Method and apparatus for removing debris from a surface

Abstract

An apparatus for removing debris from a surface employs an air jet to lift the debris from the surface and then vacuums the lifted debris into a container.

1 . An apparatus for removing debris from a surface, the apparatus comprising: 
 a chassis having a first compartment having an inlet port,    first means for directing a jet of air at the debris to lift the debris from the surface, and for moving the debris lifted from the surface into the first compartment via the inlet port.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first means directs the air jet in a direction substantially parallel to the surface.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first means removes air from the first compartment, thereby creating a flow of air into the first compartment via the inlet port for carrying the debris lifted from the surface into the first compartment via the inlet port.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  further comprising: 
 a container, wherein the first means removes the air from the first compartment by blowing the air out of the first compartment and into the container thereby creating a flow of air through the first compartment via the inlet port for carrying the debris lifted from the surface into the first compartment via the inlet port and through the first compartment into the container.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 4   wherein the chassis comprises a second compartment having an outlet port: and    wherein the first means comprises: 
 a first impeller mounted in the first compartment for blowing the air out of the first compartment, and  
 a second impeller mounted in the second compartment for creating the air jet by blowing air out of the outlet port.  
   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the first means comprises second means connected to the first and second impellers for rotating the first and second impellers.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the second means comprises means for coupling a power takeoff drive shaft to the first and second impellers such that the first and second impellers rotate when the power takeoff drive shaft rotates.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the second means comprises: 
 a motor having a rotating shaft, and    means for coupling the rotating shaft to the first and second impellers so that the first and second impellers rotate when the motor rotates its shaft.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 3   wherein the chassis further comprises a second compartment having an outlet port, and    wherein the first means moves air from the first compartment into the second compartment, and creates the air jet by moving air out of the second compartment via the outlet port.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the first means filters the air it moves from the first compartment into the second compartment so that debris remains in the first compartment.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the first means comprises: 
 an impeller rotatably mounted in one of said first and second compartments for moving air from the first compartment into the second compartment, and    a filter for filtering air moved from the first compartment into the second compartment.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the first means further comprises means for coupling the impeller to a power takeoff drive shaft and for rotating the impeller when the power takeoff drive shaft rotates.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the first means further comprises: 
 a motor having a shaft, and    means for coupling the impeller to the shaft so that the impeller rotates when the motor rotates its shaft.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a flexible hose, and    means for selectively blocking the flow of air into the first compartment via the inlet port and for coupling the flexible hose to the chassis such that air conveys debris through the flexible hose and into the chassis.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first means comprises: 
 a cleaning head,    a first flexible hose coupling the cleaning head to the chassis,    a second flexible hose coupling the cleaning head to the inlet port, and    means for creating a first air flow from the chassis, through the first flexible hose and the cleaning head such that the cleaning head produces the air jet, and for creating a second air flow into the cleaning head, through the second flexible hose and the inlet port, for moving the debris lifted from the surface into the first compartment.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the cleaning head directs the air jet substantially parallel to the surface.  
   
   
       17 . A method for removing debris from a surface comprising the steps of: 
 a. directing a jet of air at the debris to lift the debris from the surface, and    b. vacuuming the debris lifted from the surface into a first compartment via an inlet port of the first compartment.    
   
   
       18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein step b comprises removing air from the first compartment, thereby creating a flow of air into the input port for conveying the debris lifted from the surface into the first compartment.  
   
   
       19 . The method in accordance with  claim 18  further comprising the step of: 
 c. directing the air removed from the first compartment into a container such that the air conveys debris from the first compartment into the container.    
   
   
       20 . The method in accordance with  claim 18  further comprising the steps of: 
 c. directing the air removed from the first compartment into a second compartment through a filter, which filters debris from the air so that it remains in the first compartment.    
   
   
       21 . The method in accordance with  claim 20   wherein the second compartment includes an outlet aperture, and    wherein the air directed into the second compartment pass out of the outlet aperture to form the air jet.    
   
   
       22 . The method in accordance with  claim 18  further comprising the steps of: 
 c. coupling a flexible hose to the first compartment so that air can enter the first compartment via the flexible hose, and    d. blocking the inlet port to prevent air from entering the first compartment via the inlet port.