Abstract: A material calculator for a truck to deliver a predetermined quantity of brine per mile driven by the truck for a known route of miles independent of and proportional to truck speed, wherein the truck carries a known number of gallons of brine and a known number of pounds of salt. The material calculator has a processor accepting entry values of route miles to be driven, number of times the route of miles is to be driven, number of gallons of brine carried by the truck, and the number of pounds of salt carried by the truck. The processor has software for calculating dispensing of the brine and salt so that each is exhausted when the route is completed. A hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic fluid to a variable flow positive displacement pump to implement the calculated number of gallons of brine per mile to be dispensed for the known route.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for precisely controlling distribution of saline, which employs a 6-bit manifold employing 6 solenoid valves for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough. The manifold is in hydraulic fluid communication with motor valves. A mathematical formula or a lookup table determines the amount of saline distributed. The system is devoid of feedback. The 6-bit manifold can be employed on a salt spreader vehicle for controlling an improved flighted auger assembly for distributing granular salt from the rear of a salt spreader vehicle. The auger assembly has 3-stages of increasing diameter flights. The largest flight is at a discharge end of the auger assembly. A choke surrounds the ultimate auger flight at the auger assembly discharge end. The space between the choke and the ultimate flight is between about ? and ¼ inch.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for distribution of granular salt or brine from a vehicle. The system includes an auger assembly of a pair of powered independently rotating flighted auger sections disposed in an auger box and receiving salt stored by the vehicle. Each auger assembly has a discharge end surrounded by a choke fitting closely thereto and located at opposite ends. The system also includes a pair of powered spinner assemblies. Each spinner assembly is located beneath an auger discharge end for receiving salt from each auger assembly. Each spinner throws salt operates independently and rotates in an opposite direction. When salt is to be thrown from only one of the spinner assemblies, both of said auger assemblies rotate in the same direction for feeding the spinner assembly that is throwing salt. Nozzles directed onto each operating spinner assembly sprays brine thereonto.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for distribution of granular salt or brine from a vehicle. The system includes an auger assembly of a pair of powered independently rotating flighted auger sections disposed in an auger box and receiving salt stored by the vehicle. Each auger assembly has a discharge end surrounded by a choke fitting closely thereto and located at opposite ends. The system also includes a pair of powered spinner assemblies. Each spinner assembly is located beneath an auger discharge end for receiving salt from each auger assembly. Each spinner throws salt operates independently and rotates in an opposite direction. When salt is to be thrown from only one of the spinner assemblies, both of said auger assemblies rotate in the same direction for feeding the spinner assembly that is throwing salt. Nozzles directed onto each operating spinner assembly sprays brine thereonto.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for precisely controlling distribution of saline, which employs a 6-bit manifold employing 6 solenoid valves for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough. The manifold is in hydraulic fluid communication with motor valves. A mathematical formula or a lookup table determines the amount of saline distributed. The system is devoid of feedback. The 6-bit manifold can be employed on a salt spreader vehicle for controlling an improved flighted auger assembly for distributing granular salt from the rear of a salt spreader vehicle. The auger assembly has 3-stages of increasing diameter flights. The largest flight is at a discharge end of the auger assembly. A choke surrounds the ultimate auger flight at the auger assembly discharge end. The space between the choke and the ultimate flight is between about ? and ¼ inch.

Abstract: A vehicle part themed desk lamp is described. In particular, the present invention relates to a desk lamp utilizing authentic or replica vehicular parts, such as an engine valve cover for the lamp shade and spark plug wiring connecting the desk lamp base to the lamp shade. Logos may be disposed on the vehicular parts.

