Fixed Hose Makes Filling Tank Clean and Easy

Item #: 20260053

CONTACTS

Implementing Organization: Region Four, Purgatory Maintenance Station
Implementation Lead: Jimmy Low
Development Team: Jimmy Low, Justin Cannon

Article Written By: Quinten Klingonsmith
Innovation Council Liaison: Talon Gadd
Innovation Team Coordinator: Quinten Klingonsmith

STATUS

Implementation Date: January 1, 2020
Adoption Status: Fully Implemented
Adoptability Note: How are you filling your truck mounted tank sprayers? Would any of these ideas help?

APPLIES TO

Topic: Tools
Organization(s): Central Maintenance / Facilities Management, Environmental Division, Equipment Operations, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4
Job Role(s): Mechanics / Equipment, Roadway Operations / IMT, Transportation Technician
Tags: highway transportation, infrastructure preservation, labor productivity, supplies, job satisfaction, occupational safety, expenses, expenditures, inventions, equipment, maintenance, chemical, weed spray, truck tank, hose, mixing, environmental quality > pollution > air, noise, backflow preventer, 24v sprinkler valve

PROBLEM

Accessing the fill hatch on a truck mounted tank requires climbing on the truck with chemicals and a water hose in hand. Crew members are exposed to hazardous substances.

CHANGE

The Purgatory Shed permanently attached a hose to the tanks's fill hatch and placed a backflow preventer on the other end of the hose.

They rigged the sprayers with sprinkler valves so they can control them from the cab of the truck while underway.

RESULT

To fill the tank they attach the hose to their chemical inductor system. Because the two hoses are coupled from the ground and the herbicide is already mixed, nobody has to climb on the truck.

When the tank is full they detach the hoses. The backflow preventer keeps the herbicide safely in the hose so that it does not spill onto crew members or the ground.