Abstract: In apparatus for distributing solids in granular or lump form over an area of defined width comprising a wheeled carriage which is reciprocal between two end positions along a path which corresponds to said width, said carriage carrying a longitudinally extending endless conveyor which is charged with the solids to be distributed and which has a discharge end that moves above said width during movement of said carriage, the improvement which comprises an elastically deformable energy storage and release device for limiting the movement of the carriage at each end of the path of movement of the carriage thereby absorbing energy from the carriage and for thereafter transferring energy back to the carriage to move the latter in an opposite direction, the device in its deformed position defining the respective end position of the carriage.