Funnelling for efficiency

As crews start tending to the cracks that stretch across state highways every spring, they might consider reproducing an innovation recently piloted by a north Idaho crew.

The Cedars maintenance crew on Interstate 90 designed the durapatch rock funnel to save money on materials and improve the safety of employees while sealing cracks.

Made of old aluminum signs bolted together, the funnel rests in the bed of a dump truck, directing the small rocks as they tumble through the chute and out the hose.

The sidewalls of the funnel are higher than the truck walls, preventing rocks from overflowing. That means crews don’t need to reload material as often and spend less time cleaning up afterward.

“We were tired of rock spilling over the tailgate,” said Trent Bridges, one of the lead designers. “Safety is the biggest perk because we no longer need a person in the bed of the truck shoveling.”

Published 07-20-18