Abstract: An asphalt production plant includes an asphalt binder storage tank, a mixer for mixing asphalt binder and aggregate materials, an asphalt binder pumping system for conveying asphalt binder to the mixer and an asphalt binder metering system for controlling the rate of flow of asphalt binder to the mixer. The asphalt production plant also includes a cold feed proportioning system having a plurality of cold feed bins for holding aggregate materials, with each such bin having a discharge opening through which aggregate materials may be discharged, a cold feed conveyor system that extends from beneath the discharge openings for the plurality of bins for conveying aggregate materials to the mixer and an apparatus and system for adjusting the relative proportions of aggregate materials from each of the cold feed bins that are conveyed to the mixer.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an item of equipment for processing materials to produce a product which includes aggregate materials of various particle sizes in a predetermined weight ratio includes a sampling device for obtaining a sample of the product from a predetermined location and a gradation assembly. The gradation assembly includes a plurality of gradation screens and a weighing pan for measuring the weight of aggregate material. The gradation screens are supported by a frame in a generally horizontal attitude in a stacked arrangement, so that each screen in the stack has screen openings that are smaller than those of the screen immediately above it in the stack. The assembly also includes a vibrator for vibrating the screens and a mechanism for sequentially depositing the aggregate material that is retained on each screen or that passes through all of the screens in the weighing pan.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a first item of equipment for processing materials in connection with the production of a product which includes aggregate materials and a volatile component includes an oven, a gradation assembly having a plurality of screens, and a mechanism for transporting aggregate materials from the oven to the gradation assembly. The system also includes a mechanism for controlling the operation of an item of equipment if one or more of the ratios of the weight of the aggregate materials that are retained on any of the screens or that pass through all of the screens to the total weight of the aggregate materials fails to meet a predetermined standard. A preferred embodiment of the system also includes a mechanism for controlling the operation of a second item of equipment for combining asphalt cement and aggregate materials if the ratio of the weight of the asphalt cement in a sample of the product to the total weight of the sample fails to meet a predetermined standard.

Abstract: A self-propelled trench-cutting machine includes a chassis and a drive assembly mounted to the chassis for driving the machine along a surface to be cut. The machine includes a boom and a rock cutting wheel that is mounted on the boom for rotation about a wheel axis. The boom has a first end and a second end and is mounted along a side of the chassis for pivotal movement about a pivot axis at the first end. A mechanism is provided for rotating the rock cutting wheel about the wheel axis, and a locking mechanism is provided that is adapted to lock the second end of the boom to the chassis.

Abstract: A rock crusher such as a cone or jaw crusher incorporates hardened tapered inserts in the manganese or other wear liner of at least one of its crushing elements. The inserts extend outwardly from the crushing surface of the crushing element towards the facing crushing surface so as, in use, to act as pick axes that shatter rock primarily by impact rather than pulverizing the rock by compression. The inserts are fixed in a heat treated manganese wear liner either by bonding or by press-fitting. The inserts substantially improve the life of the wear liner and, unexpectedly, 1) produce product of a highly uniform gradation in the desired ranges, 2) consistently produce product with a very high cubicity, 3) dramatically reduce the crusher's power requirements, and 4) significantly increase the crusher's capacity.

Abstract: A rock crusher such as a cone or jaw crusher incorporates hardened tapered inserts in the manganese or other wear liner of at least one of its crushing elements. The inserts extend outwardly from the crushing surface of the crushing element towards the facing crushing surface so as, in use, to act as pick axes that shatter rock primarily by impact rather than pulverizing the rock by compression. The inserts are fixed in a heat treated manganese wear liner either by bonding or by press-fitting. The inserts substantially improve the life of the wear liner and, unexpectedly, 1) produce product of a highly uniform gradation in the desired ranges, 2) consistently produce product with a very high cubicity, 3) dramatically reduce the crusher's power requirements, and 4) significantly increase the crusher's capacity.

Abstract: A method for forming a test specimen from an asphalt concrete mixture includes providing a mold to receive a quantity of the mixture and adding a predetermined quantity of the mixture to the mold. The mixture in the mold is compressed at a pressure of at least about 7 psi while vibrating the mixture in the mold at a rate of at least about 2400 cycles per minute. The method also includes maintaining the vibration of and the application of compressing pressure to the mixture in the mold until the mixture obtains a predetermined mix design density within a range of about 90-97%.

