Pavement restoration apparatus

f¹¹] 3,564,985

United States Patent

<td> [72]</td><td> Inventor</td><td> Anton H. Heller Levittown, N.Y.</td>

<td> [21]</td><td> Appl. No.</td><td> 819,564</td>

<td> [22]</td><td> Filed</td><td> Apr. 28,1969</td>

<td> [45]</td><td> Patented</td><td> Feb. 23,1971</td>

<td> [73]</td><td> Assignee</td><td> Poweray Infrared Corporation</td>

Farmingdale, N.Y.

<td> 2,589,256</td><td> 3/1952</td><td> Horning..................</td><td> 94/46</td>

<td> 2,867,421</td><td> 1/1959</td><td> Camm.....................</td><td> 94/42X</td>

<td> 2,951,426</td><td> 9/1960</td><td> Pollitz.....................</td><td> 94/46</td>

<td> 3,217,620</td><td> 11/1965</td><td> Mindrum.................</td><td> 94/39</td>

<td> 3,260,176</td><td> 7/1966</td><td> Bowers....................</td><td> 94/39</td>

Primary Examiner— Nile C. Byers, Jr. Attorney—Jerome Bauer

[54] PAVEMENT RESTORATION APPARATUS

Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl........................................................ 94/39

[51] Int. Cl.........................................................EOlc 19/00

[50] Field ofSearch............................................ 94/39,42,

39.8,40,46

[56] References Cited

UNITED STATES PATENTS

1,340,131 5/1920 Andresen 94/42

1,376,852 5/1921 Andresen 94/42

1,606,995 11/1926 Hines 94/42

1,714,659 5/1929 Chausse 94/42

ABSTRACT: A pavement restoration apparatus having a cooperating arrangement of interrelated structures mounted on and as part of a mobile vehicle for use in the making of pavement repairs and restoration. In the apparatus hereof, these structures include propane or other gas-fueled heaters having a common fuel source located at an optimum fueling distance relative to the heaters and yet adequately spaced therefrom to obviate inadvertent ignition. Additionally, the clearance necessary for isolating the fuel source is used to advantage for conveniently locating other structures of the apparatus, all to the end of providing a complete, self-contained pavement repair and restoration apparatus.

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PATENTED FEB23I971

3,564,985

SHEET 1 OF 2

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ATTORNEY

PATENTED FEB23I97I

3,564,985

SHEET 2 OF 2

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3,564,985

PAVEMENT RESTORATION APPARATUS

The present invention relates generally to a pavement repairing and restoration apparatus, and more particularly to a complete, self-contained mobile unit having a noteworthy arrangement of the various means and mechanisms for making pavement repairs and restoration.

As generally understood, in the making of pavement repairs it is necessary to soften the pavement, or more particularly the asphalt content thereof, after which the softened pavement section can readily be removed and replaced with additional asphalt which is then properly conditioned for road service. The application of the additional asphalt and its conditioning requires a labor crew and the use of auxiliary equipment and tools. According to present practice, road-repairing service involves the use of several trucks to transport the crew, its equipment and apparatus, and also the asphalt to be used in making the pavement repairs and restoration and, as such, presents a significant logistics problem.

Broadly, it is an object to provide a unitary, compact mobile pavement restoration apparatus overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide a compact pavement restoration vehicle equipped, in a noteworthy manner, with all that is required for the efficient and effective making of pavement repairs and restoration.

A pavement restoration apparatus demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a truck with an elongated chassis having mounted thereon a variety of equipment and the like as is typically used for pavement repair and restoration in a compact manner so that only the single truck is necessary. Exemplary of a noteworthy aspect of this arrangement is the location of a fuel tank so as to serve as the common fuel source for a heater for an asphalt storage unit and for a pavement-softening heater, such location being such that the fiieling distance to each heater is minimal while the tank nevertheless is adequately spaced from the heaters to obviate the possibility of inadvertent ignition, and the remaining required equipment is advantageously located in the clearances on opposite sides of the fuel tank which isolate the fuel tank from the heaters.

The above description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pavement restoration apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 illustrating further structural details of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of an asphalt heating unit of the apparatus wherein positions of movement of the unit are illustrated in phantom and full-line perspective;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the asphalt heating unit in asphalt heating position and in which parts are broken away to better illustrate internal structural features;

FIG. S is a diagrammatic plan view of the system for flowing fuel from a source to heating units of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the electrical system of the apparatus; and

FIG. 7 is still another diagrammatic plan view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the hydraulic system of the apparatus.

