Portable particle spreader/blower

Abstract

A portable, user shoulder supported spreader/blower unit includes an ergonomically configured housing which includes a section defining a storage bin for holding a quantity of salt or like chemical particulate material for spreading onto ground surfaces to prevent icing thereon in winter. A centrifugal distributor disk is located in a housing space section below the bin and, a bin discharge aperture aligns over a peripheral area of the distributor disk. A user controllable closure member selectively alters bin discharge aperture size and, hence, outflow quantity from the bin onto the distributor disk, the distributor disk rotating at high speed propelling particulate material out of the housing through a discharge nozzle thereon at a high speed. e.g., 60 m/sec when the unit is user in a spreader mode. To further enhance carry of the particulate material from the housing, a fan impeller mounted in the housing in the common space wherein the distributor disk operates, is rotated at high speed to produce air flow supplementing energy imparted to the particulate material. When the unit is used in a blower mode such as in a leaf collection operation, high pressure air from an outside source can be introduced into the unit so the airstream discharge from the unit is optimized to that required for leaf blowing.