Modular Asphalt Mixing Plant Transportable Container Deployment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing asphalt mixing plants are cumbersome and difficult to transport and deploy in hard-to-access locations, such as construction sites for new roads or dirt roads, due to the bulkiness and heaviness of primary equipment like metering hoppers, drying drums, and elevating conveyors.
Innovation Solution
The asphalt mixing plant is designed as modular units housed in standardized transport containers, allowing for easy transportation and deployment, with placement devices like retractable support members and actuators to position and elevate equipment, enabling the plant to be assembled and used in challenging locations without external lifting tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional asphalt mixing plant equipment is used, then mixing capability is achieved, but transportability and ease of deployment deteriorate due to bulkiness and heaviness
Solution Approach 1:
The asphalt mixing plant is divided into multiple independent modules (metering module, drying module, mixing module, loading module), each housed in a separate standardized container. This segmentation allows each module to be transported and positioned independently, dramatically improving ease of transport and deployment while maintaining full mixing capability when assembled together.
2Ease of operation
If equipment is made transportable in standardized containers, then ease of transport improves, but device complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Standardized containers serve multiple functions: they provide structural housing for equipment, act as transport units, and function as modular building blocks for assembly. This universality simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for separate transport and housing structures, reducing integration complexity despite the modular design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If primary equipment is mounted fixed in containers, then stability improves, but adaptability deteriorates for different positions and configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed mounting to dynamic configurable mounting. Primary equipment can be positioned at different heights and orientations within containers using adjustable support structures and placement devices, allowing the same module to adapt to various operational configurations while maintaining stability during each configured state.
4Ease of operation
If placement devices are incorporated into containers, then ease of deployment improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Placement devices, support structures, and container systems are merged into integrated assemblies. The container structure itself incorporates mounting features and positioning mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate external placement equipment and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of deployment.
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
Facilitates the transportation and rapid deployment of the asphalt mixing plant to various locations, including hard-to-access sites, by allowing modules to be easily moved and assembled, reducing the need for external lifting equipment and enabling efficient asphalt production.
Implementation Method 1
a drying drum for drying aggregates in a hot gas stream
Implementation Method 2
an elevating conveyor for conveying the mixed asphalts by lifting them relative to the ground
Implementation Method 3
the device for placing at least one of the modules comprises at least one retractable support member incorporated into the container of the module, each support member being able to be deployed in order to position the container relative to the ground
Implementation Method 4
an actuator making it possible to generate a force in order to move the container as a whole relative to the ground or the primary equipment received in the container relative to the container
Data Source
AI summary
An asphalt mixing plant includes several transportable modules, each module being formed by a normalized transport container in which at least one of the primary pieces of equipment of the asphalt mixing plant is incorporated, the primary equipment being installed permanently in the container while being mounted stationary in the container or mounted movable in the container between a transport position and a usage position, at least one of the modules including a placement device incorporated into the container and configured to position the container as a whole relative to the ground and/or to position a movable primary piece of equipment in the usage position relative to the container.