Reference is now made to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein there is shown a pavement restoration apparatus generally designated 10, demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention. Apparatus 10 includes, as a major component, a vehicle in the form of a truck 12 including a conventional front cab 14 and an elongated chassis, generally designated 16, extending rearwardly of the front cab 14 and having supported thereon certain structures to be described in greater detail subsequently herein. Such structures cooperate with each other to enable the apparatus 10 to function completely and self-contained for efficiently and effectively handling any asphalt repair or restoration.

Specifically, there are appropriately supported on the chassis 16, in order, and asphalt storage compartment or unit 18, a storage deck 20 for storing typical apparatus and equipment used incident to pavement repair and restoration, as well as an equipment raising or lowering mechanism or crane 22. A fuel source or tank 24 is located at a medial location on the chassis 16, a dump 26 to hold and subsequently conveniently dispose of debris and spoils of pavement repair or restoration, a tool, storage locker 28 and, movably mounted on the extreme end of the chassis 16, an asphalt or pavement heating unit 30 effective in its operative position, as well be described in greater detail subsequently herein, to cause a softening of the pavement requiring repair or restoration. In a well-understood , manner, this softening facilitates completing the repair or restoration of the pavement. The cooperative manner in which the just named various parts of the apparatus 10 provide a noteworthy operation to the apparatus will be best understood from the discussion of each of these individual parts which now follows.

As may best be understood by progressive examination of FIGS. 1 and 2, the previously noted asphalt storage unit 18 is mounted on the chassis 16 just to the rear of the cab 14 and includes vertically oriented walls 32 and 34 extending transversely of the chassis 16 and, at opposite ends, having a pair of cooperated side-opening doors 36 and 38 which together cooperate to define a storage compartment 40 for asphalt to be used in the making of pavement repairs and restoration. In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the unit 18 are of an extent which provides a two-ton storage capacity. To facilitate the loading of this quantity of asphalt into the compartment 40, there is provided a cooperating pair of top-loading doors 42 and 44 and appropriate linkage, generally designated 46, connected connected from stationary portions of the compartment 18 to the doors 42 and 44 so as to form, in a well-understood manner, a chute to facilitate loading of the asphalt into the compartment 40 when the doors 42 and 44 are open.

Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, at this convenient point in the description it should be noted from the diagrammatic showing in FIG. 5 that there is operatively arranged within the storage unit 18 an asphalt heating unit 48, preferrably having an infrared range of operation and a rating as is necessary to maintain the asphalt being stored within the compartment 40 at an appropriate elevated temperature for prolonged periods of time required for pavement repair and restoration. In practice with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 two conventional propane gas operated infrared heaters 48 used to maintain the temperature within the compartment 40 at the proper level for five days.

As previously noted, located adjacent the asphalt storage unit 18 is the storage deck 20 having side opening gates 50 and 52 which readily provide access to an apparatus and equipment storage surface 54. The apparatus and equipment usually being stored on the deck 20 include traffic cones, flasher barricades, and the like, not shown. Additionally, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, the area of the storage deck 20 is advantageously used for locating the previously noted crane 22 which is used to raise and lower the comparatively heavy equipment used during pavement repair of restoration, such as a vibrator compactor 58. The crane 22 has also been used to hook on and adjust manhole covers or remove and clean drains and the like.

Also supported on the surface 54 adjacent to the crane 22 is the previously noted fuel source for the heating units of the apparatus, such source as illustrated herein preferrably taking the form of a cylindrical tank 60 oriented transversely of the vehicle chassis 16. As already noted, propane gas is the fuel preferred for use in operating the heating units of the apparatus 10. In a preferred embodiment, the tank 60 has an internal capacity to store at least 250 gallons of propane gas. It will be recalled that in connection with FIG. 5 it was noted that the fuel source 24 was used to operate the heaters 48 of the asphalt storage compartment 18. It should now be noted that, in addition, this fuel source is also used to operate the

3,564,985 previously noted asphalt heating unit 30 movably mounted on the rear of the vehicle chassis 16.

