TEPZZ 

_ 5_8_B_T
(19)

(11) EP 2 125 181 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.:

of the grant of the patent: B01F 7/16 (2006.01) B01F 7/00 (2006.01)
11.10.2017 Bulletin 2017/41 C08L 95/00 (2006.01)

(21) Application number: 08709781.2 (86) International application number:

PCT/IB2008/000277
(22) Date of filing: 08.02.2008
(87) International publication number:
WO 2008/096248 (14.08.2008 Gazette 2008/33)

(54) MACHINE AND METHOD FOR HOMOGENIZING A BITUMEN-BASED MIXTURE WITH POLYMER
GRANULES
MASCHINE UND VERFAHREN ZUR HOMOGENISIERUNG EINER AUF BITUMEN BASIERENDEN
MISCHUNG MIT POLYMERGRANULAT
MACHINE ET PROCÉDÉ POUR HOMOGÉNÉISER UN MÉLANGE À BASE DE BITUME AVEC DES
GRANULÉS DE POLYMÈRE

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors:

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR • FORNASIER, Antonio
HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT I-31048 San Biagio di Callalta (IT)
RO SE SI SK TR • PAVAN, Alessandro
I. 31052 Lanzago di Silea (IT)
(30) Priority: 09.02.2007 IT TO20070098
(74) Representative: Bergadano, Mirko et al
(43) Date of publication of application: Studio Torta S.p.A.
02.12.2009 Bulletin 2009/49 Via Viotti, 9
10121 Torino (IT)
(73) Proprietor: Euroline S.r.l.
Maserada Sul Piave (TV) (IT) (56) References cited:
FR-A- 2 679 789 JP-A- 62 068 893
EP 2 125 181 B1

Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

 1 EP 2 125 181 B1
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a machine and
to a method for homogenizing a bitumen-based mixture
with polymer granules.
[0002] In greater detail, the present invention relates
to a homogenizer machine which is capable of shredding
polymer granules in small polymer pieces and, at the
same time, of mixing the latter with a bitumen-based mix-
ture, so as to obtain a bituminous blend having elasto-
plastic properties; the following disclosure will explicitly
refer thereto without thereby loosing in generality.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Processes are known for homogenizing bitu-
men-based mixtures (referred to hereinafter as bitumi-
nous mixtures) with granules of Styrene-Butadiene-Sty-
rene (SBS)-based polymeric material and/or polyolefins
in order to produce bituminous blends adapted to man-
ufacture flexible bituminous insulating films applicable in
particular in the construction field to perform a protective
and/or insulating function.
[0004] The above mentioned homogenizing process-
es are currently carried out by means of homogenizer
machines which substantially include: an outer casing,
within which there is obtained a granule shredding cham-
ber, a disc-shaped stator, which is stably arranged within
the shredding chamber in a position coaxial to a horizon-
tal axis, and a rotor which also has a disc shape and is
mounted so as to freely rotate within the shredding cham-
ber facing the stator and is fitted on an electric motor
shaft which is adapted to rotate it about the horizontal
axis.
[0005] Specifically, the rotor and the disc-shaped sta-
tor each consist of a round plate and a plurality of blades,
which are attached on opposite surfaces of the round
plates themselves and radially extend from the horizontal
axis towards the outer edge of the plates so as to define
radial channels therebetween, each radial channel hav-
ing a gradually decreasing width towards the outer pe-
riphery of the surfaces themselves.
[0006] In use, the bituminous material and the polymer
granules are subjected to an initial premixing and, sub-
sequently, are fed within the shredding chamber of the
homogenizer machine, within which the shredding and
the final mixing thereof occur at the same time.
[0007] Specifically, during the rotation of the rotor, the
bituminous material and the polymer granules are
pushed by the action of the centrifugal force through the
radial channels between the knives towards the outer
periphery of the stator and rotor, thus being subjected to
cuts by the knives and to a stretching at the same time,
i.e. a reduction of their thickness following the forced pas-
sage and thus following the compression to which they
are subjected within the radial channels.
2
[0008] In order to ensure an appropriate shredding of
the granules and their complete mixing with the bitumi-
nous material, in the above mentioned homogenizer ma-
chines the rotor must rotate so as to reach very high
5 peripheral speeds thereof, typically in the range between
20-50 m/s.
[0009] Laboratory tests have shown that once these
speeds have been reached by the rotor, the bitumen-
granule agglomerate within the shredding chamber
10 reaches a high temperature that determines an alteration
of the chemical-physical characteristics of the polymer
granules, thus leading to a deterioration of the bituminous
blend.
[0010] Furthermore, in order to reach the above men-
15 tioned rotation speeds of the rotor in the above described
homogenizer machines, there is required a high power
electric motor, typically on the order of 140-160 kW, which
has an especially high energy consumption, and accord-
ingly high operation costs, as well as considerably affect-
20 ing the overall cost of the homogenizer machine.
[0011] FR2679789 discloses a disperser-mixer device
for the preparation of an intimate mixture of immiscible
materials of fine particle size wherein a rotor with vanes
pivots in a cylindrical stator of revolution provided with
25 radial slots or channels, the front face, in the direction of
rotation of the rotor, of the said vanes being of a concave
shape such as to produce a radial acceleration of the
particles towards the periphery.
[0012] JP62068893 discloses a strainer for coal-water
30 slurry wherein the viscous layer of coarse grain coal
formed in the vicinity of the screen face set in a strainer
is scratched off by the scrapers and moving along the
screen face. This coarse grain coal is effectively stirred
by an agitating blade which follows the scrapers and ro-
35 tates and particle size distribution of coal slurry in the
horizontal direction of the strain is maintained in a desired
state.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
40
[0013] Therefore, it is the object of the present inven-
tion to provide a machine and a method for homogenizing
a bituminous mixture with polymer granules which over-
comes the above described drawbacks.
45 [0014] According to the present invention, there is pro-
vided a machine for homogenizing a bitumen-based mix-
ture with polymer granules according to claim 1 and pref-
erably, though not necessarily, according to any of the
claims directly or indirectly dependent from claim 1.
50 [0015] According to the present invention, there is also
provided a method for homogenizing a bitumen-based
mixture with polymer granules according to claim 9 and
preferably, though not necessarily, according to any of
the claims directly or indirectly dependent from claim 9.
55
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention will now be described
2
 3 EP 2 125 181 B1
with reference to the accompanying drawings, which
show a non-limitative embodiment thereof, in which:
- figure 1 shows a side view with parts in section and
parts removed for clarity of a machine for homoge-
nizing a bitumen-based mixture with polymer gran-
ules obtained according to the present invention;
- figure 2 shows the homogenizer assembly of the ma-
chine according to a section I-I of figure 1 on an en-
larged scale;
- figure 3 shows an elevation side view with parts en-
larged for clarity of the perforated sleeve of the ma-
chine shown in figure 1;
