초록 ▼

Pavement (12) is rapidly heated in depth by irradiation with microwave energy accompanied by supplemental surface heating which counteracts an inverted temperature gradient otherwise produced by microwave heating. Energy efficiency is increased by performing the surface heating with thermal energy d

Pavement (12) is rapidly heated in depth by irradiation with microwave energy accompanied by supplemental surface heating which counteracts an inverted temperature gradient otherwise produced by microwave heating. Energy efficiency is increased by performing the surface heating with thermal energy derived from the exhaust gases of a motor (19) which drives a generator (18) to energize the microwave source (68). An energy applicator (36) simultaneously applies both the microwave energy and hot gas to a selected area of pavement while blocking release of microwave energy in upward and outward directions and is preferably attached to a mobile support (37) through support and positioning linkage (38) which enables shifting of the applicator between localized areas of pavement to be heated. A variety of paving operations and pavement repair operations are facilitated by enabling an efficient deep rapid heating of deteriorated pavement or surfaces to be paved or repaved or to which an additional layer of pavement is to be applied.

대표청구항 ▼

In a method for heating pavement wherein microwave energy produced by a first source of heating energy is directed downward into said pavement to generate heat internally and instantaneously within the subsurface interior region of said pavement, and wherein said microwave energy heats a deeper regi

In a method for heating pavement wherein microwave energy produced by a first source of heating energy is directed downward into said pavement to generate heat internally and instantaneously within the subsurface interior region of said pavement, and wherein said microwave energy heats a deeper region of said pavement more strongly than the uppermost region thereof thereby tending to produce an inverted temperature gradient in said uppermost region the further steps comprising operating a fuel consuming motor to drive a generator to produce electrical energy for conversion to said microwave energy, and counteracting said inverted temperature gradient while reducing nonproductive energy dissipation by transmitting thermal energy from the exhaust gases of said motor to the surface of said pavement to supplement the microwave heating of said uppermost region of said pavement.