Solar-assisted patch cart

Abstract

A solar energy-assisted patch cart with a support surface for carrying and heating bituminous materials, a heating source located adjacent to the support surface, and a battery powered at least in part by solar energy for igniting a burner associated with the heating source. Preferably, a charge controller is used to maintain the battery with a predetermined level of charge. The solar energy may be supplied by one or more retractable solar panels in electric communication with the battery.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of patch carts used for patching roadways. More specifically, the invention is directed to a solar power-assisted patch cart. [0002] Generally, patch carts are used by towns, cities, municipalities, counties, or states to repair local roadways, highways or parking lot facilities, for example. In addition, private entities may use these patch carts to repair roadways or facilities. Patch carts include an enclosure for storing bituminous material such as asphalt used for road repair. The enclosure and bituminous material are heated, and then selectively dropped onto a repair area, such as by release from the bottom portion of a funnel-shaped patch cart, or by shoveling. Suitable patch carts which may be used in connection with the present invention include asphalt patch carts such as those sold by Spaulding Manufacturing, Inc., of Saginaw Michigan (www.spauldingmfg.com). [0003] Past patch carts have employed...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a solar power-assisted patch cart is provided. The patch cart includes a support surface for carrying and heating a bituminous material, such as asphalt, suitable for paving or repairing roadways. The patch cart also includes a heating source, such as diesel or propane fuel, to heat the support surface and bituminous material within the support surface. The patch cart further includes a solar-assisted battery for use in igniting a burner associated with the heating source. Preferably, a charge controller in electrical communication with the battery is provided, to facilitate maintaining the battery with a predetermined level of charge.

Problems solved by technology

A problem frequently encountered with conventional patch carts is that during cycling, the patch cart battery often loses charge and does not have sufficient charge to ignite the burner.

Given its frequent use throughout a working day, the patch cart battery will quickly lose charge over time if not re-charged.

Maintaining the charge of the patch cart battery above that necessary to ignite the burner by using the battery of the truck used to transport the patch cart can be problematic because of the distance between the front of the truck (where the truck battery is located) and the burner system on the patch cart located at the rear of the truck.

The patch cart battery may also lose power due to blown fuses or relays on the towing vehicle, or the driver shutting off the towing vehicle but not the patch cart (e.g, during break or lunch time).

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