Patent Publication Number: US-7909532-B2

Title: Mounting apparatus for infrared heating device

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of vehicles used for road repair, and in particular to an apparatus to improve the functionality of vehicles used in infrared asphalt repair. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  shows an embodiment of a road repair vehicle with an infrared heating chamber in an upright position. 
         FIG. 1   b  shows an embodiment of a road repair vehicle with an infrared heating chamber in a lowered in-use position. 
         FIG. 2   a  shows an embodiment of a road repair vehicle with the mounting apparatus disclosed herein wherein the infrared heating chamber is positioned in a horizontally extended position. 
         FIG. 2   b  shows an embodiment of a road repair vehicle with the mounting apparatus disclosed herein wherein the infrared heating chamber is positioned in an extended to the right of center position. 
         FIG. 2   c  shows an embodiment of a road repair vehicle with the mounting apparatus disclosed herein wherein the infrared heating chamber is positioned in a pivoted position. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of an infrared chamber mounting apparatus disclosed herein which extends in the horizontal position. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of an infrared chamber mounting apparatus disclosed herein which pivots. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of an infrared chamber mounting apparatus disclosed herein which horizontally extends, moves side-to-side and pivots. 
     
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Asphalt is a material commonly used in conjunction with other materials for repairing roads, runways, driveways and other ground surfaces. Asphalt is a sticky, generally black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is made from the residue of the distillation process used for crude oils, particularly petroleum. Asphalt may also be referred to as bitumen. 
     Asphalt is in particular used as a glue or binding substance for various types of aggregate particles. Asphalt is typically stored and transported at temperatures around 150 degrees Celsius (300° F.). It is important to maintain the liquidity of asphalt so that it can be evenly distributed on ground surfaces. Sometimes diesel oil or kerosene is combined with asphalt for shipping, and later separated. As a general rule, it takes approximately 8-12 minutes to properly heat and soften the asphalt. Heating time may vary depending on wind and temperature, moisture and humidity, and the composition of the asphalt material. 
     Once the temperature of the asphalt has exceeded 425 degrees, the rate of oxidation (evaporation of oils) is accelerated. At approximately 500 degrees, the asphalt actually starts to burn rendering it useless and guaranteeing the failure of the repair. Simply raking off the burnt asphalt will not remedy the situation because a portion of the existing heated asphalt must be left untouched so that the restoration can be rolled into a heated existing surface. 
     Methods for effectuating asphalt repairs and trucks with on-board heating systems for maintaining the liquidity of asphalt and effectively distributing it on ground surfaces are well known in the art. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,177, issued Apr. 15, 1980, teaches a “Method And Apparatus For Repair Of Asphalt Surfaces” and discloses a system for repairing asphalt surfaces which includes an emulsion tank, air pressure source, emulsion heating source, pneumatic tools, and a vehicle having a fluid-cooled engine and a utility body for containing asphalt repairing material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,980, issued Jan. 3, 1984, discloses a further improvement of an irremovably mounted asphalt tank for heating asphalt to a usable temperature. Certain of the pneumatic tools may be selectively driven by compressed air held in a storage tank to selectively heat and repair a damaged asphalt surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,654, issued May 30, 1995, discloses a vehicle with a telescoping tube assembly extendable between a maximum and a minimum overall length for patching operations and which may be compacted when not in use. 
     It is important to note, however, that each of the foregoing systems requires a complex assembly system installed on a vehicle specially designed for road repair and asphalt distribution. 
     Infrared asphalt repair technology has become increasingly popular. One commercially available vehicle having an infrared heating device is marketed by Kasi Infrared, a division of R. Filion Manufacturing, Inc., and is described at http://www.kasiinfrared.com/. This website describes the following infrared restoration method for heating and applying asphalt to ground surfaces using an infrared heating device: sweep away loose debris or standing water from repair and surrounding area; light the heating chamber and position it over the area to be repaired allowing at least 12″ of heated area beyond the perimeter of the repair; allow heat to penetrate for 7-10 minutes while checking surface temperature of the asphalt every 7 minutes; remove the heater and rake the softened asphalt; spray a substance on the heated area to replace some of the oil which has dissipated over time; apply fresh asphalt; and use a vibratory roller to compress the asphalt. 
     Infrared technology is viewed in the art as a superior form of asphalt repair. This technology avoids seams where the hot asphalt meets the cold pavement which allow water to penetrate the repair, causing the repaired filled-in portions to fail, typically within a year or so. Infrared technology blends new asphalt in with the original asphalt by heating an area 6 to 8 inches beyond the perimeter of the repair; the new asphalt is then compacted with the old creating a seamless permanent restoration. 