- figures 4 to 7 show as many operation steps of the
homogenization of the bitumen/granules implement-
ed by the machine shown in figure 1.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference to figure 1, numeral 1 shows as
a whole a machine for homogenizing a bitumen-based
mixture with granules, preferably though not necessarily,
of SBS-based polymeric material and/or polyolefins in
order to produce bituminous blends adapted to produce
flexible insulating films, applicable in the construction
field to perform a protective and/or insulating function.
[0018] The machine 1 includes: a base bearing struc-
ture 2, a collection and heating container 4 for the ho-
mogenized bituminous blend, which is supported by the
bearing structure 2 so as to be arranged in a position
substantially coaxial to a vertical reference axis A; and a
sleeve 5, which is arranged within the container 4 pref-
erably, though not necessarily, rested against the bottom
wall of the container 4 itself and is adapted to temporarily
contain the bituminous mixture and the polymer granules.
[0019] Specifically, the collection container 4 is defined
by a metal vessel, for instance made of steel or any other
type of similar metal, preferably but not necessarily hav-
ing a cylindrical shape that includes a heating circuit (not
shown) within its side wall, which includes a series of
heating conduits (not shown), within which a heated fluid
flows, for instance, diathermal oil adapted to transfer a
determined amount of heat to the inner surface of the
side wall of the container 4 so as to maintain the homog-
enized bituminous blend at a preset temperature.
[0020] The container 4 is also connected through an
opening (not shown) specifically obtained on its side wall
to an exhaust conduit (not shown), through which the
homogenized bituminous blend is conveyed outside the
container 4 itself.
[0021] As far as the sleeve 5 is concerned, it essentially
includes a tubular element preferably made of metal,
such as for instance steel or any other similar metal,
which is stably arranged within the container 4 in a posi-
tion substantially coaxial to the axis A and has on the
side wall 8 a plurality of through apertures 9, each of
which is shaped so as to have at least a portion of the
sharp cutting edge.
4
[0022] The machine 1 further includes a homogenizer
assembly 10, which is mounted so as to axially rotate
within the sleeve 5 in order to rotate about the axis A,
and is configured so as to displace at least part of the
5 bitumen-based mixture and the polymer granules con-
tained within the sleeve 5 along a direction which is sub-
stantially tangential to the inner surface 11 of the perfo-
rated side wall 8 so as to induce the polymer granules
adhered on the inner surface 11 itself to impact on the
10 sharp cutting edge portions of said apertures 9, thus ob-
taining the shredding of the polymer granules. Specifi-
cally, each portion of the sharp cutting edge is positioned
so as to face the polymer granules when the latter are
pushed by the homogenizer assembly 10 along the inner
15 surface 11.
[0023] The homogenizer assembly 10 is also config-
ured so as to exert, during the displacement of the bitu-
minous material and of the polymer granules along the
direction tangential to the inner surface 11 of the perfo-
20 rated side wall 8, a compression of the polymer granules
on the inner surface 11 so as to obtain a crushing thereof.
In this manner, the polymer granules are subjected to a
stretching along the rotation direction of the homogenizer
assembly 10 that determines a reduction of the thickness
25 thereof.
[0024] During its rotation, the homogenizer assembly
10 is further adapted to mix the polymer granules and
the bituminous blend within the containment space of the
sleeve 5 and to push a determined amount of mixed bi-
30 tuminous mixture with shredded polymer granules
through the apertures 9 towards the container 4.
[0025] Specifically, with reference to figures 1 and 2
the homogenizer assembly 10 is induced to rotate by a
drive shaft 12 arranged within the sleeve 5 in a position
35 coaxial to the axis A, and includes a central hub 13 which
is stably fitted on the drive shaft 12, a series of smoothing
knives 14 connected to the central hub 13 and adapted
to scrape the material and the granules adhering to the
surface 11, so as to induce the granules to impact against
40 the portion of sharp edge of the apertures 9; and a plu-
rality of stretching tools 15, which are also connected to
the central hub 13 in order to perform the crushing and
therefore the stretching of the granules on the surface 11.
[0026] More in detail, each smoothing knife 14 is con-
45 nected to the central hub 13 through a mechanical con-
nection member 16, which is configured so as to allow
the displacement of the smoothing knife 14 on a radial
plane passing through axis A, from and towards the
sleeve 5. In the example shown in figure 2, the smoothing
50 knives 14 are angularly spaced one from the other around
the axis A and each includes a bar 17 extending parallel
to the axis A in a position facing the inner surface 11, and
a longitudinal blade 18, which protrudingly extends from
the bar 17 towards the inner surface 11 so as to have its
55 free end adhering to the inner surface 11 itself.
[0027] In greater detail, in the example shown, the lon-
gitudinal blade 18 is stably fastened on the bar 17 by
means of known fastening members, for instance
3
 5 EP 2 125 181 B1
screws, it has a length measured along the axis A equiv-
alent or shorter than the length of the sleeve 5 measured
along axis A, it is substantially rectangular, and is adapted
in use to be arranged with its longitudinal outer edge in
contact with the inner surface 11 so as to scrape the
polymer granules and the bituminous material which ad-
heres on the inner surface 11 because of the crush-
ing/stretching operation.
[0028] On the other hand, as far as the mechanical
connection member 16 is concerned, in the example
shown it includes a pair of support arms 19 extending in
a substantially radial direction, which has the respective
axial ends hinged on the bar 17 and on the central hub
13 respectively, so as to define with the latter a four-bar
