US20110315797A1

US20110315797A1 - Salt wetting apparatus and brine applicator

Info

Publication number: US20110315797A1
Application number: US13/167,277
Authority: US
Inventors: Marty Warchola
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-24
Filing date: 2011-06-23
Publication date: 2011-12-29
Also published as: WO2011163471A3; WO2011163471A2

Abstract

In one embodiment, a conventional pickup truck is equipped with a tailgate spreader and a salt wetting apparatus. In another embodiment, a conventional pickup truck is equipped with a tailgate spreader and a brine dispensing apparatus. In yet another embodiment, a conventional pickup truck is equipped with a tailgate spreader, a salt wetting apparatus, and a brine dispensing apparatus.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/358,213, entitled SALT WETTING APPARATUS MOUNTABLE ON TAILGATE SPREADER, filed Jun. 24, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/361,206, entitled BRINE APPLICATOR COUPLED WITH TAIL GATE SALT SPREADER, filed Jul. 2, 2010, both which are incorporated herein by reference.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses regarding the application of snow and ice treatment substances to roadways, parking lots, sidewalks, and other ground surfaces. More specifically this invention pertains to a snow or ice treatment dispensing apparatus sized and adapted to be mounted in pickup trucks or other small vehicles.
B. Description of the Related Art
It is well known in the ice and snow treatment industry to apply salt or other granular substances to ground surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. When salt is applied to a ground surface, the traction obtained on the ground surface is improved. Also snow and ice are not as strongly bonded to the ground surface and thus are easier to remove. However there are several drawbacks when salt alone is applied to ground surface. First, salt or other granular substances tend to migrate from the location where they are first applied. This migration may occur as the granules hit the surface and bounce or roll in various directions thus making the application ineffective. A second problem is that it may take significant time before a salt—liquid solution (brine) is formed on the ground surface. The importance of the resulting solution is the fact that it will remain in liquid form at temperatures below the freezing point of water. Thus the granular salt must stay in place on the surface for a sufficient time to form an effective solution. Attempted solutions to this problem include control systems for salt dispensing and spreading apparatuses. Some such control systems try to control the relative velocity between the salt granule and the ground surface by adjusting the dispensing speed. These systems are costly and add an additional level of complexity to the apparatus. A third problem is that the brine solution formed from applying salt to a snow or ice covered surface may be too dilute to provide an effective surface treatment. Attempted solutions to this problem include increasing the amount of salt applied to the surface. This solution adds cost as it requires more salt or treatment substance.
A second class of solutions to the above problems involves wetting or coating the salt by applying a liquid solution to the salt. These solutions can involve applying liquid to the salt before it enters the dispensing device or after it exits the dispensing device. Wetting or coating the salt before it lands on the ground surface increases the amount of treatment substance that stays on the ground surface and increases the time the treatment substance stays on the surface, thus improving the treatment's effectiveness. One problem with wetting or coating the salt before it is dispensed is the tendency for lumps to form thus making it difficult to dispense or rendering a portion of the treatment substance unusable. Thus wetting or coating the salt as it is dispensed avoids the problem of trying to put lumps of material through the dispensing apparatus. But trying to wet or coat the salt after it exits the dispenser also has problems. These problems revolve around ensuring the salt is wetted or is properly coated with liquid before it lands on the ground surface. Known solutions to this problem involve controlled mixing chambers where the salt is coated or is wetted by a liquid. This solution adds addition components, additional complexity, additional power to implement, and thus requires a larger apparatus to implement. Also the larger size requirement of this equipment restricts its use in several important ground surfaces. Thus these larger machines are not used on pedestrian ground surfaces (i.e. sidewalks, campus areas), small residential streets, or parking lots.
However, it has not been known to effectively wet, and/or coat, and dispense the salt in a smaller tailgate spreader environment. Further, it has never previously been provided a source of liquid or a wetting and/or coating apparatus in order to be used effectively in conjunction with a tailgate spreader.
There are also several problems when only liquid treatment is applied to a ground surface. One problem is obtaining effective concentrations after the liquid treatment is applied to the ground surface. Often the result after application of the liquid treatment is a highly diluted substance covering the ground surface which is ineffective. Another problem with liquid treatment systems is controlling the application rate and distribution pattern when traveling at highway speeds so that the liquid treatment is properly applied to the ground surfaces. Attempted solutions to this problem include implementing control systems to the apparatuses. Some such control systems try to control the relative velocity between the dispensed liquid and the ground surface by adjusting the dispensing speed. These systems are costly and add an additional level of complexity to the apparatus.
What is needed is a modular, inexpensive, less complex, lower power consuming, smaller in size, and reliable apparatus to dispense granular salt and liquid treatment substance to ground surfaces. It has not previously been known to combine a brine applicator with a tail gate spreader.

II. SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of this invention, a salt wetting apparatus may be used with an associated conventional pick-up truck that may comprise a bed and a tailgate. The apparatus may comprise: a container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt wetting liquid; a tailgate spreader that: (1) is suitable to be supported to the associated conventional pick-up truck juxtaposed to the tailgate; (2) comprises a hopper that is suitable to hold granular salt; (3) comprises a rotatable spreader element that is rotatable to direct the granular salt from the rotatable spreader element to a ground surface; and, (4) is suitable to dispense the granular salt from the hopper onto the rotatable spreader element; and, a pump that is operable to pump the salt wetting liquid from the container through a conduit to the rotatable spreader element. The pump and tailgate spreader may be operable to apply the salt wetting liquid to the granular salt, forming a wetted salt material, as the granular salt is on or near the rotatable spreader element. The rotatable spreader element may be rotatable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface.
According to another embodiment of this invention, a brine dispensing apparatus may be used with an associated conventional pick-up truck comprising a bed and a tailgate. The apparatus may comprise: a container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt-water brine; a tailgate spreader that: (1) is suitable to be supported to the associated conventional pick-up truck juxtaposed to the tailgate; (2) comprises a hopper that is suitable to hold granular salt; (3) comprises a rotatable spreader element that is rotatable to direct the granular salt from the rotatable spreader element to a ground surface; and, (4) is suitable to dispense the granular salt from the hopper onto the rotatable spreader element; a brine applicator that: (1) is supported to one of the associated conventional pick-up truck and the tailgate spreader; and, (2) comprises a brine dispensing element; and, a pump that is operable to pump the salt-water brine from the container, through a conduit, and through the dispensing element to the ground surface.
According to yet another embodiment of this invention, a salt wetting apparatus and a brine dispensing apparatus may be used with an associated conventional pick-up truck comprising a bed and a tailgate. The apparatus may comprise: a first container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt wetting liquid; a second container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt-water brine; a tailgate spreader that: (1) is suitable to be supported to the associated conventional pick-up truck juxtaposed to the tailgate; (2) comprises a hopper that is suitable to hold granular salt; (3) comprises a rotatable spreader element that is rotatable to direct the granular salt from the rotatable spreader element to a ground surface; and, (4) is suitable to dispense the granular salt from the hopper onto the rotatable spreader element; a first pump that is operable to pump the salt wetting liquid from the container through a first conduit to the rotatable spreader element; a brine applicator that: (1) is supported to the tailgate spreader; and, (2) comprises a brine dispensing element; and, a second pump that is operable to pump the salt-water brine from the container, through a second conduit, and through the dispensing element to the ground surface. The first pump and tailgate spreader may be operable to apply the salt wetting liquid to the granular salt, forming a wetted salt material, as the granular salt is on or near the rotatable spreader element. The rotatable spreader element may be rotatable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the salt wetting apparatus and tailgate spreader.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the salt wetting apparatus and tailgate spreader.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the salt wetting apparatus and tailgate spreader.

FIG. 4 shows a close up view of the salt discharge area.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but shows the salt discharge area from a perspective closer to ground level.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the brine applicator and tail gate spreader.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the brine applicator and tail gate spreader.

FIG. 8 shows a rear view of the brine applicator and tail gate spreader

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the salt wetting apparatus, brine applicator, and tailgate spreader.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the salt wetting apparatus, brine applicator, and tailgate spreader.

