Improved Means for Heating Pulverised Asphalte and Discharging same into Vehicles, for Transit.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., .1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Heating Pulverised Asphalte and Discharging
same into Vehicles, for Transit.
We, HENRY DANIEL BLAKE of 2 Moorgate Street, London, E.C. Engineer,
and ANDREW STAPLEY of 17, Sugar House Lane, Stratford, London, E.
Engineer and Boiler Maker; do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Hitherto, previously to sending out, from asphalte works or depôts, powdered
asphalte to the site where to be laid down for roadways &c.-it has been the
practice to introduce the pulverised asphalte rock into a machine comprising
essentially a rotatable drum or cylinder disposed over a fire contained in an outer
enclosing casing or cylinder of wrought iron. Then, after the contents of the
revolving cylinder aforesaid have been sufficiently heated, further rotation of said
cylinder is stopped and the heated powder is raked out into barrows and' wheeled
up a stage and discharged into vans ready to be transported to where required to
be laid down for asphalted roadways &c.
Now, in accordance with our invention we employ a heating machine, the outer
casing or framing of which is made of a height sufficient to allow of a van Being
passed right under the revolving drum so as to receive the whole of its contents,
which are conveniently and immediately discharged' bodily into the transporting
vehicle from door or doors on side of revolving cylinder or drum aforesaid. For
this purpose the lower portion of the heating machine is left open.
To heat the pulverised asphalte contained in the rotatable drum. or cylinder, we
employ a portable furnace mounted' upon wheels running on rails running under-
neath the machine. Hanging doors are provided round the lower part of the
outer casing these, as soon as the portable furnace is ran into position
underneath the revolving drum or cylinder aforesaid, are closed so as to exclude
the access of cold air. When the powder has been sufficiently heated, the furnace is
withdrawn, and, as herein before stated, the heated powder is immediately and
bodily discharged through the door or doors aforesaid into the transporting vehicle.
It will be seen that by the adoption of a portable furnace, as above, there is no
necessity as heretofore, of "drawing" or "slackening down" the fire during the
discharge of the powder and for the fire having to be made up again immediately
after re-charging for a second operation.
The rotatable drum or cylinder is provided at each end with a Hollow trunnion.
These trunnions work in the outer casing; they serve the twofold' purposes of
providing for the escape of the steam and moisture and' also of permitting samples
to be taken from the contents of the revolving drum or cylinder when at work, so
as to ensure that the properties of the pulverised' asphalte rock are not destroyed
in the process of heating or "cooking" same; thus affording a much more reliable
mode of testing or sampling than has heretofore been attainable with existing
machines:
Under the system which we adopt in accordance with our invention by which the
contents of the rotatable drum or cylinder are immediately and bodily discharged
into the transporting vehicle, the retention of heat in the asphalte powder is very
greatly prolonged. This, as will be readily understood, being a most essential

page_text: feature of advantage, especially when the powdered asphalte has to be conveyed
long distances before being laid down.
Dated this 4th day of February 1896.
HENRY DANIEL BLAKE.
ANDREW STAPLEY.
Improved Means for Heating Pulverised Asphalte and Discharging
same into Vehicles for Transit.
We HENRY DANIEL BLAKE of 2, Moorgate Street, London, E.C. Engineer,
and ANDREW STAPLEY of 17 Sugar House Lane, Stratford, London, E.
Engineer and Boiler Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
:
Hitherto, previously to sending out from asphalte works or depôts, powdered
asphalte to the site where to be laid down for roadways &c.-it has been the
practice to introduce the pulverised asphalte rock into a machine comprising
essentially a rotatable drum or cylinder disposed over a fire contained in an outer
enclosing casing usually of wrot iron. Then, after the contents of the revolving
cylinder aforesaid have been sufficiently heated, further rotation of said cylinder
is stopped and the heated powder is raked out into barrows and wheeled up a stage
or placed in baskets and discharged into vans or other vehicles ready to be
transported to where required to be laid down for asphalted roadways &c.
Now, in accordance with our invention we make a broad departure from the
above described hitherto followed practice and the means employed in connection
therewith. And, in order that the nature of our improvements may the better be
understood, we have appended the accompanying two sheets of drawings to which
we will make reference in the following description; the same letters being adopted
throughout the several views to denote like or corresponding parts. Figure 1,
Sheet 1, represents a longitudinal elevational view partly in section, of our improved
device; and, Figure 2, Sheet 2, a front elevational view, partly in section, of our
said device.
