condensing means, a valved second conduit means connecting said condensing means to said mixing chamber for returning gas to said chamber, a tank connected by a valved third conduit to said condensing means for storing water condensed by said condensing means, and conduit means connecting said tank to said mixing chamber for introducing water into said chamber.
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mixing chamber having inlet means and outlet means and means within said chamber for indirectly heating a mixture while moving said mixture through said chamber, said inlet means and said outlet means being selectively sealable whereby the interior of said mixing chamber does not communicate with the atmosphere when sealed, and
- (b) means for controlling the moisture content of said mixture to a predetermined amount by removing moisture from said mixture within said chamber in the form of water vapor when said mositure content is greater than said predetermined amount until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount.
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mixing chamber having inlet means and outlet means and means within said chamber for indirectly heating a mixture while moving said mixture through said chamber, said inlet means and said outlet means being selectively sealable whereby the interior of said mixing chamber does not communicate with the atmosphere when sealed, and
- (b) means for controlling the moisture content of said mixture to a predetermined amount by adding water into said mixture within said chamber when said moisture content is less than said predetermined amount until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount.
Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mixing chamber having inlet means and outlet means and means within said chamber for indirectly heating a mixture while moving said mixture through said chamber, said inlet means and said outlet means being selectively sealable whereby the interior of said mixing chamber does not communicate with the atmosphere when sealed, and
- (b) means for controlling the moisture content of said mixture to a predetermined amount including means for removing moisture from said mixture within said chamber in the form of water vapor when said moisture content is greater than said predetermined amount until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount, and means for adding water into said mixture within said chamber when said moisture content is less than said predetermined amount until said moisture content equals said predetermined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.