Debris pickup and collection apparatus

Claim 2

A mobile apparatus for picking up, shredding and loading debris into a receptacle, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a lower opening adjacent to the ground and an upper opening; a duct extending upwardly in said housing and defining an air passage between said upper and lower openings; pickup means disposed in said loWer opening operative for engaging debris on the ground and transferring the same into the duct through said lower opening: first means in the duct rotatable about a vertical axis for both producing an air stream from said lower opening to said upper opening and for moving said debris axially therethrough; second means in said duct disposed in axial alignment and adjacent to and in coacting shearing relation with said first means and providing a shearing surface transversely of said axis and operative therewith for shredding air-entrained debris passing through said duct; and said receptacle disposed in conductive communication with said upper opening for receiving the shredded debris passing out from said housing through said upper opening.

Claim 3

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first means are disposed in spaced relation to said lower opening to define a lower chamber therebetween, said first means producing a low air pressure region therein; and said pickup means comprising a rotatably driven brush disposed in said lower opening being operative to engage and transmit scattered debris into said lower chamber through that same opening.

Claim 4

The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes remote pickup means, said remote pickup means selectively connectable in conductive communication with the lower chamber of said duct and extensible to places relatively remote from the housing of said apparatus, said remote means conductive of a vacuuming air stream into said lower chamber created by the low air pressure region therein.

Claim 5

The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said remote means comprises a tube, and said housing defining an upper chamber between said upper opening and said combined means, and means for reversely driving said combined means to effect a vacuum in said upper chamber for drawing debris into said upper chamber and transferring the same to the lower chamber and through the tube to a selected area of disposal upon blocking said lower opening.

Claim 6

The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein said second means in coactive relation with said first means comprise a partition transversely disposed across said duct, said partition having an apertured portion defining at least one aperture through said partition; and said first means comprising at least one impeller fan blade disposed in close relation to the apertured portion such that upon rotation of said fan blade air entrained debris passing through said aperture is subject to a shearing action at said surface by coaction between said partition and said blade.

Claim 7

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises at least one rotatably driven impeller fan blade disposed in said duct superposed in spaced relation to said lower opening; said second means including a partition extending across said duct, said partition including an apertured portion having a plurality of apertures, said partition disposed in close spaced relation to said blade to enable the apertured portion and the blade to coact to shear at said shearing surface air entrained debris passing through said apertures to provide a shredding action thereat.

Claim 8

A mobile apparatus for picking up, shredding and loading debris into a receptacle carried thereon, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a lower opening adjacent to the ground and an upper opening: a duct extending upwardly in said housing and defining an air passage between said upper and lower openings; pick up means disposed in said lower opening operative for engaging debris on the ground and transferring the same into the duct through said lower opening; means disposed in the duct for producing an air stream from said lower to said upper opening; reducing means in said duct disposed adjacent to and in coacting relation with said air stream producing means and operating therewith for shredding air-entrained debris passing through said duct; said receptacle disposed in conductive coMmunication with said upper opening for receiving the shredded debris passing out fron said housing through said upper opening; said reducing means comprising a partition extending across said duct, said partition including an apertured portion having a plurality of apertures; said air stream producing means comprising at least two impeller fan blades disposed respectively on opposite sides of said apertured portion in close spaced relation thereto to enable each blade and the partition coactively to shear air-entrained debris passing through said apertures to provide a comminuting action thereat.

Claim 9

A mobile apparatus for picking up, shredding and loading debris into a receptacle carried thereon, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a lower opening adjacent to the ground and an upper opening: a duct extending upwardly in said housing and defining an air passage between said upper and lower openings; pick up means disposed in said lower opening operative for engaging debris on the ground and transferring the same into the duct through said lower opening; means disposed in the duct for producing an air stream from said lower to said upper opening; reducing means in said duct disposed adjacent to and in coacting relation with said air stream producing means and operating therewith for shredding air-entrained debris passing through said duct; said receptacle disposed in conductive coMmunication with said upper opening for receiving the shredded debris passing out fron said housing through said upper opening; said reducing means comprising a partition extending across said duct, said partition including an apertured portion having a plurality of apertures; said air stream producing means comprising at least two impeller fan blades disposed respectively on opposite sides of said apertured portion in close spaced relation thereto to enable each blade and the partition coactively to shear air-entrained debris passing through said apertures to provide a comminuting action thereat.

Claim 10

The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said pickup means comprise a cylindrically shaped brush disposed and rotatably driven in said lower opening, said brush comprising radially extending bristles operative to engage and transport debris from the ground upwardly into said duct to be entrained in the air stream thereat; and said apertured portion of said partition and said impeller blades being disposed in superposed spaced relation to said brush to define a lower chamber in said duct therebetween, this vertical spacing preventing heavy objects from being readily introduced into said impeller blade, and said air stream producing means operative to produce a low air pressure region in said lower chamber of said duct.

Claim 11

The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said apparatus includes remote debris pickup means comprising a flexible conduit selectively connectable in conductive communication with said lower chamber of said duct said conduit having a free end extendible to places relatively remote from the housing of said apparatus wherein the low air pressure region induces an air suction action at said free end of said conduit such that debris relatively remote from said apparatus may be gathered by the suction action and conveyed to the duct via said conduit.

Claim 12

The invention as recited in claim 9 wherein said apparatus includes a prime mover having an output shaft driveable of said impeller blade and said brush through a drive train means; said drive train means comprising a jackshaft disposed in angular relation to both the output shaft of said prime mover and to said brush such that the need for an angle gear box in said drive train means is obviated.

Claim 13

The invention as recited in claim 10 wherein said housing is carried over the ground by ground engaging wheels disposed in fore and aft relation on said housing, at least one of said wheels being aft and swivelable to provide steering for the apparatus; said prime mover disposed rearwardly on the apparatus above said aft wheel; said lower opening and brush being disposed forwardly adjacent said fore wheels; said upper opening disposed in an upper forward portion of said housing; a receptacle support disposed adjacent said upper opening and extending upwardly and forwardly relative to said housing; said support operative to transfer the weight of debris collected in said receptacle being supported thereon to said housing wherein such weight being applied to the front wheels and counter acting the weight of the prime mover on the aft swivelable wheel.