METHOD OF FILLING POTHOLES AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING SAME
A method and apparatus for filling a pothole has a cleaning system and a mixing system. The cleaning system loosens debris that is removed from the pot pothole prior to filling. The mixing system has an emulsion tank, an aggregate tank, a mixing tank, and an activator tank. The mixing tank is filled with emulsion and aggregate is added based on the weight of the emulsion to form a slurry. The slurry is transported to a static mixer where activator is added, and then the mixture is discharged into a pothole.
1 . A method of filling a pothole, the method comprising the steps of:
filling a mixing tank with emulsion;
determining the weight of the emulsion in the mixing tank;
adding aggregate to the mixing tank based on the determined weight of the emulsion,
mixing the emulsion and the aggregate to create a slurry; and
filling the pothole with the slurry.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transporting the slurry to a static mixer.
3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of mixing activator with the slurry at the static mixer.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of cleaning the pothole prior to filling the pothole with the slurry.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein high pressure fluid loosens debris that is gathered by a vacuum tube to clear the pot hole prior to filling.
6 . The method of claim 4 wherein high pressure air loosens debris that is gathered by a vacuum tube to clear the pot hole prior to filling.
7 . An apparatus for filling a pothole, comprising:
a vehicle having a frame;
an emulsion tank, aggregate tank, and mixing tank mounted to the frame;
the emulsion tank adapted to pump emulsion to the mixing tank based upon a determined batch size;
the aggregate tank adapted to pump aggregate to the mixing tank based upon the weight of the emulsion pumped into the mixing tank; and
the mixing tank having an agitator to mix the emulsion and aggregate to create a slurry.
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a static mixer connected to the mixing tank.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an activator tank mounted to the frame and connected to the static mixer.
10 . The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a vacuum tank mounted to the frame and connected to a vacuum tube.
11 . The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a water tank mounted to the frame.
12 . The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an air compressor mounted to the frame.
13 . An apparatus for filling a pothole, comprising:
a frame;
an emulsion tank, aggregate tank, and activator tank mounted to the frame;
a line extending from the aggregate tank to a mixer; and
a line extending from the emulsion tank to the mixer.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a valve connected to the mixer and the emulsion.
15 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the valve is operably connected to an activating member.
16 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a boom is pivotably mounted to the frame and the mixer is attached to the boom.
17 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the activator tank is connected to the line extending from the aggregate tank to the mixer.
18 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the boom has a first section and a second section connected at a pivotable joint.