METHOD AND ARTICLE OF LOCATING BRINE NOZZLE FOR SPREADER FOR CONVENIENT SERVICING

Abstract

A hopper for a spreader system for applying salt to a roadway surface, which hopper includes a hopper body for containing salt, at least one auger for displacing salt, a brine nozzle for dispensing brine solution into the hopper body, and a removability mechanism for easy mounting, attachment, and removal of the brine nozzle into the hopper body bottom panel.

Claims

1. A hopper for a spreader system for applying salt to a roadway surface, comprising: a hopper body comprising an enclosure for receiving and retaining the salt, wherein the hopper body further comprises a bottom panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface; at least one auger for displacing the salt for application to the roadway, wherein the at least one auger is mounted in the hopper body at a position proximate to the interior surface of the bottom panel; a brine nozzle for dispensing a brine solution into the hopper and which has an exterior surface; and a removability mechanism for mounting the brine nozzle into the bottom panel so that the brine nozzle extends into the hopper body at a position adjoining the at least one auger, wherein the removability mechanism is attached to the exterior surface of the bottom panel.

2. The hopper of claim 1, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: a threaded port located on the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel; said port having a circular flange extending perpendicularly outward from the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel; wherein the circular flange has interior and exterior surfaces and threads along the length of the flange interior surface; and threads located on the brine nozzle exterior surface, which correspond to the threads along the length of the flange interior surface, such that the brine nozzle is capable of being securely screwed and tightened into the port.

3. The hopper of claim 1, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: a sealed port located on the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel; said port having a circular flange extending perpendicularly outward from the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel; wherein the circular flange has interior and exterior surfaces and possesses a through-hole from an exterior surface of the flange to the opposite side flange exterior surface; a through-hole which extends from an exterior surface of the brine nozzle to the opposite side brine nozzle exterior surface; wherein the brine nozzle can be inserted into the port in such a way that through-holes located on the port and brine nozzle align; and a pin which can be inserted into the aligned through-holes to securely fasten the brine nozzle into the sealed port.

4. The hopper of claim 3, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: a shelf along the interior surface of the circular flange; said shelf located at the point where the removability mechanism connects to the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel; and a rubber ring that rests flush with the shelf in a direction outwardly extending from exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel.

5. The hopper of claim 4, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: the brine nozzle in contact with the rubber ring; and at the point of contact between the brine nozzle and the rubber ring, the through-holes in the brine nozzle and the sealed port are misaligned, such that when the holes are aligned and the pin inserted, the brine nozzle depresses the rubber ring.

6. The hopper of claim 1, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: a sealed port located on the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel; said port having a circular collet having metal teeth; the port also having one or more O-rings; a locking mechanism within the port; and wherein the brine nozzle can be pressed into the sealed port.

7. The hopper of claim 1, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: an adapter having a threaded adapter hole, a threaded adapter surface, a topside end, and an underside end; wherein the threaded adapter hole and threaded adapter surface are disposed on the topside end; and wherein the brine nozzle is capable of being securely screwed and tightened into the threaded adapter hole.

8. A hopper for a spreader system for applying salt to a roadway surface, comprising: a hopper body comprising an enclosure for receiving and retaining the salt, wherein the hopper body further comprises a bottom panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface; at least one auger for displacing the salt for application to the roadway, wherein the at least one auger is mounted in the hopper body at a position proximate to the interior surface of the bottom panel; a brine nozzle for dispensing a brine solution into the hopper and which has an exterior surface; and a removability mechanism for mounting the brine nozzle into the bottom panel so that the brine nozzle extends into the hopper body at a position adjoining the at least one auger, wherein the removability mechanism is attached to the exterior surface of the bottom panel, and which removability mechanism comprises: a threaded port located on the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel; said port having a circular flange extending perpendicularly outward from the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel; wherein the circular flange has interior and exterior surfaces and threads along the length of the flange interior surface; threads located on the brine nozzle exterior surface, which correspond to the threads along the length of the flange interior surface, such that the brine nozzle is capable of being securely screwed and tightened into the port; a shelf along the interior surface of the circular flange; and said shelf located at the point where the removability mechanism connects to the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel.

9. The hopper of claim 8, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: a teflon tape sealant for coating the threads located on the brine nozzle exterior surface.

10. The hopper of claim 9, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: a rubber ring that rests flush with the shelf along the interior surface of the circular flange, in a direction outwardly extending from exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel.

11. A method for servicing a spreader system hopper for applying salt to a roadway surface, comprising: accessing a removability mechanism configured onto an underside of the hopper; disengaging the removability mechanism from the underside of the hopper; removing the brine nozzle from a port on the hopper body bottom panel; cleaning the brine nozzle; replacing the brine nozzle into the port on the hopper body bottom surface; and reengaging the mechanism onto the underside of the hopper.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the mechanism is accessed from the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the removability mechanism further comprises: an adapter having a threaded adapter hole, a threaded adapter surface, a topside end, and an underside end; wherein the threaded adapter hole and threaded adapter surface are disposed on the topside end; and wherein the brine nozzle is capable of being securely screwed and tightened into the threaded adapter hole.

Description

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] The above drawings form part of the disclosure and specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the invention, which aspects will be described in detail later in this specification. The invention may be better understood by reference to these drawings in conjunction with the detailed description.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a top view of the hopper body;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the hopper body;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a cut-away perspective view of the hopper body, showing the brine nozzle installed;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a side view of a threaded screw removability mechanism;

[0022] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are perspective, bottom, top, and side views of an adapter removability mechanism, respectively.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] 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, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components, FIG. 1 shows the fully assembled hopper and spreader system for applying salt to a roadway surface.