The specific manner, mode of operation and structural features of the fueling connection between the common fuel source 24 and the heating units 48 of the unit 18 and the heating unit 30 will subsequently be described in detail in connection with FIG. 5; it should be now noted, however, that the common fuel source 24 is advantageously located in an interposed position between the heating units 48 and 30 and, in this advantageous location, has several noteworthy attributes. These include the tank 60 being situated as close as possible to each of the heating units from the view point of having an optimum miminum distance along which the fuel must be flowed from the tank 60 to each of the heating units and, at the same time, having the heating units adequately spaced from the fuel tank 60 so that the heat generated by each of these heating units is not likely to cause ignition and explosion of the propane being stored within the tank 60.

As a further matter it should be noted that protecting the tank 60 from being damaged by debris and the like which is stored, during operation of the apparatus 10, the dump 26 located adjacent the tank is a three-sided barrier 62.

Turning now to the structural details of the dump 26, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the same includes a generally rectan- 25 gular truck section 64 oriented with its long dimension transversely of the chassis 16 section 64 is hingedly connected to the chassis 16 along the bottom edge of its short side 66, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, such that the opposite short side 68 can be raised above the chassis 16 and moved, as best illus- 30 trated in FIG. 1, from its full line in a phantom line position as illustrated in this figure. The result of lifting movement of the side 68 naturally provides an inclined position to the section 64 with the result that debris or other contents thereof which previously has been placed therein is imparted with dumping 35 movement 70 (see FIG. 2) from side 68 towards and out of an appropriate exit opening in is side 66. In this regard, the side 66 is a pivoted door that opens when the weight of debris slides thereagainst when the side 68 is lifted.

The transverse dumping movement 70 which is provided by 40 the transversely inclined dumping position of the dump 64 provides significant advantages over conventional dumping movement axially of the chassis 16. Specifically, included among these advantages is that it permits utilizing the rear of the chassis 16 for the mounting of the asphalt heating unit 30. ⁴~ This end mounting position for the unit 30 readily lends itself to the mounting of this unit for movement from a ready position to selected pavement-softening positions, all as is illustrated in FIG. 3 and will soon be described in detail in connection with this and other figures. Continuing with the descrip- ³⁰tion of the dump 26, however, from what has already been described it should be readily apparent that the raising of the side 68 can be achieved by any one of numerous mechanical arrangements. The mechanical arrangement illustrated herein j j consists of hydraulic cylinders 72 and 74 appropriately secured in depending positions, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to support members 76 such that in response to the buildup of pressure within the cylinders 72 and 74, the respective piston arms 78 and 80 thereof are actuated through a power stroke and go result in the raising of truck section side 68 into its raised position illustrated in FIG. 1, in phantom lines.

Before proceeding with the description of the previously mentioned asphalt heating unit 30, it will be noted in FIGS. 1 and 2, that advantageous use is made of the clearance between 65 the dump 26 and heater 30 to provide a lockable tool chest 24 which is defined by upstanding sides, collectively and individually designated 82, and two covers 84 and 86 which are approximately equal to half the transverse dimension of the truck chassis 16. The chest or locker 28 is suitable for use in 70 storing tools, shovels, rakes, picks, brooms, and other such equipment and apparatus that are typically used during the operation of a pavement restoration apparatus 10.

Reference is now made specifically to the construction and mode of operation of the asphalt heating unit 30 and is best 75 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The heating unit 30, in the preferred form as illustrated herein, has a substantially rectangular frame 88 and includes two separate bands of a plurality of conduits each individually designated 90 which, as best il5 lustrated in FIG. 4, are oriented and relatively spaced transversely of and within the convines of the top of the frame 88. The top of the frame 88 is vented but obscures the conduits 90 from view but the underside 92 is open to permit the combustion of gases and an infrared heat is generated from the ¹⁰ conduits or heaters 90 to be directed away from the frame 88.

As may best be appreciated by examination of FIGS. 1 and 3, opening 92 is oriented rearwardly of the vehicle 12 when the frame 88 is held in the upright position by the links 93.

