Collector and separator apparatus for lawn and garden

Abstract

An apparatus for collection and reduction of yard debris combining a frontally facing rotor-assisted vacuum pick up having through-put-enhancing features with a blower unit to induce airflow for entraining debris collected at the vacuum pick up; reduce the entrained debris to a more manageable volume; impel the reduced debris to a free-flow-separator device for removing the debris from the air in which it is entrained; and deposit the debris in an accumulator for subsequent dumping.

1 . An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising: 
 a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface;    b. a converging duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit;    c. a collector rotor assembly comprising: 
 i. a collector rotor body disposed at said entrance to said converging duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said principal direction, and  
 ii. a plurality of impellers mounted on said collector rotor body comprising a plurality of flexible polymeric spikes mounted on said collector rotor body and projecting generally radially therefrom,  
 said collector rotor assembly having an effective radius defined by rotation of the tips of said impellers about said horizontal axis, said collector rotor assembly being adapted to impel yard debris toward said entrance to said converging duct;  
   d. two bearings mounted on said frame, said collector rotor assembly rotatably mounted therebetween;    e. a pair of side plates, each mounted on said frame adjacent one of said bearings, the radial distance from its associated bearing to the periphery of the portion of each said side plate below and forward of its associated bearing not exceeding the effective radius of said collector rotor assembly by more than about 1 inch;    f. a pivotable hood mounted on said frame disposed above said collector rotor assembly, wherein said hood is pivotable between a lower and an upward position;    g. a second duct having an entrance and an exit, wherein said entrance of said second duct is in flow communication with said exit of said converging duct;    h. a blower unit adapted to induce flow of yard debris through said converging duct and said second duct;    i. a motor operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit;    j. a drive operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly; and    k. a wheel partially supporting said apparatus, forwardly mounted on said frame rearwardly of said collector rotor assembly, said frame and said collector rotor assembly being cantilevered forwardly thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a multiplicity of perforate mounting plates secured to said collector rotor body, said flexible polymeric spikes extending through said perforate mounting plates.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising access means for permitting access to the interior of said second duct, said access means adapted for permitting removal of debris clogged in said second duct.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising access means for permitting access to the interior of said converging duct, said access means adapted for permitting removal of debris clogged in said converging duct.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising: 
 a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface;    b. a converging duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit;    c. a collector rotor assembly comprising: 
 i. a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said converging duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said principal direction, and  
 ii. a plurality of impellers mounted on said collector rotor body,  
 said collector rotor assembly having an effective radius defined by rotation of the tips of said impellers about said horizontal axis, said collector rotor assembly being adapted to impel yard debris toward said entrance to said converging duct;  
   d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit, wherein said entrance of said second duct is in flow communication with said exit of said converging duct;    e. a blower unit adapted to induce flow of yard debris through said converging duct and said second duct;    f. a motor operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit;    g. a drive operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly; and    h. a wheel partially supporting said apparatus, forwardly mounted on said frame rearward of said collector rotor assembly, said frame and said collector rotor assembly being cantilevered forwardly thereof.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising two bearings mounted on said frame, said collector rotor assembly rotatably mounted therebetween, the location at which said wheel is mounted on said frame being located generally behind said bearings.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a pair of side plates, each mounted on said frame adjacent one of said bearings, said wheel being mounted on said frame between said side plates.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a pair of side plates, each mounted on said frame adjacent one of said bearings, said wheel being mounted in non-occluding relationship with said entrance to said converging duct and said collector rotor assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a pair of side plates, each mounted on said frame adjacent one of said bearings, the radial distance from its associated bearing to the periphery of the portion of each said side plate below and forward of its associated bearing not exceeding said effective radius of said collector rotor assembly by more than about 1 inch.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said wheel is adjustably mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from said surface.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a second wheel forwardly mounted on said frame rearwardly of said collector rotor assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising two bearings mounted on said frame, said collector rotor assembly rotatably mounted therebetween, the location at which each forwardly mounted wheel is mounted on said frame being located generally behind said bearings.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a pair of side plates, each mounted on said frame adjacent one of said bearings, each said forwardly mounted wheel being mounted on said frame proximate said side plates.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a pair of side plates, each mounted on said frame adjacent one of said bearings, said forwardly mounted wheels being in non-occluding relationship with said entrance to said converging duct and said collector rotor assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a pair of side plates, each mounted on said frame adjacent one of said bearings, the radial distance from its associated bearing to the periphery of the portion of each said side plate below and forward of its associated bearing not exceeding said effective radius of said collector rotor assembly by more than about 1 inch.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each said forwardly mounted wheel is adjustably mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from said surface.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a second forwardly mounted wheel mounted on said frame rearwardly of said collector rotor assembly, each said wheel being mounted on an axle, said axle being pivotable in a generally horizontal plane.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a pivotable hood mounted on said frame, said pivotable hood being disposed above said collector rotor assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said hood is pivotable between a lower position and an upward position.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein air-flow ingress to said entrance to said converging duct is provided above said collector rotor body when said hood is pivoted into said upward position.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising: 
 a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface;    b. a converging duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit;    c. a collector rotor assembly comprising: 
 i. a collector rotor body disposed at said entrance to said converging duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said principal direction,  
 ii. a plurality of impellers mounted on said collector rotor body,  
 said collector rotor assembly having an effective radius defined by rotation of the tips of said impellers about said horizontal axis, said collector rotor assembly being adapted to impel yard debris toward said entrance to said converging duct;  
   d. two bearings mounted on said frame, said collector rotor body rotatably mounted therebetween;    e. a pair of side plates, each mounted on said frame adjacent one of said bearings, the radial distance from its associated bearing to the periphery of the portion of each said side plate below and forward of its associated bearing not exceeding said effective radius of said collector rotor assembly by more than about 1 inch;    f. a second duct having an entrance and an exit, wherein said entrance of said second duct is in flow communication with said exit of said converging duct;    g. a blower unit adapted to induce flow of yard debris through said converging duct and said second duct;    h. a motor operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and    i. a drive operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly.    
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising: 
 a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface;    b. a converging duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit;    c. a collector rotor assembly comprising: 
 i. a collector rotor body disposed at said entrance to said converging duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said principal direction,  
 ii. a plurality of impellers mounted on said collector rotor body,  
 said collector rotor assembly having an effective radius defined by rotation of the tips of said impellers about said horizontal axis, said collector rotor assembly being adapted to impel yard debris toward said entrance to said converging duct;  
   d. a pivotable hood mounted on said frame disposed above said collector rotor assembly, wherein said hood is pivotable between a lower position and an upward position;    e. a second duct having an entrance and an exit, wherein said entrance of said second duct is in flow communication with said exit of said converging duct;    f. a blower unit adapted to induce flow of yard debris through said converging duct and said second duct;    g. a motor operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and    h. a drive operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein air-flow ingress to said entrance to said converging duct is provided above said collector rotor body when said hood is pivoted into said upward position.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a forwardly and downwardly projecting ramp mounted on said frame longitudinally adjacent and downwardly of said entrance to said converging duct.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said forwardly and downwardly projecting ramp is flexible.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said impellers comprise a plurality of flexible polymeric rake assemblies secured to said collector rotor body, each said flexible polymeric rake assembly having a plurality of flexible polymeric raking fingers extending therefrom, said flexible polymeric raking fingers extending generally radially from said collector rotor body.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said impellers comprise a plurality of flexible metallic rake assemblies secured to said collector rotor body, each said metallic rake assembly having a plurality of flexible metallic raking fingers extending therefrom, said flexible metallic raking fingers extending generally radially from said collector rotor body.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising: 
 a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface;    b. a converging duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit;    c. a collector rotor assembly having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said principal direction, said collector rotor assembly comprising: 
 i. a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said converging duct, and  
 ii. a plurality of impellers mounted on said collector rotor body comprising a plurality of flexible polymeric spikes mounted on said collector rotor body and projecting generally radially therefrom,  
 said collector rotor assembly being adapted to impel yard debris toward said entrance to said converging duct;  
   d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit, wherein said entrance of said second duct is in flow communication with said exit of said converging duct;    e. a blower unit adapted to induce flow of yard debris through said converging duct and said second duct;    f. a motor operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and    g. a drive operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further comprising a multiplicity of perforate mounting plates secured to said collector rotor body, said flexible polymeric spikes extending through said perforate mounting plates.  
   
