A bucket assembly for a construction vehicle, having a body with a bottom wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall defining a cavity therein, the first side wall having a discharge outlet. A metering system includes an auger moveably attached to the body along a pivot axis within the cavity. The auger has a motor end and a discharge end. A motor engages with the motor end of the auger and is configured for variable movement of the auger about the pivot axis in a first direction for metered dispensing of a construction material through the discharge outlet, and a second direction for controlled mixing of the construction material within the cavity.

An asphalt processing system is formed from a heating drum and an induction heating system. Flights move asphalt through the heating drum, which concurrently heat the asphalt along with the heating drum wall. A mixing drum can be connected to the heating drum, and include paddles or flights to move the asphalt, while concurrently mixing the material to ensure consistent temperatures through the asphalt cement. The asphalt is heating using one or more induction heating systems to quickly heat the asphalt to between 275 F. and 750 F., followed by moving the asphalt to between 275 F. and 350 F. The system can include a convection system that heats recirculated air through the heating drum. A water condenser can be employed to remove moisture during air recirculation, and reduce asphalt moisture content. The asphalt cement is optionally modified by addition of one or more rejuvenation oils. This system is particularly useful for recycled asphalt pavement, but can be used for all asphalt products.

An apparatus for producing hot mix asphalt from 100% recycled pavement aggregates includes a rotatable inclined drum having a central axis and having a first and second end. A heat source spaced from one of the ends introduces hot gas into the drum via one of the first and second ends. An aggregate supply introduces aggregate into the drum through one of the first and second ends. A RAP collar spaced from the ends and positioned around the drum is used to introduce sand through openings beneath the collar into the drum as the drum is rotated. The RAP collar has an annular heat and smoke shield fastened around the drum for minimizing escape of hot gas from the drum openings beneath the RAP collar. The drum has replaceable buckets within the openings for receiving, holding and distributing sand into the drum as the drum rotates about its axis.

A process for solvent extraction of bitumen from mined oil sand ore is provided, comprising mixing the mined oil sand ore with at least one solvent to produce a solvent/oil sand slurry; adding water to the solvent/oil sand slurry to produce a slurry having a water-to-solids mass ratio of less than about 0.1; mixing the slurry in a mixing tank having a diameter to agglomerate the solids present in the slurry, the mixing tank operating at a power input of between 20 and 50 W/kg of slurry, to produce an agglomerated slurry; and subjecting the agglomerated slurry to solid-liquid separation to produce a first liquids stream containing bitumen and a first solids stream; whereby the slurry height in the mixing tank is 0.1 to 0.3 of the tank diameter.

Mobile mixing devices, mobile mixing systems, and related methods are provided. A mobile mixing device can include a frame and a mixing drum securable to the frame. The mixing drum can include a body that forms an internal cavity and can have a forward end and a bottom end. The mixing drum can also include a mouth at the forward end of the body that provides access to the internal cavity of the mixing drum. The mobile mixing device can include a heater support arm having a heater secured to an end of the heater support arm that is distal from the mixing drum. The mixing drum can be used to process cement material when the heater support arm is in a stow-away position or asphalt when the heater support arm is in a heating position with the heater facing into the mouth of the mixing drum.

An asphalt production apparatus (APA) (14) and process for utilizing a substantial fraction of RAP (Recycled Asphalt Product) (10) in producing a renewed amalgam (12) for paving. The APA (14) is formed about an inclined central axis (18) and includes core components (16), namely: a non-rotating ignition cylinder (24); a rotating mixing drum (26) having a hollow interior (16) with radially spaced combustion tubes (52) longitudinally extending therethrough; and a stationary capture trap (28) for receiving renewed amalgam (12) and redirecting some spent gases (54) back through the a mixing drum (26) in a second pass. The ignition cylinder (24) receives combustion fuel (32) delivered to an igniter (34) and directs flaming gas (36) through the combustion tubes (52) at a flow rate such that the flaming gas (36) becomes spent gases (54) within the tubes (52) short of the capture trap (26) and no flaming gas (36) contacts RAP (10) in the interior of the mixing drum (26).

A modified bitumen composition used in asphalt-coated roads as a binding raw material having petrocoke, a derivative of carbon based crude oil, and extract, a base oil unit by-product, as additives, and to a method of producing the same. The modified bitumen composition of the invention contains at least 55% by weight of bitumen with a penetration in the range of 40 to 110 as per EN 1426 standard, and 1%-40% by weight of petrocoke with a particle size preferably less than 300 micrometers, and 2% to 5% by weight of extract, a base oil unit by-product, as additives. Determination of the amount of the additives petrocoke and extract to be added to the bitumen, optimum values of such parameters as mixing temperature and mixing rate to distribute in the bitumen homogenously and the conditions at which the modified bitumen may be stored and/or transported without losing its improved properties.

In a method of and an apparatus for improving the quality of an asphalt pavement, the asphalt is charged in a supply arrangement (2) adapted to be fitted in an inlet space (11) of a road finishing machine (1). The supply arrangement comprises a rotary vessel (3) in the shape of a truncated cone with a top inlet (30) and a smaller bottom outlet (31). The rotary vessel (3) has internal irregularities (32) for homogenizing the asphalt as to particle size and temperature. Preferably a distributing device (9) including at least one dividing member (93) and a rearrangement device (95) is also used, having the at least one dividing member (93) extending transversely over the belt conveyor (12) under the bottom outlet (31) to divide the flow of asphalt into layers, on top of one another, and the rearrangement device (95) to optimize form and feeding.

A method of mixing a crosslinking blend in a portable tote for use to crosslink polymer modified asphalts. The method includes providing a portable tote, where the tote includes a tank having a sidewall, a top and a bottom portion. Fixedly positioned partially within the tank interior is an air mixing system that includes a hollow wand that has a distal and a proximal end. The proximal end of the wand exits the tank. The distal end of the tote is connected to at least one accumulator plate, where the accumulator plate is adjacent to the interior bottom portion of the tank. Stored in the interior of the tank is a crosslinking blend suitable for use to crosslink polymer modified asphalts. The method includes the steps of attaching a pulsed gas controller to the proximal end of the wand and coupling a source of compressed gas to the controller, then activating the controller to cause mixing of the crosslinking blend by pulsing gases into the crosslinking blend for a sufficient period of time. After, or during mixing, the crosslinking blend is discharged from the interior of the tank, and the controller is removed from the wand, leaving said wand attached to the tank.

A method of mixing a crosslinking blend in a portable tote for use to crosslink polymer modified asphalts. The method includes providing a portable tote, where the tote includes a tank having a sidewall, a top and a bottom portion. Fixedly positioned partially within the tank interior is an air mixing system that includes a hollow wand that has a distal and a proximal end. The proximal end of the wand exits the tank. The distal end of the tote is connected to at least one accumulator plate, where the accumulator plate is adjacent to the interior bottom portion of the tank. Stored in the interior of the tank is a crosslinking blend suitable for use to crosslink polymer modified asphalts. The method includes the steps of attaching a pulsed gas controller to the proximal end of the wand and coupling a source of compressed gas to the controller, then activating the controller to cause mixing of the crosslinking blend by pulsing gases into the crosslinking blend for a sufficient period of time. After, or during mixing, the crosslinking blend is discharged from the interior of the tank, and the controller is removed from the wand, leaving said wand attached to the tank.