Snow and ice control equipment frame

Abstract

A frame for mounting granular material spreading equipment, liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment in a dump body or to a truck body is adapted to hold such equipment and allow for unitary removal of the frame with adjoined equipment from the truck body. The frame provides structure for mounting of granular material spreading equipment, liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment, including liquid dispensing and metering components, granular dispensing and metering components, hydraulic equipment and electrical components. The frame may include integral legs, which in the preferred embodiment are self storing. The frame with adjoined equipment in a deployed position may be stored as a unit. A frame bearing granular material spreading, liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment constitutes a snow/ice control apparatus that may be unitarily deployed on trucks and removed for storage purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frame for holding granular material spreading equipment, one or more liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment comprising:
 a frame adapted to bear granular material spreading equipment, one or more liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment in a ready-to-use position such that the frame while bearing granular material spreading equipment, one or more liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment May be unitarily installed on a dump, flat-bed or pick-up truck.   
     
     
         2 . The frame of  claim 1  further comprising legs, the legs connected to the frame such that when the frame is removed from the truck, the frame and borne granular material spreading equipment, one or more liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment may be unitarily stored with the adjoined equipment off the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The frame of  claim 2  wherein the liquid delivery equipment includes one or more pieces of equipment selected from the following: a single-lane liquid dispenser, a multi-lane liquid dispenser, a spray boom and a liquid delivery control system 
     
     
         4 . The frame of  claim 2  wherein the liquid delivery equipment includes one or more pieces of equipment selected from the following: a liquid pump, a liquid control valve, a filter and a flow monitoring device. 
     
     
         5 . The frame of  claim 1  further comprising metalwork that caps off the rear end of the truck. 
     
     
         6 . The frame of  claim 1  further comprising deflectors adapted to retain granular materials inside a truck body or direct flow of granular materials to a conveyor or material spreader. 
     
     
         7 . The frame of  claim 2  wherein the legs are retractable. 
     
     
         8 . The frame of  claim 7  wherein the legs comprise a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, the rear legs retracting telescopically and the front legs retracting by pivoting. 
     
     
         9 . The frame of  claim 2  wherein the legs are height adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . A snow/ice control apparatus comprising:
 a frame bearing granular material spreading equipment, one or more liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment in a ready-to-use position such that the frame with the borne granular material spreading equipment, liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment may be unitarily installed on a dump, flat-bed or pick-up truck.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising legs, the legs connected to the frame such that when the frame is removed from the truck, the frame and borne granular material spreading equipment, liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment may be unitarily stored with the borne equipment off the ground. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the liquid delivery equipment includes one or more pieces of equipment selected from the following: a single-lane liquid dispenser, a multi-lane liquid dispenser, a spray boom and a liquid delivery control system. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the liquid delivery equipment includes one or more pieces of equipment selected from the following: a liquid pump, a liquid control valve, a filter and a flow monitoring device. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising metalwork that caps off the rear end of the truck. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising deflectors adapted to retain granular materials inside a truck body or direct flow of granular materials to a conveyor or material spreader. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the legs are retractable. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the legs comprise a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, the rear legs retracting telescopically and the front legs retracting by pivoting. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the legs are height adjustable. 
     
     
         19 . A snow/ice control apparatus comprising:
 a frame bearing one or more liquid storage tanks, the frame adapted to receive granular material spreading equipment and liquid delivery equipment in a ready-to-use position such that when the granular material spreading equipment and liquid delivery equipment are connected to the frame, the frame, one or more liquid storage tanks, granular material spreading equipment and liquid delivery equipment may be unitarily installed on a dump, flat-bed or pick-up truck.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising legs, the legs connected to the frame such that when the frame is removed from the truck, the frame and borne granular material spreading equipment, liquid storage tanks and liquid delivery equipment may be unitarily stored with the borne equipment off the ground.