BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of an embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning machine.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning system
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning system.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning system.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a nozzle.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a nozzle.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a projection.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a projection.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a projection.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a projection.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a projection.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a projection.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning system.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning system.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning system.
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional diagram of an embodiment of a fluid pathway.
FIG. 17 is a perspective diagram of another embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning machine.
FIG. 18 is a perspective diagram of another embodiment of an asphalt reconditioning machine.
FIG. 19 discloses a method for reconditioning a paved surface of aggregate and asphalt cement.
FIG. 20 disclose another method for reconditioning a paved surface of aggregate and asphalt cement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the asphalt reconditioning machine in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a motorized vehicle 100 may include a shroud 104 covering various internal components of the motorized vehicle 100, a frame 105, and a translational element such as tracks 106, wheels, or the like, to translate or move the vehicle. The motorized vehicle 100 may also include a mechanism 107 for adjusting the elevation and slope of the frame relative to the translational element 106 to adjust for varying elevations, slopes, and contours of an underlying paved surface.
The vehicle comprises a manifold 109 beneath the frame 105 of the vehicle 100. The manifold 109 may be attached to the frame 105 by beams 102 such that the manifold 109 is pressed down against the paved surface when the machine is in operation. The manifold 109 may alternatively be attached to the frame 105 by an actuator which may adjust the vertical position of the manifold 109.
The manifold 109 comprises a plurality of jets 110 disposed within a surface adjacent the paved surface. At least one of the jets 110 has a high temperature, high pressure nozzle. The manifold 109 may also comprise a depressurization chamber 111 rearward of the jets 110. The jets 110 emit a fluid under high temperature and high pressure onto the asphalt such that the asphalt depressurizes within the depressurization chamber 111. When the asphalt depressurizes, aggregate in the asphalt separates from asphalt cement and the aggregate is coated with a rejuvenation material to be re-paved. The vehicle 100 may comprise at least one container, such as a storage tank, where one or more fluid reservoirs 112 are contained. The vehicle 100 may also comprise a compactor 113 rearward of the manifold 109. The compactor 113 compresses the depressurized asphalt back down onto the road surface.
The manifold 109 may comprise one or more strips 114 which, when pressed firmly against the paved surface, act as seals to keep the heat and pressure underneath the manifold due to the fluid contained within an area on an underside 115 of the manifold 109. In this manner, the area of pressurized asphalt may be accordingly increased or decreased. The strips 114 may comprise a hard material such as tungsten carbide to prevent wear.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the jets are in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir 112 through a fluid pathway 200. The fluid pathway 200 comprises a pressurization mechanism 201, such as a pump, and a heater 202 which pressurize and heat the fluid to high pressure and high temperature in the pathway 200 before it reaches the jets 110. The emitted fluid exerts a force on the asphalt surface 203 in a downward and/or outward direction The force on the asphalt surface 203 provided by the manifold forces the emitted fluid into the asphalt surface where it is contained until the depressurization chamber 111 moves above it, wherein the asphalt surface 203 thereby releases the pressure, causing the asphalt surface 203 to expand upward and explode as the vehicle 100 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 204.
The asphalt reconditioning machine may comprise at least one projection 205 intermediate the jets 110 and the depressurization chamber 111 adapted to further pressurize a portion of the paved surface. Preferably, the jets 110 operate continuously while traversing the paved surface such that the pressure is constantly high enough to cause the asphalt to depressurize and explode more effectively. Because the jets 110 are operating continuously at high pressure, the fluid may create grooves in the surface of the asphalt. In order to maintain the high pressure on the asphalt surface, the projections may be adapted to fit within the grooves formed in the asphalt and hold the pressure in.
The fluid emitted from the jets may comprise water, oils, maltenes, asphaltenes, surfactants, zeolites, polymers, rubbers, waxes, foaming agents, or combinations thereof. When the asphalt depressurizes into the depressurization chamber 111, the fluid may be generally uniformly mixed among the depressurized asphalt. Also, because of the high temperature of the fluid, when the fluid reaches the depressurization chamber 111, some of the fluid may be evaporated and sent back to the fluid reservoir to be reused. When the vapor 206 reaches a top 208 of a fume chute 207 attached to the depressurization chamber 111, the vapor condenses and pools in a separate chamber 209 which is then pumped back into the fluid reservoir 112. The top 208 of the fume chute 207 may be cooled to aid the condensation of the vapor.
