Patent Application
20160222603
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to spreader apparatuses. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to spreader apparatuses capable of spreading solid material and fluid. Such spreader apparatuses are useful to pre-treat a road surface with fluid and to apply a solid material to a road surface, for example.
2. Background of Related Art
Trucks equipped with spreaders for distributing solid materials onto a paved surface are known, for example, a material spreading vehicle with a hydraulic wheel pump is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,824; a truck for hauling and dispensing material over paved roads fitted with an integrated spreader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,172; a truck with a retractable spreader mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,200 discloses a method for depositing a snow-ice treatment material onto pavement; a combination truck and spreader apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,482; and International Publication No. WO 02/38867 A1 discloses a vehicle that discharges and spreads material onto roadways along with a transmitter/receiver device to verify the discharge function. The entire contents of each of these published patents/applications are incorporated herein by reference.
However, certain solid materials to be spread on pavement will more easily adhere to the pavement or road surface if the pavement is pre-treated with a fluid, for example. Additionally, it is often desired to quickly change the ability of a truck to spread a solid material on a road surface and to spread a fluid on a road surface, e.g., during snow and ice operations.
Here, two trucks are often required to perform these operations—a first truck to apply fluid to the pavement, and a second truck to spread solid material on the pavement. Alternatively, a single truck can be used to perform these operations, but here there is a need to remove a solid material-spreading device and replace it with a fluid-spreading device.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a spreader apparatus that that can apply both fluid and solid material to a road surface.
The present disclosure relates to a spreader apparatus for use with a vehicle. The spreader apparatus includes an auger portion and a flow bar. The auger portion is configured to spread solid material on a surface. The flow bar is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the auger portion, and includes a plurality of nozzles. The flow bar is configured to spread fluid through each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles onto the surface.
In disclosed embodiments, the flow bar is affixed to the auger portion. Alternatively, the flow bar is removably attached to the auger portion.
It is disclosed that the flow bar includes a fluid inlet configured to connect to a hose, and the fluid inlet is disposed in fluid communication with each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles.
It is further disclosed that the flow bar is positioned distally of the auger portion.
The present disclosure also relates to a method of treating a road surface. The method includes spreading a solid material onto the road surface with an auger portion of a spreader apparatus, and spreading a fluid onto the road surface with a flow bar of the spreader apparatus.
Embodiments of the method also include removably attaching the flow bar to the auger portion.
In disclosed embodiments, spreading a solid material onto the road surface includes spreading at least one of sodium acetate, salt, or sand. It is also disclosed that spreading a fluid onto the road surface includes spreading at least one of an anti-icing solution, a de-icing solution, or a brine solution.
It is further disclosed that the method further comprises installing the spreader apparatus onto a truck. The spreader apparatus may be removably installed onto the truck or permanently installed onto the truck.
In disclosed embodiments, the method includes connecting a fluid inlet of the flow bar with a fluid tank.
It is also disclosed that spreading the solid material onto the road surface is performed at the same time as spreading the fluid onto the road surface, or at a different time as spreading the fluid onto the road surface.
In disclosed embodiments, spreading a solid material onto the road surface includes spreading at least one of asphalt, concrete, or aggregates onto the road surface. It is also disclosed that spreading a fluid onto the road surface includes spreading at least one of a cleaning solution, or an adhesive onto the road surface.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings wherein:
Embodiments of the presently disclosed spreader apparatus and method are described in detail with reference to the drawings wherein like numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. In the description that follows, the term “proximal” will refer to the portion of the spreader apparatus that is closest to the front of the truck, while the term “distal” will refer to the portion of the spreader apparatus that is farthest from the front of the truck.
A spreader apparatus 100, and portions thereof, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in
With reference to
With particular reference to
Flow bar 140 of spreader apparatus 100 includes a fluid inlet 142, a body portion 144, and a plurality of nozzles 146. Flow bar 140 is configured to be removably attached to auger portion 120 (e.g., by suitable mechanical structure) or to be fixedly attached to auger portion 120 (e.g., by welding). Additionally, while flow bar 140 is shown mounted to a distal surface of auger portion 120, the present disclosure also includes flow bar 140 being mounted to any other part (e.g., a proximal portion) of auger portion 120 or truck 10.
Fluid inlet 142 is configured to engage and/or mechanically couple with a hose “H.” Hose “H” is configured to engage and/or mechanically couple to the fluid tank “FT” disposed in a bed of truck 10, for example. With particular reference to
Each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles 146 is disposed in fluid communication with fluid inlet 142, such that fluid that enters fluid inlet 142 can exit flow bar 140 through each nozzle of plurality of nozzles 146. While flow bar 140 is shown having thirteen (13) nozzles 146, it is envisioned that flow bar 140 can include more or fewer than 13 nozzles 146. Further, it is envisioned that each nozzle of plurality of nozzles 146 is of any suitable size and shape, including having nozzles that are differently sized/shaped from an adjacent nozzle.
Spreader apparatus 100 is useful in a myriad of ways, and the present disclosure relates to methods of use of spreader apparatus 100. For example, when applying a solid material “M” (e.g., asphalt, concrete, aggregates, etc.) to a road surface “RS,” it may be useful to first apply a fluid “F” (e.g., cleaning solution, an adhesive, etc.) to the road surface “RS” to help the solid material “M” adhere to the road surface “RS” and/or to help the longevity of the solid material “M” after it has been applied to the road surface “RS.” As discussed herein, the use of spreader apparatus 100 can apply both solid material “M” through auger portion 120 and fluid “F” through flow bar 140. Further, spreader apparatus 100 can apply solid material “M” at the same time as it applies fluid “F” or at a different time. Additionally, depending on the orientation of flow bar 140 with respect to auger portion 120 (and depending on the direction of travel of truck 10), spreader apparatus 100 can apply fluid “F” from flow bar 140 to the road surface “RS” prior to or after the application of solid material “M” from auger portion 120 to the road surface “RS.”
Disclosed methods also include installing spreader apparatus 100 onto truck 10, and connecting fluid inlet 142 with the fluid tank “FT” (e.g., using hose “H”). Spreader apparatus 100 can be installed onto truck 10 either removably (e.g., hanging spreader apparatus 100 from a distal end of truck 10) or permanently (e.g., welding spreader apparatus 100 to a distal end of truck 10).
It is also envisioned to use spreader apparatus 100 during anti-icing operations. For instance, it is envisioned that the bed of truck 10 includes solid material “M” (e.g., sodium acetate, salt, sand, etc.) therein, and that the fluid tank “FT” includes fluid (e.g., an anti-icing solution, a de-icing solution, a brine solution, etc.) therein. In use during an anti-icing or similar operation, a single truck 10 including spreader apparatus 100 can be used to apply an appropriate solid material “M” through auger portion 120 and an appropriate fluid “F” through flow bar 140.
As can be appreciated, without the use of spreader apparatus 100, either two trucks would be necessary during an anti-icing operation (one truck having an auger, and one truck having a flow bar, for example), or a single truck can be used but the auger would have to be removed after the solid material was applied to the road surface, and a flow bar would be required to be installed subsequent to the removal of the auger. Both of these methods require additional expense and time; time is often of the essence during de-icing operations.
Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. For example, the truck 10 can either include a stationary body or a fixed body. As another example, the truck 10 can include a belt-type conveyor or a screw-type conveyor to help move solid material distally. As yet another example, spreader apparatus 100 can be stationary or moveable (e.g., retractable or pivotable). All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims
While embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the figures, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/111,321 filed on Feb. 3, 2015, the entire contents of which being herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62111321 | Feb 2015 | US |