linkage, which allows to displace the bar 17 on a radial
plane passing through the axis A, from and towards the
sleeve 5.
[0029] As far as the stretching tools 15 are concerned,
instead, they are angularly spaced one from the other
about the axis A with the smoothing knives 14 inserted
therebetween, and each includes a bar 20, which extends
parallel to the axis A in a position immediately facing the
sleeve 5.
[0030] With reference in particular to figure 2, each bar
20 comprises an outer side edge 21 having a section
transversal to the axis A shaped like a polygon so as to
compress and stretch during its rotation the polymer
granules against the inner surface 11. In greater detail,
in the example shown in figure 2, the outer side edge 21
has a substantially triangular section transversal to the
axis A, in which a vertex 22 is adapted to be arranged in
abutment on the inner surface 11, whereas the side 23
of the triangle, which is arranged in front during the rota-
tion of the stretching tool 15, is adapted to capture and
compress the polymer granules and the bituminous ma-
terial on the inner surface 11.
[0031] With reference to figure 1 and 2, each bar 20 is
connected to the central hub 13 by means of a mechan-
ical connection member 24, which is configured so as to
allow the displacement of the stretching tool 15 on a radial
plane passing through the axis A, from and towards the
sleeve 5.
[0032] In the example shown, the mechanical connec-
tion member 24 includes a pair of radial support arms 25
which are vertically spaced one from the other and have
the respective axial ends hinged to the bar 20 and to the
central hub 13 respectively, so as to be arranged recip-
rocally parallel and coplanar and define a four-bar linkage
allowing to displace the bar 20 on a radial plane passing
through the axis A itself, from and towards the sleeve 5.
[0033] The mechanical connection member 24 further
includes a push device 26, which is interposed between
the central hub 13 and the bar 20 and is adapted to exert
on the bar 20 itself a radial force capable of maintaining
the outer side edge 21, and specifically the vertex 22,
constantly in abutment on the inner surface 11 so as to
perform compression operations on the polymer gran-
ules and, at the same time, the ejection of the bituminous
6
blend through the apertures 9.
[0034] Specifically, in the example shown the push de-
vice 26 includes at least one spring interposed between
the bar 20 and the central hub 13. It should be noted that
5 the spring of the push device 26 exerts, on the bar 20, a
preset elastic force that may be varied by means of an
adjusting member (not shown) provided in the push de-
vice 26. It is apparent that the adjustment of the elastic
constant of the spring operated through the adjustment
10 member advantageously allows to appropriately vary the
compression exerted on the polymer granules and on
the bituminous material by the stretching tool 15 as a
function of the type of polymer granules used in the blend.
[0035] It should also be added that according to a pos-
15 sible embodiment, the push devices 26 may also be em-
ployed in the mechanical connection members 16 includ-
ed in the smoothing knives 14 in order to exert a radial
force thereon such as to maintain the longitudinal blades
18 resting on the inner surface 11 thus cutting the gran-
20 ules in contact with the through apertures 9 in an espe-
cially effective manner.
[0036] As far as the through apertures 9 are con-
cerned, they are uniformly distributed on the side wall 8
along one or more round trajectories according to a pre-
25 set geometrical configuration.
[0037] Specifically, in the example shown in figure 3,
the through apertures 9 are sequentially obtained on the
side wall 8 one following the other from the upper end of
the sleeve 5 towards the lower end thereof, according to
30 a substantially spiraled trajectory so as to be positioned
at a certain distance one from the other.
[0038] In greater detail, the apertures 9 are preferably
defined by round holes (also indicated hereinafter by nu-
meral 9), which are distributed on the side wall 8 of the
35 sleeve 5 so as to have the corresponding longitudinal
axes arranged on respective lying planes which are or-
thogonal to the longitudinal axis A and spaced one from
the other.
[0039] Each hole 9 is flared towards the outer surface
40 of the side wall 8 opposite to the inner surface 11, so as
to have the whole inner peripheral edge 9a shaped so
as to define a sharp cutting edge capable of cutting the
polymer granules. Specifically, the inner peripheral edge
9a of each hole 9 forms a knife having a substantially
45 round shape and has a preset diameter D which results
being shorter than the diameter of the outer peripheral
edge of the hole 9 itself present on the outer surface of
the side wall 8.
[0040] In greater detail, with reference to figure 3, the
50 holes 9 are shaped so as to each have a substantially
frustoconical inner surface diverging outwards from the
sleeve 5.
[0041] According to a possible embodiment (not
shown), the holes 9 are obtained on the side wall 8 so
55 as to have their axes arranged on respective lying planes
which are spaced one from the other by a distance sub-
stantially equivalent to the diameter D of the peripheral
edge 9a of the hole 9.
4
 7 EP 2 125 181 B1
[0042] with reference to figure 1, the machine 1 further
includes a driving unit provided with an electrical motor
28, which is preferably, though not necessarily, support-
ed by the bearing structure 2 and is connected through
connection members with its driving shaft 29 to the drive
shaft 12 to rotate the latter about the axis A; and an elec-
tronic control unit 30, which is adapted to guide the elec-
trical motor 28 so as to adjust the rotation speed thereof.
[0043] In use, the bituminous material and the polymer
granules are poured, for instance through conveyor de-
vices (not shown) within the sleeve 5 according to the
doses required to obtain the homogenized bituminous
blend. Once the above pouring has occurred, the elec-
tronic unit 30 controls the operation of the electric motor
28 which rotates the homogenizer assembly 10 about
the axis A at a preset speed preferably, though not nec-
