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.