Vehicle salt dispensing system

A vehicle salt dispensing system. An illustrative embodiment of the vehicle salt dispensing system includes a pump and supply module adapted to contain a supply of salt, at least one dispensing tube communicating with the pump and supply module and at least one generally curved discharge tube communicating with the at least one dispensing tube.

FIELD

The present invention relates to apparatuses for dispensing salt on icy roadways. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle salt dispensing system which is capable of dispensing salt from a vehicle to enhance traction of the vehicle on icy pavement.

BACKGROUND

In cold weather, typically that accompanied by precipitation, ice has a tendency to form on roadways and bridges. Commonly, after the onset of ice formation, salt trucks drop salt on the roadways and bridges to melt the ice and enhance traction of vehicles on the roadways and bridges. In some areas, however, such as in rural areas, for example, salt trucks may be unavailable to salt the roadways and bridges and melt the ice.

SUMMARY

The present invention is generally directed to a vehicle salt dispensing system. An illustrative embodiment of the vehicle salt dispensing system includes a pump and supply module adapted to contain a supply of salt, at least one dispensing tube communicating with the pump and supply module and at least one generally curved discharge tube communicating with the at least one dispensing tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially toFIGS. 1-6of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of a vehicle salt dispensing system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral1. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the system1includes a pump and supply module2which is adapted to contain a supply of packed salt36, as shown inFIG. 3, and to pump the salt36from the pump and supply module2, as will be hereinafter described. As shown inFIG. 2, one or multiple mount brackets3may be provided on the pump and supply module2to facilitate mounting the pump and supply module2on the undercarriage of a vehicle28.

A pair of spaced-apart front dispensing tubes4and a pair of spaced-apart rear dispensing tubes5extends from the pump and supply module2. The pump and supply module2is adapted to pump the salt36from the pump and supply module2through the front dispensing tubes4and the rear dispensing tubes5, for purposes which will be hereinafter described. As shown inFIG. 3, an ice sensor11may be provided on the pump and supply module2to initiate and sustain operation of the pump and supply module2in the event that the ice sensor11detects the presence of ice on the pump and supply module2.

A refill tube6extends from the pump and supply module2, such as between the front dispensing tubes4or between the rear dispensing tubes5, as shown. The refill tube6is adapted to facilitate refilling of the pump and supply module2with salt36as the salt36is placed in the distal supply end of the refill tube6. A cap7may be provided on the supply end of the refill tube6when the pump and supply module2is not being filled with salt36.

A pair of front discharge tubes8is connected to the respective front dispensing tubes4, and a pair of rear discharge tubes9is connected to the respective rear dispensing tubes5. Each front discharge tube8may have a flat tubular configuration, for example, and typically has a generally curved or arcuate shape. Each front discharge tube8has a proximal end flange12which is adjacent to the attachment point of the rear dispensing tube5to the front discharge tube8and a distal end flange13which is spaced-apart from the proximal end flange12. As shown inFIG. 6, each front discharge tube4is partitioned, typically having a normal drive channel8a, a reverse drive channel8band a forward drive channel8cbetween the normal drive channel8aand the reverse drive channel8b. As shown inFIG. 6, the rear dispensing tube5communicates with the normal drive channel8a, the reverse drive channel8band the forward drive channel8cthrough a first gate5a, a second gate5band a third gate5c, respectively.

The normal drive channel8ahas a first set of openings (not shown) which extend through the bottom of the front discharge tube4, and are spaced-apart with respect to each other throughout the length of substantially the entire front discharge tube8. The reverse drive channel8bhas a second set of openings (not shown) which extend through the distal end flange13of the front discharge tube4. The forward drive channel8chas a third set of openings (not shown) which extend through the proximal end flange12of the front discharge tube4. Each rear discharge tube9typically has a design which is similar to that of each front discharge tube8. As shown inFIG. 2, at least one tube mount bracket10may be provided on each front discharge tube8and each rear discharge tube9to facilitate attachment to the undercarriage of the vehicle28.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a control module14is typically connected to the pump and supply module2such as through module wiring15, for example. A battery16is connected to the control module14such as through battery wiring17, for example. The control module14may be provided in the cabin (not shown), for example, of the vehicle28, such as adjacent to the steering wheel32, for example, as shown inFIG. 5.

The control module14is adapted to facilitate operation of the system1in any of various modes, as will be hereinafter described. As shown inFIG. 5, the control module14may include, for example, a reverse/override switch20; a normal/override switch21; a forward/override switch22; a power switch23; and an LED24. The LED24is connected to the ice sensor11provided on the pump and supply module2and is adapted to be illuminated in the event that the ice sensor11senses the presence of ice.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, in typical application, the system1is attached to the undercarriage of the vehicle28, with the front discharge tubes8positioned over the respective front wheels29and the rear discharge tubes9positioned over the respective rear wheels30of the vehicle28. This may be accomplished such as by, for example, attaching the mount brackets3(FIG. 2) of the pump and supply module2and the tube mount brackets10(FIG. 2) of the front discharge tubes8and rear discharge tubes9to the undercarriage of the vehicle28.

Referring next toFIGS. 7-9of the drawings, in typical use, the system1is capable of operation according to one of three different modes. These modes will be described with respect to operation of each rear discharge tube9and corresponding rear wheel30of the vehicle28; however, operation is carried out in a similar manner with respect to each front discharge tube8and corresponding front wheel29of the vehicle28. Each mode may be manually initiated by the operator of the vehicle28in the event that the ice sensor11indicates the presence of ice by illumination of the LED24.

