US2006585A

US2006585A - Process and apparatus for manufacturing small particles of asphalt

Info

Publication number: US2006585A
Application number: US677945A
Authority: US
Inventors: Naomi W Downard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-06-27
Filing date: 1933-06-27
Publication date: 1935-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 1952-07-02

Description

y 1935- J. 5. DOWNARD 2,006,585

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SMALL PARTiCLES 0F ASPHALT Filed June 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l i Q I III: I!

BY M 46 i i ATTO 'NE'YS J y 1935. l J. 5. DOWNARD 2,006,585- PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ,SMALL PARTICLES OF ASPHALT Filed June 27. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATI'ORNEYS Patented July 2, l35

UNITED STATES rnocsss AND PATENT OFFICE 2,006,585 APPARATUS FOR MANUFAC- A TUBING SMALL PARTICLES OF ASPHALT Application June 27, 1933, Serial No. 677,945

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for manufacturing small particles of asphalt which may be employed for surfacing roads.

An object of the invention is the provision of l a process in which the asphalt is heated and passed through perforations to provide strings of asphalt which are dropped into moving water (for softening the asphalt so that it may be readily manipulated, the asphalt thus treated being placed in an extruding device for forcing the asphalt through another series of perforations and the asphalt thus extruded is cut by aheated element and dropped into a liquid bath.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for forming particles of asphalt adapted for building roads in which asphalt is placed but has been previously treated so that it may be more readily manipulated and will not adhere to an extruding machine, the asphalt thus treated being placed under pressure in a confined space from which it is forced through perforations, the asphalt being cut into particles by a heated knife as it leaves the perforations, the particles of asphalt being dropped into a bath which will aid in maintaining the particles in a certain state of division.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device for forming particles of asphalt in which asphalt that has been previously treated to restrict its adhesive qualities is placed under pressure and forced through perforations, the asphalt having a division agent applied to it as it is extruded and cut with a heated medium whence it is droped into a bath which will aid in maintaining division of the asphalt.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expresed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an arrangement showing the method of carrying out my complete process,

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a device for forming particles of asphalt,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a method for electrically heating a knife,

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the knife showing the resistance wires therein, and

Figure 6 is a side view in elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l designates an oven having a central container Ill which is supplied with asphalt having a perforated bottom or screen I I. The container and likewise the asphalt are heated by electric cones I2 placed around the container within the oven. Any number of cones may be employed. These heating elements consist of a cone-shaped member formed of insulating material encircled by a resistance wire. Wires l3 and l3 are connected with a source of current for heating the resistance wires. A switch and rheostat (not shown) controls the circuit to each electric cone.

A trough I4 is located below the oven I!) so that as the strings or streams I of asphalt flow by gravity they will fall into tank l4 while being sprayed with water. A nozzle I6 is connected with a source of water under pressure, the flow of water being controlled by avalve Hi. The water will be discharged from the opposite end of the tank through a pipe [1. A screen I8 is located across one end of the tank [4 adjacent the outlet pipe I! in order to prevent the asphalt from falling outwardly with the water. The water in the tank I4 is maintained under agitation by the constant flow of the water'so that the strings of asphalt coming in contact with the water may due to the fact that the asphalt is less adhesive at the surface. The strings of asphalt form spongy masses which are ready for application to the extruding machine shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

The extruding machine includes a base member on which is mounted a cylinder 2|. A screw 22 is mounted longitudinally of the cylinder and is adapted to force the asphalt fed through the hopper 23 to the outer end 24 of the cylinder.

be softened and may be more readily handled The outer end 24 is provided with a removable plate 25 which is provided with perforations 26 through which the asphalt is forced tending to form strings.

A motor 30 of any suitable type drives a shaft 3 l. A second shaft 3 I is located in parallel relation with the shaft 3| upon which is mounted a sprocket 32 which in turn drives a chain 33, a sprocket 34, and a stub shaft 35. A spur gear 36 is secured to shaft 35 and driven thereby while the spur gear 38 is secured to a shaft 39. This shaft is either connected to orforms a part of the screw 22 which is mounted in the cylinder 2 I.

A sprocket 40 mounted on the shaft 3| drives a chain 4| and a sprocket 42 connected to a shaft 43,

by the knife 24.

.carried to the end 24 here to the cylinder and A sprocket 45 secured to the shaft 3| drives a chain 45 which in turn drives the sprocket 32.

A knife 50 is secured to the outer end 5| of the shaft 43 and is adapted to be revolved before the perforated plate 25 so that as the asphalt is extruded through perforation 25 it will be cut oil A Bunson burner 52 is connected with a pipe 53 which in turn is connected with a source 'of gas. A valve 5-2 controls the flow of gas to the Bunson burner. When the burner is lighted the gas projects in a horizontal plane across the path of the moving knife 50 so that said knife will be heated at each cycle of rotation and just before it passes the perforated plate 25.

A hopper 55 has a discharge end 55 located directly above the plate 25 and at a point where the knife 50 moves across the plate. This hopper is supported by a bracket 51 secured to the cylinder 2|. The hopper 55 is adapted to contain a division agent which may be either some form of mineral or chemical dust which is discharged continuously upon the asphalt as it is being extruded through the perforation 25, thereby maintaining the asphalt as it exudes from the perforation in a state of division.

