Cold in-place recycling machine with surge tank

1. A CIR-modified milling machine comprising:

(a) a milling drum that is adapted to mill material from a roadway;

(b) a milling drum housing that contains the milling drum;

(c) an additive spray assembly that is located within the milling drum housing and adapted to dispense an asphalt additive therein;

(d) an additive flow system:

(i) which includes an inlet pipe that is adapted to be operatively connected to an external supply line;

(ii) comprising a surge tank for asphalt additive that is in fluid communication with the additive spray assembly;

(iii) comprising an additive pump for pumping asphalt additive from the surge tank to the additive spray assembly;

wherein the additive flow system includes piping and associated valves that permit operation of the additive flow system in a first mode in which the additive pump is adapted to draw asphalt additive from an external supply into the surge tank by means of the external supply line, and to pump the asphalt additive out of the surge tank to the additive spray assembly, and alternatively in a second mode in which the additive pump is adapted to draw asphalt additive from an external supply by means of the external supply line and to pump the asphalt additive out to the additive spray assembly while bypassing the surge tank.

2. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 1 wherein the additive flow system includes piping and associated valves that also permit operation of the additive flow system in a mode in which the additive pump is adapted to pump asphalt additive from the surge tank to the additive spray assembly when no external supply line is attached to the additive flow system.

3. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 1 wherein the additive flow system:

(a) includes a drain in the surge tank, which drain may be opened;

(b) includes piping and associated valves that permit operation of the additive flow system in a mode in which the additive pump is adapted to draw a solvent through the external supply line and into the surge tank so as to drain out through the open drain in the surge tank in order to clean out the surge tank.

4. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 1 wherein the additive flow system:

(a) includes an air vent and a vent opening into the surge tank

(b) is operated without pressurizing the surge tank.

5. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 1 wherein the surge tank is provided with thermal insulating panels on at least some of its external surfaces.

6. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 1 wherein the additive flow system includes piping and associated valves that also permit operation of the additive flow system in a mode in which the additive pump is adapted to draw asphalt additive from a first external supply and to pump the asphalt additive to a second external location.

7. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 1 wherein the additive flow system includes a float valve comprising a float which is adapted to float on the surface of asphalt additive in the surge tank.

8. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 7 :

(a) which includes a controller;

(b) wherein the additive flow system further comprises:

(i) a float level gauge that provides a visual indicator of the amount of asphalt additive in the surge tank;

(ii) a float level sensor that is operatively attached to the controller and adapted to send a signal to the controller of the level of asphalt additive in the surge tank.

9. A CIR-modified milling machine comprising:

(a) a milling drum that is adapted to mill material from a roadway;

(b) a milling drum housing that contains the milling drum;

(c) an additive spray assembly that is located within the milling drum housing and adapted to dispense an asphalt additive therein;

(d) an additive flow system comprising:

(i) a surge tank for asphalt additive that is in fluid communication with the additive spray assembly;

(ii) an additive pump for pumping asphalt additive from the surge tank to the additive spray assembly;

(iii) a first inlet pipe having a first inlet opening and a first outlet into the surge tank;

(iv) a first valve for controlling the flow through the first inlet pipe;

(v) a second inlet pipe having a second inlet opening;

(vi) a second valve for controlling the flow through the second inlet pipe;

(vii) a third inlet pipe having a third inlet opening into the surge tank;

(viii) a third valve for controlling the flow through the third inlet pipe;

(ix) a first outlet pipe having a first outlet;

(x) a fourth valve for controlling the flow through the additive pump;

(xi) a second outlet pipe having a second outlet;

(xii) a fifth valve for controlling the flow through the second outlet pipe;

(e) wherein the CIR-modified milling machine is adapted to be operated in a first mode of operation, when:

(i) an external supply line is attached between the first inlet opening of the first inlet pipe and an external source of supply; and

(ii) an onboard supply line is attached between the first outlet of the first outlet pipe and the additive spray assembly; and

(iii) the first valve, the third valve and the fourth valve are opened; and

(iv) the second valve and the fifth valve are closed; and

the additive pump is activated to draw asphalt additive through the external supply line from the external source of supply, through the first inlet pipe, and out the first outlet into the surge tank, and back out of the surge tank through the third inlet opening, the third inlet pipe, the additive pump, and out the first outlet pipe through the onboard supply line to the additive spray assembly; and

(f) wherein the CIR-modified milling machine is also adapted to be operated in a second mode of operation in which the surge tank is bypassed, when:

(i) an external supply line is attached between the second inlet opening of the second inlet pipe and an external source of supply; and

(ii) an onboard supply line is attached between the first outlet of the first outlet pipe and the additive spray assembly; and

(iii) the second valve and the fourth valve are opened; and

(iv) the first valve, the third valve and the fifth valve are closed; and

the additive pump is activated to draw asphalt additive through the external supply line from the external source of supply, through the second inlet pipe, through the additive pump and out the first outlet pipe through the onboard supply line to the additive spray assembly.

10. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 9 which is adapted to be operated in a third mode of operation when no external supply line is attached to the additive flow system, when:

(a) an onboard supply line is attached between the first outlet of the first outlet pipe and the additive spray assembly; and

(b) the third valve and the fourth valve are opened; and

(c) the first valve, the second valve and the fifth valve are closed; and

the additive pump is activated to draw asphalt additive out of the surge tank through the third inlet opening, the third inlet pipe, the additive pump, and out the first outlet pipe through the onboard supply line to the additive spray assembly.

11. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 9 which is adapted to be operated in a fourth mode of operation to transfer asphalt additive from a first external source to a second location, when:

(a) a first external supply line is attached between the second inlet opening of the second inlet pipe and the first external source; and

(b) a second external supply line is attached between the second outlet of the second outlet pipe and the second location; and

(c) the second valve, the fourth valve and the fifth valve are opened; and

(d) the first valve and the third valve are closed; and

the additive pump is activated to draw asphalt additive from the first external source through the first external supply line, the second inlet pipe and the additive pump and out the second outlet pipe through the second external supply line to the second location.

12. The CIR-modified milling machine of claim 9 , which includes a drain in the bottom of the surge tank, and is adapted to be operated in a fifth mode of operation to flush the surge tank with a solvent from a source of solvent, when:

(a) an external supply line is connected between the first inlet opening of the first inlet pipe and the source of solvent; and

(b) the drain in the bottom of the surge tank is opened; and

(c) the first valve and the fourth valve are opened; and

(d) the second valve, the third valve and the fifth valve are closed; and

the additive pump is activated to draw the solvent through the first inlet pipe and out the first outlet into the surge tank, and out of the surge tank through the drain.