Frozen precipitation treatment analysis system

• US 9,330,367 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swenson Spreader, LLC
• Original Assignee: Swenson Spreader, LLC
• Inventors: Larsen, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US14/713,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20150248628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 10/007 Mobile apparatus specially adapted for preparing or applying liquid or semi-liquid thawing material or spreading granular material on wintry roads
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/00 Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice by applying de-icing agents E01H10/00; obstruction removers on vehicles B60R19/00; sand, gravel or salt spreaders E01C19/20
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/04 Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged materialE01H5/10, E01H5/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work

Abstract

A frozen precipitation treatment analysis system may include, in one embodiment, an electronic mobile device and a Global Positioning System (GPS). The mobile device may have software that uses the GPS and inputted information to produce a work flow plan for treating frozen precipitation at a site. In another embodiment, a frozen precipitation treatment analysis system may include an electronic mobile device and a virtual map of a site requiring frozen precipitation treatment analysis. The mobile device may have software that uses the virtual map and inputted information to determine the area of the site and/or other factors related to the frozen precipitation treatment analysis.

Claims

1. A frozen precipitation treatment analysis system for use at one or more associated sites comprising:

an electronic mobile device that comprises;

software related to frozen precipitation treatment;

input controls that are manipulatable by an associated user to input into the electronic mobile device information related to frozen precipitation treatment at the one or more associated sites; and

,

at least one of;

(A) (1) a Global Positioning System (GPS); and

,

(2) wherein the software combines the GPS and inputted information from the associated user concerning a plurality of the associated sites to produce a work flow plan, indicated on the electronic mobile device, that suggests an order in which the plurality of associated sites could be worked to treat frozen precipitation; and

,

(B) (1) one or more virtual maps of the one or more associated sites; and

,

(2) wherein the software combines the one or more virtual maps and the inputted information from the associated user to do at least one of;

(a) determine the area of the one or more associated sites;

(b) estimate the cost required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites;

(c) estimate the time required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites; and

,

(d) estimate the frozen precipitation treatment mechanisms required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites.

2. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 1 wherein the electronic mobile device comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS); and

,

wherein the software combines the GPS and inputted information from the associated user concerning a plurality of the associated sites to produce a work flow plan, indicated on the electronic mobile device, that suggests an order in which the plurality of associated sites could be worked to treat frozen precipitation.

3. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 2 wherein the suggested order is an order in which the plurality of associated sites could be treated by one or more snow plows.

4. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 2 wherein the suggested order is an order in which the plurality of associated sites could be treated by one or more spreaders.

5. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 1 wherein the electronic mobile device comprises:

one or more virtual maps of the one or more associated sites; and

,

wherein the software combines the one or more virtual maps and the inputted information from the associated user to do at least one of;

(a) determine the area of the one or more associated sites;

(b) estimate the cost required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites;

(c) estimate the time required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites; and

,

(d) estimate the frozen precipitation treatment mechanisms required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites.

6. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 5 wherein the inputted information includes one or more areas at the one or more associated sites that cannot be treated.

7. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 5 wherein the software combines the one or more virtual maps and the inputted information from the associated user to determine the area of the one or more associated sites.

8. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 5 wherein the software combines the one or more virtual maps and the inputted information from the associated user to estimate the cost required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites.

9. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 5 wherein the software combines the one or more virtual maps and the inputted information from the associated user to estimate the time required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites.

10. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 5 wherein the software combines the one or more virtual maps and the inputted information from the associated user to estimate the frozen precipitation treatment mechanisms required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites.

11. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 1 wherein the software can control an associated frozen precipitation treatment mechanism.

12. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 1 wherein the input controls comprise at least one voice activated control.

13. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 1 wherein the input controls comprises a tactile feedback device that provides tactile feedback to the associated user as the associated user manipulates the input controls.

14. A frozen precipitation treatment analysis system for use at one or more associated sites comprising:

an electronic mobile device that comprises;

software related to frozen precipitation treatment;

input controls that are manipulatable by an associated user to input into the electronic mobile device information related to frozen precipitation treatment at the one or more associated sites;

one or more virtual maps of the one or more associated sites; and

,

wherein the software combines the one or more virtual maps and the inputted information from the associated user to;

(a) determine the area of the one or more associated sites;

(b) estimate the cost required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites; and

,

(c) estimate the time required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites.

15. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 14 wherein the software combines the one or more virtual maps and the inputted information from the associated user to estimate the frozen precipitation treatment mechanisms required to treat frozen precipitation at the one or more associated sites.

16. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 14 wherein the inputted information includes one or more areas at the one or more associated sites that cannot be treated.

17. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 14 wherein the software can control an associated frozen precipitation treatment mechanism.

18. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 14 wherein the input controls comprise at least one voice activated control.

19. The frozen precipitation treatment analysis system of claim 14 wherein the input controls comprises a tactile feedback device that provides tactile feedback to the associated user as the associated user manipulates the input controls.

20. A frozen precipitation treatment apparatus comprising:

at least one frozen precipitation treatment assembly that is supportable to an associated vehicle and that comprises;

(1) a frozen precipitation treatment mechanism that is operable to remove or prevent the accumulation of frozen precipitation on an associated ground surface;

(2) at least one component that has a measurable characteristic;

(3) a sensor that senses the measurable characteristic; and

,

(4) an electronic measure signal generator that generates and sends an electric measure signal based on the measurable characteristic sensed by the sensor; and

,

an electronic mobile device that;

(1) receives the electric measure signal; and

,

(2) indicates to an associated user the measurable characteristic based on the electric measure signal.