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the system is mostly enclosed by the hopper body 32, which includes an enclosure for receiving and retaining the salt and has a bottom panel 16 having an exterior and an interior surface. The augers 30 displace the salt for application to the roadway and are mounted in the hopper body 32 at a position proximate to the interior surface of the bottom panel 16 of the hopper body 32; the figure here shows two mounted augers 30. The brine nozzle 10 dispenses a brine solution into the hopper body 32 and has an exterior surface 34 (FIG. 4). The brine nozzle 10 is connected to the brine solution tanks through the hose 12 and feeds through a port or similar opening 14 in the hopper body 32. The brine nozzle 10 disclosed in this system would be removable; thus, the brine nozzle 10 itself ideally should not be permanently secured to the hopper body 32. A removability mechanism for mounting the brine nozzle 10 into the bottom panel 16 situates the brine nozzle 10 as the brine nozzle 10 extends into the hopper body 32 at a position adjoining the auger(s) 30. The removability mechanism then engages to secure the brine nozzle 10 in place, but the mechanism should also be capable of disengagement, such that the brine nozzle 10 may be removed from the port or opening 14 for servicing and cleaning. The removability mechanism is attached to the exterior surface of the bottom panel 16 for easy attachment and removal from the hopper body 32.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D, the removability mechanism can include any apparatus which facilitates easy engagement and disengagement, locking and unlocking, clipping and unclipping, etc. Examples of such mechanisms include, but should not be limited to, those discussed here. A threaded screw mechanism, pin-secured mechanism, or push-fit fitting could all serve the purpose of easy servicing and cleaning. FIG. 4 shows one such mechanism as a threaded screw system. A threaded port 14 is located on the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel 16. The port has a circular flange 40 extending perpendicularly outward from the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel 16, which circular flange 40 may have interior and exterior surfaces. Threads 22 run along the length of the flange interior surface. The brine nozzle 10 possesses corresponding threads 20 along its exterior surface 34 that engage withand can be screwed and tightened intothe matching threads 22 along the inside surface of the threaded port 14 on the hopper body bottom panel 16. The removability mechanism might also include an adapter 18 having an inner, threaded adapter hole 52, an outer, threaded adapter surface 54, a topside end 56, and an underside end 58. The adapter hole 52 and adapter surface 54 may both be disposed on the topside end 56 of the adapter 18. The brine nozzle 10 may screw into the adapter hole 52.

[0026] Further, the threaded screw mechanism could possess a shelf along the interior surface of the circular flange 40, which shelf would be located at the point where the removability mechanism connects to the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel 16. A rubber ring can rest flush with the shelf along the interior surface of the circular flange, in a direction outwardly extending from exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel 16, and a teflon tape sealant could coat the threads 20 located on the brine nozzle exterior surface 34.

[0027] This disclosure also contemplates a pin-secured removability mechanism. This removability mechanism would include a sealed port located on the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel. Similarly to the threaded screw mechanism, the port would have a circular flange 40 extending perpendicularly outward from the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel 16, which circular flange has interior and exterior surfaces. This mechanism, however, possesses a through-hole from an exterior surface of the flange to the opposite side flange exterior surface. Another through-hole extends from an exterior surface of the brine nozzle 10 to the opposite side brine nozzle exterior surface, and the brine nozzle 10 can be inserted into the port in such a way that through-holes located on the port and brine nozzle 10 align. A pin can be inserted into the aligned through-holes to securely fasten the brine nozzle 10 into the sealed port.

[0028] Further, the pin-secured mechanism could possess a shelf along the interior surface of the circular flange 40, which shelf would be located at the point where the removability mechanism connects to the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel 16. A rubber ring can rest flush with the shelf along the interior surface of the circular flange 40, in a direction outwardly extending from exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel 16. In accordance with the use of a rubber O-ring, the pin-secured mechanism could also situate the brine nozzle 10 in contact with the rubber ring. At the point of contact between the brine nozzle 10 and the rubber ring, the through-holes in the brine nozzle and the sealed port are misaligned, such that when the holes are aligned and the pin inserted, the brine nozzle 10 depresses the rubber ring.

[0029] This disclosure also contemplates a push-fit removability mechanism. This removability mechanism would include a sealed, push-fit port located on the exterior surface of the hopper body bottom panel 16. The push-fit fitting on the port includes a circular collet with metal teeth, one or more O-rings, and a locking mechanism within the port. The brine nozzle 10 can then be pressed into the push-fit sealed port.

[0030] The brine nozzle system disclosed, particularly the removability mechanism, should be accessible from the outside of the hopper body 32. The operator can thus engage and disengage the mechanism, remove and service the brine nozzle 10, and replace the brine nozzle without reaching their hands between the auger(s) 30 within the hopper body 32.

[0031] Specifically, operation of the removability mechanism involves the process of accessing a removability mechanism configured onto an underside of the hopper, disengaging the removability mechanism from the underside of the hopper, removing the brine nozzle 10 from a port on the hopper body bottom panel 16, cleaning the brine nozzle 10, replacing the brine nozzle 10 into the port 14 on the hopper body bottom surface, and reengaging the mechanism onto the underside of the hopper.

[0032] Given that the brine solution dispensed by the brine nozzle is mostly liquid, the removability mechanism benefits from a sealant (as seen in several of the above aspects), to prevent leakage of the solution. Contemplated here are rubber O-rings, glues, gaskets, and teflon tape, but any material that can sufficiently seal against escaping liquids could be used in application of this invention.

[0033] Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: