US1939391A - Method of and apparatus for dividing asphalt - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1933. R A, CURRAN METHOD OF AND KPPARATUS FOR DIVIDING ASPHALT Filed June 23, ,1930

M lumu Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR mvmmo ASPHALT Roy A. Curran, Bayonne, N. 1., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 23, 1930. Serial No. 463,331

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of bituminous material and more particularly to the division of bituminous bodies into relatively small particles. The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which latter Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of a preferred form of the apparatus; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a detail of the apparatus.

In the drawing, reference'numeral l designates a container, or hopper, which is adapted to receive particles, or pellets 2, of the material to be treated such as asphalt. The hopper is provided with a closure 3 for its discharge opening. A beam 4 extends transversely across and is supported by the hopper in spaced -relation to the bottom of the hopper.

Means for dividing melted asphalt into relatively small particlesis carried by the beam 4. This means comprises a rotatable disk 6 nonrotatably associated with a shaft 7. The shaft is rotatably supported by means of a yoke 8 on plate 9 which are secured to the beam 4. A bearing 10 is interposed between the yoke and the shaft and a thrust bearing 11 is disposed between the end of the shaft and the plate. The disk is driven in rotation from a source of power not shown operating upon a drive pulley 13 on shaft 14. The shaft is rotatably supported by means of the container 1 and one leg of the yoke 8. Shaft 14 operates through pinion 15 and gear 16 to drive the shaft 7.

Rotatable disk 6 is heated to elevated temperatures by means of a heating element 17 disposed closely adjacent the underside of the disk. Heating element 1'7 is provided with an opening which is adapted to freely receive the shaft 7 and carriesa sleeve 18 encircling the shaft and secured non-rotatably to the yoke 8 by means of a set screw 19., The heating element contains a resistance coil 20, as shown, which is connected to any suitable source of electric energy, not shown. The temperature of the asphalt receiving face of the rotatable disk is maintained by the heating element at preferably not substantially less than the melting point of the asphalt being treated.

The air adjoining the asphalt receiving face of the rotatable disk is maintained at elevated temperatures by means of a heating plate 22 which is supported above and in spaced relation to the rotatable disk by means of bolts 23 and plate 24 which latter is supported by means of. the beams 25 extending across and secured to the container 1. A resistance coil 26 iscontained in the heating plate 22. Heat radiated from the heating plate maintains the air between the plate and rotatable disk at preferably not substantially less than the melting point of the asphalt or at such a temperature that the asphalt is not congealed while in contact with the rotatable disk. This body of air is preferably held at a constant temperature in accordance with the melting point of the asphalt by using an automatic electric thermostatic control, not

radially outwardly in small pellets due to centrifugal force. As the small pellets of asphalt are hurled outwardly from the rotatable disk, they are chilled and congealed by the air and are accumulated in the container as separate pellets.

While the invention has been described as applied to the treatment of asphalt, it will be understood that it can be applied to the treatment of other bituminous materials as well as such materials as commercial pitch from any source, grease, and the like which can be melted into a fluid condition. It is intended to include such materials in the scope of the appended claims.

Various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for dividing liquid material into particles, comprising a rotatable disk, means for feeding the material to the disk, means for heating the material receiving face of the disk, and an electric heating plate adjacent said face adapted to heat the air adjoining the face.

2. The method of dividing asphalt into particles, which comprises directing the asphalt in a melted condition against a rotating surface, and

maintaining the surface and the air adjoining said surface at elevated temperatures whereby the asphalt is maintained in a fluid condition while in contact with the surface.

3. The method of dividing asphalt into particles, which comprises directing the asphalt in a melted condition against a rotating surface, and maintaining the surface and air adjoining said surface at approximately the melting point of the asphalt.

4. The method of dividing asphalt into particles, which comprises directing the asphalt in a melted condition against a rotating surface, heating the surface, and heating the air adjoining the surface whereby the asphalt is maintained in a fluid condition while in contact with the surface.

ROY A. CURRAN.

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