Machine and method for homogenizing a bitumen-based mixture with polymer granules

A machine (1) for homogenizing a bitumen-based mixture with polymer granules in order to obtain a homogenized bituminous blend;

• said machine (1) comprising:
• a substantially cylindrical sleeve (5), said sleeve (5) having its longitudinal axis substantially coaxial to a reference axis (A), said sleeve (5) being adapted to internally contain said bitumen-based mixture and a preset amount of said polymer granules;
• said sleeve (5) having a perforated side wall (8), said perforated side wall (8) comprising a plurality of apertures (9) extending through said perforated side wall (8), each of said plurality of apertures (9) being shaped so as to have at least one sharp cutting edge (9a) portion;
• and a homogenizer assembly (10) comprising:
• a central hub (13) within said sleeve (5), said central hub being adapted to rotate about said reference axis (A);
• at least one knife (14) adapted to rotate within said sleeve (5) to rotate about said reference axis (A), said at least one knife (14) being adapted to displace, during its rotation, at least part of said bitumen-based mixture and of said polymer granules along a direction substantially tangential to said inner surface (11) of said perforated side wall (8) so as to press said polymer granules to impact on said portions of sharp cutting edge (9a) of said plurality of apertures (9);
• said at least one knife (18) comprising a blade (18) extending parallel to said reference axis (A) and being adapted to abut said inner surface (11) of said perforated side wall (8);
• and
• at least one tool (15) adapted to compress said polymer granules on said inner surface (11) of said perforated side wall (8), wherein said at least one tool (15) comprising a second bar (20) having a substantially triangular cross section;
• said second bar (20) being connected to said central hub (13) by means of said mechanical connection member (24), said mechanical connection member (24) linking each said second bar (20) and said hub (13) and being adapted to move said second bar (20) along a first plane passing through said reference axis (A) from and to said cylindrical sleeve (5).

A machine (1) for homogenizing a bitumen-based mixture with polymer granules in order to obtain a homogenized bituminous blend;

• said machine (1) comprising:
• a substantially cylindrical sleeve (5), said sleeve (5) having its longitudinal axis substantially coaxial to a reference axis (A), said sleeve (5) being adapted to internally contain said bitumen-based mixture and a preset amount of said polymer granules;
• said sleeve (5) having a perforated side wall (8), said perforated side wall (8) comprising a plurality of apertures (9) extending through said perforated side wall (8), each of said plurality of apertures (9) being shaped so as to have at least one sharp cutting edge (9a) portion;
• and a homogenizer assembly (10) comprising:
• a central hub (13) within said sleeve (5), said central hub being adapted to rotate about said reference axis (A);
• and
• at least one knife (14) adapted to rotate within said sleeve (5) to rotate about said reference axis (A), said at least one knife (14) being adapted to displace, during its rotation, at least part of said bitumen-based mixture and of said polymer granules along a direction substantially tangential to said inner surface (11) of said perforated side wall (8) so as to press said polymer granules to impact on said portions of sharp cutting edge (9a) of said plurality of apertures (9);
• said at least one knife (14) comprising a blade (18) extending parallel to said reference axis (A) and being adapted to abut said inner surface (11) of said perforated side wall (8);
• said at least one knife (14) being linked to said central hub (13) and being adapted to move said knife (14) along a first plane passing said reference axis (A) from and to said cylindrical sleeve (5).