Abstract: Conditioning device (24) and method for drying and/or controlling the temperature of a ballast bed (12) of a railway track system (10), wherein the railway track system (10) has sleepers (14) resting on the ballast bed (12) and rails (16) resting on the sleepers, wherein the conditioning device has a bogie (30) for moving the conditioning device (24). An outlet nozzle (36) for blowing temperature-controlled air into the ballast bed (12) via at least one blowing-in region (26) positioned between two adjacent sleepers (14) is connected to the bogie (30), as is at least one cover plate (42) for essentially air-tight coverage of an upper side, pointing essentially in the direction counter to the direction of gravity, of a side strip (20), provided next to the sleepers (14) in the direction of travel, of the ballast bed (12).

Abstract: A traction system featuring a housing with two or more reservoirs adapted to hold traction substances. The bottom of the housing is at a first angle causing the traction substances to collect in the dispensing portion of the housing. Outlet holes are disposed in the dispensing portion of the housing for each reservoir. A pair of doors temporarily covers the outlet holes. When the doors are in the open position, the doors are at angles such that the traction substances mix together as they are dispensed.

Abstract: An apparatus to dispense salt, sand, brine or similar material under or in the area of a tire on a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, a truck or automobile. The apparatus comprises one or more containers for storing salt, sand, brine, or similar material that can be used to melt or provide traction on snow or ice. One or more tubes or lines run from the container(s) to a position above or near a vehicle wheel, or in the wheelwell, where the salt, sand, brine or similar material can be dispensed via a dispenser directly onto the snow or ice under or proximate to the tire, or onto the tire itself. A pump is used to pump the salt, sand, brine or similar material through the lines. The pump may be integrated with the container, or may be separately installed.

Abstract: A sand dispensing device for vehicles has an exchangeable sand container and a sand outlet comprising a sand conduit for transporting sand from the sand container to a sand dispensing location. A container receptacle is provided that exchangeably secures the sand container.

Abstract: The traction material dispensing apparatus mounts within the wheel well of a fender of a vehicle and is therefore visually and physically unobtrusive. The apparatus selectively dispenses traction material both in front of and behind a vehicle tire. A driver-accessed switch controls the apparatus dispensing of material. Of importance is that the manifolds, funnels, and nozzles are gravity fed by the vessel so that agitators and pressurized material flow assistance is not needed. Flappers within each manifold are controlled by the driver-actuated switch and control delivery of the traction material to the nozzles. As with the flappers, flow from the nozzles is controlled by a miniature DC (direct current) motor powered by the vehicle's electrical system. Screens ensure breakup of any clumps and therefore proper dispersion of traction material to the roadway.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying granular material to a rail adjacent to a wheel of a train includes a granular supply material container to which a granular material injection assembly is connected. The granular material injection assembly includes a housing having a mixing chamber. An insert is connected with the housing. A first end portion of the insert has an air inlet through which air flows into the mixing chamber. A second end portion of the insert has an air outlet through which air and granular material flow from the mixing chamber. A valve may be mounted in the air inlet portion of the insert. A venturi may be mounted in the air outlet portion of the insert. A deflector portion of the insert deflects granular material away from a path of flow of air between the air inlet and the air and granular material outlet.

Abstract: A mudguard gritter that can be easily installed on trucks, school buses, delivery trucks and semitrailers. It can be fixed to supports of existing mudguards. The mudguard gritter comprises a container forming a hopper having the shape of a conventional aileron, with a top rectangular opening of 150 mm per 600 mm and a bottom opening of 25 mm per 600 mm. The top site has a door with hinges that make it possible to fill up the container with fine gravel. A rake supports eccentric vertical stems, which meet through an intermediate guide, at the bottom, on a mobile plate driven by a dual action cylinder powered by compressed air passing through a valve whose control is on the dashboard of the vehicle.

