Abstract: A process for heating an asphalt surface and an apparatus therefor. The process comprises the steps of: igniting in a burner (30) a combustible mixture comprised of a fuel (50) and oxygen (60) to produce a hot gas; and feeding the hot gas to an enclosure having a radiative face (200) disposed above the asphalt surface (280). The asphalt surface heating apparatus comprises a hot gas producing burner (30) and an enclosure (25) comprising an inlet (120) for receiving hot gas from the burner and a radiative face (200) having a plurality of apertures. The apertures in the radiative face are of a dimension such that the hot gas: (i) heats the radiative face to provide radiation heat transfer to the asphalt surface; and (ii) passes through the apertures to provide convection heat transfer to the asphalt surface.

Abstract: A process for recycling the upper surface of an asphaltic surface. The process includes the steps of: (a) rupturing the upper surface to a depth of at least about 1.5 inches to provide a ruptured upper surface overlying the remaining unruptured portion of the asphaltic surface; (b) heating and mixing the ruptured upper surface on the remaining unruptured portion of the asphalt surface to a temperature in the range of from about 100.degree. to about 350.degree. F. to produce a heated, ruptured upper surface which is substantially free of moisture; and (c) pressing the heated, ruptured upper surface to provide a recycled asphaltic surface. An apparatus adapted for carrying out the process is also described.

Abstract: A process for continuously heating an asphalt surface is described. The process comprises moving a heater over the asphalt surface in successive forward and backward directions. The forward stroke of the heater is effected over a second distance and the backward stroke of the heater is effected over a first distance. The ratio of the second distance to the first distance is in the range of from about 0.10 to about 0.90. Preferably, the heater comprises at least two independent heaters arranged in series.

Abstract: A process for recycling an asphaltic surface. The process comprises: (a) providing an asphaltic surface having an upper surface for recycling; (b) rupturing the upper surface to a depth of at least about 1.5 inches to provide a ruptured upper surface; (c) heating and mixing the ruptured upper surface on the asphalt surface to a temperature in the range of from about 100.degree. to about 350.degree. F. to produce a heated, ruptured upper surface which is substantially free of moisture; and (d) pressing the heated, ruptured upper surface to provide a recycled pavement surface. An apparatus adapted for carrying out the process is also described.

Abstract: An asphalt-paved road surface is rejuvenated in two stages. First, an exposed upper asphalt layer is heated to a selected temperature and depth. The heated upper asphalt layer is then removed from the road surface to expose a lower asphalt layer. In the second stage of the process, the lower asphalt layer is heated to a selected temperature and depth. The lower layer is then either broken up and left in place, or else it too is removed from the road surface. In the former case, asphalt removed from the upper layer is replaced on top of the ruptured lower layer; in the latter case, asphalt removed from the upper layer is comingled with asphalt removed from the lower layer. The removed/ruptured or comingled asphalt (as the case may be) is then pressed back against the road surface to repave the road.

Abstract: A grinding assembly for grinding asphaltic pavement which attaches to a vehicle frame and includes a grinder and a grinder blade attached to the rear of the grinder. The lower edge of the blade extends down to a bottom of the grinder so as to contact unground pavement during operation. A brace assembly is affixed to the grinder and an adjustment brace coupling is affixed to the vehicle frame and is connectable to the brace assembly. The brace coupling is adjustable to pivot the grinder to change the elevation of the grinding surface relative to the lower edge of the blade.

Abstract: An asphaltic pavement preconditioning machine to remove and grind up old asphalt so that it can be rejuvenated. The method and apparatus heats a strip of asphalt, grinds a first strip portion and moves the ground asphalt to a second strip portion leaving behind an exposed unsoftened layer. Both the ground material and the previously heated unground asphalt in the second strip are then ground. The exposed hard asphalt in the first strip is heated, softened and then ground and moved onto the first strip portion. The heat from the ground asphalt lying over the center strip portion softens the unground asphalt there which is subsequently ground together with the ground material and left for further processing.