Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically producing a desired specific gravity of a salt solution used for deicing highways. Highway departments can produce a high volume of salt solution of a desired specific gravity by a machine that automatically feeds salt and water into a hopper tank to produce brine, then automatically measures and adjusts the specific gravity of the brine by adding greater or lesser amounts of fresh water to the brine removed from the hopper tank. The salt added to the hopper tank contains impurities, which are removed by self-cleaning strainers. The sediment so removed flows to a trash tank. Sediment in the trash tank settles to the bottom thereof and the liquid collected is filtered by another set of self-cleaning strainers such that liquid from the trash tank can be sent to the hopper tank. The device automatically records the specific gravity of the solution produced.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for producing a salt solution suitable for use as a liquid ice and snow remover. The apparatus consists of an internal dual-tank arrangement. The exterior walls of the apparatus form an outer containment tank which holds preferably up to 110% of the volume of the internal dual-tank arrangement. The dual-tank arrangement consists of a hopper tank for holding a soluble salt and a holding tank for holding the produced salt solution. A fluid passageway leads from the hopper tank to the holding tank. Water is fed into the lower portion of the hopper tank. It rises through salt or calcium magnesium acetate pellets located in the hopper tank forming a salt solution. The solution flows through two screened outlets into pipes which lead it to the holding tank. Fresh water is introduced into the salt solution as it exits the hopper tank and enters the holding tank.

Abstract: A thermoplastic mold for creating large sheets of building materials from recycled plastic. The mold is adapted to be used with a platen press, and has an adjustment feature for defining a mold cavity of a selected thickness. A pair of shims are preferably used to establish the mold cavity, wherein the cavity has a depth identical to the thickness of the shims. The top member or lid of the mold has an integrally defined passageway for allowing a cooling fluid to be circulated therethrough to cool the mold after a molding process. In the one embodiment, the lid has a pair of flanges extending over and engaging the shims, and an alternative embodiment the lid comprises a rectangular plate having handles defined at selected locations in the upper surface for facilitating removal of the lid from mold recess. The sheets can be colored on one or both sides by inserting a thin sheet of colored thermoplastic material in the mold prior to pressing.

Abstract: A thermoplastic mold for creating large sheets of building materials from recycled plastic. The mold is adapted to be used with a platen press, and has an adjustment feature for defining a mold cavity of a selected thickness. A pair of shims are preferably used to establish the mold cavity, wherein the cavity has a depth identical to the thickness of the shims. The top member or lid of the mold has an integrally defined passageway for allowing a cooling fluid to be circulated therethrough to cool the mold after a molding process. In the one embodiment, the lid has a pair of flanges extending over and engaging the shims, and an alternative embodiment the lid comprises a rectangular plate having handles defined at selected locations in the upper surface for facilitating removal of the lid from a mold recess. The sheets can be colored on one or both sides by inserting a thin sheet of colored thermoplastic material in the mold prior to pressing.