FIG. 11 shows a rear view of the salt wetting apparatus, brine applicator, and tailgate spreader.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1-5 show one embodiment where a conventional pickup truck 10 is equipped with a tailgate spreader 20 and a salt wetting apparatus 5. The pickup truck features a bed 12 into which may be selectively received a tank 30 or other container for holding materials, such as salt-water mixture (brine), water, water-salt slurry or other activating agent. In one embodiment, tank 30 contains water.
With continuing reference to FIG. 1, a conventional tailgate spreader 20 is shown. The tailgate spreader has a removable top 22 which can be selectively removed and replaced. The top 22 is removed to fill the hopper 24 with salt and, after the hopper 24 is filled, the top 22 is replaced to keep the salt dry.
With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the tailgate spreader 20 fits onto the back of a conventional pickup truck 10, often by means of a trailer hitch receiver 11. The trailer hitch receiver 11 may feature a “female” square shaped hole into which may be received a “male” square shaped hitch extension 21. This apparatus (the hitch receiver 11 and the square shaped hitch extension 21 of the spreader mounting apparatus 13) work together to secure the spreader 20 selectively to the rear of the pickup 10. Further securement apparatuses, such as cotter pins 15 and the like may be used as needed.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the bed 12 of the pickup truck 10 is a container 30. In one embodiment, the container 30 contains water. The water may be selectively applied to the salt discharge area 23 by the means of the pump discharge conduit 32. The first end of the pump discharge conduit 32, designated the pump exit end of the conduit 33, is attached to the discharge side of a pump 31. In one embodiment, the pump 31 is supported to the container 10, as shown. The second end of the pump discharge conduit 32, designated the discharge end of the conduit 34, may be affixed near the salt discharge area 23. This configuration provides a stream of water to the salt discharge area 23. The discharge end of the conduit 34 may be fitted with a nozzle 38 which allows the exiting liquid's distribution pattern to be controlled. The tank hose 35 is attached to the tank 30 at the first end, designated the tank exit end 36, and to the pump 31 at a second end, designated the pump inlet end 37.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, in the preferred embodiment, the discharge of the salt hopper 24 may be fitted with a rotatable spreader element 25 with radially-extending vanes 26, mounted on a shaft. Also rigidly affixed to the hopper 24, near the rotor 25, may be a guide surface 28. The guide surface 28 may be affixed substantially perpendicular to the rotational plane of the rotor 25. The guide surface 28 may be shaped to cooperatively guide material exiting the rotor 25. Thus the guide surface 28 serves to direct the material to the ground surface or to direct material back to the rotor 25. The rotor 25 may be activated by a motor 27. The activation causes the rotor 25 to rotate. At or about the same time the rotor 25 is activated, the hopper 24 exit may open thus allowing the salt to be dispense from the hopper 24. The rotational motion of the rotor 25 imparts a force to the salt falling from the hopper 24 thus disbursing the material. Therefore, in a typical application, when the salt is to be spread, the associated operator (not shown) in the pickup truck 10 activates a switch which causes the spreader activation mechanism 27 to rotate. As the rotor 25 spins and salt falls from the hopper 24 (that is, dispensed) onto the rotor 25, a force is applied to the salt by the rotor vanes 26. Generally, the salt, aided by the guide surfaces 28, assumes an arch shaped pattern as it is spread. At the same time, while the salt is on or near the rotor 25 and vanes 26, water from the tank 30 passes through the conduits 32, 35 and exits from the discharge end of the conduit 34. The water is applied to the salt discharge area 23, the rotor 25, and the salt. Therefore, as the salt is spread, immediately before it leaves the spreading apparatus 20 and hits the surface to be controlled, it is coated, wetted, sprinkled, or otherwise generally comes in contact with water or other activating substance forming a wetted salt material. The degree of wetting or coating the salt receives is improved by its interaction with the guide surface 28, the salt discharge area 23, and the rotor 25. Adjusting the distribution pattern of the liquid exiting the hose via a nozzle 38 also improves the degree of wetting or coating. Wetting and/or coating improves the effectiveness of the salt as a ground surface treatment substance.
In an alternate embodiment, the various functions of the salt wetting apparatus and tailgate spreader may be manipulated by a control system. The system may be operated by the associated operator in the pickup truck 10. The system may allow the rotor 25 activation motor 27 to be activated or terminated. Also the rotational speed of the rotor 25 may be controlled. In conjunction with the activation mechanism 27 or separately, the pump 31 may be activated or terminated. Also the system may be used to control the flow rate of the liquid via valves or the nozzle 38. The system may be used to open or close the hopper 24 bottom gate thus allowing salt to fall to the salt discharge area 23. The system may also manipulate the nozzle 38 thus adjusting the liquid's distribution pattern and flow rate.
