Patent Application
20250003157
The present technology includes articles of manufacture and processes that relate to thermal asphalt repair, including a system and method for repairing a section of asphalt.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Asphalt repair is used to restore and strengthen integrity of an asphalt surface. Over time, exposure to elements, heavy traffic, and temperature fluctuations may lead to the development of damage to asphalt. Properly executed asphalt repair not only enhances aesthetics of an asphalt surface but may also help prolong the lifespan of the asphalt.
To repair a portion of asphalt, asphalt repair equipment is maneuvered into place and transported using trucks and trailers to a desired location within a project site. An asphalt heater may be placed over a distressed asphalt point to heat the asphalt to its original mixing temperature. When the asphalt has reached the original mixing temperature, damage to the asphalt may be raked out and fresh asphalt may be added and joined or luted to a correct grade. The asphalt patch may then become an integral part of the existing asphalt surface. However, because asphalt repair equipment may be prohibitively large, it may not be able to travel on certain smaller sized trails or pathways to locations where asphalt repair is needed. Additionally, such asphalt repair equipment may damage asphalt or other infrastructure that it travels on.
Accordingly, there is a need for a self-propelled system and method to heat asphalt as a part of the asphalt repair process that may be maneuvered and relocated by a single user without the use of additional equipment and without damaging a project site.
In concordance with the instant disclosure, a self-propelled system and method to heat asphalt as a part of the asphalt repair process that may be maneuvered and relocated by a single user without the use of additional equipment and without damaging a project site, has surprisingly been discovered. The present disclosure provides self-propelled systems and methods for asphalt repair. A system may include a frame assembly and a portable asphalt heater supported by the frame assembly. The portable asphalt heater may include a heating unit for heating a section of asphalt to be repaired.
In certain embodiments, a self-propelled system for thermally repairing asphalt by an operator may include a frame assembly, a motor coupled to the frame assembly, a steering device coupled to the frame assembly, a platform coupled to the frame assembly, and a heating unit operatively connected to the frame assembly for heating the asphalt. The motor may be configured to selectively provide power to a drive wheel configured to propel the self-propelled system. The steering device may be configured for steering the self-propelled system. The platform may be configured to support the operator. The heating unit may be operatively connected to the frame assembly for heating the asphalt. The heating unit may include a deployable portion. The deployable portion may be configured to pivot between a deployed position and a non-deployed position. The deployable portion may pivot upward such that in the non-deployed position the deployable portion does not extend beyond an edge of the frame assembly. A control system may be configured for controlling an operation of the motor and the heating unit.
In certain embodiments, a method for thermally repairing asphalt using a self-propelled system may include providing a self-propelled heating unit, such as described herein. The self-propelled heating unit may be moved to a predetermined location where an asphalt repair is required. A heating unit of the self-propelled system may then be moved from a non-deployed position to a deployed position. A portion of the heating unit may extend beyond a frame assembly, where the portion of the heating unit may be configured to pivot between a deployed position and a non-deployed position.
The deployable portion may pivot upward such that in the non-deployed position the deployable portion does not extend beyond an edge of the frame assembly. The method may further include activating a heating unit to heat a portion of asphalt at the predetermined location. An operation of the heating unit may be controlled with a control system to maintain a desired heating parameter.
In certain embodiments, a self-propelled system for thermally repairing asphalt by an operator may include the system for thermally repairing asphalt by an operator such as described above. The system may also include a trailer configured for transporting the system for thermally repairing asphalt by an operator, where a width of the self-propelled system for thermally repairing asphalt by an operator is less than a width of the trailer in an undeployed position and loaded onto the trailer.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture, and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments, including where certain steps can be simultaneously performed, unless expressly stated otherwise. “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. “About” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.
Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of a composition or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.
As referred to herein, disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping, or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected, or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer, or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below”, or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The present technology relates to systems and methods for heating a portion of asphalt for repair. A self-propelled system may include a frame assembly and a portable asphalt heater supported by the frame assembly. The portable asphalt heater may include a heating unit for heating a section of asphalt to be repaired. In certain embodiments, the heating unit may comprise an infrared heating unit.
The frame assembly may include a plurality of wheels, an engine or motor for moving the system, and a handle for steering the system. The speed of the self-propelled system may be controlled by a throttle. The self-propelled system may further include a standing platform for a user to stand on while using the self-propelled mobile system. In certain embodiments, the standing platform may flip-up so that the user may walk behind the mobile system as the user operates the throttle. The self-propelled system may be compact to enable asphalt repair in tight and/or hard to reach places such as walking paths, paved trails, and other areas.
