US2692641A - Asphalt surfacer - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 26, 1954 J, WOQDS 2,692,641

ASPHALT SURFACER Filed NOV. 20. 1950 i f4 fa /2 20 y -i-l *4 ,JAMES H. Wooosy 53 i? 4 /Af//fA/m/Q. a@ a2 Hasan/ER, aefmfmwoma, 22 f3 )ff 5 x HERZ/G.

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uw IZ 20 /W Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UTI-TED STATES PATENT OFICE ASPHALT SURFACER.

James H. Woods, San Fernando, Calif. Application November 20, 1950, Serial N o. 196,577

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an asphalt surfacer and is exemplified by such a portable surfacer which may be manually pushed back and forth by a single workman along ,cracks or patchesin an asphalt roadbed or the1ike, so as to smooth the sameunder the iniluence of heat and pressure supplied by the `moving' member.v

Previously vthere have been. handable, surfacers consisting essentially of a metal contact shoe secured to an elongated rod or operating handle. The surfacers were heated by layingothe shoe end in a fire for a while.vk After a short period of use, the shoehad cooledoif to such an extent that it had to be returned to the re `for reheat ing. This notonly restricted the .weight of such a unit to that which a workman could Arepeatedly lift into and out of the re. It also exposed the shoe to the aging influence of the rire for considerable periods of time when the shoe was not actually being used. The period of effective operationeafter removal from the re was Acornparatively brief so that several surfacers might be required to work a comparatively small area of asphalt. Moreover the time and fuel consumed in setting up and heating was out oi all proportion to that during which the iron was in actual use. Sometimes the use is sporadic and over some distance. The disadvantages of customary methods under such circumstances render them antediluvian.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a portable surfacer having a self-contained heating source or re box. Such aunit conveniently operates by providing a dame spread over the .upper face of the contact shoe so that the heat from the same is conveyed thru the metal shoe to the bottom contact blade or surface. A further advantage of such construction is that worn shoes may be replaced on the unit from time to time by bolting or otherwise attaching the same to the remainder of the upper part.

Yet anotherobject of the invention is to provide such a handable surfacer havingaself-contained fuel supply. Such fuel is conveniently a liquid such as petroleum derived materialoand by the present construction, the fuel tank is located in such manner as to produce a low center of gravity of the unit and to add its Weight to that of the `shoe itself so as to transmit the same to the pavement being worked.

In this connection, there is further provided means for increasing the effective weight of `the surfacer by accumulating compressed air therein, Desirably this pressure may be built up,1by a manually operable, self-contained pump,v and ap- (Cl. 15S-13.6)

2 plied to the upper surface of the fuel supply thus aiding its out flow.

Still another purpose is to provide such a unit having a llamenozzle exposed to eternal cooling air but at the same timeuadequately encasedy so as topguard the same against possible injury lupon the u nitbeing roughly handled as when it may be thrown into or outv of a supply truck.

Yet;` another object resides in the provision of such a unit embracing a tubular handle which carries the fuel tank and fire box Vin a continually descending line toward the shoe, with the interiors of the handle, and fuel tank disposed in open communication so that the handle may servesimultaneously as afeed line for the fuel and asa housing for an air compression pump.

In the drawings:

Figure ll is a perspective view of a preferred form of my asphalt surfacer in position for use.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken thru the upperor handle end of the device and particularly showing the construction of the air pump mounted therein, with portions shown in elevation. p A

Figure v3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken thru the lower portion of the surfacer, with parts in side elevation, and particularly showing the .relation of the flame nozzle to the interior of the surfacing shoe.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken thru the Contact endo of the surfacer as seen along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and, showing theguide-iins for spreading the flame Within the heat chamber..

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View taken thru the shoe and cover member as seen along line 5to- 5 of Figure 3 and particularly showing the forward Ventilating apertures at the front end of the device.l

vHaving particular reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure l, there is pro-vided a portable or hand operated asphalt surfacing device embodying a lower terminal contact head A, a combustion unit B immediate posterior thereto,/ a fuel container C, and an elongated handle `or operating portion D.

