A spreader, in particular for winter service vehicles, for spreading out solid spreading materials includes a spreading-material container for receiving the solid spreading materials to be spread out, and at least one liquid tank arranged within the spreading-material container and having an at least partly flexible sheath and variable volume for receiving liquid. The spreader furthermore comprises a conveying device in a floor surface of the spreading-material container for conveying the spreading materials out of the spreading-material container. The floor surface of the spreading-material container is horizontal or almost horizontal, with the at least one liquid tank being arranged on or above the floor surface such that, upon an at least partial filling of the liquid tank, there is formed a sliding surface for the solid spreading materials to be spread out that is inclined toward the conveying device relative to the floor surface.

A blade for removing snow from a road surface comprising a shield oriented to deflect the snow, a cutting edge carried on the bottom part of the shield and adjacent to a road surface when in use, and at least one fluid circuit comprising a nozzle for spreading a de-icing liquid, wherein at least the nozzle is carried by the shield or by the cutting edge to spread at least part of the de-icing liquid on the snow in an area in front of and/or beneath the cutting edge while the cutting edge compresses a layer of snow that remains on the road surface during its passage.

The winter service vehicle generally has a chassis, an engine mounted to the chassis, an engine control unit (ECU), a spreading system mounted to the chassis, and a computer. The winter service vehicle further comprises a controller area network (CAN) bus link connected between the ECU and the computer, allowing the computer to determine a current speed of the winter service vehicle via the CAN bus link, and to determine a spreading rate based on the current speed of the winter service vehicle. The spreading rate is the rate at which de-icing material is spread on roads by the spreading system of the winter service vehicle.

A material spreader for a heavy duty vehicle is provided having a hopper capable of carrying and distributing a particulate material, a longitudinally extending conveyor to move material within the hopper, a pivotably attached discharge chute and optionally, one or more liquid storage tanks secured to the exterior of the hopper by a securement system comprise a series of one or more straps connected on each end to a c-shaped cross member affixed to the vehicle or hopper body.

An apparatus for depositing associated materials, including but not limited to salt or sand, onto a surface includes a material spreader hopper, a conveyor to convey associated material in the hopper toward an opening at one end of the hopper; a feed gate adapted to selectively close the opening, an extension and a spreader adapted as described herein, to mount to the extension.

A snow conversion system for removal of snow from an access surface includes a mixing tank and a conveyor apparatus fluidly connected to the mixing tank for transferring the snow from the access surface into the mixing tank. The system also includes a fluid delivery arrangement for injecting a chemical agent into the mixing tank to combine the chemical agent with the transferred snow and thereby generate a solution of the melted snow and the chemical agent. The system additionally includes a mixer for agitating and mixing the snow and the injected chemical agent in the mixing tank to thereby further facilitate melting of the snow in the mixing tank. The system further includes a fluid nozzle in fluid communication with the mixing tank for dispensing the solution of the melted snow and the chemical agent onto the access surface to thereby provide de-icing and/or anti-icing of the access surface.

A liquid sprayer system is capable of efficiently spraying liquids, such as de-icing brine solution by precisely controlling the flow rate of an electrically-driven pump without need for returning excess flow to a storage tank. The liquid sprayer includes the storage tank, the pump, a variable-speed electric motor, a controller, and spray nozzles. The pump receives a liquid from the storage tank and directs it to the spray nozzles, from which the liquid is emitted toward a ground surface. The controller adjusts the speed of the electric motor, thereby adjusting the liquid flow rate, in response to at least one control input. The control input(s) may include a user-selected flow rate, a ground speed of the liquid sprayer, a remotely-selected flow rate based on current or predicted weather conditions, detected road temperature or contamination, a planned route of the vehicle, and a size or operating configuration of the spray nozzles.

An ice melt system for melting accumulated ice off of a surface includes a reservoir which has an outer wall and is hollow. An ice melting solution is stored in the reservoir. A pump is in fluid communication with the reservoir for selectively pumping the ice melting solution out of the reservoir, and a piping is fluidly coupled to and extends away from the pump. A plurality of dispensing assemblies is fluidly coupled to the piping and is positioned adjacent to a surface to be treated. Each dispensing assembly of the plurality of dispensing assemblies comprises a nozzle which is in fluid communication with the piping for dispensing the ice melting solution. The nozzle is orientable such that the nozzle is configured for dispensing the ice melting solution over the surface to be treated.

A material spreading system including a spreader and a tote, and related methods, are disclosed. The spreader may include a frame attachable to a loading machine such as a skid loader, an inlet for receiving a material, one or more connector members, and a discharge mechanism configured to selectively discharge the material onto the ground. The tote may include a container for storing the material and one or more connector members. The connector members of the tote may be configured to matingly engage the connector members of the spreader such that an opening in the container aligns with the inlet of the spreader. Accordingly, the material in the container may be transferred from the container to the spreader. Furthermore, the material spreading system may be used in various application including those involving the spread of granular and/or liquid de-icing material over the ground.

Snow blowers are provided. A snow blower includes snow blower having a frame defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the outlet opening being circumferentially bounded about a chute axis; a rotatable auger mounted to the frame rearward from the inlet opening and below the outlet opening to motivate snow to the outlet opening; one or more wheels mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable auger to support the snow blower; a chute body extending from the frame along the chute axis above the outlet opening; and a compartment coupled to the frame. A power source for the snow blower is disposed within the compartment.