U.S. patent application number 14/846691 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-31 for additive mixing and delivery system for rotary mixers.
This patent application is currently assigned to CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.. Invention is credited to Brian J. Schlenker.
Application Number | 20150376847 14/846691 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54929907 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-31 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20150376847 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schlenker; Brian J. |
December 31, 2015 |
ADDITIVE MIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ROTARY MIXERS
Abstract
An additive mixing and delivery system for a rotary mixer is
provided. The additive mixing and delivery system includes an
onboard slurry tank, an additive pump, a water pump, a spray unit,
and a rotor. The onboard slurry tank receives additive and water.
The onboard slurry tank mixes the additive with water to form a
slurry. The additive pump delivers the additive to the onboard
slurry tank. The water pump delivers the water to the onboard
slurry tank. The spray unit delivers the slurry from the onboard
slurry tank to a work surface. The rotor includes a number of
cutting tools to disintegrate the work surface to form a
disintegrated work surface. Further, the slurry is mixed with the
disintegrated work surface to form an additive laden work
surface.
Inventors: |
Schlenker; Brian J.;
(Shoreview, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC. |
Brooklyn Park |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS
INC.
Brooklyn Park
MN
|
Family ID: |
54929907 |
Appl. No.: |
14/846691 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 21/00 20130101;
E01C 23/088 20130101; E01C 23/065 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E01C 23/06 20060101
E01C023/06 |
Claims
1. An additive mixing and delivery system for a rotary mixer, the
rotary mixer adapted to convert a work surface to an additive laden
work surface, the system comprising: an onboard slurry tank
including an additive inlet to receive an additive and a water
inlet to receive water, the onboard slurry tank configured to mix
the additive with water to form a slurry; an additive pump for
delivering the additive to the onboard slurry tank; a water pump
for delivering the water to the onboard slurry tank; a spray unit
connected to the onboard slurry tank and configured to deliver the
slurry from the onboard slurry tank to the work surface; and a
rotor configured to disintegrate the work surface to form a
disintegrated work surface and further mix the slurry with the
disintegrated work surface to form the additive laden work surface.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to machines used
for road reclamation and soil stabilization purposes. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to an additive mixing
and delivery system for rotary mixers.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A rotary mixer is generally used as a soil stabilizer to
cut, mix, and pulverize native in-place soils with additives or
aggregates. This is done to modify and stabilize the soil for a
strong base. The rotary mixer may also be used as a road reclaimer
to pulverize a work surface, such as asphalt. The pulverized layer
may be mixed with an underlying base to create a new road surface
for stabilization of deteriorated roadways. Optionally, the rotary
mixer may add asphalt emulsions or other binding agents to create
the new road surface during pulverization. The rotary mixer may
also be used to remove a layer from the ground. The rotary mixers
generally use a rotor equipped with cutting tools to cut into the
ground.
[0003] Typically a water truck, an additive truck, and a slurry
truck are required to provide slurry to the rotary mixer. The
slurry truck receives the water and the additive, respectively,
from the water truck and the additive truck. The slurry is mixed in
the slurry truck and transported in the slurry truck or pumped
directly to the rotary mixer. This process is time-consuming as it
requires a concerted efforts from multiple machines and work
personnel. Moreover, additional equipment, such as a slurry tank,
multiple hoses, pumps, metering units are separately required, to
deliver the slurry to the rotary mixer for soil reclamation.
[0004] German Patent Publication Number DE202004004954 relates to a
storage vessel for the additive to be mixed with the soil. The
storage vessel is supported on top of the vehicle. A dosing unit is
used to add the additive to the soil and a rotary mixing device
mixes the additive with the soil. However, the storage vessel of
the '954 reference does not provide a solution to bind the mixture
of the additive with the soil, during a delivery process. This
results in creation of large dust clouds in situ when the mixture
is spread onto the ground.
[0005] The present disclosure seeks to address one or more of the
problems associated with known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Various aspects of the disclosure relate to an additive
mixing and delivery system for a rotary mixer. The rotary mixer is
adapted to convert a work surface to an additive laden work
surface. The additive mixing and delivery system includes an
onboard slurry tank, an additive truck, a water truck, a spray
unit, and a rotor. The onboard slurry tank includes an additive
inlet to receive an additive and a water inlet to receive water.
The onboard slurry tank is configured to mix the additive with
water to form a slurry. The additive truck delivers the additive to
the onboard slurry tank. The water truck delivers the water to the
onboard slurry tank. The spray unit is connected to the onboard
slurry tank and delivers the slurry from the onboard slurry tank to
the work surface. The rotor is configured to disintegrate the work
surface to form a disintegrated work surface and further mix the
slurry with the disintegrated work surface to form the additive
laden work surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary machine having an
additive mixing and delivery system, in accordance with the
concepts of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is schematic view of the additive mixing and delivery
system of FIG. 1, in accordance with the concepts of the present
disclosure; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a mixing
chamber of FIG. 1, in accordance with the concepts of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary machine 10,
in this case, a rotary mixer 10. Although FIG. 1 shows the rotary
mixer 10, other machines used in milling, road reclamation, soil
stabilization, surface pulverization, or other applications may
also be contemplated. The rotary mixer 10 is adapted to convert a
work surface 12 (shown in FIG. 3) to an additive laden work surface
14 (shown in FIG. 3). According to FIG. 1, the rotary mixer 10
includes a frame 16, a cab 18, a mixing chamber 20, front wheels
22, rear wheels 24, an engine compartment 26, and an additive
mixing and delivery system 28.
