# US 12,595,632 B2 · Snow and ice spreader and sprayer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,595,632 B2 - Document ID: US12595632B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/462,834 - Filed: 2023-09-07 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-07 - Assignees: Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C. - Applicants: Douglas Dynamics LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Krogmann; Christoper Steven Maury - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12595632B2 ## CPC - E01H 10/007: {Mobile apparatus specially adapted for preparing or applying liquid or semi-liquid thawing material or spreading granular material on wintry roads} - E01H: STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING {OR PREVENTING} FOG IN GENERAL {CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS}(cleaning in general B08B) ## Abstract A snow and ice control spreader and sprayer comprises a granular material hopper, a granular material delivery system, at least first and second liquid tanks mounted on both sides of the hopper, the first tank having a first volume and the second tank having a second volume, the first volume being greater than the second volume, a liquid delivery system, and a manifold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A snow and ice control spreader and sprayer comprising: a granular material hopper, a granular material delivery system, 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 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 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spreader and sprayer of claim 1 wherein said granular material delivery system comprises 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spreader and sprayer of claim 1 wherein said liquid delivery system comprises a pump and associated tubing which pumps the liquid from said tanks to a spray boom which sprays the liquid onto a road surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spreader and sprayer of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a diverter between said inlet and said outlet for directing liquid from said inlet to said fittings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The spreader and sprayer of claim 1 wherein said first tank has a length of 4 feet and said second tank has a length of 3 feet, and wherein said first tank and said second tank have the same width and depth. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spreader and sprayer of claim 1 wherein said second orifice is defined by a washer positioned in each of said second fittings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spreader and sprayer of claim 1 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spreader and sprayer of claim 1 wherein said first and second tanks on both said sides of said hopper are vented to atmosphere. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The spreader and sprayer of claim 1 wherein said manifold is positioned mid-length and mid-width of said spreader and sprayer. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The spreader and sprayer of claim 10 wherein said housing includes a diverter between said inlet and said outlet for directing liquid from said inlet to said fittings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The spreader and sprayer of claim 10 wherein said first tank has a length of 4 feet and said second tank has a length of 3 feet, and wherein said first tank and said second tank have the same width and depth. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The spreader and sprayer of claim 10 wherein said second orifice is defined by a washer positioned in each of said second fittings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The spreader and sprayer of claim 10 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The spreader and sprayer of claim 10 wherein said first and second tanks on both said sides of said hopper are vented to atmosphere. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The spreader and sprayer of claim 10 wherein said manifold is positioned mid-length and mid-width of said spreader and sprayer. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The spreader and sprayer of claim 17 wherein said housing includes a diverter between said inlet and said outlet for directing liquid from said inlet to said fittings. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The spreader and sprayer of claim 17 wherein said first tank has a length of 4 feet and said second tank has a length of 3 feet, and wherein said first tank and said second tank have the same width and depth. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The spreader and sprayer of claim 17 wherein said second orifice is defined by a washer positioned in each of said second fittings. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The spreader and sprayer of claim 17 wherein said manifold is positioned mid-length and mid-width of said spreader and sprayer. ### Claim 22 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. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The sprayer of claim 22 wherein said liquid delivery system comprises a pump and associated tubing which pumps the liquid from said tanks to a spray boom which sprays the liquid onto a road surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The sprayer of claim 22 wherein said housing includes a diverter between said inlet and said outlet for directing liquid from said inlet to said fittings. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The sprayer of claim 22 wherein said first tank has a length of 4 feet and said second tank has a length of 3 feet, and wherein said first tank and said second tank have the same width and depth. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The sprayer of claim 22 wherein said second orifice is defined by a washer positioned in each of said second fittings. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The sprayer of claim 22 wherein adjacent ones of said first and second tanks on said one side of said sprayer are fluidically connected to each other and adjacent ones of said first and second tanks on said other side of said sprayer are fluidically connected to each other. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The sprayer of claim 22 wherein said first and second tanks on both said sides of said sprayer are vented to atmosphere. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The sprayer of claim 22 wherein said manifold is positioned mid-length and mid-width of said sprayer.