Abstract: A gyratory crusher includes a frame, a bonnet, a gyratory crusher head, supported by the frame and being spaced relative to the bonnet such that a crushing chamber is formed therebetween, and a hydraulic channel formed integrally within the frame. First and second hydraulic cylinders are attached to the frame and support the bonnet on the frame, and the first and second hydraulic cylinders are connected to the hydraulic channel so as to be in hydraulic communication therewith. First and second hydraulic accumulators are supported by the frame and are in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic channel and the hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic accumulators and the hydraulic channel are arranged to allow uncrushable material to automatically pass through the crushing chamber.

Abstract: An improved extended auger arrangement and an improved asphalt paver with a tractor unit and a screed assembly, including a main screed and extendable screeds, having such an improved extended auger arrangement, the extendable screeds extending laterally outwardly from the main screed such that the screed assembly spans a width substantially greater than the width of the tractor unit. The extended auger arrangement includes a pair of opposing, oppositely pitched, inner augers, rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis oriented perpendicularly to the direction of travel of the tractor unit and approximately spanning the width of the tractor unit, and a pair of oppositely pitched outer augers, rotatable about respective horizontal axes oriented substantially non-perpendicularly to the direction of travel of the tractor unit and approximately spanning the difference between the width of the tractor unit and the width of the screed assembly.

Abstract: An asphalt plant is provided with a system for containing noxious and nuisance gases and fumes generated therein. The system includes a substantially air tight casing encircling an slat conveyor of the plant, a substantially air tight elevator chute having a substantially air tight connection to each of a drum dryer/mixer and the casing, a batcher chute having a substantially air tight connection to each of the casing and a batcher of the plant, a substantially air tight seal between the batcher and a silo of the plant, and a bypass duct bypassing the seal between the batcher and the silo such that a negative pressure created in the drum dryer/mixer by a power exhaust of the plant is distributed substantially throughout various components of the plant as the batcher and the silo contain sufficient asphalt material being processed by the plant such that air and other gases and fumes contained within the plant are prevented from escaping directly into the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A storage silo system and an asphalt plant having the storage silo system, each including a silo bin, an input monitor arrangement for dynamically monitoring the mass of a flowable dry material being introduced into the silo bin, and an out monitor arrangement for dynamically monitoring the mass of the material being dispensed from the silo bin. The system includes a control unit which, in conjunction with the input and output monitor arrangements, dynamically monitors and controls the mass of the material contained in the silo bin. The input and output monitor arrangements each include a gravimetric weigh device having an enclosed, flexible wall belt scales and a clean-out auger for removing material that has fallen from the belt within the enclosure. The system may include an input bypass arrangement for adding additional portions of the material to the bin and an output bypass arrangement for removing additional portions of the material from the bin.

Abstract: A gyratory crusher having a frame with a lower frame portion, a crusher head, a mounting mechanism for pivotally and gyrationally mounting the crusher head on the lower frame portion such that the crusher head operably gyrates between a closed side setting and a corresponding open side setting, a seal mechanism for operably protecting the mounting mechanism. The seal mechanism includes a flexible member having an outer edge, sealingly connected to the crusher head, and an inner edge, sealingly connected to the lower frame portion by an outer bearing race secured to the inner edge, an inner bearing race secured to the lower frame portion, and bearing balls captured between the outer and inner bearing races. The flexible member may have a single wall structure with a corrugation-like configuration, or a double wall structure with an inflatable bladder therebetween.

Abstract: A gyratory crusher for crushing material having a frame with a lower frame portion; a crusher head; a mounting mechanism for pivotally and gyrationally mounting the crusher head: and a thermal relief system for operably transferring thermal energy from the mounting mechanism to the lower frame portion, wherein the thermal relief system includes at least one collar in thermal communication with the lower frame portion and a self-contained circulating system configured to operatively circulate coolant through the at least one collar. The thermal relief system may be configured to operatively provide a cooling system for cooling lubricant being used to lubricate the mounting mechanism. The coolant may be a lubricant such that the self-contained circulating system may be configured to operatively circulate the lubricant simultaneously through the thermal relief system and the mounting mechanism.

Abstract: A gyratory crusher includes a frame structure; an eccentric member rotatably mounted to the frame structure about a first axis; a main shaft rotatably mounted to the eccentric member about a second axis angularly offset from the first axis; a crusher head mounted to the main shaft and supported by a plurality of hydrostatic bearings, mounted on the frame structure in abutting engagement with the crusher head; a first drive mechanism for rotating the eccentric member about the first axis; and a stroke adjusting mechanism having an outer race continuously and dynamically rotatable about a third axis, angularly offset from both the first and second axes, for adjusting the angular offset of the second axis relative to the first axis. A hydraulic drive mechanism, including a hydraulic motor and a rotary hydraulic connector, distribution lines and ports, for distributing pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor, is provided for rotating the outer race relative to the eccentric member about the third axis.

