Patent ID: 9556568
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: E01C

Claim:
1. A spreader configured to spread particulate material, the spreader comprising: a container configured to contain a quantity of dry, free flow particulate material, the container having an upper portion and a lower portion and being open on a top side of the upper portion, the container having a dispensing aperture located in the lower portion and one end thereof; a conveyor mechanism extending along a longitudinal axis in the lower portion of the container and extending adjacent the dispensing aperture; a baffle assembly mounted in a bottom portion of the container above the conveyor mechanism; a motor-driven spinner located near the dispensing aperture for receiving particulate material discharged from the container and spreading the particulate material over a distribution area: and a flow regulator configured to regulate flow of particulate material from the container above the baffle assembly past the baffle assembly to the conveyor mechanism, the flow regulator being adjustable from a first configuration in which a flow path past the baffle assembly having a first area is provided and a second configuration in which a flow path past the baffle assembly having a second area is provided, the second area being smaller than the first area; wherein the baffle assembly comprises: an inverted V-shaped baffle member configured to prevent the weight of the particulate material in the container from weighing down the conveyor mechanism; and a plurality of support legs extending from bottom edges of the inverted V-shaped baffle member to support the inverted V-shaped baffle member in the lower portion of the container above the conveyor mechanism, wherein spaces located intermediate the support legs and below the inverted V-shaped baffle member allow particulate material to flow past the inverted V-shaped baffle member to the conveyor mechanism.