Ready, Steady, Spread: Research Verifies Benefits of Properly Calibrated Ground-Speed Controllers
This article is focused on the benefits of properly calibrated ground-speed controllers for spreading salt and other deicing agents during winter months. A spreader system that accurately distributes the intended amount of material saves money, as the cost of salt increases, and lessens the corrosion of the steel in highway structures and vehicles when it is not overused. In past years, controlling the amount of salt was up to the truck operator who needed to adjust the speed of the belts or augers whenever the truck changed speeds. Results were imprecise, and usually more salt was used than conditions required. Ground-speed controllers for salt spreaders were developed and used beginning in the 1990s. These devices monitored a truck’s ground speed and automatically adjusted the belts and augers to deliver an adequate amount. More recently, to quantify the value of these ground-speed controllers, Clear Roads, a group of state DOTs tested them in yards as well as in the field. Their research compared manual controllers, open-loop ground-speed controllers, and closed-loop ground-speed controllers. The article reports on their findings.
-
Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11660022
-
Authors:
- Hirt, Brian
- Publication Date: 2009-9
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; Photos;
- Pagination: pp 42-45
-
Serial:
- Roads & Bridges
- Volume: 47
- Issue Number: 9
- Publisher: Scranton Gillette Communications
- ISSN: 8750-9229
- Serial URL: http://www.roadsbridges.com/rb/
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Deicing chemicals; Snow and ice control; Spreaders; Winter maintenance
- Subject Areas: Highways; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods; I62: Winter Maintenance;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01142743
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
- Files: BTRIS, TRIS
- Created Date: Oct 30 2009 8:39AM