Feed hopper for providing preheated aggregate material
First Claim
1. An apparatus for feeding preheated aggregate material, comprising:
- a feed hopper having opposite upper and lower ends, said upper end being open and adapted to receive aggregate material therein, said lower end having a rectangular lengthwise extending discharge opening adapted to feed aggregate material therethrough;
an elongate gas fired radiant surface heater having an upper portion and a lower portion, said heater positioned within said hopper adjacent said lower end and adapted for preheating aggregate material prior to the aggregate material passing through said discharge opening, said heater extending lengthwise generally parallel to and above said opening and for substantially the full length of said opening; and
a cover positioned above and in spaced-apart relation from said heater and adapted for shielding the upper portion of said heater from direct contact with aggregate material, said cover, said heater, and said lower end of said hopper being dimensioned and positioned so as to allow the lower portion to have direct contact with aggregate material moving past said heater and toward said discharge opening.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for feeding preheated aggregate material, such as for the production of asphalt. A feed hopper includes a heater within its interior and positioned adjacent a slotted discharge opening at the lower end of the hopper. A tent-like cover is positioned above the heater to deflect aggregate material from contacting the upper portion of the heater and to transfer heat to the aggregate material in a uniform and efficient manner. The heater may preferably be a gas-fired radiant heater extending lengthwise parallel to and for the full length of the slotted discharge opening. A series of hoppers may be arranged in side-by-side relation and a common conveyor positioned beneath the individual feed conveyors of each hopper to direct the preheated aggregate material to a subsequent processing apparatus, such as a drum mixer or other dryer, used for the production of asphalt.
37 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for feeding preheated aggregate material, comprising:
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a feed hopper having opposite upper and lower ends, said upper end being open and adapted to receive aggregate material therein, said lower end having a rectangular lengthwise extending discharge opening adapted to feed aggregate material therethrough; an elongate gas fired radiant surface heater having an upper portion and a lower portion, said heater positioned within said hopper adjacent said lower end and adapted for preheating aggregate material prior to the aggregate material passing through said discharge opening, said heater extending lengthwise generally parallel to and above said opening and for substantially the full length of said opening; and a cover positioned above and in spaced-apart relation from said heater and adapted for shielding the upper portion of said heater from direct contact with aggregate material, said cover, said heater, and said lower end of said hopper being dimensioned and positioned so as to allow the lower portion to have direct contact with aggregate material moving past said heater and toward said discharge opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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6. An apparatus for feeding aggregate material, comprising:
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a plurality of generally upright hoppers arranged in a row, each of said hoppers having opposing upper and lower ends, each of said upper ends being open and adapted to receive aggregate material therein, each of said lower ends having a discharge opening adapted to feed aggregate material therethrough; a heater positioned within a respective one of said hoppers adjacent said lower end thereof and adapted for preheating aggregate material prior to the aggregate material passing through said discharge opening; and common collecting conveyor positioned below all of said hoppers and adapted to receive thereon the preheated aggregate material from said hoppers. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification