Deposition of snow-ice treatment material from a vehicle with controlled scatter

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said accelerating apparatus is provided as a rotating impeller having an axis of rotation and extending radially therefrom to a periphery, said input being located at said axis; and said step for feeding said transported material is carried out by moving said material into said input and gradually centrifugally urging it to said periphery.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 in which said impeller is rotated at a rate providing a peripheral rotational velocity of value at least equal to said select principal velocity value.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 in which said step of expressing said feed material is carried out by centrifugally locating said material upon an upstanding surface at said impeller periphery, said upstanding surface being provided as a flexible belt moving at said peripheral rotational velocity value.

Claim 6

In a vehicle of a variety suited for snow-ice control wherein a wheel mounted frame supports an internal combustion engine and a dump bed for carrying granular snow-ice control material and including an auger mounted adjacent said bed for transferring said material from said bed through an outlet at a predetermined rate, said vehicle being movable over pavement at a given forward velocity and forward direction defining a vehicle forward vector, the improved apparatus for depositing said transferred material to said pavement, comprising: a base connectable with said vehicle; an impeller mounted upon said base for rotation about an impeller axis, having a lower disposed receiving surface extending from said impeller axis to define a circular outer periphery and an input portion for receiving said material expressed from said auger outlet; a sidewall component extending about said impeller outer periphery and defining an outlet opening through which said material received at said input portion may be expressed at an outlet velocity and outlet direction substantially oppositely aligned with respect to said vehicle forward direction; and drive means mounted upon said base and actuable for imparting rotation to said impeller at a rotational rate effective to move said material from said input portion to said circular outer periphery and for imparting a velocity to said outer periphery effective to eject said material at said periphery through said outlet opening at a said outlet velocity at least as great as said vehicle given velocity and in a direction defining a vector of movement of said expressed material which is substantially equal and opposite to said expressed vehicle forward vector.

Claim 7

In a vehicle of a variety suited for snow-ice control wherein a wheel mounted frame supports an internal combustion engine and a dump bed for carrying granular snow-ice control material and including an auger mounted adjacent said bed for transferring said material from said bed through an outlet at a predetermined rate, said vehicle being movable over pavement at a given forward velocity and forward direction defining a vehicle forward vector, the improved apparatus for depositing said transferred material to said pavement, comprising: a base connectable with said vehicle; an impeller mounted upon said base for rotation about an impeller axis, having a lower disposed receiving surface extending from said impeller axis to define a circular outer periphery and an input portion for receiving said material expressed from said auger outlet; a sidewall component extending about said impeller outer periphery and defining an outlet opening through which said material received at said input portion may be expressed at an outlet velocity and outlet direction substantially oppositely aligned with respect to said vehicle forward direction; and drive means mounted upon said base and actuable for imparting rotation to said impeller at a rotational rate effective to move said material from said input portion to said circular outer periphery and for imparting a velocity to said outer periphery effective to eject said material at said periphery through said outlet opening at a said outlet velocity at least as great as said vehicle given velocity and in a direction defining a vector of movement of said expressed material which is substantially equal and opposite to said expressed vehicle forward vector.

Claim 8

In a vehicle of a variety suited for snow-ice control wherein a wheel mounted frame supports an internal combustion engine and a dump bed for carrying granular snow-ice control material and including an auger mounted adjacent said bed for transferring said material from said bed through an outlet at a predetermined rate, said vehicle being movable over pavement at a given forward velocity and forward direction, the improved apparatus for depositing said transferred material to said pavement, comprising: a base connectable with said vehicle; an impeller mounted upon said base for rotation about an impeller axis, having a lower disposed receiving surface extending from said impeller axis to define a circular outer periphery and an input portion for receiving said material expressed from said auger outlet; a sidewall component configured as an upstanding endless belt having a surface positioned in abutting adjacency with said impeller circular outer periphery and having spaced apart loop portions defining an outlet opening through which said material received at said input portion may be expressed at an outlet velocity and direction substantially oppositely aligned with respect to said vehicle forward direction; and drive means mounted upon said base and actuable for imparting rotation to said impeller at a rotational rate effective to move said material from said input portion to said circular outer periphery and for imparting a velocity to said outer periphery effective to eject said material at said periphery through said outlet opening at a said outlet velocity at least as great as said vehicle given velocity.

Claim 9

In a vehicle of a variety suited for snow-ice control wherein a wheel mounted frame supports an internal combustion engine and a dump bed for carrying granular snow-ice control material and including an auger mounted adjacent said bed for transferring said material from said bed through an outlet at a predetermined rate, said vehicle being movable over pavement at a given forward velocity and forward direction, the improved apparatus for depositing said transferred material to said pavement, comprising: a base connectable with said vehicle; an impeller mounted upon said base for rotation about an impeller axis, having a lower disposed receiving surface extending from said impeller axis to define a circular outer periphery and an input portion for receiving said material expressed from said auger outlet; a sidewall component configured as an upstanding endless belt having a surface positioned in abutting adjacency with said impeller circular outer periphery and having spaced apart loop portions defining an outlet opening through which said material received at said input portion may be expressed at an outlet velocity and direction substantially oppositely aligned with respect to said vehicle forward direction; and drive means mounted upon said base and actuable for imparting rotation to said impeller at a rotational rate effective to move said material from said input portion to said circular outer periphery and for imparting a velocity to said outer periphery effective to eject said material at said periphery through said outlet opening at a said outlet velocity at least as great as said vehicle given velocity.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 in which said drive means includes a drive component coupled in driving relationship with said endless belt.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 in which said endless belt is associated in driving relationship with said impeller at said circular outer periphery thereof.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 in which said impeller input portion is located substantially adjacent said impeller axis.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 6 in which said impeller includes a predetermined number of material engaging vanes positioned about said receiving surface and extending from said input portion substantially to said impeller circular periphery.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 in which each said vane is canted a predetermined angle rotationally rearwardly with respect to a radius extending from said impeller axis to said impeller circular periphery.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 in which said predetermined number of vanes is about 12.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 6 including control means responsive to said vehicle given speed for actuating said drive means to effect said impeller rotation at said rotational rate.

