Abstract: A spreader (100) has a hopper or bin (1) for storing a spreadable material (2), a plurality of spinners (5, 6) adapted to receive the material from the hopper or bin and to spread the material (2) on the ground, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (8) for sensing the position of the spreader (100) and providing an output signal indicative of a position of the spreader to a controller (7). The controller (7) calculates a required pattern and density of material (2) to be spread by the spinners (5, 6) based on a comparison of the actual position of the spreader (A) to a preferred position of the spreader (I), and controls the spinners (5, 6) in order to obtain the required pattern and density of spread material (2). A method of controlling the pattern and density of material spread by a spreader is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spreader (100) has material storage means (1) for storing a spreadable material (2), a plurality of spinners (5, 6) adapted to receive the material from the storage means and to spread the material (2) on the ground, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (8) for sensing the position of the spreader (100) and providing an output signal indicative of a position of the spreader to a control means (7). The control means (7) calculates a required pattern and density of material (2) to be spread by the spinners (5, 6) based on a comparison of the actual position of the spreader (A) to a preferred position of the spreader (I), and controls the spinners (5, 6) in order to obtain the required pattern and density of spread material (2). A method of controlling the pattern and density of material spread by a spreader is also disclosed.

Abstract: An agricultural spreader (100) includes material storage means (1) for storing agricultural material (2), at least one material spreading means (4) to spread the agricultural material (2) onto a surface (20) below the agricultural spreader (100) and variable speed material conveying means (3) for conveying the agricultural material (2) from the material storage means (1) to the material spreading means (4). The spreader (100) further includes an inclinometer means (7) for measuring a pitch of the agricultural spreader (100) relative to a horizontal plane and control means (6) adapted to vary the speed of the variable speed material conveyor means (3) in response to at least one input, at least one of which is an output (8) from the inclinometer means (7), in order to provide a required supply rate of agricultural material (2) to the material spreading means (4). In an alternative embodiment the control means (6) controls the area of an aperture (11) of a metering means (10).

Abstract: An agricultural spreader (100) includes material storage means (1) for storing agricultural material (2), at least one material spreading means (4) to spread the agricultural material (2) onto a surface (20) below the agricultural spreader (100) and variable speed material conveying means (3) for conveying the agricultural material (2) from the material storage means (1) to the material spreading means (4).

Abstract: An agricultural spreader comprises a bulk material container and a pair of side by side spinners. A main cover overlies the spinners and has a feed surface surrounding a charging port for each spinner in the front inner quadrant of the spinner. The charging port in use admits air with the bulk material. A front deflector is adjacent the front inner quadrant of each spinner. An outlet cover is mounted at or near the circumference of each spinner just above the spinner. A side by side series of side deflectors is restricted exclusively to an area outward of the front outer quadrant and extends from the outlet cover into the path of the material leaving the spinner in the front outer quadrant in order to deflect the material from the spreader into the spread path. Material is delivered from the bulk material container to a location which is above the feed surface and from which the material drops onto the feed surface for feeding toward the charging ports.