     A significant limitation, however, in using infrared technology has been the maneuverability and large size of the trucks that carry the systems. As a result, these trucks often cannot be used in tight spaces, close to buildings and other obstructions, and in other hard to reach areas. Small “walk behind” infrared heaters which are pushed by the user are available, but because of the smaller heater surface area, they take significantly longer to heat the asphalt and make the necessary repairs. 
     One particular limitation of infrared restoration vehicles with infrared heating devices attached is the difficulty of backing up the truck with the device in the lowered position. It is very difficult for the driver of the truck to judge how close the edge of the lowered infrared heating device is to a wall, garage door or other structure. Generally, backing up a truck with a lowered, mounted infrared heating device requires a human “spotter” to guide the person driving the truck. The spotter must let the driver know how close the extended infrared heating device is to the wall. 
     A further disadvantage of current technology mounted to vehicles is that as each area is repaired using an infrared, a “patchwork effect” is created, because it is difficult to see behind a vehicle to align each repair area. 
     It is desirable to have a method for using an infrared heating device for asphalt repair that does not require a spotter, because the spotter is needed to perform other necessary labor (e.g., raking or leveling), and which allows the spotter to devote their time and labor to quickly raking and leveling the previously heated areas. 
     It is aesthetically desirable to have an infrared heater mounting device that allows successive, symmetrical alignment of areas that are in a straight row and which need to be heated to avoid a “patchwork effect.” 
     It is desirable to be able to maneuver an infrared heating device around and close to a variety of structures (e.g., electrical boxes, walls, garage doors, protective poles and vehicle obstacles such as, tollbooths, monuments, fountains, curbs, etc.) The asphalt surrounding many of these structures is particularly susceptible. 
     It is further desirable to have a device which may be inexpensively manufactured and sold to adapt existing asphalt trucks or utility vehicles with infrared heaters resulting in increased maneuverability and mobility for positioning and patching of asphalt surfaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A telescoping device for a road repair vehicle which allows an infrared heating chamber to be moved forward and backward without the need to move the vehicle. An infrared chamber mounting apparatus and attachment structure are attached to an infrared heating chamber. The attachment structure consists of metal loops, a support pipe and a horizontal support bar. Connected to the support bar are interior tubular components. A hydraulic cylinder is connected to the support bar and is used to move interior tubular components which pass inside exterior tubular components welded to the vehicle frame. Moving the interior and exterior tubular components in relation to each other adjusts the distance between the infrared heating chamber and the vehicle. In alternate embodiments, a pivotal mounting structure and/or a rack and pinion mechanism are inserted allowing the infrared heating chamber to be moved sideways or at an angle, respectively. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text hereof to embodiments of a device for a road repair vehicle, only some of which are described herein. It should be understood, nevertheless, that no limitations on the scope of the invention are thereby intended. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that modifications such as the dimensions, size, and shape of the components, alternate but functionally similar locations, and the inclusion of additional elements are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art; and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the written description do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Some of these possible modifications are mentioned in the following descriptions. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed apparatus or manner. 
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements. 
     Moreover, the term “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1   a  shows a road repair vehicle  10  to which an infrared heating chamber  50  has been attached and is positioned in an upright position. 
       FIG. 1   b  shows a road repair vehicle  10  to which an infrared heating chamber  50  has been attached and is positioned in a lowered in-use position. 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a road repair vehicle  10  with one embodiment of a mounting apparatus (not shown in detail) wherein the infrared heating chamber  50  is positioned in a horizontally extended position. 
       FIG. 2   b  shows a road repair vehicle  10  with an alternate embodiment of a mounting apparatus (not shown in detail) wherein the infrared heating chamber  50  is positioned in an extended to the right of center position. 
       FIG. 2   c  shows a road repair vehicle  10  with another alternate embodiment of a mounting apparatus (not shown in detail) wherein the infrared heating chamber  50  is positioned in a pivoted position. 
       FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of an infrared heating chamber mounting apparatus attached to infrared heating chamber frame  100  which allows an infrared heating chamber  50  to be horizontally extended. In the embodiment shown, metal loops  142   a  and  142   b  on an infrared heating chamber frame are attached by welding, bolts, screws, linchpin or other functionally equivalent means near each end of a support pipe  115  wherein the support pipe  115  passes through the interior of metal loops  142   a  and  142   b . In other embodiments, support pipe  115  may be connected to another part of a support frame of an infrared heating device, as is it is contemplated that not all commercially available infrared heating structures with support frames will have metal loops. In the embodiment shown, the support pipe  115  is round tubing, but in other embodiments may be square tubing, strips, other reinforcing material or any other structure which performs the equivalent function of support pipe  115 . 
