hind a truck and to receive material from the truck, and to distribute a uniform layer of material on the roadway as the truck moves along."

The patent discloses a structure comprising what is described in the specification as a hopper-shaped casing, consisting of front and rear walls 2 and 3, and end walls 4; the top of the casing, as shown in the drawings, is open so as to permit the flow into it of the material from the dumping truck. Approximately one-half of the rear wall of the casing is omitted, namely, the lower portion of the said wall, and the opening so formed, together with the open bottom, forms the outlet through which the stone passes onto the roadway. This opening is narrower than the

opening at the top, due to the fact that the rear wall is practically vertical, while the front wall inclines upward at an angle.

Shoes 7 and 8 and wheels 14 act as support for the structure and prevent it from sinking into the soft ground. The structure is attached to the truck by chains 11, fastened to said shoes. These chains have hooks 12 at their forward ends, and the hooks are adapted to engage eyes 13 on the rear axle of the truck 1. The operation of the device is described as follows:

"The hopper is placed on the roadway, as shown in Fig. 1, and the truck is backed up into position before it, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5. The chains 11 are connected with the eyes 12, and the end gate of truck is opened

partially, as shown, to permit the material to flow into the hopper. The gate is already regulated to discharge the proper thickness of stone, and as the truck moves forward, dragging with it the hopper, the stone in the hopper, because of the friction with the roadbed, passes out at the rear of the hopper, and will be leveled by the lower edge of the gate. The distributer delivers the material at a uni

form depth and width, and the ends of the hopper serve to gage the width of the mate

rial delivered.

"The improved distributer may be used in any connection. wherein it is desired to distribute a uniform layer of material, and it will handle slag or gravel as readily as stone." Patentee claims:

"1. A road-building machine, comprising a hopper-shaped container having front and rear walls diverging toward the open top of the container and having an open bottom, wheels on the front wall near the bottom, a sliding shoe secured to each end of the container transversely of the bottom, the rear wall having a discharge opening the full length of the said wall and communicating with the open bottom, a gate adjustably mounted on the front wall for partially closing the discharge opening, and chains connected with the shoe and having hooks for engaging a truck for delivering material into the hopper.

"2. A road-building machine, comprising a hopper-shaped container having an open bottom and open at the top and adapted to be drawn behind a truck containing material delivering into the container, said container having a discharge opening in its rear wall communicating with the open bottom, means for regulating the height of the discharge opening, sliding shoes at the ends of the bottom of the hopper, and draft mechanism connected with the sliding shoes.

"3. A road-building machine, comprising a container having an opening in its bottom and having a discharge opening in its rear wall, communicating with the opening in its bottom, means for regulating the height of the discharge opening, sliding shoes at the ends of the bottom of the container, and draft mechanism connected with the shoes.

"4. A road-building machine, comprising a container having an opening in its bottom and having a discharge opening in its rear wall, communicating with the opening in its bottom, means for regulating the height of the discharge opening, and sliding shoes at the ends of the bottom of the container."

The structure is shown in the drawings:

The Foster Patent, No. 1,401,149. As stated in the specification: "This invention relates to a distributer for soil, gravel, sand, or other like materials, and more particularly to a drag or depositor for uniformly regulating the deposits of road-building material, concrete material, or like purposes.

"A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for regulating the shape and extent of the deposited mass of material, and to further provide in such apparatus means for surfacing or preparing the roadbed, ground, or other surface preparatory to receiving the deposited materials."

This patent discloses a hopper-like structure similar to that of the Myers patent. "The present invention, however, embodies improved means for regulating the shape and extent of the deposited mass of material and the use of a pressure roller for preparing the surface to receive such deposits."

"Pivotally mounted in the skids 4 and extending transversely across the apparatus, and immediately in front of the divergent front wall 2, is a pressure roller 5. As shown in Fig. 2 this pressure roller 5 extends somewhat below the lower edge of the skid. Inasmuch as the roller 5 is located beneath the inclined forward side 2, it approaches quite closely to the vertical plane of the center of gravity of the hopper when loaded. The construction is such that the hopper 1 rides primarily upon the roller 5 with the rear ends of the skids trailing upon the ground. The skids not only limit the tilting movement of the hopper, and prevent it being upturned, but also facilitate the movement of the device over depressions or ridges and uneven surfaces. The construction is such that the roadbed or receiving surface is compressed by the roller action, as the drag is moved forward. The surfacing action is effected immediately in advance of the deposit of material from the hopper."

