Asphalt plant with fixed sleeve mixer

An apparatus for manufacturing asphalt paving composition, comprising:

• a drum having a longitudinal axis inclined with respect to horizontal such that said drum has an upper end and a lower end;
• a fixed sleeve having a semicylindrical lower portion concentric with said drum, said sleeve being disposed to receive an intermediate portion of said drum therewithin such that portions of said drum extend above and below said sleeve, said fixed sleeve having an upper end and a lower end, said drum and said semicylindrical lower portion of said fixed sleeve defining a semiannular space therebetween;
• means longitudinally space apart from said fixed sleeve for supporting said portions of said drum which extend above and below said sleeve such that said drum is supported for rotation about said longitudinal axis;
• means for heating the interior of said drum;
• means for introducing aggregate into the upper end of said drum for heating and drying;
• means for discharging the heated and dried aggregate from said drum into said semiannular space between said drum and said fixed sleeve at the lower end of said sleeve;
• means operatively associated with said drum for mixing a material in said semiannular space between said drum and said fixed sleeve and for moving a material in said semiannular space toward the upper end of said fixed sleeve;
• means for introducing liquid asphalt into said fixed sleeve along with said aggregate for mixing therewith, whereby said liquid asphalt is mixed with said aggregate, and whereby the mixutre of aggregate and liquid asphalt is moved toward the upper end of said fixed sleeve;
• and
• means for discharging said mixture of aggregate and liquid asphalt from said fixed sleeve for use as an asphalt paving composition.