In a first mode, shown inFIG. 7, the system1facilitates the discharge or dispensing of salt36from the proximal flange12of each rear discharge tube9and onto icy pavement38in front of each rear wheel30when the vehicle28is to be driven from a stop position in a forward direction on the pavement38. This may be accomplished by, for example, depressing the forward/override switch22to facilitate both operation of the pump and supply module2and opening of the gate5cbetween the rear dispensing tube5and the forward drive channel8c. This causes the pump and supply module2to pump salt36from the pump and supply module2, through each rear dispensing tube5and into the forward drive channel8cthrough the open gate5c. Accordingly, the salt36is dispensed from the forward drive channel8cthrough the openings (not shown) provided in the proximal flange12and onto the pavement38, such that the salt36accumulates and melts ice in front of each rear wheel30. This enhances traction of each rear wheel30on the pavement38.

In a second mode, shown inFIG. 8, the system1facilitates the discharge or dispensing of salt36from the distal flange13of each rear discharge tube9and onto icy pavement38in the back of each rear wheel30when the vehicle28is to be driven from a stop position in a rearward direction on the pavement38. This may be accomplished by, for example, depressing the reverse/override switch20to facilitate both operation of the pump and supply module2and opening of the gate5bbetween the rear dispensing tube5and the reverse drive channel8b. This causes the pump and supply module2to pump salt36from the pump and supply module2, through each rear dispensing tube5and into the reverse drive channel8bthrough the open gate5b. Accordingly, the salt36is dispensed from the reverse drive channel8bthrough the openings (not shown) provided in the distal flange13and onto the pavement38, such that the salt36accumulates and melts ice in the back of each rear wheel30. This enhances traction of each rear wheel30on the pavement38.

In a third mode, shown inFIG. 9, the system1facilitates the discharge or dispensing of salt36from each rear discharge tube9and onto the corresponding rear wheel30as the vehicle28is in motion in a forward direction on the pavement38. This may be accomplished by, for example, depressing the normal/override switch21to facilitate both operation of the pump and supply module2and opening of the gate5abetween the rear dispensing tube5and the normal drive channel8a. This causes the pump and supply module2to pump salt36from the pump and supply module2, through each rear dispensing tube5and into the normal drive channel8athrough the open gate5a. Accordingly, the salt36is dispensed from the normal drive channel8athrough the openings (not shown) provided in the rear discharge tube9and onto the pavement38, such that the salt36drops onto the rear wheel30. This enhances traction of each rear wheel30on the pavement38.

An alternative configuration for the system1is generally indicated by the block diagram100shown inFIG. 10. According to the block diagram100, a power source102, such as a battery16, for example, is connected to the power switch23which is provided typically on the control module14. The power switch23is connected to a CPU108. In turn, the CPU108is connected to the pump and supply module2of the system1. The ice sensor11on the pump and supply module2is also connected to the CPU108.

In operation, a selected one of the reverse/override switch20, the normal/override switch21or the forward/override switch22is set to the reverse, normal or forward operational position, respectively, of the system1to facilitate automatic dispensing of ice from the distal flange13, the front rear discharge tube8or the distal flange13in the event that the ice sensor11senses the presence of ice. This is carried out, for example, in the event that there is a possibility of ice formation during cold weather and the operator of the vehicle28either leaves the vehicle28and therefore desires to ensure automatic salting of the rear wheels30by the respective rear discharge tubes9(and salting of the front wheels29by the respective front discharge tubes8) in the forward or reverse modes, or desires to ensure automatic salting of the pavement38during driving of the vehicle28in the normal mode. Accordingly, in blocks110,112,114and116, the ice sensor11detects the presence of ice and the system1is automatically operated in the forward mode shown inFIG. 7. In blocks118,120,122and124, the ice sensor11detects the presence of ice and the system1is automatically operated in the reverse mode shown inFIG. 8. In blocks126,128and130, the ice sensor11detects the presence of ice and the system1is automatically operated according to the normal mode shown inFIG. 9. As the system1is operated in any of the forward, reverse or normal modes, the operational mode in progress can be selectively overridden by the user by appropriate manipulation of the reverse/override switch20, the normal/override switch21or the forward/override switch22of the control module14.

A flow diagram200illustrating typical operation of the embodiment of the vehicle salt dispensing system which was heretofore described with respect to the block diagram200ofFIG. 10is shown inFIG. 11. The flow diagram200may be operational steps carried out by a software program suitable for operation of the system1. The method is initiated in block202by initiating flow of electrical power to the system in step204, typically by manipulation of the power switch23. In block206, the reverse, forward or normal operational mode of the system1is selected typically by manipulation of the reverse/override switch20, normal/override switch21or forward/override switch22, as appropriate. In block208, the pump and supply module2remains in a standby mode. In block210, in the event that the ice sensor11detects ice, the system is operated in block214according to the forward mode, the reverse mode or the normal mode selected in step206. In the event that the ice sensor11does not detect ice and the manual override is not activated, the pump and supply module2remains in standby mode in block208. In the event that in block212the ice sensor11does not detect ice and the manual override is activated, the system is operated in block216according to the forward mode, the reverse mode or the normal mode selected in step206.