Patent ID: 8262004

Claim:
A hopper spreader apparatus, comprising: a hopper for containing dry, free flow material to be dispensed, said hopper having a discharge outlet for dispensing the material, said hopper being molded as a unitary structure to include a hollow wall extending around the entire periphery of said hopper, said hollow wall of said hopper providing a liquid storage space for containing within said hollow wall of said hopper a liquid to be dispensed, the liquid storage space extending around the entire periphery of said hopper, and the hollow wall being closed around the periphery of said hopper at the bottom of the hopper to allow liquid to be retained in said liquid storage space; a spinner located adjacent to said discharge outlet for receiving free flow material discharged from said hopper and spreading the material over a distribution area; a liquid distribution device; and a flow control apparatus coupling said liquid distribution device to the liquid storage space, said flow control apparatus operable to allow liquid from said liquid storage space to be dispensed in a spray pattern defined by said liquid distribution device; a control unit for controlling operating parameters of at least said spinner; wherein the control unit includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting control signals and a radio frequency receiver responsive to the control signals for controlling operating parameters of said spinner.