Abstract: A gyratory crusher includes a flexible dust seal having an outer edge attached to a cone head of the crusher and to an outer of a ball-bearing seal, an inner race of which is attached to a mounting arrangement for rotationally mounting an eccentric member about a crusher axis with a pair of taper bearings and for rotationally mounting the cone head about a cone head axis offset from the crusher axis. The cone head is also mounted on a plurality of hydrostatic bearings. A mantel of the crusher is attached to the cone head by a removable cap nut and mantel stud. The crusher includes a self-contained lubricating system and a hydraulic tramp iron relief system with connections contained internally within structure of a lower frame portion of the crusher. The crusher includes a drive gear centered about the crusher axis and attached directly to the eccentric member.

Abstract: An improved concrete mixing plant is mounted on several mobile chassis to provide portability. The plant includes a horizontally oriented, internally urethane coated mixing drum having spiral and lift flights such that the rate of discharging concrete material is controllable without altering the direction or rate of rotation. The drum and chute are self-erecting from a low-profile, transport configuration to an elevated, mixing configuration. A water dispensing system wherein the water is automatically measured volumetrically or, alternatively, gravimetrically provides automatic cleaning of internal surfaces of the mixing drum as an integral part of the batching process. Feeder belt and weigh-bridge arrangements are interposed between bins containing denser ingredients and a collecting conveyor to provide a first surge capability. A hopper and load cell arrangement is interposed between a compartmented silo and a surge conveyor to provide a further surge capability.

Abstract: A system for concurrently remediating contaminated soil and producing hot mix asphalt includes a single inclined rotary drum; a burner assembly with a burner head spaced intermediately within the drum and oriented to direct a flame and hot gas stream upstream therefrom; a secondary air tube for providing atmospheric air to the burner head for supporting combustion; a drying zone with veiling flights upstream from the burner head for receiving, drying and heating virgin aggregate; a combustion zone with combustion flights downstream from the drying zone and upstream from the burner head for receiving and remediating contaminated soil by heat transfer from the virgin aggregate, the flame and the hot gas stream and for oxidizing volatile contaminants vaporized from the contaminated soil; an isolated mixing zone for receiving various materials including the virgin aggregate, the remediated soil, recycle asphalt, and certain constituents for producing hot mix asphalt therein from thermal energy contained within th

Abstract: An asphalt plant is provided with a system for containing noxious and nuisance gases and fumes generated therein. The system includes a substantially air tight casing encircling an slat conveyor of the plant, a substantially air tight elevator chute having a substantially air tight connection to each of a drum dryer/mixer and the casing, a batcher chute having a substantially air tight connection to each of the casing and a batcher of the plant, a substantially air tight seal between the batcher and a silo of the plant, and a bypass duct bypassing the seal between the batcher and the silo such that a negative pressure created in the drum dryer/mixer by a power exhaust of the plant is distributed substantially throughout various components of the plant as the batcher and the silo contain sufficient asphalt material being processed by the plant such that air and other gases and fumes contained within the plant are prevented from escaping directly into the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A compact, enclosable plant for producing hot mix asphalt from various ingredients, including recycle asphalt pavement ("RAP"). The system includes an inclined rotary drum, a burner assembly for generating a hot gas stream within the drum; a baghouse, exhaust blower, and stack mounted above the drum for reclaiming entrained particulate matter; an auger arrangement for returning the reclaimed particulate matter to the: and a supporting frame. The baghouse has a lower chamber for collecting the reclaimed particulate matter and for serving as a primary hopper for certain of the various ingredients. A plurality of preferably rectangularly shaped storage and loadout silos for containing certain of the ingredients and the hot mix asphalt, and conveyors for conveying the certain ingredients and hot mix asphalt to and from the storage and loadout silos, and to a bypass chute for direct loading on transport vehicles.

Abstract: Material remediation apparatus includes a remediation drum through which materials, such as soil contaminated with hydrocarbons, are advanced from a feed end to a discharge end of the drum. A tube extending concentrically from the discharge end of the drum into the drum forms a combustion chamber. Materials being decontaminated advance through an annular space between the tube and the drum. The tube is axially first of converging and then of diverging shape, as viewed from the discharge end of the drum. A turbo burner injects combustible gases into the tube which are burned within the diverging shape of the tube. A portion of the burned gases reflow from the outlet of tube through the annular space to the discharge end of the drum. In a zone of the drum occupied by the tube materials are heated by conduction and radiation of energy passing through the wall of the tube as well as by convective heating from the reflow gases. Hot gases are exhausted from the drum at the feed end thereof.

