Portable paving material mixing apparatus

Abstract

A portable paving material mixing apparatus includes a material hopper, a rotatable mixing drum, and a discharge bed, all configured to be supported on a vehicle trailer. A burner heats material within the mixing drum. Embodiments of the mixing apparatus include a rejuvenator application system suitable for hot mix asphalt, cold mix asphalt, hot in-place recycling, and asphalt based concrete mixing. The apparatus rapidly processes a batch of material sufficient to fill 5-7 potholes, has sufficient carrying capacity to process multiple mixer batches, and stores prepared material in the discharge bed while the next batch is being prepared in the mixing drum. The apparatus enables a more efficient, less equipment-intensive paving repair process without the need for a separate millings loader or hot box.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A portable paving material mixing apparatus configured to prepare aggregate for repairing a paved surface, the apparatus cooperating with a vehicle trailer, the apparatus comprising:
 a hopper having an open top configured to receive aggregate and being positionable to transfer a portion of the aggregate to a rotatable mixing drum through an aperture in a front end of the drum;   a burner configured to heat material within the mixing drum;   a discharge bed positioned to receive mixed paving material from the mixing drum and configured for direct transfer of the mixed paving material to the paved surface; and,   the hopper, mixing drum, and discharge bed configured to be simultaneously supported on the vehicle trailer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge bed is configured for transfer of paving material to the paved surface while the mixing drum is rotating. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the discharge bed is positioned below the mixing drum. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing drum has a rear end and is positioned with a downward inclination from the front end toward the rear end. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the front end of the mixing drum is in contact with at least one wheel, and the wheel is configured to be mounted to the trailer. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including:
 a channel mounted between the hopper and the mixing drum and positioned such that aggregate is transferred from the hopper to the mixing drum via the channel. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further including:
 the hopper having a chute configured to transfer aggregate therethrough; and, 
 the channel being shaped and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the chute. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the burner is mounted below the channel and positioned so that when the burner is lit flame from the burner projects into the drum through the aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including:
 an access panel in a sidewall of the mixing drum through which material may exit the mixing drum to be received in the discharge bed. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including:
 a reservoir configured to hold asphalt rejuvenator; and, 
 a sprayer in fluid connection with the reservoir, the sprayer positioned to transfer asphalt rejuvenator to the mixing drum through the aperture. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hopper has a hopper capacity, the mixing drum has a mixing drum capacity, and the hopper capacity is at least three times greater than the mixing drum capacity. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  having a total capacity of at least  3000  pounds. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge bed is heated. 
     
     
         14 . A portable paving material mixing apparatus configured to prepare aggregate for repairing
 a paved surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a vehicle trailer; 
 a hopper having an open top configured to receive aggregate and being positionable to transfer a portion of the aggregate to a rotatable mixing drum through an aperture in a front end of the drum; 
 a burner configured to heat material within the mixing drum; 
 a discharge bed positioned to receive mixed paving material from the mixing drum and configured for direct transfer of the mixed paving material to the paved surface; and, 
 the hopper, mixing drum, and discharge bed supported on the vehicle trailer. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further including:
 the discharge bed being configured to transfer paving material to the paved surface while the mixing drum is rotating; 
 the hopper having a hopper capacity, the mixing drum having a mixing drum capacity, and the hopper capacity being at least three times greater than the mixing drum capacity; 
 a reservoir configured to hold asphalt rejuvenator; and, 
 a sprayer in fluid connection with the reservoir, the sprayer positioned to transfer asphalt rejuvenator to the mixing drum through the aperture. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method for preparing paving material to repairing a paved surface, the method comprising:
 a. providing a portable paving material mixing apparatus including:
 i. a vehicle trailer; 
 ii. a hopper having an open top configured to receive aggregate and being positionable to transfer a portion of the aggregate to a rotatable mixing drum through an aperture in a front end of the drum; 
 iii. a burner configured to heat material within the mixing drum; 
 iv. the drum having an access panel in a sidewall through which material may exit the mixing drum to be received in a discharge bed; 
 v. the discharge bed positioned to receive mixed paving material from the mixing drum and configured for direct transfer of the mixed paving material to the paved surface; and, 
 vi. the hopper, mixing drum, and discharge bed supported on the vehicle trailer; 
   b. providing aggregate;   c. loading the aggregate into the hopper;   d. positioning the hopper to transfer an appropriate amount of aggregate from the hopper to the drum and returning the hopper to a resting position;   e. rotating the drum to force aggregate toward a rear end of the drum;   f. operating the burner so that a flame projects into the drum but does not come in direct contact with material in the drum, for a period of time sufficient to heat the material to a predetermined application temperature;   g. rotating the drum while the burner is on;   h. stopping rotation of the drum and opening the access panel;   i. rotating the drum to discharge material from the drum to the discharge bed; and,   j. moving material from the discharge bed to the paving surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including:
 repeating steps (d) and (e) until a desired quantity of aggregate is in the drum. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further including:
 simultaneously performing steps (g) and (j). 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further including:
 after step (i), heating material within the discharge bed. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further including:
 in (a), the apparatus further including:
 a reservoir configured to hold asphalt rejuvenator; and, 
 a sprayer in fluid connection with the reservoir, the sprayer positioned to transfer asphalt rejuvenator to the mixing drum through the aperture; and, 
 
 before (f): providing asphalt rejuvenator in the reservoir and operating the sprayer to transfer the asphalt rejuvenator to the mixing drum.