Detachable hopper and vacuum apparatus

Claim 2

A detachable hopper adapted for selective connection to a first vehicle and a second vehicle and receiving trash and the like, said detachable hopper comprising a hopper bed; wheel means rotatably mounted on said hopper bed; collection bin means for receiving trash provided on said hopper bed; hitch receptacle means for connecting the first vehicle and the hopper provided on one end of said hopper bed; and a tongue frame retractably disposed in one end of said hopper bed for retraction in said hopper bed when said detachable hopper is connected to the first vehicle and extension from said hopper bed and connection to the second vehicle.

Claim 3

The detachable hopper of claim 1 wherein the first vehicle further comprises a vacuum apparatus and coupling means carried by said vacuum apparatus for engaging said hitch receptacle means carried by said hopper bed and removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus.

Claim 4

The detachable hopper of claim 1 further comprising wheel trolley means pivotally carried by said hopper bed to allow pivoting of said wheel trolley means with respect to said hopper means and wherein said wheel means further comprises a pair of wheel carried by each of said wheel trolley means in spaced relationship.

Claim 5

The detachable hopper of claim 1 wherein the first vehicle further comprises a vacuum apparatus and coupling means carried by said vacuum apparatus for engaging said hitch receptacle means carried by said hopper bed and removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus and further comprising wheel trolley means pivotally carried by said hopper bed to allow pivoting of said wheeled trolley means with respect to said hopper bed and wherein said wheel means further comprises a pair of wheels carried by each of said wheel trolley means in spaced relationship.

Claim 6

The detachable hopper of claim 1 further comprising an opening provided in said collection bin means for receiving the trash.

Claim 7

The detachable hopper of claim 5 wherein the first vehicle further comprises a vacuum apparatus having a discharge conduit adapted for extending into said opening, blower means communicating with said discharge conduit for delivering trash to said discharge conduit and coupling means carried by said vacuum apparatus for engaging said hitch receptacle means carried by said hopper bed and removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus and further comprising wheel trolley means pivotally carried by said hopper bed to allow pivoting of said wheel trolley means with respect to said hopper bed and wherein said wheel means further comprise a pair of wheel carried by each of said wheel trolley means.

Claim 8

The detachable hopper of claim 1 further comprising hinge means connected to said hopper bed and said collection bin means to allow tilting of said collection bin means with respect to said hopper bed and fluid cylinder means connecting said hopper bed and said collection bin means for causing said tilting of said collection bin means with respect to said hopper bed on said hinge means.

Claim 9

The detachable hopper of claim 7 wherein the first vehicle further comprises a vacuum apparatus and coupling means carried by said vacuum apparatus for engaging said hitch receptacle means carried by said hopper bed and removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus.

Claim 10

The detachable hopper of claim 7 further comprising wheel trolley means pivotally carried by said hopper bed to allow pivoting of said wheel trolley means with respect to said hopper bed and wherein said wheel means further comprise a pair of wheels carried by each of said wheel trolley means in spaced relationship.

Claim 11

The detachable hopper of claim 7 wherein the first vehicle further comprises a vacuum apparatus having coupling means carried by said vacuum apparatus for engaging said hitch receptacle means carried by said hopper bed and removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus and further comprising wheel trolley means pivotally carried by said hopper bed to allow pivoting of said wheel trolley means with respect to said hppper bed and wherein said wheel means further comprises a pair of wheels carried by each of said wheel trolley means in spaced relationship.

Claim 12

The detachable hopper of claim 7 further comprising an opening provided in said collection bin means for receiving the trash.

Claim 13

The detachable hopper of claim 11 wherein the first vehicle further comprises a vacuum apparatus having a discharge conduit adapted for extending into said opening, blower means communicating with said discharge conduit for delivering trash to said discharge conduit and coupling means carried by said vacuum apparatus for engaging said hitch receptacle means carried by said hopper bed and removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus and further comprising wheel trolley means pivotally carried by said hopper bed to allow pivoting of said wheel trolley means with respect to said hopper bed and wherein said wheel means further comprise a pair of wheel carried by each of said wheel trolley means in spaced relationship.

Claim 14

A vacuum apparatus adapted for towing a first vehicle, removing trash from terrain traversed by said vacuum apparatus and selective attachment to a detachable hopper having hitch receptacle means for connecting the detachable hopper and the vacuum apparatus, said vacuum apparatus comprising a frame; hitch means carried by said frame for removably connecting said vacuum apparatus to the first vehicle; coupling means carried by said frame for engaging said hitch receptacle means and removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus; primary wheel means carried by said frame for supporting said vacuum apparatus on the terrain; conduit means having an intake end attached to said frame for receiving the trash and a discharge end for expelling the trash; bellows means terminating the intake end of said conduit means adjacent to the terrain for transferring the trash to said intake end; blower means communicating with said intake end of said conduit means for delivering trash from the terrain through said bellows means to said conduit means; and secondary wheel means carried by said bellows means for traversing the terrain, whereby compression and expansion of said bellows means caused said bellows means to remain substantially uniformly spaced from the terrain responsive to traversal of the terrain by said primary wheel means and said secondary wheel means for vacuuming the trash from the terrain responsive to operation of said blower means, as said vacuum apparatus is towed by the vehicle.