Abstract: Vehicle driving traction is substantially increased by applying a selected quantity of granular material to the roadway surface forwardly of driving wheels by a remotely controlled apparatus which includes a quantity of granular material operatively connected with a tube terminating adjacent the surface of the earth forwardly of driving wheels.

Abstract: An installation for filling a rail vehicle sand box comprises both a pressurized vessel containing sand or other granular material and a portable delivery head connected to the vessel. The installation further comprises an intermediate assembly having a first end fitted with means for airtight coupling to the portable delivery head and a second end connected to the sand box. The intermediate assembly can form part of the equipment of a rail vehicle, or alternatively it can form part of the equipment of a platform.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted device and method for delivering a traction enhancing material to a road surface directly in front of one or more tires is disclosed. The device delivers the traction enhancing material when an electronic controller detects a loss of traction. The device uses an air duct to collect air incident on the vehicle and direct the air to the road surface. The device further comprises a hopper to hold the traction enhancing material. The hopper is coupled to the air duct at an aperture. When activated, a valve assembly selectively opens and closes the aperture in response to controller commands. When opened, the traction enhancing material accelerates from the hopper into the duct and becomes entrained in the air stream where it is then delivered to the road surface. Once delivered, the traction enhancing material is introduced between the tires and the road surface to effectively increase the coefficient of friction therebetween.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted device and method for delivering a traction enhancing material to a road surface directly in front of one or more tires is disclosed. The device delivers the traction enhancing material when an electronic controller detects a loss of traction. The device uses an air duct to collect air incident on the vehicle and direct the air to the road surface. The device further comprises a hopper to hold the traction enhancing material. The hopper is coupled to the air duct at an aperture. When activated, a valve assembly selectively opens and closes the aperture in response to controller commands. When opened, the traction enhancing material accelerates from the hopper into the duct and becomes entrained in the air stream where it is then delivered to the road surface. Once delivered, the traction enhancing material is introduced between the tires and the road surface to effectively increase the coefficient of friction therebetween.

Abstract: A method for supplying dry sand for spreading on road surfaces in freezing temperatures in a condition in which the sand remains fluid in freezing temperatures without the addition of salt includes the steps of drying the sand by providing a naturally occurring bed of the sand having an upper surface of the bed exposed to sunlight; planting on the upper surface a covering crop of a type such as alfalfa having deep roots which extend through the whole bed up to thirty feet deep in search of a water table below the bed and growing the crop for a period of time sufficient to allow the roots to penetrate the bed and to extract moisture from the bed to dry the sand in the bed. The dry sand is extracted from the bed and stored temporarily in a closed storage which prevents the re-introduction of moisture for subsequent use on road surfaces without the necessity of salt to keep the sand fluid for spreading.

Abstract: A sand dispensing device designed to be carried in the trunk of a vehicle includes a housing having a partition forming two interior compartments. A supply of sand is stored in a first compartment and an electric air compressor is situated in a second compartment. A remote switch is operatively connected to a relay in the second compartment for energizing the compressor. An induction nozzle has a sand inlet extending through an aperture in the partition into the first compartment and is connected to an air supply tube connected to an output of the air compressor. An outlet tube in the second compartment has a first end connection to an outlet of the induction nozzle and a second end extending through a side wall of the housing. A pair of discharge tubes are connected by a quick release fitting to a second end of the outlet tube and a pair of discharge nozzles are provided on the discharge tubes for spraying a sand and air mixture adjacent drive wheels of the vehicle, to enhance traction on icy road surfaces.

Abstract: This invention consists of a funnel mounted near the wheel well of a vehicle, which contains marble chips and is activated when a button located on the steering wheel is depressed. The flow of marble chips continues until the button is depressed a second time.