   
       30 . A container adapted for receiving, transporting and dumping yard debris, comprising: 
 a. a frame;    b. a plurality of walls defining a cavity mounted on said frame including at least: an outwardly displaceable wall; and an opposing wall;    c. a duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit;    d. a blower unit operatively connected to said duct and adapted to induce a flow of air-entrained yard debris into said entrance to said duct and through said duct;    e. an air-solids separator disposed on said frame in flow-receiving communication with said exit of said duct and adapted for separating said air-entrained debris into a debris-enriched stream directable into said cavity and a debris-depleted stream discharged to the atmosphere; and    f. a flexible dislodgement liner adapted to be disposed in an accumulation configuration extending between said displaceable wall and said opposing wall, said flexible dislodgement liner in said accumulation configuration generally spanning the interior of said container;    an upper portion of said flexible dislodgement liner being releasably secured adjacent an upper portion of said opposing wall and adapted to be urged toward said outwardly displaceable wall.    
   
   
       31 . The container of  claim 30  wherein a portion of said flexible dislodgement liner is fastened to a lower portion of said frame adjacent said outwardly displaceable wall.  
   
   
       32 . The container of  claim 30  wherein said outwardly displaceable wall is removably attached to said frame, and said outwardly displaceable wall is adapted for removal from said frame for emptying said container.  
   
