Bituminous Carpet Laying Machine for Microtrench Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for closing microtrenches in road surfaces for infrastructure laying are inefficient, causing uncontrolled shrinkage of concrete fill, local crushing of miniducts, and increased road surface degradation due to the lack of machines capable of laying small bituminous carpets near the road edge, leading to costly and environmentally disruptive multiple operations.
Innovation Solution
A machine designed to prepare and lay bituminous carpets with specific elastic characteristics, capable of working near the road edge, which combines a preparing device with a heating system and a laying device to create a bituminous mixture with inert materials, ensuring precise and efficient filling of microtrenches without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional bitumen laying machines are used for road resurfacing, then wide bituminous carpets can be laid efficiently, but they cannot lay small bituminous carpets for closing microtrenches near the road edge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bitumen laying function into separate modular components: a bitumen preparation unit with heating and mixing capabilities, and a laying unit with adjustable width formation. This segmentation allows the system to be configured for different application scales, from wide road resurfacing to narrow microtrench closing, providing versatility while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized modular interfaces.
2Reliability
If multiple operations are performed for microtrench closing (excavation, concrete filling, milling, final carpet laying), then the trench can be closed, but the process is costly and environmentally disruptive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preparing the bituminous mixture in advance with optimal binding properties that enable direct laying into microtrenches without requiring preliminary concrete filling and subsequent milling. The bitumen mixture is formulated and prepared to provide adequate binding strength and thermal compatibility, allowing the trench to be closed in a single operation, thereby eliminating multiple disruptive steps while ensuring reliable closing.
3Productivity
If concrete is used for filling microtrenches, then the trench can be closed quickly, but uncontrolled shrinkage occurs leading to road surface degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from concrete to bituminous mixture, which fundamentally alters the thermal and mechanical properties of the filling material. Bitumen exhibits thermal expansion characteristics similar to asphalt, preventing the thermal mismatch that causes cracking. The bituminous mixture maintains stability across temperature variations while providing adequate binding strength, ensuring long-term road surface integrity without the shrinkage problems of concrete.
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 machine enables definitive closure of microtrenches in one day, reduces stress concentrations, prevents miniduct obstruction, and ensures the durability of the road surface by using a bituminous mixture that binds well with asphalt, eliminating thermal expansion cracks and minimizing waste.
Implementation Method 1
the bitumen is rapidly heated and moved to the laying area in order to be laid
Implementation Method 2
Bitumen melting devices are also known, which can reduce the viscosity of the bitumen in order to make it malleable and layable in carpets
Implementation Method 3
ensures the durability of the road surface by using a bituminous mixture that binds well with asphalt, eliminating thermal expansion cracks
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Machine (2) for laying a bituminous carpet for closing microtrenches (T). The machine (2) comprising: a truck (3) comprising a drive system (31) for driving the machine (2), which defines a footprint area (C) on a surface whereon the truck (3) can move; a preparing device (5) for preparing bitumen for laying. Said preparing device (5) comprising: a container (50) for containing bitumen, comprising an inlet opening (50a) into which bitumen in introduced; an outlet opening (50b) through which the bitumen prepared for laying can exit; a heating system (51) for raising the temperature of the bitumen introduced into the preparing device (50). The machine (2) comprising a laying device (6) for both receiving the bitumen prepared for laying and laying the bitumen in carpet form. The laying device (6)comprising: a forming element (62) for shaping the bitumen and laying it as a carpet over a laying area (A); a drain channel (61), interposed between the outlet opening (50b) of the preparing device (5) and the forming element (62), for conducting the bitumen towards said forming element (62). Said preparing device (5) comprises a mixing device (52) for mixing the bitumen while preparing it for laying.