US3786800A — Asphalt storage and loading apparatus and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 187 words

An asphalt storage and loading apparatus comprising a plurality of asphalt containers, an essentially closed asphalt storage station for storing said plurality of asphalt containers therein, means for heating said asphalt containers while the same are stored in said asphalt storage station, a combined loading-unloading station separate from said storage station to and from which said plurality of asphalt containers are adapted to be conveyed to be loaded with asphalt material preparatory to storing the same at said storage station and to be unloaded of asphalt material after having been stored and a reserve station to and from which empty asphalt containers are stored preparatory for loading, a plurality of covers on and removable from said storage station to open and close selected portions thereof to enable the insertion and removal of selected ones of the loaded asphalt containers into and from said storage station, and conveyor means operative between said storage and combined loading-unloading and reserve stations to convey said asphalt containers therebetween, said conveyor means including engaging means to releasably engage and move selected ones of said asphalt containers at selected times between said stations.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 187 words

An asphalt storage and loading apparatus comprising a plurality of asphalt containers, an essentially closed asphalt storage station for storing said plurality of asphalt containers therein, means for heating said asphalt containers while the same are stored in said asphalt storage station, a combined loading-unloading station separate from said storage station to and from which said plurality of asphalt containers are adapted to be conveyed to be loaded with asphalt material preparatory to storing the same at said storage station and to be unloaded of asphalt material after having been stored and a reserve station to and from which empty asphalt containers are stored preparatory for loading, a plurality of covers on and removable from said storage station to open and close selected portions thereof to enable the insertion and removal of selected ones of the loaded asphalt containers into and from said storage station, and conveyor means operative between said storage and combined loading-unloading and reserve stations to convey said asphalt containers therebetween, said conveyor means including engaging means to releasably engage and move selected ones of said asphalt containers at selected times between said stations.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

An asphalt storage and loading apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said overhead conveyor includes container-engaging means operatively arranged for movement in opposite directions above said plurality of storage enclosures and also arranged for descending and rising movements relative thereto.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

An asphalt storage and loading apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said conveyor includes means for rotating said select container into a dumping position at said loading station.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

An asphalt storage and loading apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said conveyor means defines an elevated path of movement and includes plural inverted U-shaped supports operatively arranged to straddle said stations and a guide rail suspended along a horizontal leg of each of said supports in a clearance position above said stations.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

An asphalt storage and loading apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said conveyor means includes a carriage operatively arranged for movement along said guide rail.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 130 words

In an apparatus having asphalt material containers movable between separate reserve, storage and a combined loading and unloading stations, all of such stations being connected by a conveyor, the method comprising conveying containers loaded with asphalt material to the storage station and storing the containers thereat, heating the contents of the asphalt material in the containers to a predetermined temperature, conveying the containers loaded with the heated asphalt material to the combined loading and unloading station and emptying the heated asphalt material from the containers thereat, conveying the empty containers to the reserve station by way of the conveyor for future use, and thereafter conveying the empty containers from the reserve station to the combined loading and unloading station to load the same with a new load of asphalt material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 130 words

In an apparatus having asphalt material containers movable between separate reserve, storage and a combined loading and unloading stations, all of such stations being connected by a conveyor, the method comprising conveying containers loaded with asphalt material to the storage station and storing the containers thereat, heating the contents of the asphalt material in the containers to a predetermined temperature, conveying the containers loaded with the heated asphalt material to the combined loading and unloading station and emptying the heated asphalt material from the containers thereat, conveying the empty containers to the reserve station by way of the conveyor for future use, and thereafter conveying the empty containers from the reserve station to the combined loading and unloading station to load the same with a new load of asphalt material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-01-21	1977-07-23	1978-01-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-01-21	1981-07-23	1982-01-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-01-21	1985-07-23	1986-01-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Asphalt storage and loading apparatus and method

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