Fluid spreading apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the present invention a new and improved fluid spreading apparatus is disclosed as including a non-swinging or fixed spray bar carried transversely on the back of a tank truck, and at least one extender spray bar movably mounted on the end of the fixed spray bar.
The extender spray bar is mounted on a single acting swing joint which is configured so that the extender spray bar is movable about an angularly disposed axis between the extended and stowed positions thereof.
Fluid, such as hot asphalt, is pumped from the supply tank on the truck so that it is serially recirculated through the dual fluid flow passages formed through the spray bars and swing joint and return to the supply tank to maintain the molten state of the fluid during standby modes of the apparatus.
The single acting swing joint mounting arrangement of the extender bar results in considerable reductions in the cost, bulk, and complexity of the apparatus of the present invention, and reduces the tendency of the fluid to cool and solidify by shortening of the length of the dual fluid flow passages formed through the apparatus.
During the operating modes of the apparatus, the fluid is similarly supplied to the spray bars and is spreadingly applied by a plurality of spray nozzles which are spacedly arranged along the lengths of the spray bars.
As in the prior art apparatus hereinbefore described, the present apparatus is provided with means for optionally directing the fluid concurrently to the extender and fixed spray bars during the operating mode of the apparatus to insure that a sufficient quantity of the fluid is supplied to all of the spray bars.
The nozzles of the fixed spray bar are interconnected for ganged operation and are under control of a suitable linear actuator, and likewise, the nozzles of the extender spray bar are similarly ganged and are under the control of different linear actuators.
In this manner, the nozzles of the different spray bars may be simultaneously or individually operated