     As also illustrated in  FIG. 3 , Horizontal support bar  150  is attached to the exterior surface of metal loops  142   a  and  142   b  by welding, bolts, screws, linchpins or other structural attachment means known in the art. Telescoping member interior tubular components  156   a  and  156   b  are attached to the side of the horizontal support bar  150  opposite to the side to which metal loops  142   a  and  142   b  are attached. In the embodiment shown, the horizontal support bar  150  is welded to telescoping member interior tubular components  155   a  and  155   b , but in other embodiments may be attached by bolts, screws, linchpins or other structural attachment means known in the art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , telescoping member interior components  155   a  and  155   b  pass inside telescoping member exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b . The telescoping member interior tubular components  155   a  and  156   b  are smaller in diameter and longer than the telescoping member exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b  allowing the interior tubular components  155   a  and  155   b  to pass inside the exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b . In the embodiment shown, the telescoping member interior tubular components  155   a  and  155   b  and the exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b  are square tubing. In other embodiments, telescoping member tubular components may be round, rectangular or any other shape. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , stop  170  is located at the end of the telescoping member interior tubular components  155   a  and  155   b  opposite the horizontal support bar  150 . Stop  170  prevents the interior tubular components  155   a  and  155   b  from sliding out of the exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b.    
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , telescoping member exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b  are welded to a road repair vehicle frame  180  at attachment points  180   a  and  180   b  using any structural attachment components known in the art. In the embodiment shown, the road repair vehicle frame  180  is located outside the telescoping member exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b . In other embodiments, the road repair vehicle frame  180  may be inside, above or below the exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b  and attachment points  180   a  and  180   b  located accordingly. 
       FIG. 3  further illustrates a hydraulic cylinder  190  fixedly attached to horizontal support bar  150 . Other embodiments may include or omit hydraulic cylinder. In the embodiment shown, hydraulic cylinder  190  moves the horizontal support bar  150 . Moving the horizontal support bar  150  also moves the interior tubular components  155   a  and  155   b , which are welded to the horizontal support frame  150 , and adjusts the location of the interior tubular components  155   a  and  155   b  in relation to the exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b . This movement/adjustment of the interior tubular components  155   a  and  155   b  in relation to the exterior tubular components  160   a  and  160   b  allows the infrared heating chamber  50  (not shown) move forward and backward along a plane substantially horizontal to the asphalt to be heated without having to move the road repair vehicle  10 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of an infrared chamber mounting apparatus  100  having one or more pivotal mounting structures  200  and u-shaped sliding track component  130  which allow an infrared heating chamber  50  to be pivoted and moved from one side to the other. In the embodiment shown, U-shaped sliding track component  130  is attached to horizontal support bar  150  wherein the open side of the u-shaped sliding track component  130  is upward. One end of a pivotal mounting structure  200  is attached to the u-shaped sliding track component  130  opposite the side which is attached to horizontal support bar  150 . In the embodiment shown, u-shaped sliding track component further includes one or more stops  132   a  and  132   b  which are any protuberance or structure which stops side-to-side movement of the infrared heating chamber so that it remains stably positioned within u-shaped sliding track  130 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , pivotal mounting structure  200  controls and actuates the pivotal movement of support pipe  115  which is attached to a component of the support frame of the infrared heating chamber. The bottom side of u-shaped sliding track component  130  and horizontal support bar  150  are attached to an infrared heating chamber supporting frame  55  which is mounted on the topside of an infrared heating chamber  50 . In the embodiment shown, all attachment points are welded, but in other embodiments one or more attachment points may be bolts, screws, linchpins or other structural attachment means known in the art. 
     In the embodiment shown, the pivotal mounting structure  200  is triangular with an aperture  195  into which a hinge pin  197  is inserted. The pivotal mounting structure  200 , aperture  195  and hinge pin  197  allow the infrared chamber mounting apparatus  100  to be rotated at a maximum angle of 50 degrees. Other embodiments may include more or fewer pivotal mounting structures, as necessary, which may be of different shapes and dimensions (e.g., square, rectangular, circular or oval). 
     Various embodiments of infrared chamber mounting apparatus may include or omit pivotal mounting structure  200 , or u-shaped sliding track component  130 , or offer other components which alter, increase or decrease the range of motion afforded by pivotal mounting structure  200 , or u-shaped sliding track component  130 . 
       FIG. 5  shows another alternate embodiment of an infrared chamber mounting apparatus  100  which allows an infrared heating chamber  50  to be extended horizontally, moved side-to-side and pivoted at an angle. In addition to the previous embodiments of infrared chamber mounting apparatus  100 , this embodiment further comprises a rack  210  and pinion mechanism  220  allowing the infrared heating chamber  50  to be moved sideways along a plane substantially horizontal to the asphalt to be heated. In the embodiment shown, the rack  210  and pinion mechanism  220  is actuated by a 12 volt motor (not shown), but may be actuated by any suitable size motor.