Abstract: A choke plate or damper is removably mounted in the bottom of the broadcast spreader hopper. The choke plate is formed with three apertures, each of which is surrounded by a boss which, with the choke plate in an operative position, projects through a material discharge outlet in the hopper bottom for sliding engagement with a shutter plate slidably mounted on a rear underside portion of the hopper. A deflector is slidably mounted on a forward underside portion of the hopper and is formed with a rearwardly projecting and downwardly inclined portion that, as the deflector is adjusted, moves between positions of greater and lesser interposition between the hopper outlet and a rotary impeller disposed therebelow.

Abstract: A material-directing chute is slidably mounted on a hopper and is interposed between a discharge port in the hopper and a rotary impeller. The position of the chute is controlled by a handle-mounted lever. By shifting the chute to a relatively advanced position, a peripheral portion of a material-receiving drop area on the impeller is shifted radially inwardly from the peripheral edge of the impeller. Accordingly, a material distribution pattern may be provided which avoids areas such as gardens, shrubbery and driveways on one lateral side of the spreader. In addition, a chute-activated damper is provided to impede the flow of material when the chute is in the relatively advanced position.

Abstract: Improved control over the distribution pattern and the amount of fertilizer, grass seed or the like dispensed by a broadcast spreader is accomplished by mounting a variable rate control device in a material directing chute secured below a basin wall of a hopper. A web or ramp portion of the chute is spaced below a discharge port in the hopper, and the rate control device is rotatably mounted in a housing formed in the rear of the chute to engage a shutter that is slidably mounted under the discharge port.