A multi-silo asphalt distribution and storage system to receive asphalt mixtures by an elevating conveyor from an asphalt production plant, said multi-silo asphalt distribution and storage system comprising:
- a plurality of large diameter, upright cylindrical storage bins for storing asphaltic mixtures, each said storage bin being supported above a truck load-out area and having a discharge gate to contain asphaltic mixtures within said storage bin when closed and to dispense asphaltic mixtures from said storage bin when opened, said storage bin also having a substantially circular top closure with a central opening therethrough;
- a movable door mounted atop each of said storage bins to seal against said top closure when closed and to provide access to the interior of said storage bin when opened;
- a stationary batcher positioned and supported above said storage bins, but remote therefrom, to receive and accumulate asphaltic mixtures from said elevating conveyor, said stationary batcher having an upright cylindrical portion with a diameter smaller than said storage bin diameter, a frusto-conical discharge mouth joined to said cylindrical portion, and clamshell gates to contain asphaltic mixtures within said stationary batcher when closed and to discharge asphaltic mixtures from said stationary batcher when opened;
- an indexing rail system mounted atop said storage bins;
- a transport batcher carried on said indexing rail system and interposed between said stationary batcher and said storage bins, said transport batcher movably positionable on said rail system beneath said stationary batcher to receive asphaltic mixtures therefrom and then movably positionable on said rail system above a preselected one of said plurality of storage bins to then discharge the asphaltic mixtures from said transport batcher to the storage bin so as to prevent segregation of the asphaltic mixtures discharged to the storage bin, said transport batcher having an upright cylindrical portion with a diameter smaller than said storage bin diameter, a frusto-conical discharge mouth joined to said cylindrical portion and sized to discharge asphaltic mixtures through said central opening in the storage bin top closure, and clamshell gates to contain asphaltic mixtures within said transport batcher when closed and to discharge asphaltic mixtures from said transport batcher when opened;
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- a flexible, cylindrical bellows connected to and supported on said transport batcher to be lowered onto and sealed against said top closure of said storage bin whenever said clamshell gates of said batcher are opened to discharge asphaltic mixtures to said storage bin;
- whereby said bellows isolates the region between said transport batcher and storage bin from the environment during discharge of asphaltic mixtures from said transport batcher to said storage bin in order to control blue-smoke emissions.