An apparatus for broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface involves a variable speed spinner and a material conveyor. The spinner is positioned generally horizontally below a discharge end of a material conveyor. The spinner has a disk having a generally radially disposed fin fixed to an upper side of the disk and radiating outwardly from a center of the disk. The spinner is positioned to receive material from the material conveyor at a location about half way along a length of the fin. In a method broadcasting particulate or granular material over a ground surface, the spinner is preferably rotated at a speed of 900-1000 rpm. The apparatus and method provide for distribution of material over greater distances and can do so without pulverizing the material, creating a uniform pattern of distribution over a 50% wider swath.

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.

A chest-mounted spreader system includes a hopper for receiving particulate material and a base assembly mounted to the hopper. The base assembly has a base unit having a base plate and rotatable shaft. An electric motor is coupled to the shaft to drive rotation of the shaft. An impeller is mounted on the shaft proximate the base plate. A shroud has a partial sidewall affixed to the base plate thereby defining an impeller cavity. The impeller cavity includes a discharge opening opposite the partial sidewall and the impeller is received within the impeller cavity. A shroud opening is in fluid communication with the hopper so that particulate matter passes from the hopper to the impeller. The electric motor is powered to rotate the shaft and the impeller to disperse the particulate matter through the discharge opening.

A particulate material spreader for radially projecting granular material. The particulate material spreader comprises a hopper, a set of open wheels and a spreading assembly at least partially extending between the hopper and the set of open wheels. The spreading assembly is configured to radially project the particulate material through at least one wheel of the set of open wheels. The spreading assembly comprises a wheel axle extending between the open wheels and rotating along with the open wheels when the particulate material spreader is moved over a surface; a distribution shaft operatively connected to the wheel axle to rotate along therewith; and a distribution plate. The distribution plate is mounted to the distribution shaft, receives the particulate material from the hopper and radially projects the particulate material substantially through at least one wheel of the set of open wheels.

An apparatus, for distributing granular material stored in a container having an outlet, includes a housing comprising a bracket mountable to the container and a vane hingedly connected to a side of said central bracket. The housing has means for fixably positioning the vane relative to the bracket to adjust an angle of the vane relative to the bracket. The central bracket is configured to support a power source having a driving shaft extending along an axis aligned with the bracket, a spreader plate coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith, and a return spring around the shaft and between the spreader plate and the power source. When ON, the power source drives the shaft causing the spreader plate to rotate and translate along the shaft axis between a closed and open position. When the power source is OFF, the return spring biases the spreader plate in the closed position.

A carrier mountable to a vehicle for carrying a conventional broadcast spreader features a mounting bar for coupling to the vehicle in a mounted condition and a holder arranged at an end of the mounting bar for supporting the spreader. The holder has a first portion which is in fixed relation to the mounting bar and a second portion which is pivotally coupled to the first portion so as to be movable from a storage position to a lowered position where a front end of the second portion is arranged at the ground. The holder includes a first receptacle for receiving a lower portion of the spreader and a pair of channels, one of which is supported on the second portion so as to be movable therewith and another one which is supported in fixed position on the first portion, which collectively form an enclosure for receiving the leg of the spreader in the storage position.

A distribution machine, in the form of a spreader or a seed drill, includes a container carried by a support frame for receiving pulverent or particulate material to be distributed. An outlet opening is arranged on a floor of the container. A metering member is arranged downstream of the outlet opening. A ground distribution member is arranged downstream of the metering member. A displaceable part, such as a metering slide of the metering member or a device, adjusts the delivery point of the material to be distributed onto the distribution member. The displaceable part is operatively connected to, and actuated by, an output shaft of an electromotive rotary drive, a servomotor or a transmission output shaft of a transmission, arranged downstream of the electromotive rotary drive such that the exclusively rotational movement of the output shaft or of the transmission output shaft is transmissible to the displaceable part.

A particulate dispersing apparatus is provided that includes a vessel configured to contain particulate material having a ridge circumferencing an inside of the vessel, an insert having a similar shape as the vessel and when inserted into the vessel adapted to engage and removably attach to the ridge, and a dispersing mechanism that disperses the particulate material.

A spreading apparatus (10) for spreading granular and/or pulverulent material such as grain, salt, fertiliser and the like is disclosed. The apparatus (10) includes a hopper (11) having a discharge aperture (12), a vibration unit (17) arranged for agitating material within the hopper (11), circuitry (22) arranged for supplying power from a power source to one or more material handling components of the spreading apparatus (11), monitoring the power drawn by the one or more material handling components and controlling operation of the vibration unit (17) in dependence upon said power. In various embodiments, the material handling components may include one or more of: a spreading disk (15) arranged for distributing material received from the discharge aperture (12); an auger (18) extending through the discharge aperture (12); and/or a conveyer belt arranged for conveying material from the discharge aperture to the spreading disk (15). A method for spreading granular and/or pulverulent material is also disclosed.

The invention is directed broadly to a transportable agricultural bin for storing and dispersing an agricultural material, comprising: a bin body having a compartment for storing the agricultural material, the compartment having an outlet at a lower end thereof; at least one auger and a spreader to disperse the agricultural material; and a conveyor provided under the outlet and extending between the auger and the spreader, wherein the conveyor is configured to selectively transport the agricultural material from the outlet to either the auger or the spreader.