Pavement repair system utilizing solid phase autoregenerative cohesion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010291-A1
Application number	US-201514846465-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 4, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pavement repair system is provided utilizing Solid Phase Auto Regenerative Cohesion (SPARC) Homogenization by Liquid Asphalt Oligopolymerization (HALO) technologies. The SPARC-HALO system is suitable for use in repairing asphalt pavement, including pavement exhibiting a high degree of deterioration (as manifested in the presence of potholes, cracks, ruts, or the like) as well as pavement that has been subject to previous repair and may comprise a substantial amount of dirt and other debris (e.g., chipped road paint or other damaged or disturbed surfacing materials). The HALO system is suitable for rejuvenating aged asphalt, thereby improving properties of the paving material.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . A method for repairing an asphalt pavement, comprising:
passing an emitter over an asphalt pavement comprising asphalt that is aged, wherein the emitter generates electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 20 nm to 2 mm, the radiation penetrating into the asphalt pavement to a depth of at least 2 inches, wherein a temperature differential throughout a top two inches of asphalt pavement is 100° F. or less, wherein a highest temperature in the top two inches of asphalt pavement does not exceed 300° F., and wherein a minimum temperature in the top two inches of asphalt pavement is at least 200° F., whereby voids and interstices in the asphalt pavement are disturbed without dehydrogenation of the asphalt, and whereby oligomers present in the asphalt are linked together into longer polymer chains, whereby ductility of the asphalt is improved.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the emitter produces electromagnetic radiation with a power density of from 0.47 to 2.33 W/cm 2 or from 133 to 664 (ft·lb f /min)/in 2 .

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the emitter is a panel comprising a serpentine wire and a micaceous material through which the electromagnetic radiation generated by the emitter passes.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the emitter comprises at least one emitter panel, wherein each emitter panel comprises:
a frame having a high-density ceramic liner; a sheet of a micaceous material exhibiting biaxial birefringence; and a serpentine wire positioned between the high-density ceramic liner and the sheet of the micaceous material.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the emitter comprises a hood having a cavity therein, wherein the frame is attached to reels on the outside of the hood, to permit adjustment of the at least one emitter panel within the cavity, wherein the emitter panel is configured to be adjusted such that a distance of an emitter surface to an asphalt pavement surface is from a quarter of an inch to an inch, wherein the emitter further comprises a sheath of stainless steel configured to protect the micaceous material from being damaged.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the emitter further comprises a power source configured to supply electrical power to the at least one emitter panel, wherein the power source is a portable generator.

8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the asphalt pavement is a standard road or highway traffic lane including an associated shoulder, and wherein the emitter is sized so as to irradiate the standard road or highway traffic lane including an associated shoulder.

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the asphalt pavement is a two lane road, and wherein the emitter is sized so as to irradiate a full width of the two lane road.

10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the emitter comprises a plurality of emitter panels, and wherein the plurality of emitter panels are arranged in an array wherein each emitter panel abuts an adjacent emitter panel.

11 . A method for repairing an asphalt pavement, comprising:
passing an emitter over an asphalt pavement comprising asphalt that is aged, wherein the emitter generates electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 2 mm to 5 mm, the radiation penetrating into the asphalt pavement to a depth of at least 2 inches, wherein a temperature differential throughout a top two inches of asphalt pavement is 100° F. or less, wherein a highest temperature in the top two inches of asphalt pavement does not exceed 300° F., and wherein a minimum temperature in the top two inches of asphalt pavement is at least 200° F., whereby voids and interstices in the asphalt pavement are disturbed without dehydrogenation of the asphalt, and whereby oligomers present in the asphalt are linked together into longer polymer chains, whereby ductility of the asphalt is improved.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the emitter produces electromagnetic radiation with a power density of from 0.47 to 2.33 W/cm 2 or from 133 to 664 (ft·lb f /min)/in 2 .

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the emitter is a panel comprising a serpentine wire and a micaceous material through which the electromagnetic radiation generated by the emitter passes.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the emitter comprises at least one emitter panel, wherein each emitter panel comprises:
a frame having a high-density ceramic liner; a sheet of a micaceous material exhibiting biaxial birefringence; and a serpentine wire positioned between the high-density ceramic liner and the sheet of the micaceous material.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the emitter comprises a hood having a cavity therein, wherein the frame is attached to reels on the outside of the hood, to permit adjustment of the at least one emitter panel within the cavity, wherein the emitter panel is configured to be adjusted such that a distance of an emitter surface to an asphalt pavement surface is from a quarter of an inch to an inch, wherein the emitter further comprises a sheath of stainless steel configured to protect the micaceous material from being damaged.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the emitter further comprises a power source configured to supply electrical power to the at least one emitter panel, wherein the power source is a portable generator.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the asphalt pavement is a standard road or highway traffic lane including an associated shoulder, and wherein the emitter is sized so as to irradiate the standard road or highway traffic lane including an associated shoulder.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the asphalt pavement is a two lane road, and wherein the emitter is sized so as to irradiate a full width of the two lane road.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the emitter comprises a plurality of emitter panels, and wherein the plurality of emitter panels are arranged in an array wherein each emitter panel abuts an adjacent emitter panel.

Assignees

• Coe William B

Inventors

• Coe William B

Classifications

• E01C23/03

  Arrangements for curing paving; Devices for applying curing means; Devices for laying prefabricated underlay, e.g. sheets, membranes (reinforcing elements E01C23/04); Protecting paving under construction or while curing, e.g. use of tents (road barriers E01F13/00) · CPC title

• C10C3/10

  Melting · CPC title

• H05B6/48

  Circuits · CPC title

• E01C23/10

  for raising or levelling sunken paving; for filling voids under paving; for introducing material into substructure (consolidating soil in general E02D3/12) · CPC title

• C10C3/002

  by thermal means · CPC title