Patent ID: 8201986
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: E01C,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A warm mix asphalt counter-flow drum plant comprising: a counter-flow hot mix asphalt plant rotating drum; an asphalt expander configured to accept heated asphalt cement (A/C) and generate an expanded asphalt foam; means for providing measured and controlled amounts of water to said asphalt expander; means for selectively providing measured amounts of A/C to a plurality of internal drum A/C delivery pipes; wherein said plurality of internal A/C delivery pipes comprises a hot mix asphalt cement internal drum delivery pipe and a warm mix expanded asphalt injection pipe assembly; an asphalt cement check valve between said asphalt expander and said means for selectively providing measured amounts of asphalt cement; wherein said asphalt expander is free of any moving internal parts therein and comprises: an asphalt expander material input top end; asphalt expander material output bottom end; a longitudinal asphalt expander axis extending from a central location at said asphalt expander material input top end to a central location at said asphalt expander material output bottom end; a double side wall pipe extending from the top end to the bottom end, disposed coaxially about said longitudinal asphalt expander axis; asphalt expander interior central support shaft disposed along said longitudinal asphalt expander axis; an omni-directional flow diverter disposed on top of said support shaft and inside said material input top end; said omni-directional flow diverter configured to divert incoming heated A/C to only a plurality of peripheral locations inside said double sidewall pipe; a fluid injection ring disposed circumferentially around said longitudinal asphalt expander axis and configured to provide a ring of flowing fluid to contact the heated A/C at said plurality of peripheral locations; a plurality of expansion flow diverters disposed below said fluid injection ring configured to mix a flow of foam created as the ring of flowing fluid contacts the heated A/C being pumped into said asphalt expander; and said asphalt expander further having a plurality of ports for aiding in the flow of heated oil through a cylindrical void located coaxially about said longitudinal asphalt expander axis in said double side wall pipe.