Asphalt Pothole Patcher Heated Riser Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing asphalt repair devices require multiple vehicles for different functions and lack a reliable supplemental heat source to maintain asphalt materials in a workable state during non-working hours, risking hardening or deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A portable device with a hopper compartment featuring a primary heat source for working hours and electric heat riser tubes as a supplemental heat source during non-working hours, providing low-density, slow heat to prevent asphalt materials from overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a primary heat source is used to heat the hopper compartment during working hours, then the asphalt materials are maintained in a workable state, but the asphalt materials may overheat, burn or deteriorate during non-working hours
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into two distinct components: a primary heat source (propane burner) for working hours and a supplemental heat source (electric heating elements) for non-working hours. Each heating element is independently controllable, allowing selective operation based on time of day and operational needs, thereby preventing overheating while maintaining material workability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the heating parameters by switching between different heat sources with different characteristics. The primary propane burner provides high-intensity heat for rapid heating during working hours, while the supplemental electric heating elements provide low-intensity, controlled heat for maintenance heating during non-working hours, preventing the asphalt from cooling down and hardening.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vehicles are used for different repair functions, then all repair phases can be performed, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple repair functions into a single integrated vehicle-mounted device. The hopper compartment receives and heats asphalt materials, the mixing mechanism prepares the materials, and the dispensing system delivers them to repair locations. This consolidation of heating, mixing, and dispensing functions into one device eliminates the need for multiple separate vehicles and reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with multi-functionality to perform various pavement repair operations. The same hopper compartment and dispensing system can handle different types of asphalt materials, and the heating system adapts to maintain appropriate temperatures for different material types, making the device universally applicable to various repair scenarios.
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
The device efficiently maintains asphalt materials in a workable state during both working and non-working hours, reducing the need for multiple vehicles and preventing material hardening or deterioration, while being simpler and more economical to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
The supplement heat source includes one or more electric heat riser tubes which extend longitudinally within an interior of the hopper compartment
Implementation Method 2
A primary heat source is associated with the heating chamber for heating the chamber and for transferring heat to the hopper compartment through the hopper bottom wall
Data Source
AI summary
A portable device is shown for transporting asphalt repair materials for use in repairing potholes in asphalt pavements. The device has a body with a hopper compartment for transporting and dispensing asphalt mix materials. A heat transfer oil chamber is located below the hopper compartment and is heated by a primary heat source during normal working hours of the device. A pair of electrically powered electric heat riser tubes extend in a longitudinal direction in a horizontal plane in the hopper compartment above the bottom wall of the compartment for heating the asphalt materials in the hopper compartment during non-working hours.