A tank 58 which is partially filled with liquid such as water, as shown at 59, is adapted to receive the particles of asphalt when they are cut by the knife 50. A plate 50 located adjacent the moving knife 50 is adapted to conduct the particles of asphalt into the liquid bath 59.

While I have shown theknife 50 as being heated with a Bunson burner 52, this knife may also be heated electrically. In this case the interior of the blade Si is hollow and is provided with resistance wires 52 insulated from the shell of the knife. The shaft 43* in this case is hollow and wires 53 and 54 pass through the hollow shaft and through a ring 65 which carries the knife 6!. The wire 53 is connected to a ring 55 which is insulated at 61 from the shaft 43. The wire 64 is connected to a ring 58 insulated at 59 from the shaft. A brush I is adapted to engage the ring 66 that is connected with a source of current H and the circuit includes a rheostat I2 for controlling the amount of current passing through the knife A second brush I2 is included in the circuit represented by the wires 14 and and engages the collector ring 55. As long as the switch arm I5 is in the proper position current will be flowing through the blade 5| for heating the same so that it will properly cut throulgh the asphalt expressed from the cylinder 2 The operation of my device is as follows: The asphalt employed is selected at a place within the container l0 and the container is heated to cause the asphalt to pass through the perforated screen I l. The asphalt passing through the'perforated screen in streams is sprayed by the water before it falls into the tank. I and this asphalt forms small masses which are removed and deposited in the hopper 25.

Due to the revolving screw 22, this asphalt is of the cylinder 2| and forced through the perforations 25 and since the knife 50 is revolving in synchronism with the screw 22 and heated by the gas flame from the burner 52, or electrically, asshown in Fig. 4, the knife will readily cut through the asphalt to provide particles which fall into the liquid bath 5! in the tank 58.

By giving the asphalt an advance treatment, as shown in Fig. 1, the asphalt does not stick or adscrew 22 so that it may be readily forced through the perforations 25 in the plate 25. When desired, the division agent in the hopper 55 may be released so that it will be applied. continuously to the extruding asphalt where said asphalt is being cut. This division agent will maintain the particles in a state .of division when thzy are deposited in the water bath 59. Y

The pellets formed are of such a nature that they may be readily transported and they will not coalesce during transportation.

' It is claimed:

1. An arrangement for manufacturing particles of asphalt comprising means for forming streams of melted asphalt, a bath of a moving liquid to receive the streams of asphalt whereby the asphalt is softened, means for extruding the asphalt through passages, and heated means for cutting off the extruded asphalt to form particles.

2. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprises melting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping the streams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, forcing the asphalt thus treated through restricted passages, cutting off the extruded portions of the asphalt while heating the portions of the asphalt where being cut.

3. The method of manufacturing particles-of asphalt which comprises melting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping the streams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, forcing the asphalt thus treated through restricted passages, cutting oil the extruded portions of the asphalt while heating the portions of the asphalt where being cut, and interspersing the cut-off particles of asphalt with water.

4. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprises melting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping the streams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, forcing the asphalt thus treated through restricted passages, cutting ofi the extruding portions of asphalt while heating the portions of the asphalt where being cut, and applying a division agent to the extruded asphalt.

5. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprises melting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping the streams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, forcing the asphalt thus treated through restricted passages, cutting off the ex truding portions of asphalt while heating the portions of the asphalt where being cut, and applying a division agent to the extruded asphalt while said asphalt is being cut.

6. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprises melting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping the,

streams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, removing the asphalt from the water bath, placing the thus treated asphalt in a confined space and applying pressure to the asphalt while forcing the asphalt through the restricted passages from the space in the formof strings of asphalt, cutting oil the asphalt as it is extruded from the passage to form particles while heating the asphalt when being cut.

7. The method of manufacturing particles of asphalt which comprises melting asphalt, forming streams of the melted asphalt, dropping the streams of asphalt into a water bath while agitating the water, removing the asphalt from the the thus treated asphalt in I and applying pressure to the water bath, placing a confined space asphalt while forcing the asphalt through the restricted passages from the space in the form of strings of asphalt, cutting off the asphalt as it is extruded from the passage to form particles while heating the asphalt when being cut and applying a division agent to the asphalt when the same is extruded.

8. A process for preparing particles of asphalt which comprises dividing melted asphalt, spraying the divided asphalt with a liquid, dropping the sprayed and divided asphalt into a body of the liquid to form spongy masses of the asphalt, pressing the spongy asphalt through a screen to free the asphalt of water and forming strings of the asphalt, cutting off said strings to provide particles.

9. A process for preparing particles of asphalt which comprises dividing melted asphalt in the presence of water to form a spongy mass, expressing the spongy mass through restricted passages while separating water from the spongy mass, cutting oil the asphalt into particles as it is expressed,

10. A process for preparing particles of asphalt which comprises dividing melted asphalt, spraying the divided asphalt with a liquid, dropping the sprayed and divided asphalt into a body of the liquid to form spongy masses of the asphalt, removing the liquid from the spongy masses of asphalt while dividing the asphalt into strings and cutting off said strings to provide particles.

11. A process for preparing particles of asphalt which comprises dividing melted asphalt in the presence of a fluid to form spongy masses of the asphalt, removing the fluid from the spongy masses while dividing the spongy masses into strings and cutting off the strings to form particles of asphalt which will remain in a state of separation when stored in piles.

NAOMI W. DOWNARD,

Administratria: of the Estate of James Shelby 30 Doumard, Deceased.