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Debris collectorRelated Patent Categories: Brushing, Scrubbing, And General Cleaning, Machines, With Air Blast Or Suction, Power Propelled Vehicle Or CarrierDebris collector description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060059652, Debris collector. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for collecting and transporting debris and, more particularly, to a self-contained vehicle with off-road maneuverability for collecting and transporting debris in landfills. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] It is well known in the art to provide street sweepers and the like, which move debris from the road into a central collection point, where the debris is moved into a container or hopper. Typically, if such devices use a vacuum hose or the like to move debris, the vacuum is located rearward of the driver, as is the collection container. One drawback associated with such street sweepers is that they are not designed for off-road use, and would either run the risk of becoming stuck or missing debris if they were used in an off-road situation, such as a landfill. An additional drawback associated with such devices is the inability of such devices to collect material which is elevated off the ground, such as material attached to a fence or the like. [0005] It is also known in the art to provide litter vacuum machines. Such machines typically are vehicles provided with a forward driver's seat, and a rearwardly located collection container and vacuum fan. The fan is typically coupled to a hose which extends over or around the driver and the driver utilizes some type of control to direct the vacuum hose to the desired location to collect the litter. One drawback associated with such devices is the small capacity of the collection container. Since such devices typically utilize a filter between the fan and the collection container, the suction capacity of the fan is decreased and continues to decrease as more debris is pulled into the container and begins to block off fluid communication between the container and the fan. An additional drawback associated with such devices is the bulk nature with which these devices collect debris. As such devices are not provided with any capacity to shear or otherwise reduce the volume of the collected debris, the capacity of the container is only a fraction of what a similar container would be able to contain of shredded or otherwise compacted debris. [0006] An additional drawback associated with such devices is that they are typically slow moving and not capable of rugged off-road use. Additionally, such devices are typically not adapted to pull debris from a fence or other location, except from a location directly downward from the vacuum hose. An additional drawback with such devices is the small diameter of vacuum hose. A small diameter vacuum hose is typically required to increase the suction of the small fan to a usable level. A larger diameter utilized with the same fan would produce lower efficiency in collecting debris. [0007] It is also known in the art to provide large vehicles with wide vacuum heads to collect debris from a wide swath on a street or other level surface. Although such devices typically have a very large capacity, the wide head cannot articulate to cover uneven terrain. It is also known in the art to provide a skid-mounted vacuum system which can be placed on a trailer or in the back of a pickup truck. While such devices may be more adaptable to uneven terrain, especially in situations where they are utilized in association with a four-wheel drive vehicle, such devices typically require an operator in addition to the driver to operate the vacuum unit. [0008] It is also known in the art to provide a leaf vacuum, designed to vacuum large amount of leaves collected by homeowners or municipal crews at curbside locations. While these machines are large and are provided with a high capacity vacuum hose and large container, they are not adaptable for off-road use, do not typically provide desired compaction or shredding of the debris. Leaf vacuums often require the vehicle to be stationary during the vacuuming process, or if they are adaptable for use while in transit, typically require multiple operators to drive and operate the vacuum. [0009] An additional drawback associated with all of the foregoing devices is the typical low clearance of such devices. As such devices are designed to be utilized on roadways, the large grasses and weeds in landfill environments utilized to prevent erosion often prohibit the use of the foregoing prior art devices in a landfill situation. Additionally, most prior art devices lack an effective lateral vacuum system for pulling material off a fencerow, while maintaining off-road capabilities and tight maneuverability required for fencerow debris collection. [0010] It would be, therefore, desirable to provide a low cost, lightweight debris collector which was easily maneuverable in off-road situations and capable of being operated by a single operator to remove debris from a fence, while providing powerful suction, high capacity and ease of container evacuation. The difficulties encountered in the prior art described hereinabove are substantially eliminated by the present invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] In an advantage provided by this invention, a debris collector is provided which is low cost and easy to manufacture. [0012] Advantageously, this invention provides a debris collector which is lightweight and easily maneuverable. [0013] Advantageously, this invention provides a debris collector which is adaptable to off-road use. [0014] Advantageously, this invention provides a debris collector which may be quickly attached and detached from a vehicle. [0015] Advantageously, this invention provides a debris collector which is capable of in-transit operation by a single operator. [0016] Advantageously, this invention provides a debris collector adapted for removing debris from fences. [0017] Advantageously, this invention provides a debris collector with a high capacity, powerful suction system. [0018] Advantageously, this invention provides a debris collector with easy container evacuation. [0019] Advantageously, in the preferred example of the present invention, a material collection and transport vehicle is provided with a driver's seat between a vacuum and a container. Means are also provided for moving the vehicle and transferring material from the vacuum to the container. In the preferred embodiment, the vacuum is an impeller located forward of the driver and adapted for pivotal movement relative to the vehicle to allow the vacuum to sweep across the front of the vehicle to collect debris. The vacuum is also adapted for pivotal movement to allow the vacuum to remove debris from fencerows and the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevation of the debris collector of the present invention shown with the snout fully extended; Continue reading about Debris collector... Full patent description for Debris collector Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Debris collector patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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