Fertilizer spreader

Claim 2

Apparatus for entraining particulate material within a discharge air stream of an air blower, comprising: an adapter nozzle having a Venturi throat formed therein for passage of the discharge air stream; a container for receiving a supply of the particulate material; first means for coupling a portion of the discharge air stream to the interior of said container for agitating and fluidizing a localized region of the particulate material therein, said first means including a pressure tube extending into said container and a diffuser for separating said air stream portion into a plurality of relatively turbulent air flows directed generally toward said localized region of particulate material, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region to prevent significant pressurization of said container; and second means for coupling said localized region to said Venturi throat for drawing of the fluidized particulate material from said container into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream, said second means including a suction tube extending into said container and terminating with an open end disposed generally adjacent said localized region.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blower comprises a portable housing having an impeller therein for generating the discharge air stream, said adapter nozzle being for mounting on said housing for generally in-line passage of the discharge air stream.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said container is portable, and further including a shoulder strap secured to said container.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container comprises a housing having an access opening formed therein to permit filling thereof with the particulate material, and a removable cap for covering said access opening, said cap having a vent formed therein.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including perforate means extending across said access opening for preventing passage of clumps of particulate material into said housing prior to breakage of said clumps into pieces sufficiently small for passage through said perforate means.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said diffuser is positioned generally at the bottom of said container and is oriented for directing said turbulent air flows generally upwardly.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said open end of said suction tube opens generally in a downward direction toward said localized region of particulate material.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for controlling the flow rate of particulate material drawn from said container.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a vacuum port formed within said adapter nozzle to open into said Venturi throat, and conduit means for coupling said vacuum port to said suction tube.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said vacuum port opens in a downstream direction within said Venturi throat.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a pressure port formed in said adapter nozzle at a position upstream of said Venturi throat, and conduit means for coupling said pressure port to said pressure tube.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container has an access opening formed therein to permit filling thereof with the particulate material, and a cap for covering said access opening, said vent opening into said container at a position spaced from an upwardly presented surface of said cap.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 further including an additional vent formed in said upper surface of said cap.

Claim 15

Apparatus for entraining particulate material within a discharge air stream of an air blower comprising: an adapter nozzle having a Venturi throat formed therein for passage of the discharge air stream; a container for receiving a supply of the particulate material; a pneumatic mixer assembly mounted generally within the bottom of said container and including a pressure tube having a diffuser at an open end thereof opening generally upwardly toward a localized region of the particulate material, said mixer assembly further including a suction tube having an open end positioned generally in spaced vertical alignment with said diffuser opening and opening generally downwardly toward said localized region, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region; means for diverting a portion of the discharge air stream from said adapter nozzle for passage into said pressure tube for direction upwardly through said diffuser to agitate and fluidize the particulate material within said localized region, said vent allowing a substantial portion of said diverted portion of the discharge air stream to escape the container; and means for coupling said suction tube to said Venturi throat of said adapter nozzle for applying a vacuum to said localized region to draw the fluidized particulate material into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream.

Claim 16

Apparatus for entraining particulate material within a discharge air stream of an air blower comprising: an adapter nozzle having a Venturi throat formed therein for passage of the discharge air stream; a container for receiving a supply of the particulate material; a pneumatic mixer assembly mounted generally within the bottom of said container and including a pressure tube having a diffuser at an open end thereof opening generally upwardly toward a localized region of the particulate material, said mixer assembly further including a suction tube having an open end positioned generally in spaced vertical alignment with said diffuser opening and opening generally downwardly toward said localized region, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region; means for diverting a portion of the discharge air stream from said adapter nozzle for passage into said pressure tube for direction upwardly through said diffuser to agitate and fluidize the particulate material within said localized region, said vent allowing a substantial portion of said diverted portion of the discharge air stream to escape the container; and means for coupling said suction tube to said Venturi throat of said adapter nozzle for applying a vacuum to said localized region to draw the fluidized particulate material into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream.

Claim 17

A fertilizer spreader for entraining particulate material into a relatively high velocity air stream, comprising: a portable blower including a housing having a discharge outlet formed therein and means within said housing for providing a relatively high velocity discharge air stream for passage through said discharge outlet; an adapter nozzle for in-line passage of the discharge air stream, said nozzle having a pressure port for diverting a portion of the discharge air stream from said nozzle, a Venturi throat downstream of said pressure port, and a vacuum port opening into said Venturi throat; a portable container for receiving a supply of the particulate material; a pneumatic mixer assembly mounted generally within the bottom of said container and including a pressure tube having a diffuser at an open end thereof opening generally upwardly toward a localized region of the particulate material, said mixer assembly further including a suction tube having an open end positioned generally in spaced vertical alignment with said diffuser and opening generally downwardly toward said localized region; a first conduit for coupling said pressure port to said pressure tube for direction of said portion of said air stream upwardly through said diffuser to agitate and fluidize the particulater material within said localized region, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region to allow escape of air within said container, thereby preventing significant pressurization of said container; a second conduit for coupling said vacuum port to said suction tube for applying a vacuum to said localized region to draw the fluidized particulate material into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream; and means for adjustably controlling the flow of particulate material drawn from said container, said controlling means including an adjustment collar carried about said suction tube at a position outside said container and movable for selectively closing a bleed hole formed in said suction tube to vary the area of said bleed hole exposed to ambient air.

Claim 18

A fertilizer spreader for entraining particulate material into a relatively high velocity air stream, comprising: a portable blower including a housing having a discharge outlet formed therein and means within said housing for providing a relatively high velocity discharge air stream for passage through said discharge outlet; an adapter nozzle for in-line passage of the discharge air stream, said nozzle having a pressure port for diverting a portion of the discharge air stream from said nozzle, a Venturi throat downstream of said pressure port, and a vacuum port opening into said Venturi throat; a portable container for receiving a supply of the particulate material; a pneumatic mixer assembly mounted generally within the bottom of said container and including a pressure tube having a diffuser at an open end thereof opening generally upwardly toward a localized region of the particulate material, said mixer assembly further including a suction tube having an open end positioned generally in spaced vertical alignment with said diffuser and opening generally downwardly toward said localized region; a first conduit for coupling said pressure port to said pressure tube for direction of said portion of said air stream upwardly through said diffuser to agitate and fluidize the particulater material within said localized region, said container having a vent formed therein at a position remote from said localized region to allow escape of air within said container, thereby preventing significant pressurization of said container; a second conduit for coupling said vacuum port to said suction tube for applying a vacuum to said localized region to draw the fluidized particulate material into said adapter nozzle for entrainment with the discharge air stream; and means for adjustably controlling the flow of particulate material drawn from said container, said controlling means including an adjustment collar carried about said suction tube at a position outside said container and movable for selectively closing a bleed hole formed in said suction tube to vary the area of said bleed hole exposed to ambient air.

Claim 19

The fertilizer spreader of claim 15 wherein said container comprises a housing, an access opening formed therein to permit filling thereof with the particulate material, and a removable cap for closing said access opening, said cap having said vent formed therein.