Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02587803 2007-05-07
A CONTROL DEVICE FOR A SPREADER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spreader device for spreading material on
roadways, airport runways and the like such as a spreader device used for the
snow
and ice control industry. More specifically, the present invention relates to
a control
device for a spreader for surface conditioning of roads and highways by
spreading
materials for controlling snow and ice. Importantly, the control device for
the
spreader of the present invention is adapted to facilitate the spreader
functions and is
lo provided with user friendly features for ready visual indication of control
parameters
and related information input and generation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
It is well known to spread salt and sand to maintain a road during winter
months
especially to remove snow and ice from the road and to clear airport runways.
For
such purposes it is also known to use a variety of spreaders which are
attached to a
conventional vehicle and which are used to spread the salt and sand and the
like on
the road. While there are many types of such spreaders, typically there are
spreader
mounting assemblies, which are used in conjunction with dump trucks and
wherein
the spreader is fastened adjacent to the tail gate of the truck.
Such spreaders are commonly used to convey materials such as salt, chemicals
and f
or sand for the purpose of spreading these materials onto the road surface
thereby
improving the road conditions.
In the use of spreaders for the snow and ice control industry, the spreaders
usually
include a spinner which is adapted to create a wide spray pattern behind the
vehicle
carrying the spreader in the process of spreading the conveyed material. Also
depending upon the surface condition to be treated, the conveyed materials in
case of
the use of the spreader for the snow and ice industry thus include anti-ice
agents and
also preferably pre-wet agents.
Also for such surface conditioning or treatment, vehicles carrying spreaders
can be
used for a variety of purposes and are known to include snow plows, blowers
and
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material spreaders alone or in combination. Importantly, the variety of
applications
require spreading of more than one material simultaneously in either a
synchronous or
asynchronous manner in either a predetermined ratio or in random proportions
to a
surface.
Moreover, the spreader may be required to apply material to a surface that can
be all
liquid, all solids or a combination thereof: In particular, in case of pre-
wetting
arrangements, both liquid and granular materials must be dispersed through a
common device such as a spinner disk. The content of the granular material is
usually
higher with respect to the quantity of the liquid. Importantly, the material
characteristics such as the granularity, density, viscosity and flow ability
determine
whether a separate or a common delivery system for such materials must be
provided.
Spreaders used for spreading materials on roadways and airport runways for the
control of ice and snow thus often involve both granular and liquid material
to be
spread simultaneously and the operator must set the spread width of the
granular
material and also the liquid material according to the width of the road to be
covered.
In particular, in case of a change in the width of the road and also depending
on the
ice and snow to be cleared, the operator is required to monitor and adjust the
spread
width and other spread parameters to suit the desired end application.
Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that spreaders and their
function
and operation essentially require continuous and constant monitoring of the
various
control parameter and the input of necessary instructions to activate the
spreader for
spreading the material at desired levels to achieve the optimum results.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a control device for a spreader
for
spreading material on a road and the like such as those required for the snow
and ice
control industry, which employs user friendly controls and activation of the
spreader
system.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a control device for a
spreader for
spreading material on a road which includes a visually appealing multi color
display
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of control parameters.
The present invention also provides a control device for a spreader for
spreading
material on a road which is user friendly during operation and which does not
require
the typically used keyboard or mouse to input instructions for operation of
the
spreader.
In particular, according to the present invention, the control device for a
spreader for
spreading material on a road finds particular application in spreader units
requiring
monitoring of control parameter and activating the spreader functions
according to the
required end use or purpose.
Therefore, it is a primary feature of the present invention to provide a
control device
for a spreader used for spreading material on a road which overcomes the
complexities of monitoring control parameters and / or carrying out typical
functions
of a spreader device which uses a conventional key board and mouse for the
input of
instructions for effectively operating the device.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a visually appealing
multiple
color display of control parameters representing certain functions or a level
of
warnings in a spreader system.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a user friendly
operation and
use of a spreader system involving a touch screen which would enable the user
to use
the user's finger or a type of stylus to press against the display area and
enter
information into the system.
A further feature of the present invention is directed to improve the design
feature and
aesthetic appearance of a spreader device and in the process make it simple
and user
friendly to the end user or operator.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily
apparent to
those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description of a
preferred
embodiment of the present invention contained herein.
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CA 02587803 2007-05-07
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spreader control device for the snow and
ice
control industry. Advantageously, the control device of the spreader includes
a touch
screen for entering information, the screen being operatively connected to
means for
processing the information and providing color display of the output. The
color
display is adapted preferably to permit a user to view displayed information
in
multiple colors, Such a color display in the control device of the present
invention is
adapted to display information in more than two colors thereby providing
displayed
information that is visually appealing and convenient to the user.
