GB2459882A

GB2459882A - Friction heating apparatus comprising a rotating disc

Info

Publication number: GB2459882A
Application number: GB0808384A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Oldham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-09
Filing date: 2008-05-09
Publication date: 2009-11-11
Also published as: GB0808384D0

Abstract

A friction heating apparatus comprises a motor 6 connected via a shaft to a disc 3, where the shaft passes through a seal 5 into a chamber 2. The chamber has an inlet opening 1 and an outlet opening 4. Material to be heated, such as semi-solid bitumen, can be placed into the chamber through the inlet opening. The heated material can exit the chamber through the outlet opening. The seal resists the passing of material between the shaft and the chamber. The disc and chamber may be of a metal construction. Preferably, the disc is driven by an electric or hydraulic motor. In use, frictional heat is generated by the rotating disc to melt the material, the resultant hot liquid material being tapped off at the outlet opening.

Description

I

HEATING BITUMEN BY FRICTION

BACKGROUI'1D This invention relates to heat generated by friction utilising a spinning metal disc in the melting of semi-solids such as Bitumen.

Most of us who have spent any time travelling will have noticed road repair crews using Bitumen boilers. The Bitumen boilers are an essential part of carrying out large or small repairs to road surfaces as it is the hot Bitumen which creates the bond between the road surface layers. Hot Bitumen is also used to seal the joints around a repair. The same system is employed to seal joints in concrete, and the same basic principles in the Bitumen boilers are employed by White lining' crews when they are laying out road markings.

All Bitumen boilers and White lining' machines, large or small all employ the same basic principals. Semi-solid material, usually blocks of differing shapes, are placed in a container to which heat is applied, usually by Propane gas or diesel burners, the material melts, usually with the aid of an agitator, it is then tapped off' usually into galvanised buckets or watering cans, and then it is poured into, for example, the joint being repaired. Some state of the art' machines now employ a heated hose to deliver hot Bitumen, via a pump, to the area being repaired, but the preceding steps remain the same.

The present system of melting semi-solid Bitumen is very environmentally unfriendly due to the great deal of fumes generated by the melting material. It is also extremely time consuming as, in the case of a unit the size of a large White lining' machine, which can have the capacity to carry up to a tonne of material in it's melting pots, it can take anything from 45mins to 1 /2 hours, depending on weather conditions, to heat the the Bitumen to the right temperature and consistancy. Melting cannot begin until the machine arrives on site' as moving the machine with hot liquid Bitumen is highly dangerous. Once the repair has been completed the machine crew then has to wait until the hot liquid Bitumen has cooled to a point where it returns to a semi-solid. Hot liquid Bitumen typically reaches a working temperature of 410°F (210°C) and has the consistancy of milk, at this temperature the health and safety conserns are obvious, dealing with a liquids at these temperatures has caused many serious injuries to opertaors. The most common method of heat generation is that of Propane gas, this is highly inneficient, the gas comes by way of bottles which become less and less efficient as the pressure in the bottles drops off as the gas is used, this has the effect of reducing the heat generated by the gas and typically the gas bottles becomes innefective once 75% of the gas has been used. therefore up to 25% in each bottle is wasted.

STATEMENT OF INVENTORSHIP

To overcome this the present invention proposes a rotating metal disc which is set inside a fixed container.The container would have an opening where semi-solid material would be placed. The semi-solid Bitumen would rest against the disc. The disc would rotate which in turn would generate heat due to friction. The heat generated by contact between the rotating disc and the Bitumen heats the rotating disc until the Bitumen melts. The resultant hot liquid material is then tapped ofF. As material is tapped off" additional semi-solid material is added to the container.

ADVANTAGES

The heat is generated locally at the point where the semi-solid material and the rotating disc meet, therefore the only hot liquid material is situated around the rotating disc and the systems of delivery after that point, this reduces environmental damage as very few fumes would be generated. No hot liquid Bitumen is evident at the point where semi-solid Bitumen is placed in the container, therefore this should reduce the possibility of burn injuries greatly. The amount of hot liquid Bitumen would be control by the speed at which the rotating disc is spun, the faster the disc is rotated, the higher the heat generated, the more liquid Bitumen can be tapped off. The system would reduce the amount of time it presently takes, as there would be very little heat up' time, and no cool down' time should be necessary.

Preferably, the container will be of a metal construction with an opening at one end into which semi-solid material is placed. The other end should have a plate with an opening to allow the drive shaft of the rotating disc to pass through it. It should also have an appature where hot liquid material could be tapped off'. The container should have a sealing arrangement where the disc drive shaft passes through the container.

Preferably, the rotating disc is driven by an electric or hydraulic motor.

DRAWiNGS An example of the invention will now be described by refering to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a disc inside a chamber linked via a drive shaft to a motor. The chamber has an opening into which material will be place, and an outlet whereby material can exit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A metal chamber 2 has an opening I into which material is placed. A motor 6 will provide motive power to drive a disc 3 in a rotary motion. an opening 4 provides an outlet. A seal 5 resist material escaping the chamber 2.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A motor driven shaft is attached to a disc, the motor rotates the disc.
2 The disc according to claim 1, is situated in a chamber into which material is placed.
3 The chamber according to claim 2 will have an opening where material can exit the chamber.