The fluid pathway 200 comprises a plurality of channels 300 in the manifold 109, each ending in a nozzle 301, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3. There may be between 35 and 100 individual channels 300 in the fluid pathway 200. The channels 300 may each be spaced a distance of 1 mm to 5 mm apart. The fluid pathway 200 may be about 0.5 to 1 inch in diameter. A portion 302 of the fluid pathway 200 may be coiled between the vehicle 100 and the manifold 109. This may allow for some bending or stretching of the fluid pathway 200 due to possibly varying geometries of the paved surface.
The fluid pathway 200, along with the channels 300 wherein the nozzles 301 are disposed, may be drilled into the manifold 109. Unused portions of the pathway or channels where drilling was started may comprise stops 303 and/or seals such that none of the fluid or pressure exits through the unused portions.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a gap 400 may exist between the underside 115 of the manifold 109 and the paved surface 203. This may allow a small amount of the pressure and heat due to the fluid to advance forward underneath the manifold 109, which may heat the paved surface 203 in advance of reaching the jets 110, softening the paved surface 203 and making it easier for the fluid to enter into the asphalt and cause it to expand.
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a high temperature, high pressure nozzle 301 in the fluid pathway 200 which may be used in the current invention. The nozzle may be flush with the underside surface 115 of the manifold. The nozzle 301 may be adapted to emit a fluid at a temperature of up to 500 F and at a temperature of up to 20,000 PSI. The nozzle 301 may comprise a steel housing 500 with a bore 501 with a first diameter 502 and a second diameter 503, wherein the second diameter 503 is narrower than the first diameter 502 and is located proximate the outlet of the nozzle 301. The first diameter 502 may allow fluid to enter the nozzle 301 from the pathway 200, while the second diameter 503 allows the nozzle 301 to keep the fluid at a high pressure upon exiting the pathway. The second diameter 503 comprises a hard material 504 of at least 2,000 HK. The hard material 504 may be brazed or press fit into the bore 501. The hard material 504 may be selected from the group consisting of diamond, monocrystalline diamond, polycrystalline diamond, sintered diamond, chemical deposited diamond, physically deposited diamond, natural diamond, infiltrated diamond, layered diamond, thermally stable diamond, silicon bonded diamond, metal bonded diamond, cubic boron nitride, silicon carbide, diamond impregnated matrix, diamond impregnated carbide, and combinations thereof. The second diameter 503 is preferably about 0.003 inches.
The transition from the first, larger diameter 502 to the second, smaller diameter 503 may be an abrupt change 505, as in the embodiment of FIG. 5, or it may be a gradual taper 600, as in the embodiment of FIG. 6. The gradual taper 600 may reduce the erosive forces of the fluid on the nozzle 301 and on the bond between the steel housing 500 and the hard material 504 by aiding the flow of the fluid. A gap 601 may exist between the underside 115 of the manifold 109 and the nozzle 301, which may protect the nozzle 301 from being damaged by the paved surface. The gap 601 may be less than 10 mm. The hard material 504 in the narrow diameter may be segmented. The large diameter of FIG. 5 may be formed with an electric discharge machine and the smaller diameter 503 may be formed with a laser.
FIGS. 7 through 12 are embodiments of the projection. The projection 205 may be attached to the manifold 109 by a hinged mechanism 700, as in the embodiment of FIG. 7. Due to the force exerted on the projection 205 by the paved surface, the projection 205 may be stabilized by support members 701 also extending from the manifold 109. The projection 205 may be disposed within a pocket 800 in the manifold, as in the embodiment of FIG. 8. The pocket 800 in the manifold 109 may comprise a seal 801 around the projection 205 so that no pressure is allowed to escape into the pocket 800. The projection may also be pressed against the paved surface by a coiled spring 802 within the pocket. The projection 205 may be attached to the underside 115 of the manifold 109 at one end by a pivot 900 while being pressed against the paved surface by a coiled spring 802 at an opposite end, as in the embodiment of FIG. 9. This may be advantageous since it presents a larger surface area to the paved surface and may more easily ride up objects in the paved surface such as manholes. FIG. 10 is an embodiment of a projection 205 that is pressed against the paved surface by hydraulic forces in the pocket such as liquid or gas. The projection 205 may be pressed against the paved surface by a Belville spring 1100, as in the embodiment of FIG. 11, or by hoop tension 1200, as in the embodiment of FIG. 12.
