A hand-held spreader is provided having a housing with a compartment for particulate material, a chamber below the compartment having a bottom wall with a circular aperture, an impeller mounted for rotation in the chamber along such bottom wall responsive to a hand crank, a discharge opening, and a path along which the particulate material passes into the chamber for discharge via the discharge opening. The impeller has an outer circular periphery proximal to and extending over an outer edge of the aperture to form a gap between the impeller and the bottom wall of the chamber that seals the gap from the particulate material larger than the gap from entering under the impeller and risking obstruction of impeller rotation. Any particulate material that enters the gap passes downward through the aperture to enable self-cleaning of particulate material that would otherwise collect under the impeller in the chamber.

A spreader includes a frame having wheels mounted on an axle. A gear assembly on the axle is coupled with a shaft. A hopper is mounted on the frame and holds particulate that empties through an opening within the bottom wall. An impeller is mounted on the shaft and receives the particulate emptied from the hopper. A controlled-release assembly is mounted about the shaft and includes a drive housing secured to the hopper. The drive housing has a funnel opening to dispense the particulate therethrough. A transfer wheel within the drive housing is rotatably coupled to the shaft. When the shaft is rotating, the transfer wheel rotates whereby the particulate is delivered to the funnel. When the shaft is stationary, the transfer wheel is stationary whereby particulate is not delivered to the funnel.

A spreader includes a frame having wheels mounted on an axle. A gear assembly on the axle is coupled with a shaft. A hopper is mounted on the frame and holds particulate that empties through an opening within the bottom wall. An impeller is mounted on the shaft and receives the particulate emptied from the hopper. A controlled-release assembly is mounted about the shaft and includes a drive housing secured to the hopper. The drive housing has a funnel opening to dispense the particulate therethrough. A transfer wheel within the drive housing is rotatably coupled to the shaft. When the shaft is rotating, the transfer wheel rotates whereby the particulate is delivered to the funnel. When the shaft is stationary, the transfer wheel is stationary whereby particulate is not delivered to the funnel.

A broadcast spreader assembly for spreading granular material over a yard, field, or the like includes a hopper for holding granular material, a motor for driving a rotating drive shaft having a distribution chamber in a side of the rotating drive shaft, and a spreader mechanism. The rotating distribution chamber delivers a constant dosage of granular material to the spreader mechanism with each rotation thereof. The broadcast spreader may be remotely controlled by software on a smart phone, tablet or other computing device, and the rotational speed of the drive shaft and distribution chamber may vary in accordance with the ground speed of the broadcast spreader, in order to administer the proper dosage of granular material to a specific area or acreage of land. The broadcast spreader assembly is attachable to a spreader mechanism, such as a lawn or blower, or the like.

A broadcast spreader assembly for spreading granular material over a yard, field, or the like includes a hopper for holding granular material, a motor for driving a rotating drive shaft having a distribution chamber in a side of the rotating drive shaft, and a spreader mechanism. The rotating distribution chamber delivers a constant dosage of granular material to the spreader mechanism with each rotation thereof. The broadcast spreader may be remotely controlled by software on a smart phone, tablet or other computing device, and the rotational speed of the drive shaft and distribution chamber may vary in accordance with the ground speed of the broadcast spreader, in order to administer the proper dosage of granular material to a specific area or acreage of land. The broadcast spreader assembly is attachable to a spreader mechanism, such as a lawnmower or blower, or the like.

Systems and methods for managing spreading of particulate material over a surface by a spreader. One step of the method includes receiving a selection of a type of the spreader. An additional step includes receiving a selection of a type of the particulate material to be spread by the spreader. An additional step includes obtaining data indicative of a travel speed of the spreader, with the data being received from a sensor associated with the spreader. An additional step includes determining an operational attribute of the spreader. The determination is based on (i) the type of the spreader, (ii) the type of the particulate material, and (ii) the travel speed of the spreader. A further step includes presenting the operational attribute.

A dual-impeller spreader capable of independently a flowrate of particulate material about two halves of the spreader's coverage area. The spreader includes a frame, a hopper, and wheels rotatably connected to the frame via an axle. A first impeller is fixed to a first impeller shaft rotatably coupled to the axle via a first gear train, and a second impeller is fixed to a second impeller shaft rotatably coupled to the axle via a second gear train. A first shut-off control selectively opens and closes a first set of hopper exit openings located above the first impeller, while a second shut-off control selectively opens and closes a second set of hopper exit openings located above the second impeller. The first shut-off control and the second shut-off control selectively open and close the respective openings independent of each other.

A powered hand-held spreader device is disclosed that has a handle that allows a user to grip and hold the device with one hand. The spreader includes an adjustable shutter, controlled by a rotary dial, to allow for distribution of a range of different granular products that require different flow rates for distribution. The granular product is contained in a hopper. The product can be distributed over various types of terrain, including, but not limited to, lawns, gardens, and paths. The spreader is driven by an electric motor actuated by a trigger. A spinning rotor plate distributes the granular product fed from the hopper. A trigger lock is optionally available to lock the trigger in the on position during use and to prevent actuation when the trigger is in the off position. An adjustable side deflector optionally can be used to control the distribution pattern of the granular product.

A powered hand-held spreader device is disclosed that has a handle that allows a user to grip and hold the device with one hand. The spreader includes an adjustable shutter, controlled by a rotary dial, to allow for distribution of a range of different granular products that require different flow rates for distribution. The granular product is contained in a hopper. The product can be distributed over various types of terrain, including, but not limited to, lawns, gardens, and paths. The spreader is driven by an electric motor actuated by a trigger. A spinning rotor plate distributes the granular product fed from the hopper. A trigger lock is optionally available to lock the trigger in the on position during use and to prevent actuation when the trigger is in the off position. An adjustable side deflector optionally can be used to control the distribution pattern of the granular product.

A control apparatus for a broadcast spreader includes a gate adjustment dial mounted on, and generally coaxial with, a handle portion of a handle assembly of the spreader. Rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a first direction causes an increase in a current maximum discharge rate of the spreader and rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a second direction causes a decrease in the current maximum discharge rate of the spreader.