System for applying liquid asphalt to a roadbed

• US 5,957,621 A
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert J. Clark Jr, Eddy J. Clark
• Original Assignee: Albert J. Clark Jr, Eddy J. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Eddy J., Clark, Albert J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JONG SUK
• Application Number:
  US08/803,538
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 404/101, 404/104, 404/108, 404/111, 239/159, 239/160, 239/161, 239/163
• US Class Current: 404/111
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/174 Apparatus with pump-discharge
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/176 Spraying or throwing elements, e.g. nozzles; Arrangement thereof or supporting structures therefor, e.g. spray-bars

Abstract

A system for applying a liquid material to a roadway surface from a wheeled, motor-driven vehicle, the system comprising a tank for carrying a liquid material, a first spray bar for discharging the liquid material on to the roadway surface and a second spray bar for discharging the liquid material onto the roadway surface which was not covered by the discharge of the first spray bar. The system includes hydraulic motors and pumps for the first spray bar as well as hydraulic motors and pumps for the second spray bar, the second spray bar being independently controllable to apply liquid asphalt or other suitable material to the roadway at different rates than that liquid asphalt being applied by the first spray bar.

Claims

1. On a liquid asphalt distribution truck having a tank carrying liquid asphalt and having a first spray bar with a first multiplicity of nozzles thereon for directing liquid asphalt onto a roadway surface, an asphalt distribution system comprising:

a second spray bar mounted behind the truck and generally parallel to the first spray bar, the second spray bar with a multiplicity of second spray bar nozzles for directing liquid asphalt onto the roadway surface; and

an independent liquid asphalt pump in fluid communication between the tank and the second spray bar for pumping liquid asphalt out of the tank through only the second spray bar and onto the roadway surface.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a hydraulic motor to drive the liquid asphalt pump.

3. The system of claim 2 further including a control panel for independently controlling the rate of application of the liquid asphalt from the second spray bar to the roadway surface.

4. On a liquid asphalt distribution truck having a tank carrying liquid asphalt and having a first spray bar with a first multiplicity of nozzles thereon for directing liquid asphalt onto a roadway surface, an asphalt distribution system comprising:

a second spray bar mounted behind the truck and generally parallel to the first spray bar, the second spray bar with a multiplicity of second spray bar nozzles for directing liquid asphalt onto the roadway surface;

a liquid asphalt pump independent of the first spray bar in fluid communication between the tank and the second spray bar for pumping liquid asphalt out of the tank through the second spray bar and onto the roadway surface;

a hydraulic motor to drive the liquid asphalt pump; and

a control panel for independently controlling the rate of application of the liquid asphalt from the second spray bar to the roadway surface.

5. A method of retrofitting an asphalt distribution truck having a tank for carrying liquid asphalt and further having a single spray bar asphalt distribution system with a first spray bar mounted transversely across the longitudinal axis of the truck adjacent the rear bumper of the truck, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting to the truck a second spray bar adjacent and parallel with the first spray bar; and

adding to the truck a hydraulic pump for pumping liquid asphalt from the tank to the second spray bar, a motor to drive the hydraulic pump, and a control panel to control only the liquid asphalt being delivered to the second spray bar.

6. A method of applying liquid asphalt from a liquid asphalt truck having a first spray bar with a first multiplicity of nozzles for covering a first section of roadway, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a second spray bar mounted behind the truck and generally parallel to the first spray bar, the second spray bar with a multiplicity of second spray bar nozzles for directing liquid asphalt onto the roadway surface;

a liquid asphalt pump in fluid communication between the tank and the second spray bar for pumping liquid asphalt out of the tank through the second spray bar and onto the roadway surface;

a hydraulic motor to drive the liquid asphalt pump; and

a control panel for controlling, independent of the first spray bar, the rate of application of the liquid asphalt from the second spray bar to the roadway surface;

selecting a first rate of application of liquid asphalt through the first spray bar;

selecting a second rate of application of liquid asphalt through the second spray bar; and

applying liquid asphalt to the roadway surface through the first and second spray bars.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein either of the selecting steps are performed while the truck is in motion.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first rate of application of the selecting step is different than the second rate of application of the selecting step.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing step includes the step of first providing at least some of the second multiplicity of nozzles in a location on the second spray bar to selectively cover a roadway surface not covered by application of liquid asphalt in the applying step through the first spray bar.