Conveying Cold Patch Asphalt

Cold patch asphalt (sometimes called cold mix asphalt) is an asphalt repair material used to patch potholes and cracks on roads, bridges, parking lots, driveways, and other surfaces. Cold patch asphalt is produced by mixing bitumen emulsion or cutback with cold aggregates, sometimes also with addition of polymers and other additives. This asphalt is widely used as a temporary patching material, especially in the winter months where it can be used in low temperatures.

Cold patch asphalt is used to make quick repairs since it can be applied directly, without heating, from the bag or container in which it is shipped. For many repairs, the asphalt also doesn’t require the use of heavy rolling machines or special applicators as it can be shoveled or poured into a pothole, crack or cut and tamped down with a hand tool.

Cold patch asphalt is usually supplied either in bulk or packaged in 50-lb bags or bulk sacks. During production, conveyors are used in to move input materials into the production process as well as to move finished product onto final packaging. This blog looks at some of the equipment solutions that are available from UniTrak for conveying this widely used asphalt.

Conveying cold patch asphalt: equipment solutions

Continuous bucket elevators, such as the TipTrak™ line from UniTrak can be used to handle production inputs or transfer finished product to the bagging unit. TipTrak™ continuous bucket elevators can move material at rates up to 2552 cubic feet per hour (72 cubic meters per hour). These workhorse units move materials without spillage and can be supplied in a number of construction styles, capacities and configurations.

TipTrak™ Monocoque units, which feature a fully sealed construction, are used in applications involving cold patch asphalt. These units are fully sealed, explosion-resistant, and can be operated under nitrogen purge – all important considerations when conveying cold patch asphalt which can create volatile compounds that may be hazardous and pyrophoric. With their fully sealed construction, TipTrak™ Monocoque units are also suitable for use outdoors.

Bulk bag fillers, such as Bagstander units from UniTrak, can be used to safely package cold patch asphalt into bulk bags or sacks. These bulk bag fillers have an adjustable frame that accommodates different bag or sack sizes. The adjustable frame can straddle a pallet and the unit is available with a platform scale for accurate weighing.

To find out more about the equipment solutions which UniTrak can offer for conveying cold patch asphalt, please contact our sales team directly.