The device is of such relatively limited weight so as to enable it to be readily lifted in and out of a truck by one or two Workmen and in use to permit it to be pushed slowly back` and forth over the asphalt service by a single operator. At the same time it should be noted that the `unit may optionally be so balanced as to be able to stand-by itself unsupported and has the bulk of its weight concentrated at the lower end so as to 3 apply the same most effectively to a work area on pavement. This likewise facilitates the ready turning or lateral movement of the device about a given spot by the operator.

The contact head A is formed by a basal shoe I constructed of heavy metal or the like and characterized by a lower blade surface l2 which is generally iat over most of its area but curved upward at the front i4 and rear |6 edges in a generally arcuate pattern so as to permit the same to ride easily over temporary elevations on the surface being treated. The upper face I8 of the shoe is provided with a shallow, generally dishshaped depression 20, set back a short distance from each edge and generally otherwise coextensive with the horizontal area of the shoe, The surrounding periphery or ledge 22 of the shoe is adapted to support an overlying hood or closure member 24 which, in conjunction with the bottom of the depression 20, forms an inner, generally rectangular` heat or combustion chamber 26.

The hood is constructed with a iiat top 28 and downwardly diverging side walls 32 the lower edges of which abut upon the respective sides of the ledge 22, being secured thereto by welding or are generally vertical or parallel to each other, the former being provided with vertically directed slits or apertures 38 which jointly form a grill work in the forward end so as to provide an outlet for a longitudinal air passage thru the combustion chamber 2G.

To the rear of the combustion chamber there is located a generally cylindrical housing 46 secured at an upright angle to the contact head A with its edges abutting and bolted (as by vertical studs not shown) or welded to the rear edge 42 of the shoe and the rear wall 36 of the hood. The hollow interior of the housing 48 accordingly is in open communication with the combustion chamber 26 thru the aperture 4| of the rear hood wall 36 (Figure 4). The housing 42 is constructed of a lower peripherally enclosed section 44 and an upwardly continuing portion 46 of substantially semi-circular or trough-like shape. Thus, the upper half of the latter section being cut away, it serves both as an entry for air to the lower section and as a semi-housing frame for combustion unit B.

The combustion unit or mixing tube which is mounted in the supporting channel 48 provides a jet or nozzle member 48 the forward, lower, somewhat constricted, end 58 of which is disposed to emit a downwardly directed flame which is initially ignited in the upper section thereof. The mixing tube is supplied with fuel thru a line 52 and a primary supply of air is drawn in thru the opening 54. The capacity of the air inlet 54 is in turn regulated by a longitudinally displaceable valve 56 which can be manually adjusted by means of the hand wheel 58.

Additional or secondary air ducts are provided in the lower portion of the nozzle at 66. In this connection, it is important to observe that the outlet or lower end of the jet 48 is overlaid by the tubular housing 44 spaced apart therefrom so as to prevent the former from becoming deformed upon the unit being roughly handled as when it is being thrown in or outl of a truck. At the same time air is permitted to pass downward between the housing wall 44 and the outside of the nozzle and thru the aperture 4| so as to support further combustion in the chamber 26. As the flame or combustion products enter the chamber 26 they contact an upstanding baffle 6| formed of a pair of diverging ns which serve to spread the burning or heated gases over the area of the chamber.

A fuel container C is provided with the unit, being formed integral therewith and located comparatively close to the contact head A so as to contribute to the low center of gravity of the composite device. The fuel employed, for example, may be gasoline and as here illustrated my fuel tank 62 is a generally cylindrical container the lower end 64 of which is rigidly secured to the edge of the channel member 46 as by welding and is apertured at 66 for threaded connection to the delivery line 52.

The opposite end 68 of the tank supports the outwardly extending handle unit D by means of an L-shaped or anged mounting collar 10 which is fastened axially to the end wall 68 with its central opening 12 in alignment with a similar opening I4 of the end wall so as to receive jointly therethru, the mouth of a tubular member 16, the interior of which is in open communication with the inside of the gasoline tank for a purpose which will be shortly explained.

