Handle mounted control system for a broadcast spreader

A broadcast spreader comprising:

• a base;
• a plurality of wheels mounted on the base;
• a handle assembly coupled to the base for enabling a user to push the broadcast spreader, the handle assembly having a connecting portion and a handle portion, the connecting portion having a first end coupled with the base and a second end coupled with the handle portion, the handle portion being generally perpendicular to the connecting portion and generally perpendicular to a surface upon which the wheels rest, the handle portion having a handle axis passing longitudinally through the center thereof;
• and
• a gate adjustment dial having a rotational axis, the gate adjustment dial mounted on the handle portion with the handle axial generally coaxial with the rotational axis of the gate adjustment dial, wherein rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a first direction causes an increase in a current maximum discharge rate of the spreader and rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a second direction causes a decrease in the current maximum discharge rate of the spreader.

A broadcast spreader comprising:

• a base;
• a hopper supported by the base and having an aperture and a gate for covering and at least partially uncovering the aperture;
• a plurality of wheels mounted on the base;
• a handle assembly coupled to the base for enabling a user to push the broadcast spreader, the handle assembly having a connecting portion and a handle portion, the connecting portion having a first end coupled with the base and a second end coupled with the handle portion, the handle portion being generally perpendicular to the connecting portion and generally perpendicular to a surface upon which the wheels rest, the handle portion having a handle axis passing longitudinally through the center thereof;
• a gate actuation lever mounted on the handle assembly;
• a traveler, having a first and second traveler part, coupled with the gate actuation lever, wherein operation of the gate actuation lever causes a corresponding linear movement of the traveler along a traveler movement line passing through perpendicular to the handle axis;
• one or more linkages coupled between the traveler and the gate, the linkages adapted to translate motion of the traveler into corresponding motion of the gate;
• a gate adjustment dial mounted on, the handle portion, the gate adjustment dial having a rotational axis generally coaxial with the handle axis;
• a cam coupled with the gate adjustment dial and having a cam axis about which the cam rotates and a cam surface having a varying radius relative to the cam axis, wherein rotation of the gate adjustment dial causes a corresponding rotation of the cam and the cam axis is coaxial with the rotational axis of the gate adjustment dial;
• a biasing member within the traveler, the biasing member resisting motion between the first traveler part and the second traveler part along the traveler movement line such that operation of the gate actuation lever compresses the biasing member when the traveler abuts the cam surface and allows the first traveler part to move relative to the second traveler part;
• wherein operation of the gate actuation lever in a first direction causes the gate to move towards an open position until a contact surface of the traveler abuts the cam surface at the point where the cam surface meets the traveler movement line, thereby increasing a discharge rate of the spreader until the traveler abuts the cam surface, and operation of the gate actuation lever in a second direction causes the gate to move towards the closed position, thereby decreasing the discharge rate of the spreader;
• and
• wherein rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a first direction causes the radius of the cam surface relative to the cam axis to decrease at a point along the cam surface that is in line with a direction of travel of the traveler, thereby increasing a current maximum discharge rate of the spreader, and wherein further rotation of the gate adjustment dial in a second direction causes the radius to increase at the point along the cam surface that is in line with the direction of travel of the traveler, thereby causing a decrease in the current maximum discharge rate of the spreader.