Method and apparatus for processing mixed asphalt material utilizing broken-up used asphalt

Abstract

A method as well as an apparatus for processing asphalt mixtures is provided in which broken-up used asphalt is employed and new material is added, utilizing a plurality of burner-heated drum devices, with the used asphalt component and the new material for the asphalt mixture to be processed or produced being processed, i.e. heated in particular, in respectively differently configured drum devices. The used asphalt component is heated separately in a drum mixer operated with parallel flow and the new material component is heated in a drying drum operated with counterflow. After leaving their respective drum devices, the components are conducted into at least one further connected mixer and are further treated there with fresh bitumen and possibly with filler material being added in the mixer. Furthermore, the exhaust gases of the drum mixer are introduced directly into the drying drum and are further heated there, thus combusting the CH.sub.x and CO component contained therein. In this process, the exhaust gases of the drum mixer are introduced into the interior of the drying drum in the immediate vicinity of the burner flame through flow channels in the form of nozzles via a feed device formed at the frontal face of the drying drum in which the burner is disposed, with the direction of the nozzles being adjustable as a function of the size of the burner flame.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.