PHCo Patch King pothole patchers provide safe, efficient heat all day long

The Patch King pothole patcher from Process Heating Company (PHCo) heats hot or cold mix patching material and keeps it at the ideal working temperature, from 50° to 350° F, for at least 10 hours. The unit features Lo-Density open-coil drywell-style heaters, evenly distributed across the sides, bottom, ends and discharge doors, which dissipate up to 1 watt per square inch of heat. The result is reliable, consistent heat throughout the hopper, without cold or hot spots in the material. Operators can either heat the material at the beginning of the day, set a time clock for early morning pre-heating or keep it hot overnight for more efficient use of material and improved worker productivity. Because it heats without flame, the Patch King eliminates safety concerns from fossil-fuel-heated patching equipment.

Available in insulated 3.0-, 4.0- or 8.0-cubic-yard models, the Patch King is popular with municipalities and road maintenance contractors because the insulated patch box easily mounts into a dump truck or onto a flatbed and can be sent out with knowledge that the mix will stay hot all day long. UL-listed controls located on the unit offer easy-to-use, complete automation of temperature regulation. A high-low heat selector switch mounted in the control panel can supply heat individually to the floor and gates – or to the floor, sides, ends and gates, providing heat for full or partial loads. The main disconnect and individually fused heat circuits provide overcurrent protection. All components are mounted and prewired in a UL-listed, weatherproof enclosure.

In addition to the standard dump model, the Patch King is available in a trailer model and a rotary auger model. On the rotary auger model, the reversible rotary conveyor is driven by a hydraulic motor and supported by heavy-duty ball bearings. A mix/anti-bridging device features separate hydraulic drive and controls. The wear parts, including auger, are easily replaceable. The reversible auger feeds patch mix to the work area to eliminate costly dump beds and hoists. All other features are the same as the standard model.

Electric heat is ideal for pothole patching applications because it offers 100 percent energy efficiency since all of the energy is used to heat, when compared to the less efficient burning of fossil fuel. That efficiency will always remain at 100 percent, even after many years of operation. The drywell-style elements are accessible from outside of the body for service ease. And since electric heat requires little maintenance, these heaters can reduce downtime even further. PHCo electric heaters typically last for more than 30 years, providing 100 percent efficient heat over their entire lifetime. And electric heat is friendly to the environment because it heats without combustion or emissions, and it eliminates a common source of fuel spills. With zero emissions, there also are no stacks or expensive permits to maintain.