Equipment for microwave heating of reconditioned asphalts roads

Abstract

 A microwave heating equipment for asphalt road repairs, containing two microwave heating units (11), which are located in a mobile frame (7). The heat source of each heating unit (11) is a magnetron (1), which generates microwave radiation at the frequency of 2.45 GHz. Next to the magnetron (1), there is a waveguide (2) designed to guide and aim the microwave radiation from the magnetron (1) to the repaired spot on the road (10). Further, the heating unit (11) contains a fan (3) to cool the magnetron (1) and to divert the heat from its surroundings towards the waveguide (2). The mobile frame (7) is equipped with casters (9) and a chain screen (8) to prevent the escape of microwave radiation. The source of energy can be the electricity supplied by the ordinary means (230/400 V) or by a mobile power unit.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] This Utility Model applies to a microwave heating equipment for asphalt road repairs, especially for the repairs of potholes or cracks in asphalt roads. Heating of the repaired spots in asphalt roads using this equipment ensures homogeneous joining of the added mixture with the original asphalt surface of the road.

EXISTING STATE-OF-ART

[0002] At present, asphalt roads are repaired without heating the area around the repaired spot, or with the heating applied immediately before adding the asphalt mixture into the damaged spot in the road, which is more expensive. When the area around the repaired spot in an asphalt road is not heated, a water-permeable line forms between the new and the original asphalt surface of the road. This causes yet further damage to the road, starting right in this permeable line. Therefore, the repairs of asphalt roads are more frequently performed with heating applied on the repaired spots, which ensures a significantly higher quality of the repair. The heating is performed either using the devices with gas burners, mostly propane-butane, or more sophisticated equipment that uses infra-red radiation. In both cases, the heat is transferred to the subsurface layer of the repaired spot through penetration. However, this method of heat transfer causes overheating of the surface layer and results in non-ecological asphalt burning. This leads to excessive energy demand for heating, which significantly increases the cost of asphalt road repairs. Probably, there have already been some attempts to use electromagnetic heating and melting of asphalt materials and mixtures, which is proven e.g. by published patent application file PV 1999-4074. This file contains a general description of this method of heating asphalt materials and mixtures as well as basic schematic drawings of model equipment for this type of heating. However, the subject-matter of the above patent application is the use of the well-known nature of microwave heating to heat and melt asphalt mixtures. The description and schematic drawings do not represent any specific design of equipment fit for such heating, especially as regards the operating ability, mobility, and safety, and they do not contain any specific design of a microwave heating equipment for asphalt road repairs. That is why microwave radiation is still not used for local heating of repaired asphalt roads. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a microwave equipment that will ensure the optimum heating of the repaired spot on the road, lower energy demand, maximum safety for the operator, and reduction of the negative impact on the environment.

NATURE OF THE TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0003] The aim stated above is fulfilled by the microwave heating equipment for asphalt road repairs under this Utility Model, which contains at least one magnetron with a waveguide. The nature of the technical solution of the equipment consists in the fact that each magnetron with a waveguide is equipped with a fan to cool the magnetron and divert heat from its surroundings. The heat from the surroundings of the magnetron is removed through an adjacent channel to the area of the waveguide. Each set of a magnetron with a waveguide, fan and adjacent heat diversion channel forms an independent integrated heating unit. The required number of units is mounted in a mobile frame, which is equipped with casters. Around the circumference of the bottom of the mobile frame there is a chain screen to prevent the escape of microwave radiation. The heating unit is secured by a system of safety switches, which are connected with the control unit of this equipment. The microwave heating equipment for asphalt road repairs under this Utility Model represents a new and efficient device for heating of the repaired spots, whose integration in the process of repairs of asphalt roads will ensure significant improvement in the quality of repairs and consequently a better durability of the repaired spots.

REPRESENTATION IN THE DRAWING

[0004] The attached schematic drawing represents a model design of the microwave heating equipment for asphalt road repairs under this Utility Model.

SEQUENCE LISTING PART OF DESCRIPTION

[0005] 

1) Magnetron

2) Waveguide

3) Fan

4) Set of safety switches

5) Control unit

6) Channel for heat removal

7) Mobile frame

8) Chain screen

9) Casters

10) Road under repair

11) Heating unit

Claims

1. Microwave heating equipment for asphalt road repairs, containing at least one magnetron with a waveguide, wherein in each magnetron (1) with a waveguide (2) is equipped with a fan (3) to cool the magnetron (1) and to divert the heat from its surroundings through a channel (6) towards the waveguide (2), and this set constitutes an integrated heating unit (11), which is located in a mobile frame (7) equipped with casters (9) and a chain screen (8) around the bottom circumference, which prevents the escape of microwave radiation and fits close to the road under repair (10), wherein the heating unit (11) is secured by a set of safety switches (4) connected to the control unit (5) of this equipment.

Drawing