Abstract: A system for controlling the hydraulically actuated components, including snow-ice control components carried by a truck. The system employs a hermetically secure composite housing mounted externally of the truck cab on the truck frame which retains a unique hydraulic reservoir in combination with a manifold supporting a plurality of solenoid actuated hydraulic valves and an associated electronic drive circuitry including a slave controller having a bidirectional data transmission port. That port communicates through a single bidirectional transmission bus with a master controller retained within an operator interface control console mounted in the truck cab. That control console also will contain a slave interface controller, as well as a slave datalog and communications controller.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for depositing liquid brine on roadway surface. Substantially horizontally disposed streamer nozzles are employed in conjunction with brine pumps which are operated in correspondence with the forward speed of the treatment vehicle. Substantially horizontally disposed streamer nozzles express the fluid at a rate corresponding with the vehicle forward velocity to effect a relative zero velocity relationship between the pavement and liquid. These streamer nozzles are mounted close to the pavement surface at a location effective to avoid truck induced air turbulence.

Abstract: A system for controlling the hydraulically actuated components, including snow-ice control components carried by a truck. The system employs a hermetically secure composite housing mounted externally of the truck cab on the truck frame which retains a unique hydraulic reservoir in combination with a manifold supporting a plurality of solenoid actuated hydraulic valves and an associated electronic drive circuitry including a slave controller having a bidirectional data transmission port. That port communicates through a single bidirectional transmission bus with a master controller retained within an operator interface control console mounted in the truck cab. That control console also will contain a slave interface controller, as well as a slave datalog and communications controller.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for depositing liquid brine on roadway surface. Substantially horizontally disposed streamer nozzles are employed in conjunction with brine pumps which are operated in correspondence with the forward speed of the treatment vehicle. Substantially horizontally disposed streamer nozzles express the fluid at a rate corresponding with the vehicle forward velocity to effect a relative zero velocity relationship between the pavement and liquid. These streamer nozzles are mounted close to the pavement surface at a location effective to avoid truck induced air turbulence.

Abstract: Method for making salt brine of a desired concentration wherein tap water and recycle dilute brine is passed from a sump tank located indoors into a mixing tank located outdoors. A dilute brine flow from the mixing tank is passed into the sump tank. The concentration of the brine in the sump tank is monitored with a floatable container filled with desired concentration brine. As soon as the container floats in the brine in the sump tank, the brine in the mixing tank is passed into a brine storage tank located outdoors. The salt brine manufacturing system for implementing the method also is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for depositing salt granular materials upon a highway pavement at practical speeds. A highway truck is utilized which employs two spaced apart ejector mechanisms which function to deposit a continues narrow band of mixed salt and brine just forwardly of and in the path of travel of the two rearward truck wheel assemblies. This not only provides enhanced traction for these rear truck wheels, but also functions to utilize the rear wheels to compact the continuous narrow band pile of salt into pavement borne ice formations. Granular salt is delivered to the two ejector mechanisms utilized from a truck bed having a flat surface beneath which is a centrally disposed bed auger transport mechanism formed of two independently driven augers. These augers deliver salt to a cross auger mechanism mounted forwardly of the bed and which both supports and delivers salt to the two spaced apart ejectors.

