A self propelled aerator and fertilizer apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 includes an elongated frame 12, having front wheels 20 and rear wheels 22 coupled to the frame. A steering wheel 30 which controls the front wheels 20 is provided so that the apparatus 10 can be moved in a predetermined direction. An aerator 34 is coupled underneath a lower intermediate portion of the frame 12 for aerating the soil upon rotation thereof when the aerator is moved up and down to selectively engage the soil. A fertilizer 90 is coupled to an upper end portion of the elongated frame 12 so that fertilizer can be dispensed into the soil after aeration is accomplished.

A material spreader assembly for the broadcast spreading of particulate material from the trailer hitch of a vehicle. A hopper for storing the particulate material is supported by a frame having a trailer hitch coupler for connection to the vehicle. A spreader including a spinner driven by an electric motor receives and disperses the particulate material. A control circuit receives electric current from the vehicle via a plug interface and a wiring harness and controls the operation of the spreader. A remote communicates user commands to the control circuit. The control circuit includes a motor control processor that controls a motor power relay and a motor driver to gradually ramp up the current supplied to the spreader for start up the spreader while preventing a high transient current draw spike. Component feedback sensors enable the motor control processor to provide an emergency shut off feature and warning signals.

A longitudinally adjustable flow divider situated in the particulate material path of a spinner spreader between the bin and the rotatable disc divides the particulate material so that the particulate material is dischargeable on to the upper surface of the rotatable disc on first and second laterally spaced apart longitudinally oriented drop lines. An actuator operably connected to the flow divider adjusts a longitudinal position of the flow divider to longitudinally adjust drop points on the drop lines at which the particulate material is dischargeable on to the rotatable disc. Longitudinal adjustment of the drop points along laterally spaced apart drop lines on one spinner disc permits control over spread pattern to help achieve uniform distribution of the particulate material on a ground surface.

A removable aerial application system and a method of installing the removable aerial application system in an aircraft such as a helicopter. In one embodiment, a removable aerial application system for an aircraft comprises: a tank insertable into a cabin of the aircraft; a first delivery conduit and a second delivery conduit, the first and second delivery conduits being in communication with the tank and extending aftward beneath a fuselage of the aircraft, a first auger within the first delivery conduit and a second auger within the second delivery conduit; a collector assembly defining a chamber, each of the first and second delivery conduits being in communication with the chamber; a distribution system coupled to the collector assembly; and a hydraulic system in mechanical communication with each of the first and second augers.

A device to distribute solids such as seeds, fertilizers, salts, or other granular materials through a machine for agricultural use or other similar uses, of the type that uses horizontal rotating plates or discs with spreader pallets, wherein access of the material to be distributed to the spreader pallets is tangential thereto, by use of a channeller downloaded in the central area of the disc. The device does not break the particles to be spread and, thereby, they maintain their original mass, which let us affirm that the working area is extended and the uniformity of the distribution is improved. Additionally, the tangential access of the material from the center of the rotating plate or disc, and with the same course of the pallets, gives an additional speed to the particles that allows to further increase the working area.

A spreader for solid manure and other particulate material includes upright rotational beaters having paddles to dispense product from the rear of a wagon onto an agricultural field. The paddles on the beaters overlap along a midpoint between the beaters to improve product distribution on the field. The perimeter edges of the paddles are in close proximity to the side edges of the beater frame to facilitate product sheer, and thus improved distribution. The paddles on each beater are vertically and radially offset, and at least some of the paddles are spring-loaded.

The invention relates to a method for operating an agricultural spreader (1), comprising: providing a spreading material in a material reservoir (5) of an agricultural spreader (1); dosing the spreading material from the material reservoir (5) through a dosing opening (6); receiving the dosed spreading material by a spreader device (7); and spreading the dosed spreading material by the spreader device (7); the method further comprising: detecting digital image data by a monitoring device (4), the digital image data being indicative of a partial quantity of the spreading material located in the vicinity of the dosing opening (6) at the time of detecting the digital image data; and determining a material parameter for the partial quantity of the spreading material located in the vicinity of the dosing opening (6) from analyzing the digital image data by a control device (2). Furthermore, an arrangement for an agricultural spreader (1) system is provided.

An improved bag spreader and methods of the using the same. The bag spreader includes a bag that holds particulate material, a base removably coupled to the bag and including an exit opening to permit the particulate material to fall therethrough, an impeller below the base and configured to receive the particulate material leaving the exit opening and spread the particulate material, and a fastener circumscribing the base and securing the bag to the base. The methods include removably securing a bag to a base using a single cable tie, filling the bag with particulate material, and turning a hand crank causing the impeller to spin and spread the particulate material.

An agitation unit for use in a lawn spreader and other dispensing equipment, and oscillating agitation systems therefor comprising such an agitation unit. The agitation unit includes a hub, an arm extending from the hub, and an extension on the arm configured to project downwardly to an extent relative to the arm and the hub to protrude into, but not through, the outlet passageway of the hopper.

An applicator including: a frame with hopper mounted thereon to hold and dispense a granule product, the hopper including an electronically controlled gate(s); a tank to hold a liquid product; a electronically controlled spray tip(s) to dispense the liquid product; a spray pump located between the tank and spray tip(s); an operator control interface for receiving input from an operator; a control coupled to the operator control interface, the electronically controlled gate(s), and the spray tip(s), where the control receives input, dispenses the liquid or granule product based on the input received from the operator control; where when the liquid product is dispensed, the control provides a signal to the spray tip(s) to regulate a flow of the liquid product, and when the granule product is dispensed, the control provides a signal to the electronically controlled gate(s) to regulate a flow of the granule product.