A schematic diagram 1300 of one embodiment of the asphalt reconditioning system is shown in FIG. 13, wherein a fluid reservoir 112 is in communication with a jet 110 through a fluid pathway 200. The system may comprise a single fluid reservoir 112, which may hold water for cleaning the paved surface. The fluid reservoir may be followed by a filter 1301 to remove any impurities from the fluid to prevent buildup in the fluid pathway 200 and to prevent the impurities from getting into the asphalt. A pressurizing mechanism 201 designed to pressurize the fluid to a pressure up to 20,000 PSI may follow the filter 1301. The system also comprises a heating mechanism 202 designed to heat the fluid to a temperature up to 500 F, which may follow the pump 201. An overflow system 1302 may also be connected to the fluid pathway 200 between the pump 201 and the heater 202 in order to release any excess fluid pressure back to the fluid reservoir 112. The fluid pathway 200 may also comprise a check relief valve 1303 which allows the fluid to pass through to the nozzle 301 at a certain amount of pressure and which maintains the rest of the fluid at a different pressure.
FIG. 14 shows a schematic 1400 of an embodiment of the asphalt reconditioning system which comprises two fluid reservoirs 112, 1401, one 112 which holds water and a second 1401 which holds a rejuvenation material, wherein the fluid from the second reservoir 1401 is pressurized before mixing with the water. The mixture then passes through a pressurization mechanism 201. FIG. 15 also shows a schematic 1500 of a system which comprises two reservoirs 112, 1401, wherein the rejuvenation material is mixed with the water after the water has been heated.
Referring now to FIG. 16, the fluid pathway 200 may comprise an agitator 1600 for mixing the fluids from the two different reservoirs together. The fluid 1601 from the second reservoir combines with the fluid 1602 from the first reservoir, wherein the fluids pass through the agitator 1600. The agitator 1600 may be a series of ribs or other obstructions positioned in the pathway 200 to disrupt the flow of the fluids, causing them to mix together.
In the embodiment of FIG. 17, a compactor 113 may be proximate a rearward edge 1700 of the manifold 109 such that the asphalt, after being pressurized, is depressurized when it reaches the rearward edge 1700 of the manifold 109 and the compactor 113. The compactor 113 may then level and compact the asphalt into a newly paved surface.
A second plurality of jets 1800 disposed within an inner surface 1801 of the depressurization chamber 111 may be in fluid communication with a second fluid reservoir through a second fluid pathway 1802, as in the embodiment of FIG. 18. The first plurality of jets 110 may emit water in order to pressurize and clean the asphalt surface when the asphalt is depressurized. The second plurality of jets 1800 may emit an asphalt rejuvenation material into the depressurization chamber 111 such that the asphalt is coated with the rejuvenation material while in the depressurization chamber 111.
Referring to FIG. 19, a method 1900 for reconditioning a paved surface of aggregate and asphalt cement comprises the steps of providing 1905 a vehicle adapted to traverse the paved surface; the vehicle comprising a manifold with a plurality of jets disposed within a surface adjacent the paved surface, at least one of the jets comprising a high temperature, high pressure nozzle; pressurizing 1910 the paved surface by forcing the manifold against the paved surface and injecting a hot, pressurized rejuvenation material into the paved surface through the jets; coating 1915 a surface area of the aggregate with the rejuvenation material by suddenly depressurizing the paved surface; and compacting 1920 the depressurized paved surface.
Referring to FIG. 20, a method 2000 for reconditioning a paved surface of aggregate and asphalt cement comprises the steps of providing 2005 a vehicle adapted to traverse the paved surface; the vehicle comprising a manifold with a plurality of jets disposed within a surface adjacent the paved surface, at least one of the jets comprising a high temperature, high pressure nozzle; pressurizing 2010 the paved surface by forcing the manifold against the paved surface and injecting a hot, pressurized fluid into the paved surface through the jets; separating 2015 the aggregate from the asphalt cement by suddenly depressurizing the paved surface; adding 2020 rejuvenation material to the depressurized paved surface; and compacting 2025 the depressurized paved surface.
Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Patent Application
20080056822
