Abstract: Apparatus for distributing flowable material over a base surface comprising 3 rotary members with mask means arranged to interrupt 40 to 60 percent of the flowable material from said first and second members and means for conducting the interrupted flowable material to the third rotary member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing a flowable material over a base surface and wherein said flowable material is centrifuged from the peripheral region of a rotary member to produce an annular spray pattern, concentric with the rotational axis of the rotary member, and said rotary member is displaced over the base surface, characterized in that the annular spray pattern issuing from the periphery of said rotary member is interrupted at two locations, spaced apart, to obtain, at the base surface, two arcuate spray patterns, and the flowable material interrupted at said two locations is directed to a second rotary member and centrifuged from a peripheral region thereof to produce an annular spray pattern at said base surface. Preferably the two arcuate spray patterns are superimposed on the annular spray pattern to obtain a uniform distribution of material transverse to the direction of travel.

Abstract: A metering body, for use with a machine for distributing granular materials and wherein a metering body is rotatably supported and includes peripheral recesses which, when the metering body is rotated, are successively filled with granular material from a supply source of the machine, peripherally closed by an internal surface of the machine, and then exposed to discharge their granular contents to a discharge for the machine, said metering body comprising a rigid core with a substantially central bore, for receiving a driving shaft of the machine, coated on its external surfaces with a plastics material and with circumferentially spaced, peripheral recesses in said plastics material defining the granular material conveying recesses for the metering body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing a flowable material onto a base surface and wherein a rotary member is rotatably supported concentrically within a mask, a flowable material supply to the rotary member deposits said material on the rotary member and said material is centrifuged uniformly from the periphery of the rotary member, said mask has slots through which selected segments of centrifuged material can pass while the spray segments striking the inside of the mask between the slots is arrested to achieve a spray pattern on the base surface in accordance with the arrangement of slots in the mask. In a preferred embodiment a second rotary member is located beneath the mask and material arrested by the mask constitutes a material supply to the second rotary member.

Abstract: A machine, for delivery of metered quantities of granular material, comprising a hopper, a discharge outlet, and a metering device in the lower regions of the hopper for conveying measured quantities of granular material between said hopper and said discharge outlet, said metering device comprising a rotary member with peripheral flutes defining peripheral recesses in said member which recesses are, when the member is rotated, successively charged with granular contents from said hopper, peripherally closed by an internal surface of said hopper, and open at the discharge outlet to permit discharge of the conveyed material, characterized in that said recesses are closed by a wear member after exposure to the hopper contents and before closure by said hopper surface.