essarily, equivalent to about 120 rounds/minute, and ac-
tivates the heating circuit, which heats the side wall of
the container 4 until the material contained therein and
within the sleeve 5 reaches a preset softening tempera-
ture, preferably in the range between about 170 - 180
centigrade degrees.
[0044] With reference to figure 4-7, the rotation of the
smoothing knives 14 and of the stretching tools 15 de-
termines the radial displacement of the bituminous ma-
terial, indicated by B, and of the polymer granules, indi-
cated by P, towards the inner surface 11 thus causing
the mixing thereof. The homogenization of the bitumi-
nous material and of the polymer granules P occurs
through the following steps: during its rotation, each
stretching tool 15 progressively accumulates some pol-
ymer granules P mixed with the bituminous material with
its outer edge 21 (figure 4), the polymer granules being
introduced in the space between the front oblique side
23 of the stretching tool 15 and the inner surface 11 and
thus being subjected to a crushing process which pro-
gressively reduces the thickness thereof. In other terms,
the polymer granules P are progressively crushed and
stretched by the stretching tool 15 against the side wall
8, until a determined thickness is achieved (figure 5).
[0045] In greater detail, during this step the polymer
granules P, which are crushed by the stretching tool 15
at the holes 9, have a corresponding portion aligned with
the hole 9 itself (figure 5) within the sleeve 5.
[0046] While the above mentioned stretching of the
polymer granules P occurs by means of the stretching
tools 15, each smoothing knife 14, during its rotation,
scrapes the inner surface 11 thereby inducing the poly-
mer granules, and specifically the polymer granule por-
tions which are stretched at the hole 9, to impact against
the sharp edge 9a of the apertures 9, thus obtaining the
cut of the polymer granules.
[0047] Specifically, by brushing the sharp edge 9 each
smoothing knife 14 cuts the portion of the stretched pol-
ymer granule which is at the hole 9 thus causing the ejec-
tion from the hole 9 itself at the same time.
[0048] In this case, during its rotation, both the smooth-
ing knives 14 and the stretching tools 15 radially push
8
certain amounts of granule-bitumen blend within the
through apertures 9, which therefore convey the bitumi-
nous blend towards the outer container 4. In this manner
the belnd is therefore progressively ejected from the
5 sleeve 5 and is deposited within the container 4 where it
is subjected to a further softening adapted to complete
the dissolution of the shredded polymer granule in the
homogenized bituminous blend.
[0049] The above described machine has several ad-
10 vantages: first of all, it is extremely simple to implement
and does not require high electrical power for its opera-
tion. As a matter a fact, a minimum power electric motor
may be used in virtue of the very low rotation speed of
the homogenizer assembly. Laboratory tests have in-
15 deed shown that an electric motor sized for an electric
power of about 11 kW may ensure an excellent homog-
enization of the blend, with obvious advantages as far
as the saving of energy is concerned.
[0050] Furthermore, the temperature of the material
20 and of the polymer granules remains substantially con-
stant, i.e. equivalent to the softening temperature of the
heating circuit 6 in virtue of the low rotation speed of the
homogenizer group, thus maintaining the chemical-phys-
ical characteristics of the polymer granules unaltered.
25 [0051] Finally, the special configuration of the aper-
tures flared towards the outer surface of the side wall of
the sleeve avoids any possibility of the machine getting
clogged, and thus ensures an excellent ejection of the
blend from the sleeve 5 itself.
30 [0052] It is finally apparent that modifications and var-
iants may be made to the machine and to the method
described and shown herein without therefore departing
from the scope of the present invention.
35
Claims
1. A bitumen homogenization machine (1) for homog-
enizing a bitumen-based mixture with polymer gran-
40 ules in order to obtain a homogenized bituminous
blend;
said machine (1) being characterized by compris-
ing:
45 - a container (4) to contain the homogenized bi-
tuminous blend;
- a substantially cylindrical sleeve (5), which is
housed within said container (4) with its longitu-
dinal axis which is substantially coaxial to a ver-
50 tical reference axis (A), and is able to internally
contain said bitumen-based mixture and a pre-
set amount of said polymer granules; said
sleeve (5) having a perforated side wall (8),
which is provided with a plurality of through ap-
55 ertures (9), each of which includes a substan-
tially round hole and is shaped so as to have at
least one sharp cutting edge (9a) portion on the
inner surface (11) of said perforated side wall
5
 9 EP 2 125 181 B1
(8) and forms a knife to cut the polymer granules;
and
- a homogenizer assembly (10) comprising:
a central hub (13) adapted to rotate about
the vertical reference axis (A);
at least one smoothing knife (14) which is
mounted so as to axially rotate within said
sleeve (5) to rotate about said vertical ref-
erence axis (A), and is structured so as to
displace, during its rotation, at least part of
said bitumen-based mixture and of said pol-
ymer granules along a direction substantial-
ly tangential to the inner surface (11) of said
perforated side wall (8) so as to press the
polymer granules, adhering on the inner
surface (11), to impact on the portions of
sharp cutting edge (9a) of said apertures (9)
thus obtaining the shredding of the polymer
granules; said smoothing knife (14) includ-
ing a blade (18) extending parallel to said
vertical reference axis (A) and is arranged
in abutment on said inner surface (11) of
said side wall (8); said smoothing knife (14)
including a bar (17) adapted to support said
blade (18), and a mechanical connection
member (24), which is interposed between
said bar (17) and said central hub (13) and
is adapted to allow the displacement of said
bar (17) along a plane passing through said
vertical reference axis (A) from and towards
said cylindrical sleeve (5); and