[0011] The frame 16 includes a front portion 30 and a rear portion
32. The front portion 30 and the rear portion 32 are supported on
the front wheels 22 and the rear wheels 24, respectively. The front
wheels 22 and the rear wheels 24 are pivotally connected to the
frame 16, via respective axles (not shown). Further, the front
portion 30 supports the engine compartment 26 and the cab 18. The
frame 16 also supports the mixing chamber 20 proximate to a center
portion of the rotary mixer 10 and between the wheels 22 and
24.
[0012] The engine compartment 26 houses a power source (not shown).
The power source may be configured to electrically, mechanically,
hydraulically, and/or pneumatically power the wheels 22 and 24.
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the additive mixing and delivery
system 28 is positioned on the rear portion 32. The additive mixing
and delivery system 28 facilitates mixing of additive with a
binding agent, to form a slurry 34 (shown in FIG. 3). The additive
may be cement, lime, lime-cement-fly ash (LCF), or combinations of
these materials. The additive mixing and delivery system 28
receives the additive and the water from an additive truck 36 and a
water truck 38, respectively, via a first hose 40 and a second hose
42. The additive mixing and delivery system 28 includes an additive
pump 44, an additive delivery hose 46, a first metering unit 48, a
water pump 50, a water delivery hose 52, a second metering unit 54,
an onboard slurry tank 56, a slurry pump 58, a slurry metering unit
60, a slurry delivery hose 62, a spray unit 64, and a controller
66.
[0014] The additive pump 44 is disposed on the rotary mixer 10. The
additive pump 44 is connected to the additive truck 36 via the
first hose 40, for receipt of the additive. The additive pump 44
delivers the additive to the first metering unit 48.
[0015] The first metering unit 48 is in fluid communication with
the additive delivery hose 46. The first metering unit 48 may
provide provisions for additive metering and filtration. The first
metering unit 48 measures a precise amount of additive fed through
the additive delivery hose 46. The first metering unit 48 works in
conjunction with the controller 66 to alter a flow of the additive
based on operator feed. Hence, the first metering unit 48 allows an
operator to set a first pre-determined discharge amount of the
additive to be delivered from the additive pump 44.
[0016] The water pump 50 is disposed on the rotary mixer 10. The
water pump 50 is fluidly connected to the water truck 38 via the
second hose 42, for receipt of water. The water pump 50 delivers
water to the second metering unit 54.
[0017] The second metering unit 54 is in fluid communication with
the water delivery hose 52. The second metering unit 54 may provide
provisions for water metering and filtration. The second metering
unit 54 measures a precise amount of water fed through the water
delivery hose 52. The second metering unit 54 operates in
conjunction with the controller 66 to alter a flow of the water
based on operator input. Hence, the second metering unit 54 allows
an operator to set a second pre-determined discharge amount of the
water to be delivered from the water pump 50.
[0018] The onboard slurry tank 56 is coupled to the rear portion 32
of the rotary mixer 10. The onboard slurry tank 56 is connected to
the first metering unit 48 and the second metering unit 54. The
onboard slurry tank 56 includes an additive inlet 68, a water inlet
70, a tank chamber 72, and an outlet 74. The additive inlet 68 and
the water inlet 70 facilitate delivery of the additive and the
water, respectively, to the tank chamber 72. The additive and the
water are mixed in the tank chamber 72, which results in formation
of the slurry 34. The slurry 34 is discharged from the onboard
slurry tank 56, via the outlet 74. The outlet 74 is in fluid
communication with the slurry delivery hose 62. The slurry delivery
hose 62 allows flow of the slurry 34 to the slurry pump 58.
[0019] The slurry pump 58 is fluidly connected to the onboard
slurry tank 56. The slurry pump 58 is in fluid communication with
the slurry metering unit 60. The slurry metering unit 60 measures a
pre-determined amount of the slurry 34 fed to the spray unit 64,
which is in fluid communication with the slurry metering unit
60.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, the mixing chamber 20 is shown with the
spray unit 64, the slurry metering unit 60, and the slurry pump 58
in conjunction with the controller 66. It is shown, that the rotary
mixer 10 and the mixing chamber 20 moves along the work surface 12
composed of work surface particles. In this embodiment, the work
surface 12 is composed of a base layer 76 and an asphalt layer 78,
which is disposed over the base layer 76. As the rotary mixer 10
and mixing chamber 20 move along the work surface 12, the asphalt
layer 78 and the base layer 76 breaks apart and pulverizes into
pieces, which are then used to form a disintegrated work surface
80. In an embodiment, the work surface 12 is only the base layer
76, which is pulverized by the rotary mixer 10 to form the
disintegrated work surface 80. This is done for the purpose for
soil stabilisation.
