Patent ID: 8297879

Claim:
An adjustable attachment for dump trucks having front and rear wheels, a roadway bulk material receiving dump bed, an aggregate feeding mechanism, a chute leading downwardly from the dump bed for discharging roadway aggregate and hydraulic systems and controls, said adjustable attachment comprising: a hitch bar; a first vertical support bar fixed to said hitch bar; a frame mounting portion rotatably connected to said hitch bar by hollow cylinders, said frame mounting portion comprising frame support bars, a second support, a first hydraulic cylinder rotatably connected at a first end to said first vertical support bar and at a second end to said second support bar, said hydraulic cylinder being operably connected to said dump truck hydraulic systems for raising and lowering said frame mounting portion of said apparatus and a connection plate; a distribution and leveling portion comprising inner and outer runners, two vertical plates, an inner frame structure pivotably attached to said two vertical plates and pivotably attached to said connection plate on said frame portion, a support bracket attached at a first end to said outer runner by fasteners and at a second end by fasteners to a first half of a distribution and leveling blade, said first half of said distribution and leveling blade being rotatable about a hinge proximate said support bracket, a second half of a distribution and leveling blade being slidably connected to said first half of said distribution and leveling blade by horizontal slots and fasteners, and adjustable telescoping rod, temporarily held in place with a set screw, connected at a first end to said outer runner and at a second end to said second half of said distribution and leveling blade, an aggregate retention blade hingedly attached to said second half of said distribution and leveling blade, a second telescoping rod pivotably, temporarily held in place by a set screw, connected at a first end to said aggregate retention blade at a second end to said second half of said distribution and leveling blade; said adjustable apparatus being adjustable as to the width of applied roadway aggregate by releasing fasteners coupling said first and said second distribution and leveling blades, releasing said telescoping rods set screws, sliding said second half of said distribution and leveling blade in towards said outer runner to reduce the width of said applied roadway aggregate or sliding said second half of said distribution and leveling blade out away from said outer runner to increase the width of said applied roadway aggregate and tightening said telescoping rod set screws and said fasteners coupling said first and said second distribution and leveling blades.