Claim 15

A vacuum apparatus adapted for towing a first vehicle, removing trash from terrain traversed by said vacuum apparatus and selective attachment to a detachable hopper having hitch receptacle means for connecting the detachable hopper and the vacuum apparatus, said vacuum apparatus comprising a frame; hitch means carried by said frame for removably connecting said vacuum apparatus to the first vehicle; coupling means carried by said frame for engaging said hitch receptacle means and removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus; primary wheel means carried by said frame for supporting said vacuum apparatus on the terrain; conduit means having an intake end attached to said frame for receiving the trash and a discharge end for expelling the trash; bellows means terminating the intake end of said conduit means adjacent to the terrain for transferring the trash to said intake end; blower means communicating with said intake end of said conduit means for delivering trash from the terrain through said bellows means to said conduit means; and secondary wheel means carried by said bellows means for traversing the terrain, whereby compression and expansion of said bellows means caused said bellows means to remain substantially uniformly spaced from the terrain responsive to traversal of the terrain by said primary wheel means and said secondary wheel means for vacuuming the trash from the terrain responsive to operation of said blower means, as said vacuum apparatus is towed by the vehicle.

Claim 16

The vacuum apparatus of claim 13 wherein said coupling means further comprises bayonet coupling adapted for removably engaging said hitch receptacle means and removably connecting said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus.

Claim 17

The vacuum apparatus of claim 13 wherein said conduit means further comprises a chute assembly communicating with said blower means, said chute assembly defining said intake end and said discharge end and a discharge conduit extending from said discharge end of said conduit assembly and wherein said bellows means is attached to said intake end of said conduit assembly.

Claim 18

The vacuum apparatus of claim 13 wherein said conduit means further comprises a conduit assembly communicating with said blower means, said conduit assembly defining said intake end and said discharge end and a discharge conduit extending from said discharge end of said conduit assembly for discharging the trash into said detachable hopper and wherein said bellows means is attached to said intake end of said conduit assembly and said coupling means further comprises spaced bayonet couplings adapted for removably engaging said hitch receptacle means and removably connecting said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus.

Claim 19

A detachable hopper and vacuum apparatus adapted for connection to a towing vehicle and vacuuming and containing trash and the like, comprising a vacuum apparatus characterized by a frame; hitch means carried by said frame for removably connecting said vacuum apparatus to the towing vehicle; coupling means carried by said frame for removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus; primary wheel means carried by said frame for supporting said vacuum apparatus on the terrain; conduit means having an intake end attached to said frame for receiving the trash and a discharge end for expelling the trash; bellows means terminating the intake end of said conduit means adjacent to the terrain for transferring the trash to said intake end; a blower communicating with said intake end of said conduit means for delivering trash to said conduit means and secondary wheel means carried by said bellows means for traversing the terrain, whereby compression and expansion of said bellows means caused said bellows means to remain substantially uniformly spaced from the terrain responsive to traversal of the terrain by said primary wheel means and said secondary wheel means for vacuuming the trash from the terrain responsive to operation of said blower as said vacuum apparatus is towed by the vehicle; and a detachable hopper characterized by a hopper bed; wheel means rotatably mounted on said hopper bed; a collection bin provided on said hopper bed for receiving the trash; an opening provided in said collection bin for accommodating said discharge end of said conduit means and receiving the vacuumed trash; hitch receptacle means provided on one end of said hopper bed for selective connection to said coupling means; and a tongue frame slidably carried by one end of said hopper bed for selective retraction in said hopper bed when said detachable hopper is connected to said vacuum apparatus and extension from said hopper bed and connection to said towing vehicle.

Claim 20

A detachable hopper and vacuum apparatus adapted for connection to a towing vehicle and vacuuming and containing trash and the like, comprising a vacuum apparatus characterized by a frame; hitch means carried by said frame for removably connecting said vacuum apparatus to the towing vehicle; coupling means carried by said frame for removably coupling said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus; primary wheel means carried by said frame for supporting said vacuum apparatus on the terrain; conduit means having an intake end attached to said frame for receiving the trash and a discharge end for expelling the trash; bellows means terminating the intake end of said conduit means adjacent to the terrain for transferring the trash to said intake end; a blower communicating with said intake end of said conduit means for delivering trash to said conduit means and secondary wheel means carried by said bellows means for traversing the terrain, whereby compression and expansion of said bellows means caused said bellows means to remain substantially uniformly spaced from the terrain responsive to traversal of the terrain by said primary wheel means and said secondary wheel means for vacuuming the trash from the terrain responsive to operation of said blower as said vacuum apparatus is towed by the vehicle; and a detachable hopper characterized by a hopper bed; wheel means rotatably mounted on said hopper bed; a collection bin provided on said hopper bed for receiving the trash; an opening provided in said collection bin for accommodating said discharge end of said conduit means and receiving the vacuumed trash; hitch receptacle means provided on one end of said hopper bed for selective connection to said coupling means; and a tongue frame slidably carried by one end of said hopper bed for selective retraction in said hopper bed when said detachable hopper is connected to said vacuum apparatus and extension from said hopper bed and connection to said towing vehicle.

Claim 21

The detachable hopper and vacuum apparatus of claim 17 wherein said conduit means further comprises a conduit assembly communicating with said blower means, said conduit assembly defining said intake end and said discharge end and a discharge conduit extending from said discharge end of said conduit assembly and wherein said bellows means is attached to said intake end of said conduit assembly.

Claim 22

The detachable hopper and vacuum apparatus of claim 17 wherein said coupling means further comprises bayonet couplings adapted for removably engaging said hitch receptacle means and removably connecting said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus.

Claim 23

The detachable hopper and vacuum apparatus of claim 17 wherein said conduit means further comprises a conduit assembly communicating with said blower means, said conduit assembly defining said intake end and said discharge end and a discharge conduit extending from said discharge end of said conduit assembly for discharging the trash into said detachable hopper and wherein said bellows means is attached to said intake end of said conduit assembly and said coupling means further comprises spaced bayonet couplings adapted for removably engaging said hitch receptacle means and removably connecting said detachable hopper to said vacuum apparatus.