Abstract: A dump bed highway maintenance vehicle is provided with a removable tailgate which is formed of a tailgate frame having a pivotal connection with the truck dump bed which is spaced rearwardly from a normal pivot connection and contains a brine tank assemblage extending through the frame above a cross-bed auger. By so extending the brine tank assemblage through the frame, the center of gravity of the pivot mounted tailgate resides in a vertical plane extending through the outwardly displaced frame pivot mechanism. The forward wall of the brine tank assemblage is slanted forwardly upwardly to define a cross section resembling an inverted truncated right triangle.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for depositing salt granular materials upon a highway pavement at practical speeds. The deposition forms two narrow bands of the salt through utilization of two impeller-based mechanisms which are canted downwardly at an acute angle toward the pavement. The dump bed of trucks utilizing the apparatus is maintained in a down orientation through the utilization of a salt transport mechanism implemented as dual augers extending the length of the truck bed. Two embodiments of the apparatus are described each being self-contained and mountable upon a truck bed with relative ease. In one embodiment, a brine formation tank of generally triangular cross-sectional configuration is combined with a brine holding tank to form the sides of a V-box hopper structure. The brine formation tank is charged with salt and water to form a saturated brine which is permitted to migrate through a baffling system to the brine holding tank.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for depositing salt granular materials upon a highway pavement at practical speeds. The deposition forms two narrow bands of the salt through utilization of two impeller-based mechanisms which are canted downwardly at an acute angle toward the pavement. The dump bed of trucks utilizing the apparatus is maintained in a down orientation through the utilization of a salt transport mechanism implemented as dual augers extending the length of the truck bed. Two embodiments of the apparatus are described each being self-contained and mountable upon a truck bed with relative ease. In one embodiment, a brine formation tank of generally triangular cross-sectional configuration is combined with a brine holding tank to form the sides of a V-box hopper structure. The brine formation tank is charged with salt and water to form a saturated brine which is permitted to migrate through a baffling system to the brine holding tank.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is described for depositing salt-based materials upon highway pavements at practical speeds in a manner significantly reducing scatter. This is achieved through the expression of the materials from an impeller at a lower level of the vehicle at a material velocity commensurate with the speed of the vehicle itself. Projection of the material is in a direction or vector directly opposite that of the forward direction of the vehicle. Implementation of the method is provided with a rotating impeller having sidewalls defined by an endless belt which partially surrounds it. That portion of the impeller which is not surrounded by the endless belt forms an outlet opening from which the material is propelled. Introduction of the material to the impeller is at its center portion and is directed to those peripheral regions of the impeller which extend from a location adjacent the outlet opening and thence about a predetermined arcuate region of the rotating impeller.

Abstract: A hydraulic system is provided including a hydraulic pump which is continuously coupled with the engine of a utility such as a dump truck utilized for snow-ice removal. When hydraulic implements employed on the truck are not actuated, the pump operates in a cavitation mode. During this cavitation mode of operation, there is no ingress of air through seals or the like to a venting of the gear pump chamber essentially to tank or atmosphere. A poppet valve is actuated in conjunction with periodic use of hydraulic elements on the truck to actuate the pump to an operational or pressurized mode. A key actuated calibrating system is employed to calibrate snow-ice removal components in a secure manner. Calibration is provided in conjunction with EEPROM memory.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus is disclosed which uses a reversible, variable displacement hydraulic drive pump capable of pumping fluid under pressure. A hydraulic cylinder enclosing a piston is operatively connected to a port of the hydraulic drive pump. A fluid accumulator, which is precharged to a selected precharge pressure, is operatively connected to the other port of the hydraulic drive pump. The fluid accumulator supplies the fluid under the precharge pressure to the hydraulic drive pump. The hydraulic drive pump increases the pressure on the fluid to a working pressure required to drive the piston from a first position in a first direction to a second predetermined position. Upon reaching the second position, the hydraulic drive pump reverses direction to reverse the flow of fluid from the hydraulic cylinder thereby reciprocating the piston back to its first position, and directing the fluid to the fluid accumulator.

Abstract: Pump system, method and apparatus for detecting a well pump off condition and for operating a well with cycles of alternate short pumping operation and outgassing operation to substantially reduce well pump off.

Abstract: A hydraulic system is provided including a hydraulic pump which is continuously coupled with the engine of a utility such as a dump truck utilized for snow-ice removal. When hydraulic implements employed on the truck are not actuated, the pump operates in a cavitation mode. During this cavitation mode of operation, there is no ingress of air through seals or the like to a venting of the gear pump chamber essentially to tank or atmosphere. A poppet valve is actuated in conjunction with periodic use of hydraulic elements on the truck to actuate the pump to an operational or pressurized mode. A key actuated calibrating system is employed to calibrate snow-ice removal components in a secure manner. Calibration is provided in conjunction with EEPROM memory.