at least one stretching tool (15), which is
operable to rotate about said vertical refer-
ence axis (A) and is shaped to compress
and stretch, during its rotation, said polymer
granules against said inner surface (11) of
said perforated side wall (8);
said stretching tool (15) includes a bar (20)
having a substantially triangular cross sec-
tion; said bar (20) being connected to said
central hub (13) by means of said mechan-
ical connection member (24), which is inter-
posed between said bar (20) and said hub
(13) to allow the displacement of said bar
(20) along a plane passing through said ver-
tical reference axis (A) from and towards
said cylindrical sleeve (5).
2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said holes
(9) have a sharp cutting edge (9a) which is continu-
ous along an edge thereof; each hole (9) being flared
towards the outer surface of said side wall (8).
3. A machine according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said
apertures (9) are sequentially obtained on the side
wall (8) one following the other according to a sub-
stantially spiral trajectory.
10
4. A machine according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said apertures (9) are distributed on
the side wall (8) of the sleeve (5) so as to have the
corresponding longitudinal axes arranged on re-
5 spective lying planes which are orthogonal to said
vertical reference axis (A) and spaced one from the
other.
5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein said lying
10 planes are spaced one from the other by a distance
substantially equivalent to the diameter (D) of said
sharp cutting edge (9a) of said aperture (9).
6. A machine according to any one of the claims from
15 2 to 5, wherein said smoothing knife (14) includes a
rectangular shaped blade (18) extending parallel to
said vertical reference axis (A) and is arranged in
abutment on said inner surface (11) of said side wall
(8) with its longitudinal outer edge in contact with the
20 inner surface (11).
7. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said me-
chanical connection member (24) includes an elastic
push device (26) interposed between said bar (17,
25 20) and said hub (13) and able to push said bar (17,
20) towards said inner surface (11) of said side wall
(8).
8. A machine according to any one of the previous
30 claims, comprising a plurality of smoothing knives
(14) angularly spaced about said vertical reference
axis (A) and a plurality of stretching tools (15) which
are angularly spaced around said vertical reference
axis (A) and inserted between said smoothing knives
35 (14).
9. A method for homogenizing a bitumen-based mix-
ture with polymer granules in order to obtain a ho-
mogenized bituminous blend by means of a bitumen
40 homogenization machine (1) according to any of the
previous claims;
said method being characterized in comprising the
steps of rotating said homogenizer assembly (10)
about said vertical reference axis (A) to cause:
45
said at least one smoothing knife (14) to axially
rotate within said sleeve (5) in order to displace,
during rotation, at least part of said bitumen-
based mixture and of said polymer granules
50 along a direction substantially tangential to the
inner surface (11) of said perforated side wall
(8) so as to press the polymer granules, adher-
ing on the inner surface (11), to impact on the
portions of sharp cutting edge (9a) of said aper-
55 tures (9) thus obtaining the shredding of the pol-
ymer granules; and
said at least one stretching tool (15) to rotate
about said vertical reference axis (A) in order to
6
 11 EP 2 125 181 B1
stretch, during rotation, said polymer granules
against said inner surface (11) of said perforated
side wall (8).
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said polymer
granules (P) are progressively crushed and
stretched by the stretching tool (15) against the side
wall (8), until a determined thickness is achieved.
11. A method according to claim 10, comprising: brush-
ing the sharp edge (9) by said blade (14) to cut the
portion of the stretched polymer granule which is at
the aperture (9) thus causing the ejection from the
aperture (9) itself at the same time.
Patentansprüche
1. Maschine (1) zur Homogenisierung einer auf Bitu-
men basierenden Mischung mit Polymergranulat,
um ein homogenisiertes Bitumengemisch zu erhal-
ten;
wobei die Maschine (1) dadurch gekennzeichnet
ist, dass sie umfasst:
- einen Behälter (4), um das homogenisierte Bi-
tumengemisch aufzunehmen;
- eine im Wesentlichen zylindrische Hülse (5),
die in dem Behälter (4) aufgenommen ist, wobei
ihre Längsachse im Wesentlichen koaxial mit ei-
ner vertikalen Bezugsachse (A) ist, und die fähig
ist, die Mischung auf Bitumenbasis mit einer vor-
gegebenen Menge des Polymergranulats innen
zu enthalten; wobei die Hülse (5) eine perforierte
Seitenwand (8) hat, die mit einer Vielzahl von
Durchgangsöffnungen (9) versehen ist, von de-
nen jede ein im Wesentlichen rundes Loch um-
fasst und derart geformt ist, dass sie wenigstens
einen Abschnitt mit scharfer Schnittkante (9a)
auf der Innenfläche (11) der perforierten Seiten-
wand (8) hat und ein Messer bildet, um das Po-
lymergranulat zu zerschneiden; und
- eine Homogenisatoranordnung (10), die um-
fasst:
eine zentrale Nabe (13), die geeignet ist,
um sich um eine vertikale Bezugsachse (A)
zu drehen;
wenigstens ein Glättmesser (14), das derart
montiert ist, dass es axial innerhalb der Hül-
se (5) rotiert, so dass es um die vertikale
Bezugsachse (A) rotiert, und das derart auf-
gebaut ist, dass es während seiner Rotation
wenigstens einen Teil der auf Bitumen ba-
sierenden Mischung mit dem Polymergra-
nulat entlang einer Richtung im Wesentli-
chen tangential zu der Innenfläche (11) der
perforierten Seitenwand (8) verschiebt, um
12
das Polymergranulat, das auf der Innenflä-
che (11) haftet, zu pressen, so dass es auf
die Abschnitte mit scharfer Schnittkante
(9a) der Öffnungen (9) auftrifft, wobei auf
5 diese Weise das Schreddern des Polymer-
granulats erreicht wird; wobei das Glätt-
messer (14) eine Klinge (18) umfasst, die
sich parallel zu der vertikalen Bezugsachse
(A) erstreckt und auf der Innenfläche (11)
10 der Seitenwand (8) anliegend angeordnet
ist; wobei das Glättmesser (14) eine Stange
