A paving machine including a frame, a hopper assembly, and a control unit is disclosed. The control unit may be configured to determine a location of the paving machine, determine a heading and a travel speed of the paving machine, and generate a non-circular geofence corresponding to the paving machine. The non-circular geofence may have an anchor point that is disposed at the location of the paving machine, and may be positioned and oriented based on the heading and the travel speed of the paving machine. The control unit may be configured to determine a location of a supply machine relative to the paving machine, and determine a state of the supply machine based on a comparison between the location of the supply machine and the non-circular geofence. The control unit may be configured to cause an action to be performed based on the state of the supply machine.

An improved geometry for flights used in rotary drums of aggregate dryers in the manufacture of asphalt causes the aggregate to shower in an even veil across the full width of the drum under all loading conditions. An opening in the flight having a narrow bottom and wider top allows more aggregate to shower early, especially when flights are lightly loaded, on the uplift side of the drum to complete the aggregate veil and prevent hot gases from bypassing. The opening is oriented with its narrow bottom nearest the inner surface of the drum and its wider top farthest therefrom. The opening does not extend through the full height of the flight, which would form an undesired gap allowing an excessive volume of aggregate to flood out of fully loaded flights on the uplift side of rotation. Such flooding discharge causes a similar imbalance of drying to that caused by too little discharge from light loaded flights. The size and shape of the opening can be varied to adjust the amount of aggregate discharged from each flight to form the veil and to adjust the shape of the veil.

When spreading aggregate material onto a layer of bitumen/wet bitumen, when forming a road surface, the aggregate is commonly spread from a truck in reverse, potentially causing accidents and injuries. Safety is improved by providing a spreading vehicle that can be driven in the direction in which it is spreading the aggregate material. This is achieved by providing a second driving cab and driver controls at a location that would normally be considered the rearward end of the vehicle. The second driver cab is above a conveyor system conveying aggregate material from a hopper of the vehicle to a spreader box. The second driver cab allows the vehicle to be driven in the direction it is spreading material, by a driver who is facing the direction of travel, and who can see if the vehicle is about to hit anything or run into a worker in the surrounding area.

A device for manufacturing hot-mix coated materials includes an oven (1) having an enclosure (2) provided towards its two opposite ends with a main inlet (3) designed to receive granular materials and with a main outlet; and a heater (10) defining a combustion section (5) inside the enclosure (2). The enclosure (2) starting with the combustion section (5) and continuing with a drying section (6), and then with a mixing section (7). The device is further provided with a bypass outlet (11) and with an external mixer (12) that is connected to the bypass outlet (11), which outlet is fitted with a blocking system (15) allowing granular materials to pass towards the inlet (13) of the external mixer (12) and a closed position allowing granular materials to pass towards the mixing section (7).

A machine lays a bituminous carpet for closing microtrenches. The machine includes a truck having a drive system, which defines a footprint area on a surface whereon the truck can move, and a preparing device for preparing bitumen for laying. The preparing device includes a bitumen container having an inlet into which bitumen in introduced, an outlet through which the bitumen prepared for laying exits, a heating system for raising the temperature of the bitumen introduced into the preparing device. A laying device receives the bitumen prepared for laying and lays the bitumen in carpet form. The laying device includes a forming element for shaping and laying bitumen as a carpet over a laying area; a drain channel, between the outlet of the preparing device and the forming element, conducting bitumen towards the forming element. The preparing device includes a mixing device mixing the bitumen while preparing it for laying.

A machine lays a bituminous carpet for closing microtrenches. The machine includes a truck having a drive system, which defines a footprint area on a surface whereon the truck can move, and a preparing device for preparing bitumen for laying. The preparing device includes a bitumen container having an inlet into which bitumen in introduced, an outlet through which the bitumen prepared for laying exits, a heating system for raising the temperature of the bitumen introduced into the preparing device. A laying device receives the bitumen prepared for laying and lays the bitumen in carpet form. The laying device includes a forming element for shaping and laying bitumen as a carpet over a laying area; a drain channel, between the outlet of the preparing device and the forming element, conducting bitumen towards the forming element. The preparing device includes a mixing device mixing the bitumen while preparing it for laying.

A method for producing an asphalt concrete blend that includes the steps of drying and heating aggregate in a single and only dryer, preferably via direct heating, and without use of a pre-dryer. The aggregate is then combined with asphalt cement, preferably via indirect heating, such that the blend has an asphalt cement components (ACC) percentage of at least 25% percent to form an aggregate mix. Liquid asphalt cement may also be added to the aggregate mix. Preferably, the asphalt cement content of the final asphalt concrete blend is provided by a maximum of 70% ACC. In certain cases, the asphalt cement content of the asphalt concrete blend is comprised of ACC and liquid asphalt cement.

A method for producing an asphalt concrete blend that includes the steps of drying and heating aggregate in a single and only dryer, preferably via direct heating, and without use of a pre-dryer. The aggregate is then combined with asphalt cement, preferably via indirect heating, such that the blend has an asphalt cement components (ACC) percentage of at least 25% percent to form an aggregate mix. Liquid asphalt cement may also be added to the aggregate mix. Preferably, the asphalt cement content of the final asphalt concrete blend is provided by a maximum of 70% ACC. In certain cases, the asphalt cement content of the asphalt concrete blend is comprised of ACC and liquid asphalt cement.

The present disclosure relates to a plant for manufacturing heated asphalt mix. In particular, the disclosure relates to a batch asphalt mix plant for using a microwave heating vessel located in close proximity to a storage silo to heat asphalt mix at the point of storage using a batch production method.

The present disclosure relates to a plant for manufacturing heated asphalt mix. In particular, the disclosure relates to a batch asphalt mix plant for using a microwave heating vessel located in close proximity to a storage silo to heat asphalt mix at the point of storage using a batch production method.