Mobile Asphalt Concrete Production Machine

Abstract

A mobile asphalt production machine which includes support for different asphalt concrete recipes including a plurality of aggregate storage bins which work on combination with a fines or sands storage bin. The individual bins have separated feeding chutes to the mixing trough. The machinery also includes a removable pan at the elevator transfer station to accommodate changeover from one grade aggregate material to another. Further, a controller is provided which delivers appropriate ingredients while also measuring process parameters to adjust various input requirements. Further, a dust and particulate recapturing system is provided which recycles particulate matter back into the ribbon of mixed material with a binding agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile asphalt mixing machine, comprising:
 a mobile frame having a fines storage bin, a first aggregate storage bin, and a second aggregate storage bin discharging material to a mixing trough;   wherein said mixing trough has a mixing auger extending longitudinally through said mixing trough, said mixing auger forwarding aggregate and fines material through said mixing trough and to a mixing trough exit;   at least one bitumen nozzle adjacent said mixing trough to deposit liquid bitumen into said mixing trough;   at least one heating device directing heat into said mixing trough;   wherein said mixing trough includes a first mixing trough section airflow separated from a downstream second mixing trough section while allowing the aggregate and fines material to be forwarded between said first mixing trough section and said second mixing trough section; and   a recycling airflow channel extending between an air intake in flow communication with said first mixing trough section and an air exhaust in flow communication with said second mixing trough section.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1  further including a baffle, wherein said recycling airflow channel air intake is upstream of said baffle and said air exhaust is downstream of said baffle. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2  wherein said baffle is a plate of said mixing trough. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said mixing auger floats vertically within said mixing trough. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said mixing auger includes a first and second mixing auger. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said mixing trough includes a cover. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein said mixing trough is pivoted between a first angle and a second angle by one or more displacement rams. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 1  further including an air blower capturing heated air upstream from said air intake of said first mixing trough section and injecting it downstream into said air exhaust of said second mixing trough section. 
     
     
         9 . A mobile asphalt mixing machine, comprising:
 a mobile frame having a plurality of storage bins and a conveyor to transfer material from the plurality of storage bins to a heated mixing trough;   wherein said heated mixing trough has a flighted mixing auger extending longitudinally through said mixing trough, said flighted mixing auger forwarding material deposited by said conveyor through said heated mixing trough to a mixing trough exit;   a bitumen nozzle in flow communication with a heated bitumen source to deposit heated liquid bitumen into said mixing trough;   at least one heating device directing heat into said mixing trough;   wherein said mixing trough has a cover to create a heated channel, said heated channel including a recycling air intake and air blower to capture particulate matter upstream in said mixing trough and an air exhaust to re-introduce said particulate matter downstream in said mixing trough;   wherein said mixing trough is air flow partitioned to position said air intake upstream and said air exhaust downstream while forwarding said material to the mixing trough exit.   
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 9  further including a recycling air flow channel in fluid communication with said air intake and said air exhaust. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein said flighted mixing auger includes at least a first flight and a second flight. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein said flighted mixing auger floats vertically within said mixing trough. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein said flighted mixing auger includes a first and second mixing auger. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein said mixing trough is pivoted between a first angle and a second angle by one or more displacement rams. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 9  wherein said mixing trough includes a first mixing trough section upstream from a second mixing trough section. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 15  further including an air flow separator within an interior of said mixing trough between said first mixing trough section and said second mixing trough section. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 16  wherein said air flow separator is a baffle plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of recycling air within a mobile asphalt mixing machine, comprising the steps of:
 transferring one or more materials into a mixing trough;   injecting heated liquid bitumen into said mixing trough;   directing heat into said mixing trough;   separating said mixing trough into a first mixing trough section upstream from a second mixing trough section;   recycling air from said first mixing trough section to said second mixing trough section; and   advancing said one or more materials from said first mixing trough section to said second mixing trough section.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of pivoting said mixing trough from a first angle to a second angle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of separating includes an air flow separator and the step of recycling air further includes the step of re-introducing at least one of heat and dust from said first mixing trough section to said second mixing trough section.