Patent ID: 9657451
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: A01C,B05B,E01C,E01H

Claim:
1. A spreader for particulate material comprising: a hopper for containing particulate material, in which said hopper has a bottom with one or more openings; drive wheels on which said hopper is supported and moved over a surface; a horizontal shaft between said drive wheels which rotates in concert with said wheels; a vertical shaft extending through the bottom of said hopper; a gear assembly for coupling rotation of said horizontal shaft to said vertical shaft; and an auger having a height to maintain it in adjacent proximity with the bottom of the hopper being disposed at the end of the vertical shaft for rotation when said vertical shaft rotates, so that a circulation of the particulate material is provided which effectively fluidizes the particulate material preventing conglomeration and clumping enabling the particulate material to smoothly drop through said one or more openings in the bottom of the hopper for distribution over the surface, wherein said auger is vertically disposed along said shaft with at least one helical vane that reduces in diameter in a direction away from said bottom of said hopper.