In carrying out our improvements we employ a heating machine, the outer
casing a, of which, is fixed at a height sufficient to allow of a van or other vehicle
being passed right under the revolving cylinder or drum b so as to receive the whole
of its contents, which are couveniently discharged bodily into the transporting
vehicle from a door or from doors, c, c, on side of the revolving cylinder or drum b
aforesaid, and to allow of which discharge, the lower portion of the heating machine
is left open.
To heat the pulverised asphalte contained in the rotatable drum or cylinder b,
we employ a portable furnace d, mounted upon wheels running on rails, or trams
underneath the heating machine.
The lower part of the casing a is furnished with hinged or swinging doors or
valves e, which, as soon as the portable furnace d has been run into position
underneath the revolving drum or cylinder b, are closed so as to exclude the access
of cold air into the interior of the heating chamber in which the drum or cylinder b
rotates. The pulverised asphalte is introduced into the interior of the revolving
drum through the hoppers f, and, when it has become sufficiently heated, the
furnace d is withdrawu (its partial withdrawal is indicated by the dotted outlining
in Fig. 1). And, as herein before stated, the heated asphalte powder is
immediately and bodily discharged through the doors c, c, aforesaid into the
transporting vehicle.
It will be seen that by the adoption of a portable furnace as above, there is no

page_text: "
necessity, as heretofore, of "drawing or "slackening down" the fire during the
discharge of the powdered, heated, asphalte, and for the fire having to be made up
again after re-charging, for a second operation; and that thus, by means of the
device which we employ, a material saving both in time and labor is ensured.
The rotatable drum or cylinder b is provided at each end with a hollow
trunnion g, g'. These trunnions g, g' work in suitable bearings h, h' adapted to the
casing a; the trunnion g' is, as will be seen on reference to Figure 1, of increased
length relatively to that of g, to allow of there being keyed thereon, the worm.
wheel i, of a worm and worm wheel driving gear. The special purposes however
served by these hollow trunnions in connection with our invention, are those of
furnishing channels for the escape of steam and moisture fron the interior of the
rotating drum or cylinder and likewise to permit of samples being drawn, or
taken, of the contents of b when the latter is revolving. This "sampling" of the
powdered asphalte whilst being "cooked," is of very great importance in order to.
ensure that its properties shall not be destroyed by burning or overheating. The
means for and mode of testing or "sampling" which we adopt, as above described,.
provide an effectual safeguard against the contingency of this destructive action
and effect, not hitherto attainable with machines or apparatus for heating or
"cooking" asphalte powder: and, we are thereby enabled to prevent a great waste-
of material which would otherwise occur.
The heating machine is, as will be seen on reference to the drawings, carried by
suitable supports such for instance as indicated at k and arranged at a height.
sufficient to allow of the transporting vehicle being introduced thereunder so as to
ensure the contents of the rotatable drum or cylinder 6 being immediately and
bodily discharged into the vehicle. The retention of heat in the "cooked "
asphalte powder is thereby very considerably prolonged; and this, as will be
readily understood by those acquainted with laying down asphalte, is a most
essential feature distinctive of our invention, especially when the "cooked "
asphalte powder has to be conveyed long distances or to be kept in the transporting
vehicle some time before being laid down.
We wish it to be understood that although we have herein referred to, and also
shown in the drawings, the employment of worm and worm wheel driving gear for
the rotation of the drum or cylinder b, any other suitable means may be employed
for that purpose.
Neither do we restrict ourselves to the particular type of
movable furnace d shewn in the drawings: but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
"
First. In devices for heating or "cooking powdered asphalte rock, the
employment, as two separate structures, of the heating or "cooking apparatus
such as a, b, having a movable furnace below, to allow of the immediate and bodily
discharge of the contents of the "cooking" cylinder into the transporting vehicles,.
all substantially as herein set forth.
י,,
Second. For the "cooking" cylinders in apparatus or machines such as referred
to in the preceding claim, the employment of the improved means for "sampling"
the contents whilst the cylinder is revolving, substantially as and for the purposes.
herein set forth.
Dated this 30th day of Santambor 1806
H. D. BLAKE.
A. STAPLEY.