The claims involved herein and the drawings are as follows:

"2. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable hopper to receive the material to be distributed, a discharge opening leading therefrom, through which the material is discharged in uniform measured mass, and a transversely arranged roller positioned in advance of the hopper, to prepare the surface operated over to receive the discharged material.

"3. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable hopper to receive the material to be distributed, the rear wall of said

hopper terminating above the surface operated upon, to afford a discharge opening for the material, a gate adjustably mounted on the hopper and adapted to be projected different distances below the lower edge of the said rear wall, to regulate the capacity of the discharge opening, and a transversely arranged roller operating in advance of the hopper, to prepare the surface operated upon to receive the discharged material."

"7. In an apparatus of the character described, a container for the material to be distributed, means for regulating the dis

charge of material, and a road-surfacing member subjected to the pressure of the load of material within the container operating in advance of the point of discharge of the material from the container.

"8. In an apparatus of the character described, a container for the material to be distributed, means for regulating the discharge of material, and a road-surfacing roller subjected to the pressure of the contents of the container engaging the surface operated over in advance of the point of discharge. "9. In a material dispensing apparatus,

a traveling container for the material, means for regulating the shape and proportion of the deposit of material and surfacing means moving in unison with the container for preparing the surface operated over to receive the deposit."

The Fike Patent, No. 1,470,157.
The specification sets forth:

"This invention relates to an improved stone spreader of the character illustrated in patent No. 1,233,107, granted to R. M. Myers, July 10, 1917, as well as patent No. 1,281,141, granted to W. J. Coultas, October 8, 1918, and seeks, as one of its principal objects, to provide a stone spreader of this nature so constructed that succeeding courses of stone may be so spread by the device that the stone at the points where the courses join will be of a depth equal to the major depth of the courses, so that a uniform distribution of stone may be had.

"A further object of the invention is to provide a stone spreader, the end portions of which will be formed to clear or pass over a course of stone, so that, after one course of stone has been spread, one end of the spreader may be disposed to overhang said course in spreading a succeeding course, for depositing the stone at the point where the courses

previously distributed course, nor for the lateral discharge opening at the end of the casing.

The claims of this patent involved herein and the drawings are as follows:

"1. A road-building spreader, including a casing open at its top and bottom, means supporting the casing for movement over a roadway, and means for connecting the casing to a vehicle whereby the vehicle may discharge into the casing, the casing being formed at its ends to provide road clearance greater than the clearance at the intervening portion of the casing.

"2. A road-building spreader, including a casing open at its top and having front and back walls, a gate carried by the back wall, means supporting the casing for movement over a roadway, and means for connecting the casing to a vehicle, whereby the vehicle may discharge into the casing, the casing being formed at its ends to provide road clearance greater than the clearance at the intervening portion of the casing.

"3. A road-building spreader, including a casing open at its top and bottom, means supporting the casing for movement over a roadway, and means for connecting the casing to a vehicle, whereby the vehicle may discharge into the casing, the lower edges of the casing

courses.

"And the invention has as a still further object, to provide a stone spreader having end gates which may be adjusted to control the lateral distribution of the stone."

Neither the Myers nor the Foster patent has any provision for the overhang over a

"4. A road-building spreader, including a casing open at its top and having front and back walls, a gate carried by the back wall, means supporting the casing for movement over a roadway, and means for connecting the casing to a vehicle, whereby the vehicle may

discharge into the casing, the lower edges of the casing being stepped to provide increased road clearance at the ends of the casing.

"5. A road-building spreader, including a casing open at its top and bottom and having front and back walls, a gate adjustable upon the back wall, means supporting the casing for movement over a roadway, and means for connecting the casing to a vehicle, whereby the vehicle may discharge into the casing, the lower edges of the casing being stepped to provide increased road clearance at the ends of the casing.

"6. A road-building spreader, including a casing open at its top and bottom and having

end walls provided with discharge openings, gates normally closing said openings, means supporting the casing for movement over a roadway, and means for connecting the casing to a vehicle, whereby the vehicle may discharge into the casing.

"7. A road-building spreader, including a casing open at its top and bottom and provided with end walls having discharge openings, gates adjustable upon said end walls to control discharge through the openings, means supporting the casing for movement over a roadway, and means for connecting the casing to a vehicle, whereby the vehicle may discharge into the casing."