Patent ID: 8505837

Claim:
A spreader assembly comprising: a frame that is attachable to an associated vehicle; a hopper supported to the frame and suitable to hold a material to be spread onto an associated ground surface; a spinner mechanism supported to the frame and comprising: (1) a spinner plate; (2) a motor; and, (3) a shaft that is rotatable by the motor to rotate the spinner plate to spread the material onto the associated ground surface; an auger mechanism comprising: (1) an auger; (2) a motor; and, (3) a shaft that is rotatable by the motor to rotate the auger to transfer the material from the hopper to the spinner plate; a sensor that provides a signal based on a condition of the auger mechanism, wherein the sensor is one of: (1) a torque sensor that detects the torque load placed on the shaft that is rotatable by the motor to rotate the auger; and, (2) a current sensor that detects the current draw placed on the motor that rotates the auger; and, a controller that: (1) receives the signal from the sensor; (2) determines a fill status of the hopper based on the signal from the sensor; and, (3) operates the auger mechanism based on the fill status of the hopper.