Development Of The Transfer Tank Longitudinal Sealer

The Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center has designed and built the next generation of Longitudinal Crack Sealing Machines (LCSM). The new system, the Transfer Tank Longitudinal Sealer (TTLS), creates a continuous hot sealant supply for high production sealing operations by developing a hot sealant transfer from nurse kettles scheme. The application truck is a self-contained, 360-gallon, high production highway longitudinal crack sealing machine. The transfer trailer serves the role of a nurse kettle by providing up to 600 gallons of hot sealant and high-speed, 72GPM (gallons per minute), transfer capabilities to quickly re-supply the application truck. TTLS field testing results have proven the functionality of the equipment, but slow kettle heating times of 7 to 9 hours is ultimately preventing full deployment of this equipment. The slow heating problem was due to poor kettle design by a commercial manufacturer. TTLS application truck kettle replacement will be necessary before field deployment can be accomplished.