摘要 |
A self-propelled lawn and garden spreader that can be used to apply granular and/or liquid materials to both wide and narrow areas at a constant rate of application per unit area at different ground speeds, such as at a relatively high speed when the operator of the spreader is riding on the spreader, and at a relatively low speed when the operator is walking behind the spreader. The spreader generally includes a frame on which a suitable motor is mounted, wheels mounted to the frame with at least one of the wheels being driven by the motor, and a unit for controlling the ground speed of the spreader, including at least two forward speeds. The spreader further includes a material storage compartment mounted to the frame for containing a material. The material storage compartment has an outlet through which the material exits the material storage compartment and is delivered to a dispenser unit that broadcasts the material outwardly, including away from the sides of the frame. Finally, the spreader includes a device for controlling material flow from the material storage compartment to the dispenser unit. The material flow control device provides at least two flow rates of the material to the dispenser unit, in which the flow rates are synchronized with the at least two forward speeds of the spreader so that the spreader dispenses the material to achieve an approximately constant application rate per unit area at the at least two forward speeds.
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