Patent ID: 9068296
Filing Date: 2015-06-30
Classification: E01C

Abstract:
1. A thermostatically controlled asphalt heater for use with a self-propelled pavement repair system, said pavement repair system comprising an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas discharge, connected to a chassis drive, and an asphalt hopper and asphalt placement apparatus for the transport and placement of asphalt aggregate, wherein the asphalt heater comprises: a) an exhaust gas heat exchanger mounted within the asphalt hopper, having an exhaust gas input and an exhaust gas discharge and being capable of receiving heat from the exhaust gases transmitted therethrough and transferring said heat to the contents of the hopper; b) a dual-discharge flow controller connected at an inlet to the exhaust gas discharge, controllably operable to direct the discharge of exhaust gases from the engine to a first or second discharge, wherein the first discharge of the flow controller is vented to the environment and the second discharge of the flow controller is connected to the exhaust gas input of the heat exchanger; c) at least one temperature sensor mounted within the asphalt hopper to sense the temperature of the asphalt aggregate contained therein and to Produce an discharge signal representing the temperature thereof; and d) a thermostatic controller connected to the at least one temperature sensor and the flow controller, configured to receive the discharge signal from the at least one temperature sensor, process the discharge signal from the at least one temperature sensor in order to determine the temperature of the contents of the hopper, and to generate a control discharge signal that directs the flow controller to distribute the exhaust gases to the first discharge or second discharge thereof in order to achieve a desired temperature for the contents of the storage hopper.