Dual tank spray system and spreader for use therewith

Abstract

A dual tank spray system includes a deck having wheels and an engine, first and second tanks mounted on the deck and configured to hold first and second liquid materials, respectively, and first and second sets of one or more liquid-spray nozzles mounted on the deck. A fluid distribution system provides fluid communication between the first and second tanks and the first and second sets of nozzles. The fluid distribution system transmits the first and second liquid materials from the first and second tanks to the first and second sets of nozzles, such that the first and second sets of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof.

1 . A material spreader having a dual tank spray system comprising: 
 a deck having wheels;    an engine mounted on the deck and configured to drive the wheels;    first and second tanks mounted to the deck and configured to hold first and second liquid materials, respectively;    first and second sets of one or more liquid-spray nozzles mounted on the deck;    a pump mounted on the deck, the pump configured to pump the first liquid material, the second liquid material or a combination thereof to the first and second sets of nozzles; and    a fluid distribution system configured to provide fluid communication between the first and second tanks, the first and second sets of liquid-spray nozzles, and the pump, such that the first set of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof and such that the second set of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third set of one or more liquid-spray nozzles, and    wherein the fluid distribution system is further configured to provide fluid communication between the first and second tanks and the third set of nozzles, such that the third set of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the third set of liquid-spray nozzles is flexibly coupled to the deck via the fluid distribution system.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of liquid-spray nozzles is mounted on a front portion of the deck.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of liquid-spray nozzles includes two nozzles, each one mounted on a side portion of the deck opposite the other.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid distribution system further includes a tank valve device located downstream of the first and second tanks and upstream of the pump, the tank valve device in fluid communication with the first tank, the second tank and the pump and configured to selectively transmit the first liquid material from the first tank to the pump, the second liquid material from the first tank to the pump, and both the first and second liquid materials from the first and second tanks to the pump.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the tank valve device selectively and variably controls the flow rate of each of the first and second liquid materials from the first and second tanks, respectively.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the tank valve device includes one of a three-way mixing valve and a pair of two-way valves.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of any of the valves is a variable flow control valve.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid distribution system further includes a nozzle valve device located downstream of the pump and upstream of the first and second sets of one or more liquid-spray nozzles.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the nozzle valve device selectively and variably controls the flow rate to each of the first and second sets of nozzles.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the nozzle valve device includes one of a three-way diverting valve and a pair of two-way valves.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of any of the valves is a variable flow control valve.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the third set of one or more liquid-spray nozzles are individually coupled to a handle, 
 and wherein the fluid distribution system further includes one or more on/off valves, each on/off valve individually mounted on, or adjacent to, one of the handles and configured to stop and start flow to the respective nozzle.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tanks are removably and individually mounted to the deck.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a hopper mounted on the deck and configured to hold granular material; and    an impeller rotatably mounted to the hopper to distribute the granular material.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is electrically powered by an onboard battery and/or charging system.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a ride-on platform.  
   
   
       19 . A dual tank spray system for a material spreader comprising: 
 first and second tanks, configured to hold first and second liquid materials, respectively;    first and second sets of one or more liquid-spray nozzles;    a pump; and    a fluid distribution system configured to provide fluid communication between the first and second tanks, the first and second sets of liquid-spray nozzles, and the pump, such that the first set of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof and such that the second set of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof;    the fluid distribution system including a tank valve device having as a first input a flow from the first tank, as a second input a flow from the second tank, and as an output a flow directed into the pump; and    the fluid distribution system further including a nozzle valve device having as input a flow from the pump, as a first output a flow to the first set of nozzles, and as a second output a flow to the second set of nozzles.    
   
   
       20 . The dual tank spray system of  claim 21 , 
 wherein the tank valve device includes one of a variable flow control three-way mixing valve and a pair of variable flow control two-way valves, and    wherein the nozzle valve device includes one of a three-way diverting valve and a pair of two-way valves.    
   
   
       21 . A dual tank spray system for a material spreader comprising: 
 first and second tanks, configured to hold first and second liquid materials, respectively;    first, second and third sets of one or more liquid-spray nozzles;    a pump; and    a fluid distribution system configured to provide fluid communication between the first and second tanks, the first, second and third sets of liquid-spray nozzles, and the pump, such that the first set of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof, the second set of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof, and the third set of nozzles can selectively spray the first liquid, the second liquid and a combination thereof;    the fluid distribution system including a tank valve device having as a first input a flow from the first tank, as a second input a flow from the second tank, and as an output a flow directed into the pump, wherein the tank valve device includes one of a variable flow control three-way mixing valve and a pair of variable flow control two-way valves; and    wherein the fluid distribution system further includes a plurality of two-way valve devices, each two-way valve device associated with each individual nozzle of the first, second, and third sets of nozzles.