Flameless pavement repair system

Abstract

A flameless pavement repair system includes a vehicle with a hopper. One or more flameless heating elements are installed adjacent the hopper to maintain materials in the hopper within a selected temperature range. The pavement repair system also includes an on-board generator that is powered by the vehicle and provides sufficient power to the electric heating element during vehicle operation to heat pavement repair materials stored therein.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pavement repair system comprising: 
 a vehicle;    a hopper disposed on the vehicle;    at least one flameless heating element disposed proximate the hopper, the flameless heating element operable to maintain materials in the hopper within a selected temperature range; and    a generator disposed on the vehicle, powered by the vehicle and operable to provide power to the at least one electric heating element during vehicle operation.    
     
     
         2 . The pavement repair system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one flameless heating element further comprises an electric heating element.  
     
     
         3 . The pavement repair system of  claim 2  wherein the flameless heating element further comprises an electric immersion heater.  
     
     
         4 . The pavement repair system of  claim 1  further comprising two cylindrical, electric heating elements disposed within an air jacket proximate the hopper.  
     
     
         5 . The pavement repair system of  claim 4  wherein the electric heating element further having a combined capacity of at least seven kilowatts.  
     
     
         6 . The pavement repair system of  claim 1  further comprising the at least one flameless heating element operable to maintain hot mix asphalt materials within the hopper with between 250° F. and 350° F.  
     
     
         7 . The pavement repair system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first flameless heating element disposed within an air jacket adjacent to a first side of the hopper;  
 a second heating element disposed within the air jacket adjacent to a second side of the hopper; and  
 the first flameless heating element and the second flameless heating element operable to maintain materials in the hopper between 275° F. and 300° F.  
 
     
     
         8 . The pavement repair system of  claim 1  further comprising a thermostatic controller associated with the at least one flameless heating element.  
     
     
         9 . The pavement repair system of  claim 1  further comprising the hopper having an air jacket.  
     
     
         10 . The pavement repair system of  claim 1  further comprising the at least one flameless heating element operable to be alternately powered by an external power source.  
     
     
         11 . The pavement repair system of  claim 10  wherein the external power source comprises a power cord operable to connect with an electrical power outlet.  
     
     
         12 . The pavement repair system of  claim 1  wherein the generator comprises a hydraulically driven on-board generator.  
     
     
         13 . A hopper assembly for providing hot-mix asphalt for a pavement repair vehicle comprising: 
 a hopper body;    at least one flameless heating element disposed adjacent the hopper body operable to heat hot mix asphalt materials within a selected temperature range;    the at least one flameless heating element operable to be powered by a pavement repair vehicle on-board generator; and    the at least one flameless heating element operable to be powered by an external power source.    
     
     
         14 . The hopper assembly of  claim 13  further comprising two cylindrical, electrical heating elements disposed within the air jacket.  
     
     
         15 . The hopper assembly of  claim 13  wherein the at least one flameless heating element comprises at least one electric immersion heater.  
     
     
         16 . The hopper assembly of claims  13  further comprising the at least one flameless heating element operable to maintain the hot mix materials between 250° F. and 350° F.  
     
     
         17 . The hopper assembly of claims  13  further comprising the at least one flameless heating element operable to maintain the hot mix materials between 275° F. and 300° F.  
     
     
         18 . A method for heating a hopper in a pavement repair vehicle comprising: 
 providing at least one flameless heating element in an air jacket adjacent to the hopper; and    providing power to the flameless heating element using an on-board generator operable to heat hot mix asphalt within the hopper to a selected temperature range.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising providing power to the flameless heating element using a hydraulically driven on-board generator.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising providing two cylindrical electric heating elements operable to maintain the hot mix asphalt between 275° F. and 300° F.