Patent ID: 8220982

Claim:
An asphalt plant comprising: an asphalt mixer; a supply of aggregate material; a structure constructed for enclosing and containing aggregate material and protecting said aggregate material from precipitation and further comprising components configured to allow air to flow through the aggregate material for the purpose of drying said aggregate material with at least one of atmospheric air and artificially heated and propelled atmospheric air; a conveyor to move said aggregate material from said structure into said asphalt mixer; wherein said structure is configured to permit air to pass through a substantially stationary arrangement of said aggregate irrespective of the operation state of said asphalt mixer; wherein said artificially heated and propelled air is incidentally heated via heat generated, for purposes other than just pre-heating aggregate, during operation of said asphalt mixer and captured from surfaces of said asphalt mixer; and further comprising a heat exchanger which captures heat from moist exhaust fumes of said asphalt mixer and further heats air which is more dry and is moved into said structure and through said substantially stationary aggregate arrangement of aggregate material.