[0021] The mixing chamber 20 includes a front door 82, a rear door
84, an adjustable sizing mechanism 86, and a rotor 88. The mixing
chamber 20 includes a first end 90 and a second end 92. The front
door 82 is positioned at the first end 90. Position of the front
door 82 is controlled by the controller 66, and in conjunction with
various sensors (not shown) positioned at the front door 82. The
front door 82 allows entry of the work surface particles into the
mixing chamber 20. Position of the front door 82 affects the degree
of pulverization by regulating the amount, direction, and speed of
material flow into the mixing chamber 20
[0022] The rear door 84 is positioned at the second end 92.
Position of the rear door 84 is controlled by the controller 66,
and in conjunction with various sensors (not shown) positioned at
the rear door 84. The rear door 84 facilities exit of the
pulverised pieces to form the additive laden work surface 14. The
position of the rear door 84 affects the degree of pulverization by
regulating the amount, direction, and speed of material flow
through the mixing chamber 20. The additive laden work surface 14
is a mixture of the asphalt and the base material treated with the
slurry 34. In an embodiment, the additive laden work surface 14 is
a mixture of the base material and the slurry 34.
[0023] The slurry 34 may be injected into the mixing chamber 20 by
the spray unit 64. The spray unit 64 is fluidly connected to the
slurry metering unit 60. The spray unit 64 includes treatment
nozzles 94 for injection of the slurry 34. The treatment nozzles 94
are mounted on a top side 96 of the mixing chamber 20. The
treatment nozzles 94 are thus adapted to inject the slurry 34 from
the onboard slurry tank 56 downwardly into the confines of the
mixing chamber 20. The slurry 34 then mixes with the pulverised
pieces created by action of the rotor 88.
[0024] The rotor 88 is placed inside the mixing chamber 20 between
the front door 82 and the rear door 84. The rotor 88 is rotatably
mounted within the mixing chamber 20. The rotor 88 is disposed
laterally rearward from the spray unit 64 and transversally to a
front-to-rear flow path of the material through the mixing chamber
20. The rotor 88 is often configured to move up or down (shown by
arrow 98) in the mixing chamber 20, along a known path. In
addition, the rotor 88 includes a number of cutting tools 100. The
cutting tools 100 are spaced apart along a cylindrical outer
surface in a general nonrepeating checkerboard pattern. The cutting
tools 100 may be pointed in a direction of rotation (indicated by
an arrow 102), such that a tip end of each cutting tool 100 is
driven into work surface 12 by a rotation of the rotor 88. The
cutting tools 100 drive into the work surface 12 and demolish or
break the work surface 12 into pieces.
[0025] The adjustable sizing mechanism 86 is used to control a
degree of pulverization of the work surface 12. The adjustable
sizing mechanism 86, as will be described below, may be positioned
at various distances from the rotor 88 to set the degree of
pulverization or, in other words, to set the maximum size or
diameter of disintegrated work surface particles 104 used in the
layer of reclaimed material.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0026] In operation, the water truck 38 and the additive truck 36
supply the water and the additive, respectively, to the rotary
mixer 10. The water pump 50 and the additive pump 44 positioned on
the rotary mixer 10, receive the water and the additive. The first
metering unit 48 and the second metering unit 54, respectively,
provides the first pre-determined amount and the second
pre-determined amount to the onboard slurry tank 56. The additive
mixes with the water to form the slurry 34. The slurry 34 is then
routed to the spray unit 64 via the slurry pump 58 and the slurry
metering unit 60. The spray unit 64 delivers the slurry 34 to the
treatment nozzles 94 which inject the slurry 34 into the mixing
chamber 20.
[0027] Simultaneously, as the rotary mixer 10 moves in the
direction (shown by arrow 106), in the mixing chamber 20, during
rotation of the rotor 88 (shown by arrow 102), the cutting tools
100 are forced through work surface 12. This results in breakage of
the work surface 12 into the disintegrated work surface 80. The
disintegrated work surface 80 then mix with the slurry 34 to form
treated soil particles. These treated particles then form the
additive laden work surface 14. The disclosed additive mixing and
delivery system 28 is beneficial in reducing time used in formation
of the additive laden work surface 14 by the rotary mixer 10. This
owes to the fact that the mixing of the water and the additive is
performed onboard the rotary mixer 10. In addition, the mixing of
the slurry 34 with the disintegrated work surface 80 is
simultaneously done to form the additive laden work surface 14.
Hence, the treatment of the work surface 12 takes less times. It is
also convenient for refiling as the slurry 34 tank is onboard. This
also eliminates a requirement of a separate slurry 34 tank for
mixing of water received from the water truck 38 and the additive
received from the additive truck 36. Further, this reduces the
number of hoses used in the process to supply the slurry 34 to the
work surface 12. Therefore, the disclosed system is convenient,
less complex, cost effective, and time saving.
[0028] The many features and advantages of the disclosure are
apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, are intended by
the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the disclosure that fall within the true spirit and scope thereof.
Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
disclosure to the exact construction and operation illustrated and
described herein. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the
disclosure.
* * * * *