(17), die geeignet ist, die Klinge (18) zu hal-
ten, und ein mechanisches Verbindungse-
lement (24), das zwischen der Stange (17)
15 und der zentralen Nabe (13) eingefügt ist
und geeignet ist, die Verschiebung der
Stange (17) entlang einer Ebene, die durch
die vertikale Bezugsachse (A) geht, von der
zylindrischen Hülse (5) weg und auf diese
20 zuzulassen, umfasst; und
wenigstens ein Streckwerkzeug (15), das
derart betriebsfähig ist, dass es um die ver-
tikale Bezugsachse (A) rotiert und während
seiner Rotation das Polymergranulat gegen
25 die Innenfläche (11) der perforierten Seiten-
wand (8) verdichtet und streckt; wobei das
Streckwerkzeug (15) eine Stange (20) mit
einem im Wesentlichen dreieckigen Quer-
schnitt hat; wobei die Stange (20) mittels
30 eines mechanischen Verbindungsele-
ments (24), das zwischen der Stange (20)
und der Nabe (13) eingefügt ist, mit der zen-
tralen Nabe (13) verbunden ist, um die Ver-
schiebung der Stange (20) entlang einer
35 Ebene, die durch die vertikale Bezugsachse
(A) geht, von der zylindrischen Hülse (5)
weg und auf diese zu zuzulassen.
2. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Löcher (9)
40 eine scharfe Schnittkante (9a) haben, die entlang
ihres Rands zusammenhängend ist, wobei jedes
Loch (9) in Richtung der Außenfläche der Seiten-
wand (8) aufgeweitet ist.
45 3. Maschine nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Öff-
nungen (9) nacheinander auf der Seitenwand (8),
eine nach der anderen entlang einer im Wesentli-
chen spiralförmigen Kurve, erhalten werden.
50 4. Maschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprü-
che, wobei die Öffnungen (9) auf der Seitenwand (8)
der Hülse (5) verteilt sind, so dass die entsprechen-
den Längsachsen auf jeweiligen Lageebenen ange-
ordnet sind, die orthogonal zu der vertikalen Bezugs-
55 achse (A) und voneinander beabstandet sind.
5. Maschine nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Lageebenen
voneinander um einen Abstand beabstandet sind,
7
 13 EP 2 125 181 B1
der im Wesentlichen gleich dem Durchmesser (D)
der scharfen Schnittkante (9a) der Öffnung (9) ist.
6. Maschine nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 5, wobei
das Glättmesser (14) eine rechteckig geformte Klin-
ge (18) umfasst, die sich parallel zu der vertikalen
Bezugsachse (A) erstreckt, und auf der Innenfläche
(11) der Seitenwand (8) anliegend angeordnet ist,
wobei ihre Längsaußenkante in Kontakt mit der In-
nenfläche (11) ist.
7. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, wobei das mechanische
Verbindungselement (24) eine elastische Druckvor-
richtung (26) umfasst, die zwischen der Stange (17,
20) und der Nabe (13) eingefügt ist und fähig ist, die
Stange (17, 20) in Richtung der Innenfläche (11) der
Seitenwand (8) zu drücken.
8. Maschine nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprü-
che, die eine Vielzahl von Glättmessern (14) um-
fasst, die winkelig um die vertikale Bezugsachse (A)
beabstandet sind, und eine Vielzahl von Streckwerk-
zeugen (15), die winkelig um die vertikale Bezugs-
achse (A) beabstandet und zwischen den Glättmes-
sern (14) eingefügt sind.
9. Verfahren zur Homogenisierung einer auf Bitumen
basierenden Mischung mit Polymergranulat, um mit-
tels einer Maschine (1) zur Homogenisierung von
Bitumen nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprü-
che ein homogenisiertes Bitumengemisch zu erhal-
ten;
wobei das Verfahren dadurch gekennzeichnet ist,
dass es die Schritte des Rotierens der Homogeni-
satoranordnung (10) um die vertikale Bezugsachse
(A) umfasst, um zu bewirken, dass:
das wenigstens eine Glättmesser (14) axial in-
nerhalb der Hülse (5) rotiert, um während der
Rotation wenigstens einen Teil der auf Bitumen
basierenden Mischung mit dem Polymergranu-
lat entlang einer Richtung im Wesentlichen tan-
gential zu der Innenfläche (11) der perforierten
Seitenwand (8) zu verschieben, um das Poly-
mergranulat, das auf der Innenfläche (11) haftet,
zu pressen, so dass es auf die Abschnitte mit
scharfer Schnittkante (9a) der Öffnungen (9)
auftrifft, wobei auf diese Weise das Schreddern
des Polymergranulats erreicht wird; und
das wenigstens ein Streckwerkzeug (15) um die
vertikale Bezugsachse (A) rotiert, um während
seiner Rotation das Polymergranulat gegen die
Innenfläche (11) der perforierten Seitenwand (8)
zu strecken.
10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, wobei das Polymergra-
nulat (P) durch das Streckwerkzeug (15) fortschrei-
tend zerdrückt und gegen die Seitenwand (8) ge-
14
streckt wird, bis eine bestimmte Dicke erreicht wird.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, das umfasst: Über-
streichen der scharfen Kante (9) mit der Klinge (14),
5 um den Teil des gestreckten Polymergranulats, der
an der Öffnung (9) ist, zu schneiden, wobei auf diese
Weise das gleichzeitige Auswerfen aus der Öffnung
(9) selbst bewirkt.
10
Revendications
1. Machine d’homogénéisation de bitume (1) pour ho-
mogénéiser un mélange à base de bitume avec des
15 granulés de polymère afin d’obtenir un mélange bi-
tumineux homogénéisé, ladite machine (1) étant ca-
ractérisée en ce qu’elle comprend :
- un contenant (4) pour contenir le mélange bi-
20 tumineux homogénéisé ;
- un manchon sensiblement cylindrique (5), qui
est reçu à l’intérieur dudit contenant (4) avec
son axe longitudinal qui est sensiblement
coaxial à un axe de référence vertical (A) et qui
25 peut contenir en son sein ledit mélange à base
de bitume et une quantité prédéfinie desdits gra-
nulés de polymère ; ledit manchon (5) ayant une
paroi latérale perforée (8) qui est pourvue d’une
pluralité d’ouvertures traversantes (9), chacune
30 d’elles comportant un trou sensiblement rond et
étant formée de sorte à présenter au moins une
partie de bord de coupe tranchant (9a) sur la
surface interne (11) de ladite paroi latérale per-
forée (8) et forme un couteau pour couper les
35 granulés de polymère ; et
- un ensemble homogénéisateur (10)
comprenant :
un moyeu central (13) conçu pour tourner
40 autour de l’axe de référence vertical (A) ;
au moins un couteau de lissage (14) qui est
monté de sorte à tourner axialement à l’in-
térieur dudit manchon (5) pour tourner
autour dudit axe de référence vertical (A) et
45 est structuré de sorte à déplacer, pendant