The links 93 may be disengaged when it is desired the unit ³ 30 be moved into its powered horizontal operating position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in which it is in overlying facing relation to a pavement 94 requiring repair or restoration. The opening 92 is then substantially horizontally oriented facing the pave2q ment 94 so as to advantageously locate the conduits or heaters 90 adjacent the pavement 94. The significance of this is that the conduit heaters 90 have strategically located jets therealong (not shown) through which the propane gas issues and bums and an infrared heat is created in a well understood manner to generate sufficient heat to cause softening of the pavement 94. This softening of the pavement 94, and more particularly the asphalt content thereof, does not cause any harm or damage thereto but, again in a well understood manner, greatly facilitates'the making of repairs or restoration to the pavement 94.

In contrast to the prior art practice used in connection with pavement restoration apparatus wherein the equivalent of the heating unit 30 is permanently mounted in its pavement-softening position rather than being movable into such position, a noteworthy advantage is achieved in accordance with the present invention by virtue of the fact that the heating unit 30 hereof has an initial, previously noted substantially upright or vertically oriented ready position This position, as illustrated in FIG. 1 maintains the heating unit 30 in a favorable position to generate heat rearwardly of the truck 12 wherein it effectively provides warmth to personnel working adjacent the heater 30 during prevailing weather conditions which otherwise would make working difficult.

The specific construction of the movement-imparting mechanism of the asphalt heating unit 30 is not an essential part of the present invention, but for completeness sake a preferred mechanism is illustrated and is now described herein. This mechanism or arrangement includes the link or latch connected to an end of the tool chest 28 and, at its opposite end, readily latched and unlatched to the unit 30, the unlatching permitting lowering of the unit. At the lower end of the frame 88, as at 96, the frame 88 is journaled to a support linkage 98 so that a degree of rotative movement 100 (FIG. 3) is possible as a result of which the frame 88 is lowered into a horizontally oriented position.

During a further sequence of movement, the horizontally oriented frame 88 shown at 88α in FIG. 3 is then lowered into a solid line position (FIG. 3) adjacent the pavement 94, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the heating elements 90 of the heater 30 radiate heat through the opening 92 against the pavement 94 in such manner as to soften the asphalt content of the pavement preparatory to repair or restoration thereof, the foregoing further movement sequence and also the effective holding of the unit 30 in selective pavement-softening positions is achieved by pivotally mounting the link 98, as at 102, to a dependent support 104 and actuated the link 98 through pivotal movement with a pair of transversely spaced cylinders 106.

One end of each cylinder 106 is stationarily mounted to the chassis 16 while the piston arm 108 thereof is connected to the link 98 such that a power stroke of the piston arm 108 is effective to move the asphalt heating unit 30 through a range of vertical, arcuate and horizontally oriented positions starting from the vertical to the upper horizontally oriented position

3,564,985

88α illustrated in phantom perspective in FIG. 3 to the lowermost position as illustrated in full line in this figure. Moreover, movement throughout the range of movements just described is achieved by releasing hydraulic fluid from the cylinders 106 so that by curtailing the release of fluid it is readily possible to hold the heating unit 30 in any position of movement within the possible range of movement, to thereby provide a spaced position of the unit 30 from the pavement 94 that will most advantageously facilitate repair and restoration of the pavement 94.

Referring to FIG. 4, in contemplation of the movement of the heating unit 30 from its ready position into a selected pavement-softening position, the two banks of plural heating units 90 are connected to flexible conduits 110 and 112, (FIG. 4) each of which are respectively connected to stationary exit pipes or conduits 114 and 116 of a gas-air mixer blower means 118 and 120. These blower means 118 and 120 operate, in a well understood manner, to cause and regulate the flow of the propane gas from the fuel tank 60 to their respective heating banks of elements 90 of the heating unit 30 so as to promote softening of the pavement by the unit 30. Since propane gas is being used to fuel the heating unit 30, each of the mixer blower means 118 and 120 effectively move the propane gas from the fuel tank 60 to the heating elements 90.

Reference is now made specifically to FIG. 5 wherein details of the propane fuel supply system of the apparatus 10 are diagrammatically illustrated. Specifically, supported along the underside of the truck chassis 16 and running lengthwise thereof, is a tank outlet conduit 122 connected via a regulator 124 to a conduit segment 126 which has appropriately connected on opposite sides of the connection to the conduit 122 flow-control valves 128 and 130. Because of the inaccessible position of valves 128 and 130, each is provided with an extended handle 132 and 134 which, in their exposed location at side of the chassis 16, (see FIG. 1) more readily permit adjustment in the valve openings to, in turn, regulate the quantity of gas flowing from the tank 60.

