The invention generally relates to a surface treatment distribution apparatus and spray assembly apparatus method capable of applying a variety of surface treatments, for example mastic surface treatments, to a variety of highways, roadways and other asphalt surfaces of variable shapes and sizes. The invention generally includes a tank, pumps, operator station, control inputs, filter assemblies, spray bar and self cleaning spray tip assemblies. Each spray tip assembly includes a self cleaning functionality whereby the operator may remove any debris or clogging material from one or more spray tips with a pneumatically actuated plunger located in the spray tip assembly that acts to force the debris or blockage out of the spray tip. The plunger retracts after actuation and the spray tip assembly is then ready to resume spray operations as desired by the operator.

The invention provides an apparatus, program, and method for controlling the automatic spraying of an antifreezing agent that can reduce the cost of the antifreezing agent and the impact of salt damages caused by the antifreezing agent. This is accomplished by reducing the amount of antifreezing agent to be sprayed automatically according to road surface condition and reducing the amount of the antifreezing agent left unused on completion of the spray operation by grasping in advance the total spray amount of the antifreezing agent. Thus, the antifreezing agent automatic spray control apparatus comprises a spray section setting unit for setting a spray section, a road surface condition data acquiring unit for acquiring road surface condition data, a spay condition data acquiring unit for acquiring spray condition data, a spray condition determining unit for determining the spay conditions for each of unit sections, a total spray amount advance calculating unit for calculating in advance the total spray amount of antifreezing agent to be sprayed for the spray section, a current position data acquiring unit for acquiring current position data, a unit section identifying unit for identifying a unit section corresponding to the current position, and a spray condition outputting unit for outputting the spray conditions for each of the unit sections to an antifreezing agent spraying unit.

A vehicle mounted spreader for spreading materials such as sand, salt, or other granular chemicals onto snow and ice covered paved surfaces comprises a material container for containing the material to be spread, a liquid container for containing liquid with which to pre-wet the material, a spinner for spreading the pre-wet material, an auger for conveying the material to the spinner, a liquid applicator for applying liquid to the material to pre-wet the material, and a paddle mixer mounted to an end of the auger adjacent the liquid applicator for mixing the liquid and the material.

A spreader assembly may include a hopper configured for receiving a spreadable material, a removable cartridge configured for sliding engagement with the hopper and having a material transportation mechanism configured for receiving the spreadable material from the hopper, and a spreader configured for receiving the spreadable material from the material transportation mechanism and spreading the spreadable material onto a target surface. One of the hopper and the cartridge may include a roller having a roller surface, and the other of the hopper and the cartridge may include a bearing surface configured for rolling engagement with the roller surface. The cartridge may have one or more pull bars to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the hopper. Related methods are described.

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for dispensing a travel path applicant. For example, a computing entity can monitor the location of a maintenance vehicle and/or its travel path to dispense travel path applicants accordingly.

This invention relates to the art of removing snow from driveways, walkways, roads, and the like. The snow removing system removes snow from the driveway and disposes it. The system can be operated by a person or by a computer program or by remote controller. The system comprises of components that are relatively small that can be easily assembled and stowed away after use. The system is easy use and does not require manual labor other than an easy setup and dismantle operations.

A granular material spreading system is provided. The granular material spreading system includes a spreading machine, a spreading frame, and a tote. The tote is configured to receive a granular, spreadable material and includes an opening allowing the granular material to exit the tote. The tote includes a spring-biased door blocking the opening. The door is opened by the spreading frame during spreading. When the spreading frame is coupled to the spreading machine, the tote is rotatable by the spreading machine between a storage position in which the opening in the tote is facing horizontally toward the spreading machine and a spreading position in which the opening in the tote is facing the ground surface.

A frozen precipitation treatment system in the form of a spreader assembly may be used with a video monitoring system. The operator within a vehicle passenger compartment may manually view a display screen to see video images within the hopper to visually assess the amount of frozen precipitation treatment material within the hopper in real time.

An ice melting device formed into an impact dispersion projectile for melting ice. The projectile being formed of salt and other ice melting chemicals. The ice melting compound is mixed, placed into a jig, dipped into a combination of liquid detergent and water then drained, compressed, heated, and then cooled. The projectile may then be removed from the jig and packaged. The projectile may be thrown by an individual onto an ice coated surface where the projectile upon impact will disintegrate and disperse the ice melting salt and ice melting chemicals onto the ice coated surface initiating the melting of the ice.

An ice melting device formed into an impact dispersion projectile for melting ice. The projectile being formed of salt and other ice melting chemicals. The ice melting compound is mixed, placed into a jig, dipped into a combination of liquid detergent and water then drained, compressed, heated, and then cooled. The projectile may then be removed from the jig and packaged. The projectile may be thrown by an individual onto an ice coated surface where the projectile upon impact will disintegrate and disperse the ice melting salt and ice melting chemicals onto the ice coated surface initiating the melting of the ice.