The tubular member 16 extends axially upward from the fuel tank 62 to a point of bending 18 where it is curved rearward at a greater angle so as to form a more convenient hand hold portion 86 for the operator. Within this terminal section 88 (Figure 2) there is provided a manually operable air pump 82 by means of which a positive pressure of air can be built up upon the upper surface of the gasoline in the tank 62 (or in the tubular portion 16 if the gasoline extends up this far).

The air pump is carried in a central aperture 84 of an annular cap member 85 which latter serves as well as a closure for the upper end of the tube 16. The cap is provided with a radially enlarged lip 88 bearing internal screw threads which register with corresponding external threads 90 about the mouth of the tube. The elongated cylindrical pump unit 82 is permanently mounted within the cap 86 as by soldering and projects outward beyond either end therefrom so that upon mounting the cap 86 upon the handle 86, the lower portion of the pump is inserted in the tube and at the same time the tube is closed to the exterior. Upon the cap and pump being taken on", the fuel tank 62 can be lled by pouring gasoline down the handle 80.

The air pump 82 consists of a tubular member 92 opened at both ends and having a one-way valve 94 located at the lower end thereof, the valve being normally held closed by a spring 96 disposed about the valve stem 98. A closure cap |00 substantially U-shaped in axial section, is threadedly mounted upon the opposite end of the tube 92 and journals in a central aperture thereto, a piston rod |62 which is thus disposed for reciprocating movement within the tube 92. The inner or lower end of the piston rod |02 carries the plunger or piston proper |04 which is moveable lengthwise in the tube to force air thru the valve member |94. The outer end of the piston rod |02 is in turn attached to a U-shaped cap |08 which is of generally corresponding diameter to the handle 8|] and consequently overlies the inner cap |00 and most of the outwardly projecting portion of the pump housing 92.

Upon outward movement of the cap |68, the plunger rod of course moves out simultaneously, the two being withdrawn until the piston head is behind an air inlet ||D. Inward movement of the cap and piston rod forces the newly entered air from the piston chamber past the valve 94 and compresses it into the handle T6. 'A helical spring H2 disposed about the piston rod and attached' to the inner face of the end 'of the cap |08 provides both a shock absorber and a limit means for inward movement of the piston and attached cap, the freeend'of the spring HB2l thus abutting against the. outer face of the closure member-00 as seen in Figure` 2.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a baiiie H4 within the bottom of the cylinder barrel or channel 4B. By this construction an open pan is effectively provided beneath the burner B so that upon initial staking of the latter liquid fuel can drip down into the area beneath the burner to heat the same as required to nre up. When so used the apparatus is preferably inclined so that the liquid fluid level, as shown -at HS in phantom, is horizontal. Any excess easily burns away or when the apparatus is righted for use runs down into the fire chamber 26 where it is consumed with the main nring flame.

Accordingly, it will be seen that I have provided an asphalt surfacer which is both compact and efficient in construction as well as simple and economical in operation. As earlier noted, the shoe proper may be disconnected from the rest of the unit after use, along the time of attachment and a new shoe connected. Thus the unit as a whole has a greatly extended period of usefulness.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

The invention having been herein described, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A portable asphalt surfacer comprising a smooth-bottomed surface contacting metal shoe including a hood forming a combustion chamber over the area of the shoe, said chamber having an intake at one end, a baffle across the intake, an integral tubular extension on the shoe angularly disposed thereto adjacent the baffle and a burner projecting into the tubular extension, said extension being notched on an upper side thereof above the tubular extension and adapted to accommodate the burner in nested relation therein accessible through said notch, a fuel tank supported on the upper end of the tubular extension integral with and forming an intermediate portion of a handle, a tubular member openly communicating with the upper end of the fuel tank extending upwardly out of the tank forming a hand-hold and a hand pump mounted in the upper end of the handle, said handle providing an outer casing and an air conduit for said pump.