FIGS. 6-8 show another embodiment where a conventional pickup truck 10 is equipped with a tailgate spreader 20 and a brine dispensing apparatus 7. Because the pickup truck 10 and tailgate spreader have been discussed above, further details will not be provided here. In the bed 12 of the pickup truck 10 is a container 30. In one embodiment, the container 30 contains salt-water brine. The brine applicator 40 may be selectively received by the tail gate spreader 20 via the brine dispenser support 41. On one end of the brine dispenser support 41 may be formed an attachment surface 42. The attachment surface 42 may detachable mate with spreader frame 29. On the distal end of the brine dispenser support 41 may be mounted at least one brine dispensing tube 43. The brine dispensing tube 43 may extend in a direction essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pickup truck 10 and parallel to the ground surface. Also mounted to the brine dispenser support 41 may be a spray guard 44. The spray guard 44 may extend parallel to the brine dispensing tube 43 and may be located above the brine dispensing tube 43. The spray guard 44 may direct brine towards the intended locations and away from undesirable locations.
With continuing reference to FIGS. 6-8, the brine may be selectively supplied to the brine dispensing tube 43 by means of the pump discharge hose 32. The first end of the pump discharge hose 32, designated the pump exit end of the hose 33, may be attached to the discharge side of a pump 31. The second end of the pump discharge hose 32, designated the brine dispenser inlet end of the hose 34, may be affixed to the brine dispensing tube 43. This configuration provides a source of brine to the brine dispensing tube 43. The dispenser inlet end 34 may be fitted with a flow regulator valve 38 which allows flow into the brine dispensing tube 43 to be controlled. The brine dispensing tube 43 may contain at least one liquid dispensing element 45 spaced along its longitudinal axis to dispense brine to the ground surface. The dispensing element 45 may be orientated such that brine is dispensed substantially downward towards the ground surface. The dispensing element's 45 location, spacing and orientation relative to the ground surface may be chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. The dispensing element 45 may take the form of nozzles, orifices, apertures in the brine dispensing tube 43, or any other element chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art.
Still referring to FIGS. 6-8, the tank hose 35 may be attached to the tank 30 at the first end, designated the tank exit end 36, and to the pump 31 at a second end, designated the pump inlet end 37. Therefore, in a typical application, when the brine is to be dispensed, the associated operator (not shown) in the pickup truck 10 activates a switch which causes the pump 31 to activate thus providing a pressurized supply of brine to the brine applicator 40. The brine is generally distributed to the ground surface over the entire track width of the pickup truck 10 and areas extending beyond the track width on either side of the pickup truck 10. The application of brine improves the traction of the ground surface.
In an alternate embodiment, the various functions of the brine applicator and tail gate spreader may be manipulated by a control system. The system may be operated by the associated operator in the pickup truck 10. The system may allow the rotor 25 activation mechanism 27 to be activated or terminated. Also the rotational speed of the rotor 25 may be controlled. In conjunction with the activation mechanism 27 or separately, the pump 31 may be activated or terminated. Also the system may be used to control the brine flow rate via valves or the brine dispensing element 45. The system may be used to open or close the hopper 24 bottom gate thus allowing salt to fall to the salt discharge area. The system may also contain other elements chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. The elements and configuration of the control system may be such that either the tail gate spreader or the brine applicator may be selectively installed and operated.
In a second alternate embodiment, the brine dispensing element 45 may contain a mechanism which allows the dispensing element 45 to be rotated about the brine dispensing tube's 43 longitudinal axis. This feature allows the brine to be dispensed at adjustable angles relative to the ground surface. Also the brine dispensing element 45 may contain a mechanism which allows the dispensing element's 45 spacing along the brine dispensing tube's 43 longitudinal axis to be adjustable. The angles and spacing may be chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art.
FIGS. 9-11 show another embodiment where a conventional pickup truck 10 is equipped with a tailgate spreader 20, a salt wetting apparatus 5 and a brine dispensing apparatus 7. Because the pickup truck 10 and tailgate spreader have been discussed above, further details will not be provided here. The basic operation of the salt wetting apparatus 5 and a brine dispensing apparatus 7 have also been described above. Note, however, that container 30 may be used with the salt wetting apparatus 5 and a separate container 3 may be used with the brine dispensing apparatus 7. The containers 30 and 3 may be, in the embodiment shown, separate compartments of one vessel. Pump 31 and conduit 32 may be used with the salt wetting apparatus 5 while pump 50 and conduit 52 may be used with the brine dispensing apparatus 7.
Numerous embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A salt wetting apparatus for use with an associated conventional pick-up truck comprising a bed and a tailgate, comprising:

