US 5,582,441 A · Device for applying sand to roads for use in vehicles

Abstract

A sand delivery system for use in automobiles, or other vehicles. The device uses the hollow front bumpers found on most modern vehicles today to store bags of sand, which is delivered through a number of nozzles located in the front of the vehicle. A blower system forces the sand through the nozzles and projects the sand in a wide pattern out in front of the vehicle. The system is designed to operate when the vehicle is braking. Because the sand is disbursed out in front of the vehicle, the tires can better utilize the sand for braking. Because the sand is projected out in front of the vehicle only a moderate amount of sand is needed to improve traction, thereby reducing the need for large quantities of sand. The sand delivery system can be tied to a manual switch, the vehicle's brake pedal, or to a computer that is tied into the anti-lock brake systems of a car. In the latter case, sand is only be applied when the anti-lock brake system is activated.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A sand dispensing system for a vehicle having two front tires, comprising:

a) a hollow front bumper, said hollow front bumper adapted to be fixedly attached to said vehicle, said hollow front bumper also having two ends aligned over the vehicle's two front tires;
b) at least one sand bladder, removably installed in said hollow front bumper;
c) nozzle means, fixedly attached to said hollow front bumper, for dispensing sand therefrom, wherein the nozzle means are positioned to spread sand outward in front of said hollow front bumper;
and
d) means for extracting sand from said sand bladder and directing said sand to said nozzle means, fixedly installed in said hollow front bumper.

2 more elements

A sand dispensing system for a vehicle having two front tires, comprising:

a) a hollow front bumper, said hollow front bumper adapted to be fixedly attached to said vehicle, said hollow front bumper also having a front, and two ends aligned over the hollow front bumper front tires;
b) two sand bladders, removably installed in said hollow front bumper;
c) a first set of nozzles, fixedly attached to the front of said hollow front bumper at a first end of said hollow bumper, for dispensing sand therefrom, wherein the first set of nozzles are positioned to spread sand outward in front of said vehicle;
d) a second set of nozzles, fixedly attached to the front of said hollow front bumper at a second end of said hollow bumper, for dispensing sand therefrom, wherein the second set of nozzles are positioned to spread sand outward in front of said hollow front bumper;
e) a dispensing means, fixedly attached to said first and second set of nozzles for disbursing sand in a wide pattern in front of said vehicle;
f) a blower having a suction inlet for extracting sand from said sand bladders and directing said sand to first and second set of said nozzles;
and
g) a means for controlling the means for extracting sand from said sand bladders and directing said sand to said first and second set of nozzles.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for applying sand to roads for use in vehicles

Life of this patent

Device for applying sand to roads for use in vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17