Modular dual wall spreader with liquid storage tanks

A hopper spreader assembly comprising:

• a first rigid dual-wall hopper module having a first liquid chamber defined between a first inner surface portion and a first outer surface portion;
• a second rigid dual-wall hopper module having a second liquid chamber defined between a second inner surface portion and a second outer surface portion;
• a lifting assembly positioned at each of a pair of opposite forward corners of said first rigid dual-wall hopper module and a pair of opposite rearward corners of said second rigid dual-wall hopper module;
• a fluid conduit for filling or draining a liquid into or out of said first and second liquid chambers;
• a liquid pump in fluid communication with said first and second liquid chambers for drawing the liquid from said first and second liquid chambers;
• a hose reel with a dispensing hose for distributing the liquid onto an application area;
• a pre-wet nozzle for distributing the liquid onto the application area;
• and
• a selector valve in fluid communication with said fluid pump for directing the liquid drawn from said first and second liquid chambers to said hose reel and said pre-wet nozzle;
• wherein said first and second inner surface portions of said rigid dual-wall hopper modules cooperate to directly form a solid material receptacle for receiving and storing solid material;
• wherein said first and second dual-wall hopper modules are configured to be secured directly together with said first dual-wall hopper module positioned forwardly of said second dual-wall hopper module to directly form forward, rearward, and side regions of a solid material receptacle for receiving and storing solid material;
• wherein said hopper spreader assembly is liftable as a unit at said lifting assemblies;
• and
• wherein said hopper spreader assembly is sized and shaped to be received on a bed of a truck or a support vehicle, and said lifting assemblies are further configured for securing said hopper spreader assembly to the bed.

A hopper spreader assembly comprising:

• a first rigid dual-wall hopper module having a first liquid chamber defined between a first inner surface portion and a first outer surface portion, wherein said first inner surface portion is U-shaped including a forward region disposed between opposing rearwardly-directed side regions that terminate in respective lateral flanges;
• a second rigid dual-wall hopper module having a second liquid chamber defined between a second inner surface portion and a second outer surface portion, wherein said second inner surface portion is U-shaped including a rearward region disposed between opposing forwardly-directed side regions that terminate in respective lateral flanges;
• a third rigid dual-wall hopper module disposed between said first and second hopper modules and having a third liquid chamber defined between a third inner surface portion, a third outer surface portion, a forward lateral flange, and a rearward lateral flange;
• a fluid conduit for filling or draining a liquid into or out of said first, second, and third liquid chambers;
• a liquid pump operable to draw the liquid from said first, second, and third liquid chambers;
• a hose reel with a dispensing hose operable to distribute the liquid onto an application area;
• a pre-wet nozzle operable to distribute the liquid onto the application area;
• and
• a selector valve in fluid communication with said fluid pump for directing the liquid drawn from said first, second, and third liquid chambers to said hose reel and said pre-wet nozzle;
• wherein one of said lateral flanges of said first dual-wall hopper module is configured to be secured to said forward lateral flange of said third dual-wall hopper module, one of said lateral flanges of said second dual-wall hopper module is configured to be secured to said rearward lateral flange of said third dual-wall hopper module, and said lateral flanges of said first dual-wall hopper module are configured to be secured to said lateral flanges of said second dual-wall hopper module, with said rearwardly-directed side regions of said first inner surface portion aligned with respective ones of said forwardly-directed side regions of said second inner surface portion;
• wherein said first, second, and third inner surface portions of said rigid dual-wall hopper modules cooperate to directly form forward, rearward, and side regions of a solid material receptacle for receiving and storing solid material when said first, second, and third rigid dual-wall hopper module are secured directly together;
• wherein said fluid conduit extends along a lower surface of each of said first, second, and third hopper modules and comprises a plurality of liquid fittings, each of which is adapted to fluidly connect a respective one of said first, second, and third liquid chambers with said fluid conduit;
• and
• wherein said hopper spreader assembly is sized and shaped to be received on a bed of a truck or a support vehicle.