Material collection system

Abstract

A material collection system is provided. The system can include a vacuum generator having a fan to develop an airflow and draw material into a conduit. The system can also include a transmission, a power source to selectively power at least one of the vacuum generator and the transmission, a variable power divider to divide a power output from the power source to the transmission and the vacuum generator, and a control system to control the variable power divider in a first mode and a second mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A material collection system, comprising:
 a container forming a first width;   a conduit comprising a material inlet and having a second width, the conduit being movable from a stowed position to an operating position;   a vacuum generator comprising a fan to develop an airflow and draw material into the material inlet;   a transmission to control a drive of the material collection system;   a power source to power the vacuum generator and the transmission; and   a chassis having a chassis width, the chassis width comprising the first width and the second width.   
     
     
         2 . The material collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis width is less than approximately 102 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The material collection system of  claim 1 , wherein a vertical centerline of the container is offset from a vertical centerline of the chassis. 
     
     
         4 . The material collection system of  claim 3 , wherein the vertical centerline of the container is offset from the vertical centerline of the chassis towards a street side of the material collection system. 
     
     
         5 . The material collection system of  claim 3 , wherein the vertical centerline of the container is offset from the vertical centerline of the chassis by approximately 2 inches to approximately 8 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The material collection system of  claim 3 , wherein the vertical centerline of the container is offset from the vertical centerline of the chassis by approximately 5 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The material collection system of  claim 3 , wherein the conduit does not extend beyond the chassis in the stowed position. 
     
     
         8 . The material collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the first width is approximately 80 inches to approximately 90 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The material collection system of  claim 1 , wherein the second width is approximately 30 inches to approximately 40 inches. 
     
     
         10 . A material collection system, comprising:
 a chassis;   a container disposed on the chassis;   a conduit comprising a material inlet, the conduit movable from a stowed position to an operating position; and   a vacuum generator comprising a fan to develop an airflow and draw material into the material inlet,   wherein a vertical centerline of the container is laterally offset from a vertical centerline of the chassis.   
     
     
         11 . The material collection system of  claim 10 , wherein the vertical centerline of the container is laterally offset from the centerline of the chassis towards a street side of the material collection system, and the conduit is stowed on a curb side of the material collection system opposite the street side. 
     
     
         12 . The material collection system of  claim 11 , wherein the conduit does not extend beyond the curb side of the material collection system when in the stowed position. 
     
     
         13 . The material collection system of  claim 10 , wherein the vertical centerline of the container is laterally offset from the vertical centerline of the chassis by approximately 2 inches to approximately 8 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The material collection system of  claim 10 , wherein the vertical centerline of the container is laterally offset from the vertical centerline of the chassis by approximately 5 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The material collection system of  claim 10 , wherein the container has a first width, the conduit has a second width, and the chassis has an overall width comprising the first width and the second width. 
     
     
         16 . The material collection system of  claim 15 , wherein the first width is approximately 80 inches to approximately 90 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The material collection system of  claim 16 , wherein the second width is approximately 30 inches to approximately 40 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The material collection system of  claim 15 , wherein the overall width is less than approximately 102 inches.