Importantly, the
control device of the present invention thus is, adapted, through the use of
programming, to permit representing certain functions or levels of warning by
way of
visual color representation.
The color display types that can typically be used in the control device are
Liquid
Crystal Module (LCM) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The screens can be
typically
graphical type displays. However, character type displays can also be used.
The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or Liquid Crystal Module (LCM) types that are
used in the control system of the present invention can be selected from
Twisted
Nematic, High Twisted Nematic, Super Twisted Nematic, Formulated Super Twisted
Nematic, Color Super Twisted Nematic, Thin Film Transistor or Organic Electro
Luminescent. The LCD or LCM used in the control device can also be of
reflective or
transflective construction. In accordance with a preferred aspect of the
present
invention, the color display can be provided with backlight as an option
depending
upon the user's requirements.
The touch screen used in the control device basically involves a transparent
overlay
adapted to allow the user to use the user's finger or a type of stylus to
press against
the display area and enter information into the system. The touch screen used
in the
control device can be selected from of any one of the basic types of touch
screen
including resistive, capacitive, infrared, surface acoustic wave and strain
gauge type
of touch screens.
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Many modifications and variation in the present invention will be readily
apparent to
those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description
contained
hereinafter taken in conjunction with the: annexed drawings which show a
preferred
embodiment of the present invention. However, such modifications and
variations fall
within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a control board of the control device
according
to the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a display and touch screen according to
the
present invention.
Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the Figures of
the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1, is side elevational view of a control board which is generally
designated 1
according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. l, the control device of
the
present invention is for a spreader and includes the control board I which is
provided
with color display means which is preferably a Liquid Crystal Module or a
Liquid
Crystal Display 2.
As apparent from Fig. 1, such color display 2 is adapted to enable the user to
view the
display and the information in multiple colors. Such a color display involves
anything
that displays more than two colors. Through the use of programming, the
functions of
the spreader can be arranged to have visual color representation identifying
certain
functions or levels of warning. While the Figs. of the drawings represent the
typically
used color display types it is also possible to use other visual display in
multiple
colors to identify functions or levels of warning.
Advantageously, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, such
LCD or
LCM can be of reflective or transflective construction. Also preferably the
color
display can also include backlight as an option depending on the end user's
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CA 02587803 2007-05-07
requirements for the control device.
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a display and touch screen in accordance
with the
control device of the present invention. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the touch
screen 3 is
arranged with activating provisions to activate the spreader to an on position
4, a
spinner blast push 5, pre-wet on 6 and an anti-ice on 7.
Advantageously, by use of a transparent overlay, the touch screen 3 is
arranged to
allow the user to use the user's finger or a type of stylus to press against a
display area
io 8 to enter information into the system. Such an anrangement by way of the
provision
of the touch screen in the control device of the invention is directed to
replace the
functions of the typical functions associated with the provision of a keyboard
or
mouse to enter information into a conventional spreader system.
The touch screen 3 as used in the control device of the present invention can
be
selected from any one of the known varieties which includes, resistive,
capacitive,
infrared, surface acoustic wave and strain gauge type of touch screens.
Thus, using the above control device of the present invention, the actual
surface
conditions and observations may also be entered into the computer very simply
and
readily through the use of the touch screen especially in those circumstances
that are
not predicted or that need correction. Such situation can be due to traffic
pattems at a
particular location or along a particular route which can differ at different
times, Thus
depending upon the road conditions, the spreader mix is selectively determined
to
suit the immediate requirements which can be more appropriate than the
computer
generated amounts and proportions which may not be based on such changed
surface
conditions. Thus, by way of the control device of the present invention, it is
possible
to continuously monitor and readily instruct the spreader functions depending
upon
the required spreading operation. Also, the operator can attend to the
monitoring and
can further observe the effectiveness of the operation at the control panel.
Additionally, the display panel provides visually appealing multi color
indications of
the functions and warning levels of operative parameters relative to the
spreader
activity.
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The control device for the spreader in accordance with the present invention
has been
described above with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, which is
shown by
way of example only and not by way of limitations. It is possible to provide
changes,
alternatives, variations and modifications of such exemplary embodiment of the
color
display and touch screen embodiment based control device of the invention. For
example, while the color display types are shown to be Liquid Crystal Module
or
Liquid Crystal Display, the present invention is not limited to such typically
used
color display types. Accordingly, it is intended that all such possible
alternatives and
variations and modifications to the embodiment be included within the scope of
the
i o present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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