Crack Sealing Machine With Sequential Bitumen and Sand Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crack repair machines for bituminous road surfaces are cumbersome and require manual handling of hot bituminous materials, leading to musculoskeletal disorders and inefficiencies, especially in hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
A compact bituminous road coating repair machine with integrated reservoirs for bituminous and protective materials, featuring sequential discharge elements for simultaneous application of bituminous material and sand or micro-gravel, eliminating the need for heating and reducing operator strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual handling of hot bituminous materials is used for crack repair, then the repair can be performed with simple equipment, but operator fatigue increases and musculoskeletal disorders occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (heating, material storage, dispensing, and spreading) into a single integrated machine unit. The bituminous material reservoir, heating system, and discharge mechanism are merged into one compact device that the operator simply guides along the crack, eliminating manual handling of hot materials while maintaining equipment simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine performs heating and material dispensing automatically as it is moved along the crack. The heating element continuously maintains the bituminous material at operational temperature, and the discharge mechanism automatically deposits material into the crack without requiring the operator to manually handle or transfer hot materials.
2Reliability
If separate equipment is used for bituminous material and protective material application, then each material can be applied with dedicated equipment, but the number of operations and equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates two separate material dispensing systems into one machine. The first discharge element applies bituminous material to the crack while the second discharge element applies protective material (sand or micro-gravel) to the same crack, both from integrated reservoirs within the single machine unit. This maintains reliable material application while reducing the number of separate equipment needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine is designed as a multi-functional device that can apply both bituminous sealing material and protective aggregate material from a single unit. The machine universally handles different material types through separate but integrated discharge mechanisms, eliminating the need for multiple specialized equipment while ensuring proper application of each material type.
3Temperature
If heating equipment is added to the repair machine, then bituminous material can be applied at appropriate temperature, but the machine size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is nested within the reservoir structure, with the heating mechanism integrated into the wall or base of the bituminous material storage container. This nested arrangement allows the heating system to occupy minimal additional space while maintaining the bituminous material at the required temperature for effective crack sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is merged with the reservoir structure rather than being a separate attached component. The heating element, thermal insulation, and temperature control are integrated into the reservoir design, creating a compact thermal management system that maintains material temperature without significantly increasing overall machine volume.
4Manufacturing precision
If the discharge elements are positioned for optimal material deposition, then sealing precision is improved, but the machine design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge elements are positioned at specific locations on the machine body optimized for their respective functions. The first discharge element is positioned to deposit bituminous material directly into the crack, while the second discharge element is positioned to apply protective material over the same area. Each discharge location is locally optimized for precision while the overall arrangement remains relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge system is segmented into two separate discharge elements with distinct positioning and control mechanisms. This segmentation allows each discharge element to be independently optimized for its specific material type and deposition requirements, improving precision while keeping the overall design manageable through functional separation rather than integration complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A machine (1) for repairing bituminous road surfaces, particularly for crack sealing, comprising a frame (10), handlebars (11), a hopper (2) for holding bituminous material, a discharge element (3) for the bituminous material, a spreading shoe (6) at which the discharge element (5) for the bituminous material is arranged, the shoe being positioned laterally to the frame, characterized in that it further comprises a reservoir (4) for holding additional material such as sand or micro-gravel, and a second discharge element (5) for the additional material, which is arranged at the shoe (6) and behind the first discharge element (3). The bituminous material is advantageously a cold-mix bituminous emulsion.