Abstract: A gyratory crusher includes an anti-spin mechanism which couples a lower end of the eccentric shaft of the crusher to the stationary frame of the crusher so as to prevent the eccentric shaft and associated crushing head from spinning when the crusher is not subject to a crushing load. The anti-spin mechanism includes 1) a gear train preferably formed from two sets of intermeshing gears, and 2) a torque limiter which is coupled to the gear train and which releases upon the imposition of a crushing load on the crusher so as to permit relatively slow rotation of the eccentric and crushing head counter to the direction of rotation of the main drive gear or bull gear.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing pavement test samples for for surface wear, including rutting, stripping and fatigue, is disclosed. The testing machine includes a testing chamber and a sample tray that is adapted for holding one or more test samples. The machine also includes a hose for each test sample to be tested. Each hose is disposed above a test sample in the sample tray in such fashion that the hose may be deflected to contact a least a substantial portion of the sample. A mechanism is also provided for pumping a fluid into each hose and for maintaining fluid pressure within the hose. The testing machine also includes a testing wheel assembly that is disposed above the hose assembly within the chamber. The testing wheel assembly is adapted for reciprocating movement on a track and includes a loading wheel for each hose.

Abstract: A cutter drum of the type adapted for use in milling a roadway surface is disclosed, and which comprises a plurality of flighting assemblies fixed to the surface of the drum in a helical configuration. Each flighting assembly comprises a base plate which is aligned with a plane which perpendicularly intersects the central axis of the drum, and rear and forward support blocks fixed to one side of the base plate to define a channel therebetween. A tooth holder is mounted in the channel, and the holder has an outer portion which extends radially above the outer edge of the base plate, and the tooth holder is releasably mounted in the channel by means of a bolt. The portion of the tooth holder in the channel is protectively covered by the side surface of the base plate of an adjacent assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the cold, in-place recycling of asphalt paving of an asphalt roadway. The apparatus is self-propelled, and it includes a cylindrical milling drum mounted at a medial location along its longitudinal length and which serves to remove a thickness of the asphalt paving and break the same into particles as the apparatus moves forwardly along the roadway. The particles are lifted to a separating screen which is positioned forwardly of the drum, and the particles are thereby separated into a first portion of relatively small particles suitable for recycling and a second portion of oversized particles. The first portion is delivered to the rear end of the apparatus where it is mixed with a suitable liquid additive, and then discharged onto the roadway. A following paver then forms the discharged material into new paving. The second portion of oversized particles is discharged onto the roadway at a location in front of the milling drum.

Abstract: An asphalt paving planer is illustrated wherein a power operated conveyor is mounted ahead of a cutter drum for receiving asphalt cuttings and conveying them to a truck and the like driving in the forward direction in front of the paver, and wherein a cutter drum drive is provided which includes an internal combustion engine for driving a V-belt drive which, in turn, drives a gear reducer carried adjacent the cutter drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for planing a paved roadway wherein a main frame is drivingly supported by track assemblies and a planer assembly is disposed in cutting engagement with a top portion of the paved roadway to produce a new roadway surface. An elevation positioning assembly is provided for raising and lowering the main frame in response to an external control reference such as a string line, and a cross slope positioning assembly is provided for raising and lowering one side of the main frame relative to the other side thereof for maintaining a selected cross slope. The planer assembly comprises a planing cutter that is partially surrounded by a hood that forms a material directing compartment, and spray nozzles produce a vapor mist within the compartment. A floating moldboard is yieldingly forced into contact with the roadway to the rear of the planer assembly and cooperates with a reclaimer assembly to receive and transport the removed pavement material to a selected depository.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing hot mix asphalt utilizing new aggregate and a previously manufactured and layed asphalt mix which has been reduced to form recyclable aggregate, comprising a cylindrical mixer drum supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a burner assembly for producing a flame in the drum extending from a first end of the drum to a medial portion thereof, a conveyor assembly extending from a second end of the drum to a medial portion thereof for feeding the recyclable aggregate into a medial portion of the drum, means for feeding the new aggregate into the first end of the drum and for injecting asphaltic oil into the drum, the drum being provided with a plurality of mixing flights for mixing the asphaltic oil, new aggregate and recyclable aggregate for discharge as a hot mix asphalt from the second end of the drum.