a container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt wetting liquid;

a tailgate spreader that: (1) is suitable to be supported to the associated conventional pick-up truck juxtaposed to the tailgate; (2) comprises a hopper that is suitable to hold granular salt; (3) comprises a rotatable spreader element that is rotatable to direct the granular salt from the rotatable spreader element to a ground surface; and, (4) is suitable to dispense the granular salt from the hopper onto the rotatable spreader element;

a pump that is operable to pump the salt wetting liquid from the container through a conduit to the rotatable spreader element;

wherein the pump and tailgate spreader are operable to apply the salt wetting liquid to the granular salt, forming a wetted salt material, as the granular salt is on or near the rotatable spreader element; and,

wherein the rotatable spreader element is rotatable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface.

2. The salt wetting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conduit comprises a nozzle that allows the exiting salt wetting liquid's distribution pattern to be controlled.

3. The salt wetting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the salt wetting liquid is water.

4. The salt wetting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the salt wetting liquid is a salt-water brine.

5. The salt wetting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the associated conventional pick-up truck comprises a trailer hitch receiver and the tailgate spreader comprises a hitch extension that is suitable to be received in the trailer hitch receiver to secure the tailgate spreader to the associated conventional pick-up truck.

6. The salt wetting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tailgate spreader comprises a guide surface that: (1) is affixed substantially perpendicular to a rotational plane of the rotatable spreader element; and, (2) is suitable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface or back to the rotatable spreader element.

7. A brine dispensing apparatus for use with an associated conventional pick-up truck comprising a bed and a tailgate, comprising:

a container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt-water brine;

a brine applicator that: (1) is supported to one of the associated conventional pick-up truck and the tailgate spreader; and, (2) comprises a brine dispensing element; and,

a pump that is operable to pump the salt-water brine from the container, through a conduit, and through the dispensing element to the ground surface.

8. The brine dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the brine applicator comprises a brine dispensing support that is attached to the tailgate spreader.

9. The brine dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the tailgate spreader comprises a spreader frame; and,

the brine dispensing support comprises an attachment surface that detachable mates with the spreader frame.

10. The brine dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the brine applicator comprises:

a dispensing tube that transfers the salt-water brine from the conduit to the dispensing element; and,

a spray guard that extends substantially parallel to the dispensing tube and that directs salt-water brine towards intended locations and away from undesirable locations.

11. The brine dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein the brine applicator comprises a flow regulator to control the flow of salt-water brine through the brine dispensing element.

12. The brine dispensing apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the brine applicator comprises a dispensing tube that transfers the salt-water brine from the conduit to the dispensing element; and,

the brine dispensing element is position adjustable with respect to the dispensing tube to change the angle of the brine dispensing element with respect to the ground surface.

13. A salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus for use with an associated conventional pick-up truck comprising a bed and a tailgate, comprising:

a first container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt wetting liquid;

a second container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt-water brine;

a first pump that is operable to pump the salt wetting liquid from the container through a first conduit to the rotatable spreader element;

a brine applicator that: (1) is supported to the tailgate spreader; and, (2) comprises a brine dispensing element;

a second pump that is operable to pump the salt-water brine from the container, through a second conduit, and through the dispensing element to the ground surface;

wherein the first pump and tailgate spreader are operable to apply the salt wetting liquid to the granular salt, forming a wetted salt material, as the granular salt is on or near the rotatable spreader element; and,

14. The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first conduit comprises a nozzle that allows the exiting salt wetting liquid's distribution pattern to be controlled.

15. The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the associated conventional pick-up truck comprises a trailer hitch receiver and the tailgate spreader comprises a hitch extension that is suitable to be received in the trailer hitch receiver to secure the tailgate spreader to the associated conventional pick-up truck.

16. The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the tailgate spreader comprises a guide surface that: (1) is affixed substantially perpendicular to a rotational plane of the rotatable spreader element; and, (2) is suitable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface or back to the rotatable spreader element.

17. The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the tailgate spreader comprises a spreader frame;

the brine applicator comprises a brine dispensing support; and,

18. The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the brine applicator comprises:

19. The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the brine applicator comprises a flow regulator to control the flow of salt-water brine through the brine dispensing element.

20. The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein: