Salt wetting apparatus and brine applicator

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

[0001]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[0002]A. Field of Invention[0003]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.[0004]B. Description of the Related Art[0005]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 su...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]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.

[0011]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

Problems solved by technology

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.

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.

This solution adds cost as it requires more salt or treatment substance.

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.

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.

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.

These systems are costly and add an additional level of complexity to the apparatus.

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