Hot Mix Heating Chamber with Rotary Gas Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional apparatuses for applying hot mix to tar-sealed roads are inefficient when using oil as a fuel, as it is impractical to substitute oil burners for gas rings, leading to suboptimal heating and mixing of aggregate and bitumen.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features a heating chamber with a dome-shaped separating element where heating gas traverses in a rotary path, spiraling outwardly, allowing for efficient heating of the mix using oil burners, which are offset from the axis, ensuring even heat distribution and faster heating chamber operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If oil burners are substituted for gas rings, then fuel preference and cost are improved, but heating efficiency and operational reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel preferenceVSAvoidheating efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heating chamber is segmented into multiple zones with oil burners positioned at different locations (peripheral and central positions) to ensure comprehensive and uniform heating of the aggregate-bitumen mix, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining oil fuel usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separating element with specific geometric features acts as an intermediary between the oil burners and the mix, distributing heat evenly and preventing direct flame contact that could cause uneven heating, thus maintaining heating efficiency with oil fuel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If oil burners are arranged in a ring configuration, then structural simplicity is improved, but heat distribution uniformity and heating efficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburner arrangement simplicityVSAvoidheat distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is segmented into multiple oil burners positioned at different locations including peripheral ring positions and central positions, creating multiple heat sources that work together to achieve uniform heat distribution across the entire mixing chamber

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the heating chamber receive optimized heating: peripheral oil burners provide heat to the outer regions while central oil burners heat the center area, with the separating element's geometry designed to distribute this localized heat uniformly across the mix

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the apparatus operates at higher speeds, then productivity is improved, but mix quality and heating completeness worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating speedVSAvoidmix quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is designed to provide continuous and intense heat through multiple oil burners operating simultaneously, ensuring that even at high operating speeds, the aggregate and bitumen receive sufficient heating time and energy to achieve complete coating and proper mix quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The aggregate and bitumen are pre-positioned in the mixing chamber with the separating element in place before heating begins, allowing the heating system to immediately commence effective heating without delay, ensuring complete heating even during high-speed operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design enables efficient and even heating of the hot mix, allowing for faster and more efficient road repair processes, with the ability to operate while the vehicle is in motion, and prevents flame extinguishment due to vehicle movement.

Implementation Method 1

heating gas that passes through the heating chamber... means to cause at least some of the heating gas to traverse the separating element in a substantially rotary path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the heat from the burning gas is spread evenly over the separating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus in which oil can be used for heating the hot mix

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS9132570B2Apparatus for applying hot mix for tar sealed roads

Publication Date: 2015.09.15 TRIMBORN HERBERT JOHANN

AI summary

An apparatus for preparing a hot mix including aggregate and bitumen includes a cylindrical vessel incorporating a mixing chamber having a rotating paddle assembly mixing aggregate and bitumen. A heating chamber is below the mixing chamber, separated by a dome shaped separating element, the center of which is above its periphery. The heating chamber's lower part has a diameter less than that of its upper part. A blower forces air into the lower part through a horizontal passage with a burner heating the air. The axis of the passage is offset from the vertical axis of the heating chamber. The heated air spirals upwardly and outwardly through the lower and upper parts of the heating chamber, traversing the separating element before exiting through apertures about the periphery of the separating element. The mix is heated by the heat transferred from the air as it passes over the separating element.