A deicing and snow melting device, for lowering the melting point of ice and snow, comprises of a plurality of pellets including an active ingredient. Each pellet of the plurality of pellets has at least an underside and a topside. The active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of chloride salts, organic compounds, alcohols or mixtures thereof. A base comprising a water-soluble sheet is joined to either one of the underside or topside of each pellet of the plurality of pellets. The base may define at least one hole through a top surface and bottom surface of the base allowing for easy dispersion of the active ingredient.

The present invention relates generally to the field of snow shovels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a snow shovel deicer device primarily comprised of a handle, a shaft, a dispensing unit, a secondary housing, a shovel head and a de-icing bottle filled with de-icing solution. A button on the handle of the device can be depressed to dispense de-icing solution from nozzles that may be located on the shaft and the rear of the shovel head. In this manner, a user can shovel snow with the shovel head while simultaneously de-icing the area he or she has just shoveled. In differing embodiments, the shovel head may be removable, such that a user can use the shaft and nozzle located on the shaft to de-ice or pretreat an area prior to inclement weather.

A dual-impeller spreader capable of independently a flowrate of particulate material about two halves of the spreader's coverage area. The spreader includes a frame, a hopper, and wheels rotatably connected to the frame via an axle. A first impeller is fixed to a first impeller shaft rotatably coupled to the axle via a first gear train, and a second impeller is fixed to a second impeller shaft rotatably coupled to the axle via a second gear train. A first shut-off control selectively opens and closes a first set of hopper exit openings located above the first impeller, while a second shut-off control selectively opens and closes a second set of hopper exit openings located above the second impeller. The first shut-off control and the second shut-off control selectively open and close the respective openings independent of each other.

A robotic vehicle (10) may include a chassis supporting a storage tank in which an aqueous solution is contained, a mobility assembly operably coupled to the chassis to provide mobility for the robotic vehicle about a service area (20), a positioning module (60) configured to provide guidance for the robotic vehicle (10) during transit of the robotic vehicle (10) over the service area (20), a spray assembly (90) and control circuitry (12).

A robotic vehicle (10) charging station (40) may include a charge interface configured to charge a battery (210) of a robotic vehicle (10) responsive to docking of the robotic vehicle (10) at the charging station (40), and a mixing assembly (240) configured to facilitate mixing a solid material and a liquid to form an aqueous solution for provision to a storage tank (14) of the robotic vehicle.

A salt spreader for distributing a material includes a bucket including a front surface, a rear surface, and first and second side surfaces. The front and rear surfaces tend toward one another at a base of the bucket, and the bucket includes first and second ejection ports in the base. The salt spreader further includes a separator positioned in a center of the bucket parallel to the first and second side surfaces, first and second spinner mounts attached to the base of the bucket under the first and second ejection ports, respectively, first and second spinners rotatably mounted atop of the first and second spinner mounts, respectively, an auger positioned adjacent to the base of the bucket, and first and second covers within the bucket extending downwardly from the first and second side surfaces, respectively, toward the separator.

Systems and methods for managing spreading of particulate material over a surface by a spreader. One step of the method includes receiving a selection of a type of the spreader. An additional step includes receiving a selection of a type of the particulate material to be spread by the spreader. An additional step includes obtaining data indicative of a travel speed of the spreader, with the data being received from a sensor associated with the spreader. An additional step includes determining an operational attribute of the spreader. The determination is based on (i) the type of the spreader, (ii) the type of the particulate material, and (ii) the travel speed of the spreader. A further step includes presenting the operational attribute.

A modular boom for attaching to a prime mover and configured to dispense a solution to remove snow and deice a surface. The boom includes a boom shroud having a main body extending from a first end to a second end. The main body of the boom shroud has a substantially wedge shaped portion with an edge configured to engage a snow pile or windrow of snow and cause snow to flow about the wedge shaped portion. The boom shroud includes an opening in a bottom of the main body that provides access to an interior cavity. The modular boom includes a boom pipe positioned within the interior cavity of the boom shroud and has ends that extend beyond the boom shroud. The boom pipe having spaced apart apertures along the length configured to dispense the solution onto the surface. The modular boom also includes first and second end caps configured to support the end of the boom pipe and to connect to the first and second ends of the boom shroud to provide structural rigidity to the modular boom.

A method of operating a deicing system remotely, including connecting a control for the deicing system with the deicing system. When the control and the deicing system are connected, the method includes providing functionality for controlling operation of the deicing system, including control of application rates, and managing workflow and operation including job tracking.

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.