Asphalt reclamation unit with discharge feed and improved hot air flow

An asphalt reclamation unit for heating initially solid asphaltic material from ambient atmospheric temperature to an elevated temperature between about 275.degree. F. and about 300.degree. F. and thereafter maintaining the material at the elevated temperature to provide asphaltic concrete in a condition suitable for paving or patching applications, comprising:

• (a) an upwardly open inner enclosure defining a volume for containing asphaltic material to be heated, and including a floor, end walls, and side walls;
• (b) an outer enclosure surrounding said inner enclosure and including a floor, end walls, and side walls respectively disposed in spaced relation to the floor, end walls, and side walls of said inner enclosure to define a gas space between at least a portion of the inner and outer enclosure floors and at least one gas passage between the inner enclosure walls and the outer enclosure walls respectively adjacent thereto, said outer enclosure further comprising door means for closing the top of the unit, said gas space communicating with the outside atmosphere, said passage communicating with said gas space and with the uppermost portion of said volume, and said uppermost portion of said volume being vented to the outside atmosphere, for enabling continuous air flow into said gas space and thence through said passage and said upper portion of said volume;
• (c) at least one source of energy disposed in said gas space for heating air entering said gas space from the outside atmosphere;
• and
• (d) means, located in the uppermost portion of said volume, on the door means, for directing heated air from said gas passage downwardly into said volume, to thereby aid heating of asphaltic material located in said volume.

An asphalt reclamation unit for heating initially solid asphaltic material from an ambient atmospheric temperature to an elevated temperature between about 275.degree. F. and about 300.degree. F. and thereafter maintaining the material at the elevated temperature to provide asphaltic concrete in a condition suitable for paving or patching applications, comprising:

• (a) an upwardly open inner enclosure defining a volume for containing asphaltic material to be heated, and including a floor, end walls, and side walls;
• (b) an outer enclosure surrounding said inner enclosure and including a floor, end walls, and side walls respectively disposed in spaced relation to the floor, end walls, and side walls of said inner enclosure to define a gas space between at least a portion of the inner and outer enclosure floors and end and side wall gas passages between the inner enclosure walls and the outer enclosure walls respectively adjacent thereto, said outer enclosure further comprising door means for closing the top of the unit, said gas space communicating with the outside atmosphere, said passages communicating with said gas space and being vented to the outside atmosphere, for enabling continuous air flow into said gas space and thence through said passages and thence to the outside atmosphere;
• (c) at least one source of energy disposed in said gas space for heating air entering said gas space from the outside atmosphere;
• (d) a conveyor screw disposed in a circular tubular channel formed in the floor of the inner enclosure for transporting asphaltic material across at least a portion of said inner enclosure floor;
• and
• (e) means defining an opening in the floor of the inner enclosure, and passage means in and through the floor of the outer enclosure, to provide an outlet communication passage for delivery of said asphaltic material from the conveyor screw to the exterior of said unit.