Abstract: A burner unit has a fuel dispersion arrangement at a burner head leading to a flame region which distributed fuel from longitudinal slots extending along trailing edges of spinner vanes of a spinner vane assembly. The spinner vane assembly is disposed transversely across a flow channel of combustion air past the burner head and has a function of deflecting the axial flow of the combustion air radially outward into a conical flow. The deflective air flow pressure distribution over the spinner vanes contributes to induction and mixing of the fuel with the combustion air as the combustion air enters the flame region of the burner. Combustion gases resulting from a combustible mixture achieved in this manner have resulted in emission products with pollutant levels within currently specified limits.

Abstract: An asphalt paver includes a microprocessor controlled integrated control system to control both the operation of a tractor unit of the paver and the positioning of the screed during a paving operation. A paver operator may operate the paver and monitor the screed position with respect to a grade reference. The correction of grade or transverse slope errors is accomplished by monitoring the linear advance of the paver and then measuring a any deviation of the screed with respect to a grade reference. The amount of vertical deviation and the linear advance since a most recent correct reading allows a rate of deviation per unit advance of the paver to be determined. A correction is applied as a change in the angle of attack of the screed, the change being equal and opposite to the determined rate of deviation. A transverse slope change is also measured directly at the screed.

Abstract: Material remediation apparatus includes a remediation drum through which materials, such as soil contaminated with hydrocarbons, are advanced from a feed end to a discharge end of the drum. A tube extending concentrically from the discharge end of the drum into the drum forms a combustion chamber. Materials being decontaminated advance through an annular space between the tube and the drum. The tube is axially first of converging and then of diverging shape, as viewed from the discharge end of the drum. A turbo burner injects combustible gases into the tube which are burned within the diverging shape of the tube. A portion of the burned gases reflow from the outlet of tube through the annular space to the discharge end of the drum. In a zone of the drum occupied by the tube materials are heated by conduction and radiation of energy passing through the wall of the tube as well as by convective heating from the reflow gases. Hot gases are exhausted from the drum at the feed end thereof.

Abstract: A burner assembly has a combustion chamber in which combustion takes place in an elongate centrally disposed combustion tube. An outer housing encases the combustion tube and provides an annular space between an inner wall of the housing and the combustion tube. Part of the exhaust gases exiting from the combustion tube are diverted from the downstream end thereof to be returned through the annular space to the upstream end of the combustion tube. Fuel is injected into the diverted exhaust gases, volatilized when in liquid form and mixed with the diverted gases. The fuel and gas mixture is further combined with a buffer gas and becomes entrained into and mixed with a high velocity of combustion air which is injected into the upstream end of the combustion tube. The flame temperature may be monitored and the quantity of the buffer gas added may be controllably varied based on temperature readings from the monitoring process to minimize the generation of nitrous oxides.

Abstract: A moisture content measuring apparatus and method wherein a sensor station produces calibration data corresponding to measurements of light at two different wavelengths reflected from a material, and the calibration data is then transferred to a hand held computer. The moisture content of a sample of the material is measured and input to the hand held computer. The process is repeated after changing the wetness of the material, and the hand held computer creates a table correlating reflection data to moisture content. The table is transferred to the sensor station which then continuously generates signals representing moisture content in response to real time reflection data and the table. The cost effectiveness of the sensor stations readily facilitates the use of a dedicated sensor station at each of a plurality of conveyors carrying different materials to be combined into a composite of predetermined proportions by weight.

Abstract: An asphalt paver includes a microprocessor controlled integrated control system to control both the operation of a tractor unit of the paver and the positioning of the screed during a paving operation. A paver operator may operate the paver and monitor the screed position with respect to a grade reference. The correction of grade or transverse slope errors is accomplished by monitoring the linear advance of the paver and then measuring a any deviation of the screed with respect to a grade reference. The amount of vertical deviation and the linear advance since a most recent correct reading allows a rate of deviation per unit advance of the paver to be determined. A correction is applied as a change in the angle of attack of the screed, the change being equal and opposite to the determined rate of deviation. A transverse slope change is also measured directly at the screed.

Abstract: A single drum of a flow-through soil remediation plant includes a first zone which is a heating zone. The heating zone is disposed next to an intake end through which a first soil material to be contaminated is introduced into the remediation plant. Heat energy is supplied by a burner unit to the first zone to heat the first soil material to a first decontamination temperature. The first soil material then passes from the heating zone to a second zone which is a mixing zone. A second soil material may be introduced selectively into the mixing zone and mixed with the first soil material. With the first soil material having been heated to the first decontamination temperature in the first zone, heat energy is transferred from the first soil material to the second soil material during the mixing process. The heat transfer raises the heat of the second soil material to a second decontamination temperature.