Applied to Chasis of Mobile Asphalt Plants with Side Protectors

Abstract

The present utility model pertains to the technical field of equipment for producing asphalt concrete (AC) or hot mix asphalt concrete (HMAC), and relates more particularly to an improvement to mobile asphalt plants provided with side protectors. Proposed are protective screens for the areas which should be avoided by operators and others, where high temperatures and noise levels prevail. The protectors are installed in the area where virgin aggregate arriving from the metering system is transferred to the drying/heating system, where the intake temperature of the metered material is high and elements such as the conveyor belt can cause injury to operators. The other area to be isolated is the place where the burner of the plant carries out the process of combustion.

Claims

1. AN IMPROVEMENT APPLIED TO MOBILE ASPHALT PLANTS ENDOWED WITH SIDE PROTECTORS comprised of a gas exhaust duct, dosage system, rotary dryer (5), exhaust fan, inertial separator, baghouse, mixer, chimney, conveyor belt (6) and drag conveyor (1) characterized by containing thermally and acoustically-insulating shields (7) (8) in the region (2) of the mixer and burner and in the region of the conveyor belt (6), on both sides of the asphalt plant.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0016] So that the present utility model is fully understood and put into practice by any skilled person from this technical field, it will be in a clear, concise and sufficient manner, based on the accompanying drawings listed below that illustrate and support:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mobile asphalt plant with the region of the burner and mixer and the region of the aggregate conveyor belt without side protectors.

[0018] FIG. 2 is the mobile asphalt plant with the side protectors in the transport region and the articulated side protector relating to the region of the mixer and burner.

[0019] FIG. 3 is the mobile asphalt plant with the side protector of the region of the mixer and burner closed.

[0020] FIG. 4 is the mobile asphalt plant with the side protector closed in the region of the drag conveyor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0021] Since in large mobile asphalt plants the dosing region is transferred to an independent mobility, the systems of drying, heating, filtering, exhaustion, mixing and unloading are installed on a second mobility and the transfer of the virgin aggregate from the dosage system to the drying/heating system will require a conveyor belt (6), which is installed and aligned in the vicinity of the dryer (5).

[0022] According to FIG. 1, it is possible to note the arrangement of an asphalt plant currently used for the production of Hot Mix Asphalt, wherein the step of dosing aggregates is followed by the step of sending the wet virgin material to a rotary dryer (5) via the conveyor belt (6). A burner is installed in the region (2) opposite the entrance of the wet virgin material in order to dry and heat it, respectively. Special Flights are employed along the drum dryer (5) so that the heat provided by the burner flame is efficiently transferred to the virgin aggregate.

[0023] After the drying and heating step, the material is sent to a Pug Mill-type twin-shaft mixer also located in the region (2) opposite the entrance of the wet virgin material. The process of manufacturing Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) is thus finalized, being unloaded onto trucks or into storage silos via a drag conveyor (1).

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, since the region of the conveyor belt (6) in the vicinity of the dryer (5) constitutes the gateway for the virgin aggregate to the dryer (5), the temperature must be high. At this location, the gases inside the dryer may reach a temperature between 100-160 C. Additionally, the linear and circular movement inherent to the conveyor belt may cause accidents at work. Accordingly, a side protector (8) has been installed so that access to this region is barred. The side protectors (8) are symmetrical and fixed on the chassis structure in the region connecting the two mobilities. The shields that protect the belt region do not need thermal and acoustic insulation. The heat transfer by radiation in this region is not as high as in region (2). In this region, it is most important to bar operator access to the conveyor belt.

[0025] In region (2) where the burner and the external Pug-mill mixer are allocated, the combustion process performed by the burner is by way of an optimal ratio between fuel and air and high temperatures are noted due to the thermal radiation in the region. When heavy fuels are used, it is necessary to use jacketed pipes heated by thermal oil or through electrical resistances.

[0026] So thermally and acoustically insulating shields (7) were installed in the region (2) which comprises the burner and the mixer in order to prevent any contact of the operators with heated systems. These fairings are attached to the combustion chamber and to the baghouse by way of fastening elements. Since the protected region will likely require constant preventive and corrective maintenance, access to this sector cannot remain fully barred. Accordingly, an articulated system for these shields should facilitate necessary interventions, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0027] It is important to highlight that the figures and description does not have the weight of limiting the embodiments of the inventive concept now proposed, but rather to illustrate and make understandable the conceptual innovations disclosed in this utility model. Therefore, the descriptions and pictures should be interpreted illustratively and not limitatively, as there may be other equivalent or similar forms of implementing the inventive concept now disclosed and that do not stray from the scope of protection delineated in the solution proposed.

[0028] The present specification discloses a solution that consists of an improvement to mobile asphalt plants endowed with side protectors, endowed with novelty, inventive step, descriptive sufficiency [full disclosure], industrial application and consequently satisfies all the essential requirements for the grant of the privilege claimed.