   
       33 . The container of  claim 30  wherein an upper portion of said flexible dislodgement liner is releasably secured adjacent an upper portion of said opposing wall in said accumulation configuration and wherein said container further comprises a passageway through a wall of said container, a retractor cord having a portion thereof secured outside said container, being threaded through said passageway, having another portion thereof secured to said flexible dislodgement liner; and wherein said flexible dislodgement liner is movable between (i) said accumulation configuration and (ii) a deployment configuration in which said upper portion of said flexible dislodgment liner is released and urged toward said outwardly displaceable wall; said retractor cord being adapted to urge said flexible dislodgement liner toward said opposing wall.  
   
   
       34 . The container of  claim 33  having a pulley disposed on said wall adjacent said passageway adapted to facilitate movement of said retractor cord through said passageway.  
   
   
       35 . The container of  claim 33  having a turning block disposed on said wall adjacent said passageway adapted to facilitate movement of said retractor cord through said passageway.  
   
   
       36 . The container of  claim 33  wherein said retractor cord is elastically extensible to a length exceeding its untensioned length by at least 25%.  
   
   
       37 . The container of  claim 33  wherein said retractor cord is attached to a spring.  
   
   
       38 . The container of  claim 33  wherein said retractor cord is attached to a weight.  
   
   
       39 . The container of  claim 30  further comprising a rib secured to said flexible dislodgement liner urgeable into a position adjacent the junction of said opposing wall with said frame, and adapted to urge said flexible dislodgement liner to return to said accumulation configuration generally spanning the interior of said container upon release of said flexible dislodgement liner.  
   
   
       40 . The container of  claim 30  further comprising a pair of spaced lateral walls spanning between said outwardly displaceable wall and said opposing wall.  
   
   
       41 . The container of  claim 40  wherein said flexible dislodgement liner generally spans between said spaced lateral walls and extends between said displaceable wall and said opposing wall, an upper portion of said flexible dislodgement liner being (i) releasably secured adjacent an upper portion of said opposing wall, and (ii) adapted to be urged toward said outwardly displaceable wall.  
   
   
       42 . The container of  claim 40  wherein said flexible dislodgement liner generally spans between said spaced lateral walls and extends between said displaceable wall and said opposing wall, said flexible dislodgement liner further having portions thereof extending upwardly along each of said spaced lateral walls and being releasably secured adjacent upper portions of said spaced lateral walls, said upper portions of said flexible dislodgement liner being adapted to be urged toward said outwardly displaceable wall.  
   
   
       43 . The container of  claim 30  wherein said air-solids separator comprises a free-flow apparatus for separating said yard debris from said entraining air flow by action of body forces thereupon.  
   
   
       44 . A container adapted for receiving, transporting and dumping yard debris, comprising: 
 a. a frame;    b. a plurality of walls defining a upwardly opening cavity mounted on said frame including at least an outwardly displaceable wall and an opposing wall; and    c. an upwardly opening flexible plicating dislodgement liner adapted to be disposed in a receiving configuration generally spanning the interior of said cavity and extending at least between said displaceable wall and said opposing wall, a peripheral portion thereof being releasably secured adjacent an upper portion of said opposing wall and adapted to be urged toward said outwardly displaceable wall.    
   
   
       45 . The container of  claim 44  wherein said peripheral portion is adapted for manual grasping and urging toward said outwardly displaceable wall.  
   
   
       46 . The container of  claim 44  wherein said outwardly displaceable wall is hingedly connected to said frame, and a portion of said flexible plicating dislodgement liner is fastened to said outwardly displaceable wall.  
   
   
       47 . The container of  claim 44  wherein a portion of said flexible plicating dislodgement liner is fastened to an upper portion of said outwardly displaceable wall.  
   
   
       48 . The container of  claim 44  wherein the lower end of said outwardly displaceable wall is pivotably attached to said frame, and said outwardly displaceable wall is adapted to be pivoted outwardly and downwardly.  
   
   
       49 . The container of  claim 44  further comprising a pair of spaced lateral walls spanning between said outwardly displaceable wall and said opposing wall.  
   
   
       50 . The container of  claim 49  wherein 
 a. said flexible plicating dislodgement liner generally spans between said spaced lateral walls and extends between said displaceable wall and said opposing wall; and wherein    b. portions of said flexible plicating dislodgement liner extend upwardly along each of said spaced lateral walls and are releasably secured adjacent upper portions of said spaced lateral walls.    
   
   
       51 . The container of  claim 50  wherein said flexible plicating dislodgement liner is plicated adjacent the junctions of said spaced lateral walls with said frame when said flexible plicating dislodgement liner is in said receiving configuration.  
   
   
       52 . The container of  claim 44  wherein the interior of said flexible plicating dislodgement liner is a web structure having sufficient burst strength to support the weight of a volume of organic yard debris corresponding to the volume of said container.  
   
   
       53 . The container of  claim 44  further comprising ramps securable to the outside of one of said walls of said container and adapted for having a wheel-supported debris accumulator rolled up said ramp, and facilitating dumping the contents of said accumulator into said container.