Method and apparatus for controlling the mixing of milled asphalt aggregate with rejuvenating fluid
OwnerFrancesco A. Crupiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the mixing of asphalt aggregate with rejuvenating materials in an asphalt rejuvenating machine. According to the method, milled aggregate is discharged in a windrow of fixed width, and windrow height is compared to rejuvenating machine speed to determine a volume rate of material being processed. A processor controller calculates a required amount of rejuvenating fluid addition based on the volume rate being processed and a desired proportion of rejuvenating fluid to aggregate. The processor controller controls a sprayer which directs rejuvenating fluid at some point along a zone extending from a milling apparatus to a mixer.
Claims5
A method for controlling the mixing of asphalt aggregate with rejuvenating materials in an asphalt rejuvenating machine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) dislodging a top layer of an asphalt paved surface;
- (ii) passing a milling apparatus over the dislodged layer from step (i) to strip said top layer and break up said top layer of said asphalt paved surface to form a milled aggregate;
- (iii) adding rejuvenating material to said milled aggregate;
- (iv) transferring said milled aggregate to a mixer and blending said milled aggregate with said rejuvenating material to form a blended aggregate
- (v) discharging one of said blended aggregate and said milled aggregate in a windrow of pre-determined width;
- (vi) measuring the height of said windrow;
- (vii) measuring a speed of travel of said asphalt rejuvenating machine;
- (viii) comparing said height with said speed and determining a volume rate of discharge from said mixer;
- (ix) determining a desired rate of addition of said rejuvenating materials which corresponds to said volume rate of discharge and a pre-determined final composition;
- and,
- (x) adjusting a rate of addition of said rejuvenating material in step (iii) to correspond to said desired rate of addition from step (ix).
A method for controlling the mixing of asphalt aggregate with rejuvenating materials in an asphalt rejuvenating machine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) dislodging a top layer of an asphalt paved surface;
- (ii) passing a milling apparatus over the dislodged layer from step (i) to strip said top layer and break up said top layer of said asphalt paved surface to form a milled aggregate;
- (iii) adding rejuvenating material to said milled aggregate;
- (iv) transferring said milled aggregate to a mixer and blending said milled aggregate with said rejuvenating material to form a blended aggregate;
- (v) discharging one of said blended aggregate and said milled aggregate in a windrow of pre-determined width;
- (vi) measuring the height of said windrow;
- (vii) measuring a speed of travel of said asphalt rejuvenating machine;
- (viii) comparing said height with said speed and determining a volume rate of discharge from said mixer;
- (ix) determining a desired rate of addition of said rejuvenating materials which corresponds to said volume rate of discharge and a pre-determined final composition;
- (x) adjusting a rate of addition of said rejuvenating material in step (iii) to correspond to said desired rate of addition from step (ix);
- wherein
- said adding of said rejuvenating material in step (iii) is carried out at a location along a zone extending from said milling apparatus to said mixer;
- said rejuvenating material includes at least a rejuvenating fluid;
- said height of said window is expressed as a first electronic signal;
- said speed of travel is expressed as a second electronic signal;
- said first and second electronic signals are sent to a processing controller;
- said pre-determined final composition is input into said processing controller;
- said processing controller compares said first and second signals to determine said volume rate of discharge in step (viii);
- said processing controller compares said volume rate of discharge with said pre-determined final composition to determine said desired rate of addition in step (ix);
- and,
- said processing controller at least initiates said adjusting of said rate of addition in step (x).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.