Patent ID: 7448825

Claim:
A method for continuous on-site recycling of an asphalt mixture layer of a pavement with a motor-driven vehicle system moving along a road surface, the asphalt mixture layer comprising asphalt and individual particles of aggregates of different particle sizes, the asphalt serving as a binder for the individual particles of aggregates, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) applying heat to the asphalt mixture layer to soften the asphalt in the asphalt mixture layer; b) scarifying and loosening the softened asphalt mixture layer to substantially retrieve therefrom the individual particles of aggregates of different particle sizes under a temperature which is sufficiently high to prevent re-aggregation of the loosened individual particles of aggregates through solidification of the softened asphalt; c) screening the loosened individual particles of aggregates, under a temperature which is sufficiently high to prevent re-aggregation of the loosened individual particles of aggregates through solidification of the softened asphalt, to provide a plurality of groups of particles of aggregates separated from each other based on particle size; d) selecting groups from among said plurality of groups, and blending the individual particles of aggregates from the selected groups in accordance with a specified mix ratio, under a temperature which is sufficiently high to prevent re-aggregation of the loosened individual particles of aggregates through solidification of the softened asphalt, to provide a regenerated asphalt mixture appropriate for use in pavement; and e) spreading and compacting the regenerated asphalt mixture over the road surface on which said steps a) and b) have been carried out to provide a renewed asphalt mixture layer on the road surface.