Valve 130 has an outlet conduit 136 which splits into two branches 138 and 140 and terminates in a connection to each of the previously noted blowers 118 and 120. Valve 128, on the other hand, is connected to a conduit 142 extending in the opposite direction along the chassis 16 and is connected via a thermocouple control 144 to the internally disposed heaters 48 within the asphalt storage unit 18. The control 144 operates as a safety device to close off the supply of fuel in the event of combustion failure.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 wherein the electrical system of the pavement restoration apparatus 10 is more specifically disclosed. This system includes a conventional alternator 146 which is electrically connected via a conductor 148 to a battery pack 150 (see also FIG. 1) and which alternator functions, in a well understood manner, to maintain the battery pack 150 in a charged condition. An electrical circuit 152 connects the battery pack 150 to each of the previously noted blowers 118 and 120 so as to operate them. The circuit 152 includes on-off switches 154 and 156 (see also FIG. 1) for selectively operating each of the blowers. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the switches 154 and 156 are situated in an accessible position along the side and at the rear of the chassis 16.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7 wherein the hydraulic system of the apparatus 10 is diagrammatically shown. Powering this system is the motor of the truck 12 and, more particularly, the drive shaft 158 thereof which includes meshing gears 160 (not shown) powering the input shaft 162 of a hydraulic compressor 164. The compressor 164 has a first outlet conduit 166 which is connected to operate the pair of hydraulic cylinders 106 which actuate the asphalt heating unit 30 through rotative lifting and lowering movements. Connnected in the conduit 166 are fluid-control valves 168 and 170 which regulate the flow of pressure fluid into the cylinders 106 and thus permit regulating the power stroke of the pistons of these cylinders, It has been found advantageous to enable either the driver or other member of the crew to operate the valves 168 and 170 from a position within the cab 14 as a positive safety feature. Accordingly, a handle or other valve control means 172 is extended from these valves lengthwise of the chassis 16 to an accessible position 174 within the cab 14.

Still referring to FIG. 7, the hydraulic compressor 164 has a second outlet conduit 176 which is connected via a valve 178 to branch conduits 180 and 182 to each of the previously noted cylinders 72 and 74 which operate the dump 26. Here also it is advantageous and safer to operate the valve 178 from within the cab 14 and accordingly this valve is provided with an extended handle or switch 184 having an accessible location 186 within the cab 14.

From the foregoing description it should be readily appreciated that the pavement restoration apparatus 10 is a complete, self-contained and mobile apparatus for efficiently and effectively achieving repair and restoration of pavement. Among some of its noteworthy features is the feature that it effectively utilizes two propane-operated heating units, one unit 48 to maintain stored asphalt in condition for use in repairing and restoring pavements and the other heater 30 for use in softening pavement preparatory to repair and restoration. It is of significant commercial advantage that these heaters be fueled by propane gas which readily permits the accurate maintaining of the proper temperatures to achieve the results sought. However, it is necessary that the source of the propane gas be isolated from the heaters so that inadvertent ignition and possible explosion is avoided. This is achieved in the noteworthy construction of the apparatus 10 wherein the fuel tank 60 is located on the chassis 16 in an interposed clearance position from each of the heaters 48 and 30. Yet, the fuel source or tank 60 is not located that far from either of the heaters as to complicate the flowing of the propane gas from the tank 60 to these heaters.

Moreover, the clearance which exists between the fuel tank 60 and the heaters 48 and 30 is advantageously used as has been herein described in detail as locations for other mechanisms and means that facilitate the making of pavement repairs and restoration. Specifically, a storage deck surface 54 for road-repairing apparatus, and also a crane for the movement of this apparatus and having other possibilities, is advantageously located between the fuel tank 60 and the asphalt storage compartment heaters 48. In the clearance on the other side of the fuel tank 60 there are located a dump which dumps debris transversely of the chassis 16 and a tool chest 28.

Also as has heretofore been described in detail, the apparatus 10 includes in a compact arrangement a propane gas fueling system, as illustrated in FIG. 5, an electrical system, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and also a complete hydraulic system, as illustrated in FIG. 7. These three systems effectively and efficiently enable operation of all of the different parts and mechanisms supported on the truck chassis 16 which are used in a noteworthy manner to facilitate the repair and restoration of pavement.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features.