2. A portable asphalt surfacer comprising a smooth-bottomed surface contacting metal shoe including a hood forming a combustion chamber over the area of the shoe, said chamber having an intake at one end, a baffle integral with the shoe and across the intake, a tubular extension on the shoe angularly disposed thereto adjacent the baffle and a burner projecting into the tubular extension spaced from the baffle, extension forming a part of a handle and being open on the upper side thereof above the rebox and adapted to partially encircle and guard the burner, -a low transverse wall-'across a perto'nof the extension which is open forming fire-up reservoir for fuel, a fuel tank Von the extensionabove the rebox and a hand-hold on the handle above the reservoir.

3. A portable asphalt surfacer comprising. a smooth-bottomed surface contacting `metal 'shoe including a hood forming a combustion chamber over the area of the shoe, said chamber having' an intake at one end, a -baiile across the intake of the chamber, an integral tubular extension on the shoe angularly disposed thereto adjacent the baiile and a burner projecting. into the extens-ion, said extension being open on an uppermost side thereof and adapted to accommodate the burner, a low transverse'wall across the ex'- tension forming a nre-up reservoir for fuel, `a fuel tank integral with and forming amid-portion of a handle, a tubular hand-hold at the uppermost end of the handle openly communieating with the fuel tank, and a hand pump in the upper end of the handle for pumping air through said handhold and into said reservoir, and a gas supply tube from the tank to the reservoir wholly nested in the tubular extension.

4. A portable asphalt surfacer comprising a smooth-bottomed surface contacting metal shoe including a hood forming a combustion chamber over the area of the shoe but inset from the front end of the shoe, said chamber having an intake at a rear end, an outlet at a front end behind and above the front end of the shoe and a baille across the intake, an integral tubular extension on the shoe angularly disposed thereto adjacent the baiile and a burner projecting into the extension, said extension forming part of a handle and having a cut-away portion on the upper side thereof above the burner adapted to accommodate the burner, a low transverse wall across the extension adjacent the burner forming an open fire-up reservoir for fuel, a substantially cylindrical fuel tank integral with and forming an intermediate portion of the handle, a tubular member extending upwardly out of the tank forming a hand-hold and a pump casing and air pressure pump therein in axial alignment with and forming the upper end of the hand-hold.

5. In a portable asphalt surfacer, in combination, a substantially flat shoe of rectangular configuration in plan View, having rounded edges at the bottom thereof, a fiat upper surface portion, and having a central dished-out surface, including an upstanding, integral, substantially L- shaped baille extending upwardly beyond the upper dished surface beyond the plane of the flat upper surface portion of the shoe and having its apex directed rearwardly, a hood having a top and sides, said sides being secured to said flat surface portion at the sides of the shoe, said hood being open at the rear end disposed above said dished portion of the shoe behind said L-shaped baiile, and a front end having openings dened therein, a cylindrical housing extending upwardly and rearwardly of said hood and shoe and being secured thereto in communication with the rear opening of the hood and said dished surface of said shoe, an upper side portion of said housing being notched, a burner nested within the notched housing portion and having a flame tip projecting downwardly and forwardly Within the unnotched lower portion of the cylindrical housing, a transverse partition in the cylindrical housing opposite from said notch and adjacent said burner, a cylindrical reservoir having a threaded lower wall integral with an uppermost end of said cylindrical housing, said lower wall extending radially beyond said housing and said burner, a fuel line communicating between said reservoir through said Wall thereof and said burner and nested well within said notched cylindrical housing, a tubular handle extending upwardly and rearwardly, coaxial with said housing and said reservoir and communicating with the latter, an upper end of said handle being screw-threaded,

a cap threadably secured thereto and having a 10 central opening, an air pump extending into said handle through said cap by means of said open ing for pumping air under pressure into said handle and said reservoir, said cap being threadably removable from said handle together with l5 said pump for filling said reservoir and said handle through said handle.

6. An asphalt surfacer as defined in claim 5,

said shoe extending forwardly substantially beyond said hood, said hood front openings being forward and adjacent said dished portion of said shoe.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 398,743 Mull Feb. 26, 1889 1,227,736 Beatty May 29, 1917 1,378,675 Hauck May 17, 1921 1,455,648 Morrison May 15, 1923 1,509,236 Greene Sept. 23, 1924 2,121,728 Boyd June 21, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 514,970 Great Britain Nov. 22, 1939

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