Snow and ice spreader and sprayer

A snow and ice control spreader and sprayer comprising:

• a granular material hopper,
• an auger drive or a chain drive that conveys the granular material from said hopper to a spinner which broadcasts the granular material onto a road surface,
• at least first and second liquid tanks mounted on both sides of said hopper, said first tank having a first volume and said second tank having a second volume, said first volume being greater than said second volume,
• a pump and associated tubing which pumps the liquid from said tanks to a spray boom which sprays the liquid onto a road surface, and
• a manifold comprising:
• a housing,
• said housing having an inlet for filling the tanks and an outlet for emptying the tanks, said outlet fluidically connected to said pump and associated tubing, and
• said housing having a first pair of first and second fittings, said first fitting of said first pair fluidically connected to said first tank on one side of said hopper and said second fitting of said first pair fluidically connected to said second tank on said one side of said hopper, and
• said housing having a second pair of said first and second fittings, said first fitting of said second pair fluidically connected to said first tank on the other side of said hopper and said second fitting of said second pair fluidically connected to said second tank on said other side of said hopper,
• said first fittings of said first and second pairs each having a first orifice,
• said second fittings of said first and second pairs each having a second orifice,
• said second orifice being smaller than said first orifice.

A snow and ice control spreader and sprayer comprising:

• a granular material hopper,
• an auger drive or a chain drive that conveys the granular material from said hopper to a spinner which broadcasts the granular material onto a road surface,
• at least first and second liquid tanks mounted on both sides of said hopper, said first tank having a first volume and said second tank having a second volume, said first volume being greater than said second volume,
• a pump and associated tubing which pumps the liquid from said tanks to a spray boom which sprays the liquid onto a road surface, and
• a manifold comprising:
• a housing,
• said housing having an inlet for filling the tanks and an outlet for emptying the tanks, said outlet fluidically connected to said pump and associated tubing, and
• said housing having a first pair of first and second fittings, said first fitting of said first pair fluidically connected to said first tank on one side of said hopper and said second fitting of said first pair fluidically connected to said second tank on said one side of said hopper, and
• said housing having a second pair of said first and second fittings, said first fitting of said second pair fluidically connected to said first tank on the other side of said hopper and said second fitting of said second pair fluidically connected to said second tank on said other side of said hopper,
• said first fittings of said first and second pairs each having a first orifice,
• said second fittings of said first and second pairs each having a second orifice,
• said second orifice being smaller than said first orifice,
• wherein adjacent ones of said first and second tanks on said one side of said hopper are fluidically connected to each other and adjacent ones of said first and second tanks on said other side of said hopper are fluidically connected to each other, and
• wherein said first and second tanks on both said sides of said hopper are vented to atmosphere.

A snow and ice control sprayer comprising:

• at least first and second liquid tanks mounted on both sides of said sprayer, said first tank having a first volume and said second tank having a second volume, said first volume being greater than said second volume,
• a liquid delivery system, and
• a manifold comprising:
• a housing,
• said housing having an inlet for filling the tanks and an outlet for emptying the tanks, said outlet fluidically connected to said liquid delivery system, and
• said housing having a first pair of first and second fittings, said first fitting of said first pair fluidically connected to said first tank on one side of said sprayer and said second fitting of said first pair fluidically connected to said second tank on said one side of said sprayer, and
• said housing having a second pair of said first and second fittings, said first fitting of said second pair fluidically connected to said first tank on the other side of said sprayer and said second fitting of said second pair fluidically connected to said second tank on said other side of said sprayer,
• said first fittings of said first and second pairs each having a first orifice,
• said second fittings of said first and second pairs each having a second orifice,
• said second orifice being smaller than said first orifice.