Patent ID: 8545128
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: E01C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus that desegregates a hot mix asphalt (HMA) stream, the apparatus comprising: a) a desegregation hopper comprising a front panel, an opposed rear panel, having a plurality of removable coupling members attached thereto, and two opposed sidewalls, wherein a first sidewall extends between a first end of the front panel and a first end of the rear panel, and wherein the second sidewall extends between a second end of the front panel and a second end of the rear panel; b) mixing means for desegregating the HMA stream to produce a desegregated HMA stream, the mixing means comprising an auger assembly that is disposed within the desegregation hopper and that extends generally between an inside surface of the first sidewall and an inside surface of the second sidewall; and c) outlet means for releasing the desegregated HMA stream from the desegregation hopper while controlling a roadbed-profile of the HMA by causing the HMA stream to exit through at least one configurable opening defined in a bottom surface of the desegregation hopper, wherein the outlet means further includes a plurality of movable panels, each of said panels extending between a bottom edge of the front panel and a bottom edge of the rear panel, each of the three movable panels being configured to connect to the plurality of removable coupling members and at least one pin sliding through at least one guide mounted on a bottom edge of the front panel, wherein the plurality of movable panels are configured to at least one of be removable from the at least one pin and translate along the at least one pin.