Michael K Barrett

US Patent:

6575303, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Nov 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/992169

Inventors:

J. Donald Brock - Chattanooga TN
Herbert E. Jakob - Chattanooga TN
Michael E. Barrett - Lula GA
R. Ronald Collins - Mansfield GA
Gary P. Heeszel - Eugene OR
David F. Peaks - Eugene OR

Assignee:

AI Enterprises, Inc. - Morris MN

International Classification:

B07B 1300

US Classification:

209238, 209239

Abstract:

A system for controlling the operation of a first item of equipment for processing materials in connection with the production of a product which includes aggregate materials and a volatile component includes an oven, a gradation assembly having a plurality of screens, and a mechanism for transporting aggregate materials from the oven to the gradation assembly. The system also includes a mechanism for controlling the operation of an item of equipment if one or more of the ratios of the weight of the aggregate materials that are retained on any of the screens or that pass through all of the screens to the total weight of the aggregate materials fails to meet a predetermined standard. A preferred embodiment of the system also includes a mechanism for controlling the operation of a second item of equipment for combining asphalt cement and aggregate materials if the ratio of the weight of the asphalt cement in a sample of the product to the total weight of the sample fails to meet a predetermined standard.

US Patent:

6581780, Jun 24, 2003

Filed:

Jan 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/758992

Inventors:

Herbert E. Jakob - Chattanooga TN
Michael E. Barrett - Lula GA
Gary P. Heeszel - Eugene OR
David F. Peaks - Eugene OR

Assignee:

AI Enterprises, Inc. - Morris MN

International Classification:

B07B 100

US Classification:

209239, 209260

Abstract:

A system for controlling the operation of an item of equipment for processing materials to produce a product which includes aggregate materials of various particle sizes in a predetermined weight ratio includes a sampling device for obtaining a sample of the product from a predetermined location and a gradation assembly. The gradation assembly includes a plurality of gradation screens and a weighing pan for measuring the weight of aggregate material. The gradation screens are supported by a frame in a generally horizontal attitude in a stacked arrangement, so that each screen in the stack has screen openings that are smaller than those of the screen immediately above it in the stack. The assembly also includes a vibrator for vibrating the screens and a mechanism for sequentially depositing the aggregate material that is retained on each screen or that passes through all of the screens in the weighing pan. The system determines the ratios of the weights of the amounts of the aggregate materials that are retained on each of the screens or that passes through all of the screens to the total weight of the sample, and compares each of the ratios so determined to a predetermined standard. The system also adjusts the operation of the item of equipment if the ratio of the weight of the aggregate materials that are retained on any of the screens or that passes through all of the screens to the total weight of the sample fails to meet the predetermined standard.

US Patent:

6929393, Aug 16, 2005

Filed:

Jun 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/458144

Inventors:

J. Donald Brock - Chattanooga TN, US
Herbert E. Jakob - Chattanooga TN, US
R. Ronald Collins - Mansfield GA, US
Michael Barrett - Lula GA, US
Thomas Scott Cloninger - Chattanooga TN, US

Assignee:

Astec, Inc. - Chattanooga TN

International Classification:

B28C007/00

US Classification:

366 16, 366 18, 366 22, 366140

Abstract:

An asphalt production plant includes an asphalt binder storage tank, a mixer for mixing asphalt binder and aggregate materials, an asphalt binder pumping system for conveying asphalt binder to the mixer and an asphalt binder metering system for controlling the rate of flow of asphalt binder to the mixer. The asphalt production plant also includes a cold feed proportioning system having a plurality of cold feed bins for holding aggregate materials, with each such bin having a discharge opening through which aggregate materials may be discharged, a cold feed conveyor system that extends from beneath the discharge openings for the plurality of bins for conveying aggregate materials to the mixer and an apparatus and system for adjusting the relative proportions of aggregate materials from each of the cold feed bins that are conveyed to the mixer. The asphalt production plant also includes an aggregate sample dryer for removing volatile components from a sample of aggregate materials and an aggregate sampler for obtaining a sample of aggregate material from the cold feed conveyor system and depositing such material in the aggregate sample dryer. A preferred embodiment of the production plant includes an asphalt binder calibration tank, an oven assembly for removing asphalt binder from a sample of asphalt, an asphalt sample collector, an asphalt sample conveyor assembly for conveying a sample of asphalt to the oven assembly and an aggregate gradation assembly for determining the gradation of a sample of aggregate.

US Patent:

63181932, Nov 20, 2001

Filed:

Mar 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/521030

Inventors:

J. Donald Brock - Chattanooga TN
R. Ronald Collins - Mansfield GA
Michael E. Barrett - Lula GA

Assignee:

Pavement Technology, Inc. - Covington GA

International Classification:

G01N 108

US Classification:

7386474

Abstract:

A sample collector for aggregate material is provided. The collector includes a support frame having a first end and a second end. A pair of guide plates are attached to the first end of the support frame. These guide plates are spaced apart so as to define a collection space therebetween. At least one of the guide plates is provided with a track that extends generally along the periphery of the collection space. A flexible closing plate is disposed between the guide plates and is adapted for sliding engagement with the track, so that the closing plate may be moved between an open position which exposes the collection space and a closed position which encloses the collection space. A mechanism is also provided for sliding the closing plate between the open position and the closed position.