Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of operating a brine dispensing system of a brine making system includes connecting remotely to a controller of the brine making system with a control application. A brine transfer from brine storage of the brine making system to an external storage is initiated with the control application.

Abstract: A system for mixing, for example, salt with water to make brine, includes a mixing vessel removably mounted within a bulk vessel. The mixing vessel is provided with a divider/filtration wall separating a front portion, where solid granular material is provided and mixes with a liquid for purposes of dissolving the solid granular material into the liquid, and a rear portion. The mixing vessel is provided with an agitation pipe along a floor thereof, and is shaped to minimize settled granular material from collecting at the base of the mixing vessel. The divider/filtration wall serves to prevent overflow, includes one or more screens to allow liquid, but prevent granular material larger than the pore size of the screens, to pass from the front portion to the rear portion, and in the event of overflow, minimize turbulence in material passing over the divider/filtration wall, all of which promote delivery of a uniform distribution of dissolved material to the batch tank.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A multi-line supply unit for a vehicle control unit, including at least two supply lines each connected to a vehicle voltage source at the input and brought together at a common node at the output; and a protective device, including, in each of the supply lines, at least one first damping diode looped into the supply lines in the forward direction, between the vehicle voltage source and the node; and an operating method for such a multi-line supply unit. At least one switch element is looped into each of the supply lines, respectively, in parallel with the damping diode, respectively; an evaluation and control unit measuring and evaluating a line voltage at the inputs of the supply lines, respectively, and measuring and evaluating a reverse-polarity-protected supply voltage at the common node, and controlling the switch elements in the supply lines as a function of the evaluation, using corresponding control signals.

Abstract: A multi-line supply unit for a vehicle control unit, including at least two supply lines each connected to a vehicle voltage source at the input and brought together at a common node at the output; and a protective device, including, in each of the supply lines, at least one first damping diode looped into the supply lines in the forward direction, between the vehicle voltage source and the node; and an operating method for such a multi-line supply unit. At least one switch element is looped into each of the supply lines, respectively, in parallel with the damping diode, respectively; an evaluation and control unit measuring and evaluating a line voltage at the inputs of the supply lines, respectively, and measuring and evaluating a reverse-polarity-protected supply voltage at the common node, and controlling the switch elements in the supply lines as a function of the evaluation, using corresponding control signals.

Abstract: A system and method are provided employing an improved re-sealable self-aligning sliding magnetic seal system comprising two cooperating parts. A first of two cooperating parts of the magnetic toner seal is configured with a foam base or support component attached to one material transport component. The foam base or support component has a thin flexible magnet layer formed or fixed on top of a portion that faces another material transport component in operation. A second of two cooperating parts of the magnetic toner seal may is configured as a corresponding thin flexible magnet layer attached directly to the another material transport component. The thin flexible magnet layers are cut so that the magnetic poles line up when the material transport components to which the two cooperating parts are attached are aligned. The disclosed configuration support making the two cooperating parts of the toner seal generally self-aligning.

Abstract: A system and method are provided employing an improved re-sealable self-aligning sliding magnetic seal system comprising two cooperating parts. A first of two cooperating parts of the magnetic toner seal is configured with a foam base or support component attached to one material transport component. The foam base or support component has a thin flexible magnet layer formed or fixed on top of a portion that faces another material transport component in operation. A second of two cooperating parts of the magnetic toner seal may is configured as a corresponding thin flexible magnet layer attached directly to the another material transport component. The thin flexible magnet layers are cut so that the magnetic poles line up when the material transport components to which the two cooperating parts are attached are aligned. The disclosed configuration support making the two cooperating parts of the toner seal generally self-aligning.

Abstract: The invention provides tie-down devices and related methods for securing oversized items in a vehicle trunk or rear storage compartment in preparation for transport. The tie-down devices include sections connected by a releasable buckle that allows for separately cinching the strap sections to desired lengths. The tie-down devices incorporate specialized connectors at each end in the form of at least one grip that is curved to attach to the edge of a panel on the vehicle and a latch that attaches to a fixed attachment mechanism at the opposite end.

Abstract: The invention provides tie-down devices and related methods for securing oversized items in a vehicle trunk or rear storage compartment in preparation for transport. The tie-down devices include sections connected by a releasable buckle that allows for separately cinching the strap sections to desired lengths. The tie-down devices incorporate specialized connectors at each end in the form of at least one grip that is curved to attach to the edge of a panel on the vehicle and a latch that attaches to a fixed attachment mechanism at the opposite end.

Abstract: Disclosed are tie-down devices and related methods for securing oversized items in a vehicle trunk or rear storage compartment in preparation for transport. The tie-down devices include sections connected by a releasable buckle that allows for separately cinching the strap sections to desired lengths. The tie-down devices incorporate specialized connectors at each end in the form of at least one grip that is curved to attach to the edge of a panel on the vehicle and a latch that attaches to a fixed attachment mechanism at the opposite end.

Abstract: Disclosed are tie-down devices and related methods for securing oversized items in a vehicle trunk or rear storage compartment in preparation for transport. The tie-down devices include sections connected by a releasable buckle that allows for separately cinching the strap sections to desired lengths. The tie-down devices incorporate specialized connectors at each end in the form of at least one grip that is curved to attach to the edge of a panel on the vehicle and a latch that attaches to a fixed attachment mechanism at the opposite end.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a base adapted to be moved on a surface to be cleaned, an inlet nozzle disposed on a lower surface of the base, a vacuum source, and a dirt receptacle. A lower handle is pivotally attached to the base at a lower pivot, and an upper handle is pivotally attached to the lower handle at an upper pivot. In one aspect, the vacuum cleaner includes an automatically-operated lower pivot lock that can restrict relative rotation between the lower handle and the base, and a manually-operated upper pivot lock that can restrict relative rotation between the upper handle and the lower handle. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner includes a telescoping upper handle with electrical controls attached to the upper telescopic section of the upper handle. In still another aspect, the vacuum cleaner includes an exhaust vent located on an upwardly-facing surface of the base.