Patent ID: 7785034

Claim:
A device for desegregating a hot mix asphalt mixture said device comprising: a) a hopper with an open top that serves as a material inlet through which said hot mix asphalt mixture enters, and a bottom surface with a material outlet through which said mixture exits; b) a desegregation system positioned substantially within said hopper comprising means for augering said mixture and means for diverting said mixture; c) means for transporting said mixture to said material inlet; d) said means for augering comprises a first auger shaft having a mid portion, a second auger shaft having a mid portion, said first and second auger shafts positioned generally parallel in said hopper beneath said open top, at least one right handed auger flight mounted on one end of said first auger shaft and at least one right handed auger flight mounted on one end of said second auger shaft forming a first pair of augers; e) said means for augering further comprising at least one left handed auger flight mounted on an opposite end of said first auger shaft and at least one left handed auger flight mounted on said opposite end of said second auger shaft forming a second pair of augers wherein said first pair of augers and said second pair of augers are spaced apart by said mid portion of said first shaft and said mid portion of said second shaft; f) one of said first pair of augers or said second pair of augers comprises at least two closely interlaced flights; and g) said means for diverting comprising a diverter positioned generally between said material inlet and said material outlet and positioned perpendicular to said augering means to overlie said mid portion of said first auger shaft and said mid portion of said second auger shaft, said diverter comprising a tent shaped structure with slanted sides and a raised midsection whereby said material inlet is positioned closer to said midsection of said diverter than to the outer boundaries of said slanted sides for diverting said mixture toward said means for augering.