sa rotation, au moins une partie dudit mé-
lange à base de bitume et desdits granulés
de polymère dans une direction sensible-
ment tangentielle à la surface interne (11)
50 de ladite paroi latérale perforée (8) de sorte
à exercer une pression sur les granulés de
polymère, qui collent sur la surface interne
(11), pour venir frapper sur les parties du
bord de coupe tranchant (9a) desdites
55 ouvertures (9), ce qui permet d’obtenir le
déchiquetage des granulés de polymère ;
ledit couteau de lissage (14) comportant
une lame (18) s’étendant de façon parallèle
8
 15 EP 2 125 181 B1
au dit axe de référence vertical (A) et étant
disposé en butée sur ladite surface interne
(11) de ladite paroi latérale (8) ; ledit cou-
teau de lissage (14) comprenant une barre
(17) conçue pour supporter ladite lame (18)
et un élément de liaison mécanique (24),
qui est intercalé entre ladite barre (17) et
ledit moyeu central (13) et étant conçu pour
permettre le déplacement de ladite barre
(17) le long d’un plan passant à travers ledit
axe de référence vertical (A) à partir dudit
manchon cylindrique (5) et vers ce dernier ;
et
au moins un outil d’étirage (15), qui est des-
tiné à tourner autour dudit axe de référence
vertical (A) et est formé pour comprimer et
étirer, pendant sa rotation, lesdits granulés
de polymère contre ladite surface interne
(11) de ladite paroi latérale perforée (8) ;
ledit outil d’étirage (15) comprend une barre
(20) ayant une section transversale sensi-
blement triangulaire ; ladite barre (20) étant
raccordée audit moyeu central (13) au
moyen dudit élément de liaison mécanique
(24), qui est intercalé entre ladite barre (20)
et ledit moyeu (13) pour permettre le dépla-
cement de ladite barre (20) le long d’un plan
passant à travers ledit axe de référence ver-
tical (A) à partir dudit manchon cylindrique
(5) et vers ce dernier.
2. Machine selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les-
dits trous (9) présentent un bord de coupe tranchant
(9a) qui est continu le long d’un bord de ces derniers ;
chaque trou (9) étant évasé vers la surface externe
de ladite paroi latérale (8).
3. Machine selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle
lesdites ouvertures (9) sont obtenues de façon sé-
quentielle sur la paroi latérale (8) les unes à la suite
des autres en fonction d’une trajectoire sensible-
ment en spirale.
4. Machine selon l’une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, dans laquelle lesdites ouvertures (9)
sont réparties sur la paroi latérale (8) du manchon
(5) de sorte à avoir les axes longitudinaux corres-
pondants disposés sur des plans horizontaux res-
pectifs qui sont orthogonaux audit axe de référence
vertical (A) et espacés les uns des autres.
5. Machine selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle les-
dits plans horizontaux sont espacés les uns des
autres par une distance sensiblement équivalente
au diamètre (D) dudit bord de coupe tranchant (9a)
de ladite ouverture (9).
6. Machine selon l’une quelconque des revendications
16
2 à 5, dans laquelle ledit couteau de lissage (14)
comprend une lame de forme rectangulaire (18)
s’étendant de façon parallèle audit axe de référence
vertical (A) et est disposé en butée sur ladite surface
5 interne (11) de ladite paroi latérale (8), son bord ex-
terne longitudinal étant en contact avec la surface
interne (11).
7. Machine selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit
10 élément de liaison mécanique (24) comprend un dis-
positif de poussée élastique (26) intercalé entre la-
dite barre (17, 20) et ledit moyeu (13) et peut pousser
ladite barre (17, 20) vers ladite surface interne (11)
de ladite paroi latérale (8).
15
8. Machine selon l’une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, comprenant une pluralité de couteaux
de lissage (14) espacés de manière angulaire autour
dudit axe de référence vertical (A) et une pluralité
20 d’outils d’étirage (15) qui sont espacés de manière
angulaire autour dudit axe de référence vertical (A)
et insérés entre lesdits couteaux de lissage (14).
9. Procédé pour homogénéiser un mélange à base de
25 bitume avec des granulés de polymère afin d’obtenir
un mélange bitumineux homogénéisé au moyen
d’une machine d’homogénéisation de bitume (1) se-
lon l’une quelconque des revendications
précédentes ;
30 ledit procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu’il com-
prend les étapes consistant à faire tourner ledit en-
semble homogénéisateur (10) autour dudit axe de
référence vertical (A) pour contraindre :
35 ledit ou lesdits couteaux de lissage (14) à tour-
ner de façon axiale à l’intérieur dudit manchon
(5) afin de déplacer, pendant sa ou leur rotation,
au moins une partie dudit mélange à base de
bitume et desdits granulés de polymère dans
40 une direction sensiblement tangentielle à la sur-
face interne (11) de ladite paroi latérale perforée
(8) de sorte à exercer une pression sur les gra-
nulés de polymère, qui collent sur la surface in-
terne (11), pour venir frapper sur les parties du
45 bord de coupe tranchant (9a) desdites ouvertu-
res (9), ce qui permet d’obtenir le déchiquetage
des granulés de polymère ; et
ledit ou lesdits couteaux d’étirage (15) à tourner
autour dudit axe de référence vertical (A) afin
50 d’étirer, pendant sa ou leur rotation, lesdits gra-
nulés de polymère contre ladite surface interne
(11) de ladite paroi latérale perforée (8).
10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, dans lequel lesdits
55 granulés de polymère (P) sont petit à petit broyés et
étirés par l’outil d’étirage (15) contre la paroi latérale
(8) jusqu’à ce qu’une épaisseur déterminée soit ob-
tenue.
9
 17 EP 2 125 181 B1 18

11. Procédé selon la revendication 10, consistant : à

brosser le bord tranchant (9) au moyen de ladite lame
(14) pour couper la partie du granulé de polymère
étiré qui se trouve au niveau de l’ouverture (9), ce
qui provoque l’éjection par l’ouverture (9) elle-même 5
au même moment.

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

10
EP 2 125 181 B1

11
EP 2 125 181 B1

12
EP 2 125 181 B1

13
EP 2 125 181 B1

14
EP 2 125 181 B1

15
 EP 2 125 181 B1

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• FR 2679789 [0011] • JP 62068893 B [0012]

16