Abstract: A sanding apparatus for a vehicle, particularly rail vehicles, has a sealed container for sand and the container is provided with a bottom wall which is permeable by air. A sand discharge pipe extends from the container through the bottom wall and has an end position in front of a vehicle wheel. An air supply line extends from a source of air under pressure and opens into a chamber underneath the bottom wall of the container. An exhaust air line has one end within the container above the level of sand when the container is full and has its other end connected to the sand discharge pipe. The flows of air through the air supply line and the exhaust air line are so controlled that at a predetermined pressure of supplied air a remaining portion of the supplied air flows through the sand discharge pipe at a rate to discharge a predetermined quantity of sand per unit time from the sand discharge pipe. Various structures are provided for regulating these flows of air.

Abstract: A salt dispensing accessory mountable on an automotive vehicle so to dispense salt in front of the rear wheels thereof for traction on ice; the device including a salt storage container with a downward spout underneath, and also a unit for moistening the dispensed salt, the unit including a water storage vessel, a tube from the vessel being intercepted by a motor-driven water pump, and an outlet of the line being constructed to form an atomizer and being directed transversely across the falling salt.

Abstract: A sanding device for motor vehicles comprising at least one refillable sand reservoir having a funnel-shaped bottom, its discharge being disposed above a vibrating channel, said channel being set into vibrations by electric energy and conveying the sand to a dredger belonging to the wheel of the motor vehicle, the end of the vibrating channel directed towards the wheel being arranged to be locked by a flap, and the bottom of said vibrating channel being substantially plane.

Abstract: In a spreader of the type used for spreading particulate material onto a roadway and comprising an upper hopper having a lower material discharge chamber terminating in a lower discharge opening, a rotatable spreader element below the discharge opening and a valve mechanism between the discharge chamber and the spreader element for controlling flow of material from the chamber to the spreader, there is provided an arrangement for shifting the valve mechanism between an opened and closed position in response to the direction of rotation of the spreader element. When the spreader element is rotating in one direction, the valve mechanism is automatically opened. When the spreader is rotated in the opposite direction the valve mechanism is automatically closed. This valve operating feature is accomplished by transmitting force through the particulate material within the discharge chamber of the spreader device so that no physical connection is provided between the motor and the valve shifting arrangement.

Abstract: A motor vehicle wheel track sanding device including a sand storage tank, a hopper mounted over a wheel of a motor vehicle, a pipe connecting the interior of the hopper to the storage chamber, an auger disposed within the pipe for transferring the sand from the storage tank to the hopper, and a motor for rotating the auger.

Abstract: A box is mounted on the chassis of a vehicle above and forward of a selected one of the wheels of the vehicle. A side panel removably encloses an open side of the box and has a plurality of spikes extending from the inside surface thereof for puncturing a bag in the box. A control rod extends from the outside surface of the side panel to the cab of the vehicle to permit movement of the panel from within the cab. A volume control device is movably mounted at an opening through the bottom of the box and extends into the cab of the vehicle for controlling the volume of material passing from a bag in the box through the opening in the bottom of the box.

Abstract: A sand dispensing device includes a sand storage unit having a pair of holes in each end; wherein the sand storage unit is contained within the trunk of the motor vehicle. A pair of chute and dispensing unit assemblies extend downwardly through the floor board of the automobile, wherein the top of each chute communicates with the ends of the sand storage unit and the dispensing unit is positioned in front of each rear wheel. A cable mechanism is provided for opening and closing a movable rear end wall of each dispensing unit.

Abstract: A sanding device is mounted in a motor vehicle for depositing a non-skid substance at a controlled rate just forwardly of each rear wheel of the motor vehicle. The device includes a tank having a pair of chutes associated therewith, wherein the chutes extend downwardly to a point just forwardly of each rear wheel. Each chute has an open lower end for permitting discharge of the sand. A slide valve is affixed to each lower end of each chute. A cable assembly communicates between the slide valves and a lever arm contained in the interior of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A hopper structure is disclosed for receiving sand from a main supply and selectively depositing the sand adjacent to one or more wheels of a motor vehicle. The sand deposition hopper is preferably arranged forward of the associated wheel and may be operated for traction sanding, braking sanding or the combination thereof.