Patent ID: 8016045

Claim:
An apparatus for distributing particulate matter over a surface, said apparatus being adapted to be fitted to a prime mover, the apparatus comprising: a mounting frame for attaching the apparatus to the prime mover; a grading blade assembly comprising a grading blade frame, and mounted to the grading blade frame two grading blades joined at an angle of less than 90° to form a nose at the forward end of the apparatus relative to the mounting frame, the grading blade frame being carried by the mounting frame and pivotally mounted relative to the mounting frame by a single pivot on the centerline of the mounting frame to enable the grading blade assembly to swing about the pivot to move the grading blades laterally relative to the prime mover; and single linear actuator arranged offset from the centerline of the of the mounting frame to controllably move the grading blade assembly to swing the grading blade assembly laterally relative to the prime mover.