Anti-striping material spreading device

Abstract

A spreading device has an elongated housing with an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end in the direction of elongation of the housing. Multiple plates are enclosed within the housing, each plate obstructing travel through the elongated housing in the direction of the elongation. Each plate is provided with multiple perforations, and the perforations are sized to be larger than a grain size of a substance to be spread by the spreading device. During use, each plate moves within the elongated housing, such that the movement of the corresponding plate generates movement of any substance to be spread located upon the corresponding plate. Such movement of the plates causes grains of the substance to pass through the corresponding perforations, such that the grains of the substance pass through the plates consecutively along a path from the inlet to the outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spreading device comprising:
 an elongated housing with an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end in the direction of the elongation;   a plurality of plates enclosed within the housing, each plate obstructing travel through the elongated housing in the direction of the elongation;   wherein each plate of the plurality of plates is provided with a plurality of perforations, the perforations being larger than a grain size of a substance to be spread by the spreading device;   wherein, during use, each plate moves within the elongated housing, such that the movement of the corresponding plate generates movement of any substance to be spread located upon the corresponding plate, and   wherein such movement of the plates causes grains of the substance to pass through the corresponding perforations, such that the grains of the substance pass through the plurality of the plates consecutively along a path from the inlet to the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The spreading device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is elongated substantially vertically, such that the first end is at a top of the housing and the second end is at a bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The spreading device of  claim 2 , wherein each plate of the plurality of plates extends substantially horizontally across a cross-section of the elongated housing when in a first position, thereby obstructing passage of the substance from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The spreading device of  claim 3 , wherein the movement of each plate is a rotation of the corresponding plate relative to the corresponding cross-section of the elongated housing, such that in a second position, the plate is angled relative to the horizontally extending first position. 
     
     
         5 . The spreading device of  claim 4 , wherein consecutive plates of the plurality of plates rotate in opposite directions, such that in the second position, consecutive plates are angled relative to the horizontally extending first position in opposite directions from each other and are not parallel to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The spreading device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plates have a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of each plate is fixed at a cross-sectional plane within the elongated housing, and wherein the second end of each plate is moved out of the corresponding cross-sectional plane. 
     
     
         7 . The spreading device of  claim 6 , wherein the first end of each plate is fixed such that it can rotate and translate horizontally within the corresponding cross-sectional plane, such that the corresponding plate rotates about the first end as a pivot point. 
     
     
         8 . The spreading device of  claim 6 , wherein a single motor generates movement at the second end of each of the plurality of plates, such that the movement of the plates is simultaneous. 
     
     
         9 . The spreading device of  claim 8 , wherein movement from the single motor is transmitted by way of gearing so as to generate rotational movement adjacent the second end of each of the plurality of plates, and wherein a gearing arrangement transforms the rotational movement to vertical movement. 
     
     
         10 . The spreading device of  claim 3 , wherein the movement of each plate is a horizontal translation at the corresponding cross-section, and wherein the horizontal translation causes horizontal sliding of the grains of the substance along a top surface of the corresponding plate. 
     
     
         11 . The spreading device of  claim 1  further comprising a spinning plate assembly, wherein following the passage of grains of the substance through the perforations of a final plate of the plurality of plates, the grains of the substance pass through the outlet to the spinning plate assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The spreading device of  claim 11 , wherein the spinning plate assembly distributes the grains of the substance across a road surface. 
     
     
         13 . The spreading device of  claim 1 , wherein the substance passes through the plurality of plates consecutively, such that clumps of the substance may break up upon impacting any plate of the plurality of the plates. 
     
     
         14 . The spreading device of  claim 13 , wherein the perforations of the plurality of plates are sized progressively smaller, such that the perforations of a plate closer to the inlet may allow passage of larger clumps of the substance than the perforations of a plate closer to the outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The spreading device of  claim 1  further comprising a conveyor for depositing the substance from a reservoir into the inlet of the elongated housing. 
     
     
         16 . The spreading device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is a V-box, and wherein the conveyor is cross bars or a belt over a chain. 
     
     
         17 . The spreading device of  claim 1 , wherein the substance is road salt. 
     
     
         18 . The spreading device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a substantially consistent cross-section in the direction of the elongation. 
     
     
         19 . The spreading device of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the plates is generated by a drive unit located outside the elongated housing. 
     
     
         20 . The spreading device of  claim 19 , wherein power is transmitted from the drive unit to the plates by way of an opening in the elongated housing.