The heating unit 160 may be operatively connected to the frame assembly 110 for heating the asphalt. The heating unit 160 may have a first deployable portion 164, and a second deployable portion 165. that may be deployed beyond the frame assembly 110. As shown in the embodiment depicted in
The platform 130 may be configured to support the standing operator. In certain embodiments, the platform 130 may be configured to move between an operable position, such as shown by the arrow in
The heating unit 160 may include a fixed portion 163, a first deployable portion 164, and a second deployable portion 165. The deployable portions, 164, 165 of the heating unit 160 that may extend beyond the frame assembly 110 may include the first deployable portion 164 a extending from a first side 131 of the frame assembly 110 and a second deployable portion 165 extending from a second side 132 of the frame assembly 110. In certain embodiments, the asphalt repair system 100 may include a plurality of heating units 160, including four heating units 160 shown positioned on an underside of the frame assembly, along with the first deployable portion 164 and the second deployable portion 165. The plurality of heating unit 160 may include various numbers, shapes, sizes, and placements of individual heating units 160, with the caveat that there is at least one deployable portion 164 and 165.
The first deployable portion 164 and the second deployable portion 165 may be configured to be moved between a deployed position, such as shown in
As shown in
The first deployable portion 164 and the second deployable portion 165 of the frame assembly 110 may be pivoted upwards relative to the frame assembly 110 in the non-deployed position. In certain embodiments, the heating unit 160 may comprise an infrared heater 161. However, as would be understood by someone of ordinary skill in the art, the heating unit 160 may comprise any appropriately desired heating unit 160 for heating a section of asphalt. The heating unit 160 may comprise a heating pad on each side of the frame assembly 110. In certain embodiments, each side may include four heating pads, where the heating pads may be replaceable. The heating unit 160 may be vertically movable for transport.
As shown in
As shown in
In certain embodiments, the heating unit 160 may comprise an infrared heater 161. The frame assembly 110 may include a fuel tank 151 that may be configured to store fuel for the heating unit 160. For example, the fuel tank 151 may comprise liquid propane for the heating unit 160. Alternatively, the heating unit 160 may comprise an electric infrared heater 161. However, the heating unit 160 may comprise any appropriately desired heating unit 160 for heating a portion of asphalt to the correct temperature for repair.
Advantageously, the present technology introduces a self-propelled system and method for heating asphalt that may be easily maneuvered and relocated by a single user without the need for additional equipment and without causing damage to a project site. This may address the limitations of traditional asphalt repair equipment, which may often be too bulky to access certain areas and risk damaging the infrastructure it travels on. By incorporating a portable asphalt heater with a frame assembly 110 that includes a motor 120, a steering device 150, and a platform 130, the self-propelled asphalt repair system 100 may improve operational efficiency and accessibility, making it particularly effective for use in hard-to-reach locations such as trails and pathways.
Example embodiments of the present technology are provided with reference to the several figures, including
In a residential area with narrow pathways and limited access for large vehicles, the self-propelled asphalt repair system 100 may be deployed to repair potholes that develop. The self-propelled asphalt repair system 100 may be transported to the site on a small trailer and quickly set up by a single operator. The compact design of the unit may allow it to maneuver through tight spaces between parked cars and around corners that would typically prevent larger machinery from accessing the repair site.
Once positioned over a damaged asphalt, an operator may activate the heating unit 160 using the integrated control system 140. The heating unit 160 may extend beyond the frame assembly 110 of the self-propelled asphalt repair system 100, and may be into the deployed position, directly over the pothole. Infrared heating technology or other appropriately desired heating elements may efficiently bring the asphalt to an optimal temperature for repair, softening the damaged area without damaging the surrounding good pavement. The precise control over the heating area ensures that repairs are not only quick but also cost-effective by minimizing the amount of asphalt needed for the repair.
After the asphalt is sufficiently heated, the operator may use simple hand tools to remove the deteriorated material and apply a new asphalt mix. The platform 130 of the self-propelled asphalt repair system 100 may provide a stable base for the operator to work from, enhancing safety and comfort during the repair process.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions, and methods can be made within the scope of the present technology, with substantially similar results.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/511,460, filed on Jun. 30, 2023. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63511460 | Jun 2023 | US |
