Mobile Mixing Device with Heater Support Arm for Asphalt and Cement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current road repair methods require multiple pieces of equipment to process different materials like cement, concrete, and asphalt, leading to increased costs, time, and labor due to the inability to process these materials in a single mixing device.
Innovation Solution
A mobile mixing device that can process both cement and asphalt within the same mixing drum, equipped with a heater support arm and a water supply system, allowing for the mixing and heating of various materials, including flowable fill, concrete, and asphalt, reducing the need for separate equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate mixing devices are used to process different materials (cement, concrete, asphalt), then material processing capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing device is designed with a universal mixing drum that can process multiple materials including cement, concrete, and asphalt through a single unified structure. The drum incorporates adjustable mixing elements and heating capabilities that adapt to different material types, eliminating the need for separate specialized mixers for each material while maintaining full processing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing device employs dynamically adjustable mixing elements within the drum that can be reconfigured based on the material being processed. The mixing elements can be adjusted in position, speed, and configuration to optimize performance for different materials such as cement versus asphalt, allowing one device to perform multiple functions through dynamic adaptation rather than requiring static specialized equipment for each material type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate mixing devices are brought to each jobsite, then material processing capability is improved, but time consumption and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By deploying a single universal mixing device capable of processing all required materials (cement, concrete, asphalt) in one location, the repair crew eliminates the time-consuming process of transporting and setting up multiple separate mixing devices at the jobsite. The unified device reduces equipment mobilization time while maintaining the ability to handle diverse material processing needs through its multi-functional design.
3Reliability
If traditional separate mixing equipment is used for cement and asphalt, then material-specific processing is improved, but processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing device achieves both material-specific processing quality and improved processing efficiency through its universal design. The single device can switch between processing different materials (cement, concrete, asphalt) with equal effectiveness, eliminating the need to transport and set up multiple specialized devices. This unified approach maintains reliable material-specific processing while significantly improving productivity by reducing equipment mobilization time and streamlining operations at each jobsite.
4Reliability
If multiple specialized mixers are used, then processing quality for each material is improved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing device reduces operational cost while maintaining processing quality by consolidating multiple specialized mixer functions into a single universal device. Instead of requiring separate expensive equipment for cement mixing, concrete mixing, and asphalt mixing, the unified device performs all these functions with equal effectiveness, eliminating the need to purchase, maintain, and transport multiple specialized mixers, thereby reducing overall equipment investment and operational expenses.
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 solution reduces equipment and labor costs, increases efficiency by allowing for quick processing and mixing of multiple materials in a single device, and enables on-site production of hot asphalt mixes and concrete, enhancing road repair efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heater support arm and a water supply system, allowing for the mixing and heating of various materials
Data Source
AI summary
Mobile mixing devices, mobile mixing systems, and related methods are provided. A mobile mixing device can include a frame and a mixing drum securable to the frame. The mixing drum can include a body that forms an internal cavity and can have a forward end and a bottom end. The mixing drum can also include a mouth at the forward end of the body that provides access to the internal cavity of the mixing drum. The mobile mixing device can include a heater support arm having a heater secured to an end of the heater support arm that is distal from the mixing drum. The mixing drum can be used to process cement material when the heater support arm is in a stow-away position or asphalt when the heater support arm is in a heating position with the heater facing into the mouth of the mixing drum.