Claim 17

In a vehicle of a variety suited for snow-ice control wherein a wheel mounted frame supports an internal combustion engine and a dump bed for carrying grannular snow-ice control material and including an auger mounted adjacent said bed for transferring said material from said bed through an outlet at a predetermined rate, said vehicle being movable over pavement at a given forward velocity and forward direction, the improved apparatus for depositing said transferred material to said pavement, comprising: a base connectable with said vehicle; an impeller mounted upon said base for rotation about an impeller axis, having a lower disposed receiving surface extending from said impeller axis to define a circular outer periphery and an input portion located substantially adjacent said impeller axis for receiving said material expressed from said auger outlet; a sidewall component extending about said impeller outer periphery and defining an outlet opening through which said material received at said input portion may be expressed at an outlet velocity and direction substantially oppositely aligned with respect to said vehicle forward direction; a feed duct positioned at said impeller input portion, and having a feed outlet portion for directing said material into said impeller commencing at locations thereof rotationally beyond but substantially adjacent said outlet opening and extending to an ending position rotationally located about 180° therefrom; and drive means mounted upon said base and actuable for imparting rotation to said impeller at a rotational rate effective to move said material from said input portion to said circular outer periphery and for imparting a velocity to said outer periphery effective to eject said material at said periphery through said outlet opening at a said outlet velocity at least as great as said vehicle given velocity.

Claim 18

In a vehicle of a variety suited for snow-ice control wherein a wheel mounted frame supports an internal combustion engine and a dump bed for carrying grannular snow-ice control material and including an auger mounted adjacent said bed for transferring said material from said bed through an outlet at a predetermined rate, said vehicle being movable over pavement at a given forward velocity and forward direction, the improved apparatus for depositing said transferred material to said pavement, comprising: a base connectable with said vehicle; an impeller mounted upon said base for rotation about an impeller axis, having a lower disposed receiving surface extending from said impeller axis to define a circular outer periphery and an input portion located substantially adjacent said impeller axis for receiving said material expressed from said auger outlet; a sidewall component extending about said impeller outer periphery and defining an outlet opening through which said material received at said input portion may be expressed at an outlet velocity and direction substantially oppositely aligned with respect to said vehicle forward direction; a feed duct positioned at said impeller input portion, and having a feed outlet portion for directing said material into said impeller commencing at locations thereof rotationally beyond but substantially adjacent said outlet opening and extending to an ending position rotationally located about 180° therefrom; and drive means mounted upon said base and actuable for imparting rotation to said impeller at a rotational rate effective to move said material from said input portion to said circular outer periphery and for imparting a velocity to said outer periphery effective to eject said material at said periphery through said outlet opening at a said outlet velocity at least as great as said vehicle given velocity.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 14 in which: said feed duct is configured having a circular inner periphery which includes a notched region defining said feed outlet portion; and including a cylindrically shaped seal fixed to and extending upwardly from said receiving surface and having a seal outer surface rotatably movable with said impeller in adjacency with said feed duct circular inner periphery.

Claim 20

Apparatus for dispersing granula material at a predetermined rate upon a surface from a vehicle moving thereover in a given direction and at a given speed, comprising: a base connectable with said vehicle; an impeller mounted upon said base for rotation about an impeller axis, having a lower disposed receiving surface extending from said impeller axis to define an impeller circular periphery and an input portion for receiving said granula material; an upstanding endless belt assembly supported from said base for movement with and formation of a side of said impeller at select portions of said circular periphery and having spaced apart loop portions defining an outlet opening through which said material received at said input portion may be expressed at a predetermined principal outlet velocity and predetermined principal direction; a motor mounted with said base and actuable to have a drive output for effecting the said rotation of said impeller about said impeller axis and the said movement of said belt; and control means responsive to said vehicle given speed for actuating said motor to effect rotation of said impeller at a rate expressing said material at a said principal outlet velocity commensurate with said vehicle given speed.

Claim 21

Apparatus for dispersing granula material at a predetermined rate upon a surface from a vehicle moving thereover in a given direction and at a given speed, comprising: a base connectable with said vehicle; an impeller mounted upon said base for rotation about an impeller axis, having a lower disposed receiving surface extending from said impeller axis to define an impeller circular periphery and an input portion for receiving said granula material; an upstanding endless belt assembly supported from said base for movement with and formation of a side of said impeller at select portions of said circular periphery and having spaced apart loop portions defining an outlet opening through which said material received at said input portion may be expressed at a predetermined principal outlet velocity and predetermined principal direction; a motor mounted with said base and actuable to have a drive output for effecting the said rotation of said impeller about said impeller axis and the said movement of said belt; and control means responsive to said vehicle given speed for actuating said motor to effect rotation of said impeller at a rate expressing said material at a said principal outlet velocity commensurate with said vehicle given speed.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 16 in which said endless belt loop portions are defined by two, spaced apart belt pulleys mounted upon said base.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 16 in which: said motor drive output is a drive pulley coupled in driving relationship with said endless belt; and said endless belt is associated in driving relationship with said impeller.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 16 in which said impeller input portion is located at said impeller axis.