Open-Bottom Crusher for Road Pavement Recycling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for recycling materials from traffic roadways are complex and difficult to implement due to the use of closed chambers, making it hard to control the size of particles during the milling process and requiring separate machines for milling, crushing, and mixing.

Innovation Solution

A device with an open-bottom crusher and simple rotating blades allows for in situ recycling, integrating milling, crushing, and mixing functions in a single machine, enabling control over particle size and efficient reuse of materials by using a ramp for binder addition and mixing directly in the crusher.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If closed chambers are used for recycling road materials, then the recycling process can be contained, but the device complexity increases and accessibility becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecycling process containmentVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the crushing chamber from a closed configuration and opens it downwards towards the road surface. This allows the crushing process to occur in an open environment while maintaining process containment through the housing structure. The open bottom design enables direct access to the crushed material on the road surface without requiring complex closed chamber systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If specialized machinery with separate functions is used for milling, crushing, and mixing, then each function can be optimized, but the overall process complexity and number of machines required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle size controlVSAvoidnumber of machines
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the milling, crushing, and mixing functions into a single integrated machine. The milling cutter removes material from the road surface, the crushed material is directly fed into the crushing chamber below, and the binder is mixed with the crushed material in the same chamber. This integration eliminates the need for separate machines while maintaining precise control over particle size through the adjustable blade gaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single machine performs multiple functions: it mills the road surface, crushes the removed material, mixes the binder with the crushed material, and prepares the final mixture for redistribution. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of machines required while maintaining the precision needed for particle size control through the adjustable crushing chamber geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If milling is used to remove road materials, then the materials can be recovered for recycling, but precise control of particle size is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial recoveryVSAvoidparticle size control
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary crushing of the milled material immediately after removal from the road surface. The crushing chamber with adjustable blade gaps processes the material while it is still in the machine, controlling particle size before the material is mixed with binder and redistributed. This preliminary action ensures precise particle size control while maintaining high material recovery rates.

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

The solution enables efficient in situ recycling of road materials, controlling particle size and simplifying the process by integrating multiple functions into a single self-propelled machine, reducing complexity and improving operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a crusher (3) consisting in a housing (30) open at the bottom, thus exposing the milled pavement, of two rotors (32) radially comprising metallic blades (31)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a mixer (8) for mixing the crushed material with a bituminous binder and/or aggregates or even asphalt mixes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Mixing: Stirring

Data Source

PatentEP3455411B1Apparatus for in-place recycling of materials forming part of a roadway pavement
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 COLAS LTD
  • EP3455411B1 patent drawingFigure 1~8
  • EP3455411B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The application relates to an apparatus (1) for in-place recycling of materials that form part of a roadway pavement (6) comprising agglomerated aggregates in a bituminous composition, said apparatus comprising a load-bearing structure which is suitable for driving on the pavement in a direction of travel and carries, from the front to the rear in the direction of travel, a transverse milling machine (2) for milling the pavement to a defined depth and width so as to produce milling debris (7), a mixing device for mixing the milling debris with a binding composition (9), and a spreading sub-assembly (4) for distributing the milling debris mixed (8) with the binding composition across the width of the milled pavement. According to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a crusher (3) which has blades (31), is disposed between the milling machine and the mixing device, is open on the bottom, and is used for crushing the milling debris. In one embodiment, the crusher and the mixing device are located in a single unit. The application also relates to a crusher (3) for milling debris (7) from roadway pavements (6).