Asphalt Feeder Flush System Recycling Solvent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current asphalt patching systems require labor-intensive cleaning of asphalt emulsion feed lines, which results in significant external discharge of hazardous materials, posing environmental hazards and necessitating costly disposal and storage solutions.
Innovation Solution
The system employs four-position valves and pressurized air to reverse the flow of asphalt emulsion back to the storage tank, followed by a solvent flush that recycles both the asphalt and solvent, eliminating external discharge and automating the cleaning process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cleaning methods are used to clean asphalt emulsion feed lines, then the cleaning operation can be performed, but significant external discharge of hazardous materials occurs, requiring labor-intensive activity and disposal measures
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful discharge of asphalt emulsion and solvent into a beneficial recycling process. The blowback mechanism forces residual emulsion back into the storage tank, and the solvent flush system captures and recycles the cleaning solvent, transforming what was previously a harmful discharge into a closed-loop beneficial process that eliminates environmental hazards and disposal costs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements recovery of hazardous materials that would otherwise be discarded. The blowback process recovers residual asphalt emulsion by forcing it back into the storage tank, and the solvent flush system recovers the cleaning solvent through collection tanks and filtration, allowing both materials to be reused and preventing their discharge into the environment
2Ease of operation
If traditional cleaning methods are used to clean asphalt emulsion feed lines, then the cleaning can be performed, but labor intensive activity is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service cleaning through automated blowback and solvent flush mechanisms. The blowback process automatically forces residual emulsion back into the storage tank using compressed air, and the solvent flush system automatically circulates cleaning solvent through the feed lines and collects it for recycling, eliminating the need for manual disassembly and intensive labor while maintaining effective cleaning
3Device complexity
If external discharge of asphalt emulsion and solvent is allowed during cleaning, then the cleaning process is simpler, but environmental hazards and disposal costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the potentially harmful discharge into a beneficial recycling process. The blowback mechanism captures residual emulsion and returns it to the storage tank, while the solvent flush system captures and recycles the cleaning solvent through filtration and storage tanks, transforming environmental hazards into reusable resources and eliminating disposal requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly reduces labor-intensive cleaning operations, recycles hazardous materials, and maintains a self-contained system, preventing environmental hazards and reducing disposal costs.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure in the asphalt emulsion tank is lower than the entering pressure from the air brake system, whereby the asphalt emulsion in the feed lines is forced back to the asphalt storage tank
Implementation Method 2
The valve at the asphalt emulsion tank is turned to the flush position, coupling the asphalt emulsion feed lines to the pressurized flush tank, which causes the cleaning agent to move through and flush the feed lines and valves
Implementation Method 3
The solvent is returned from the recovery tank to the flush tank by closing the line between the flush tank and the source of air pressure, and venting the flush tank to the atmosphere and opening the valve in the line between the flush tank and the recovery tank when the flush tank is depressurized, causing the solvent to return by the force of gravity to the flush tank
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle mounted patching system for patching potholes and the like and incorporating method and apparatus for removing and flushing asphalt emulsion from the feed lines of the patcher which completely recycles the cleaning agent used to flush the feed lines, as well as eliminating any external discharge of potentially toxic materials.