Collector and separator apparatus for lawn and garden
First Claim
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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 first duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit;
c. a collector rotor assembly comprising;
a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said first duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said first direction; and
a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;
i. engage and sweep over said surface,ii. collect yard debris thereupon, andiii. impel said yard debris toward said duct entrance,
said impeller elements extending radially from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch;
said collector rotor assembly and said first duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches;
d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit;
e. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said first duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to;
i. provide suction at said entrance of said first duct,ii. induce a flow of air through said first and second ducts, andiii. reduce yard debris entrained in said flow of air as it passes through said blower unit;
f. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said reduced yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream;
g. means for discharging said debris-depleted stream to the atmosphere;
h. an accumulation operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator;
i. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and
j. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for collection and reduction of yard debris combining a frontally facing rotor-assisted vacuum pick up with a chipper-shredder-blower unit to induce airflow for entraining debris collected at the vacuum pick up; reduce the entrained debris to a more manageable volume; and impel the reduced debris to a free-flow-separator device for removing the debris from the air in which it is entrained.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising:
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a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface; b. a first duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit; c. a collector rotor assembly comprising;
a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said first duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said first direction; and
a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;i. engage and sweep over said surface, ii. collect yard debris thereupon, and iii. impel said yard debris toward said duct entrance,
said impeller elements extending radially from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch;
said collector rotor assembly and said first duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches;d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit; e. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said first duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to; i. provide suction at said entrance of said first duct, ii. induce a flow of air through said first and second ducts, and iii. reduce yard debris entrained in said flow of air as it passes through said blower unit; f. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said reduced yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream; g. means for discharging said debris-depleted stream to the atmosphere; h. an accumulation operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator; i. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and j. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising:
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a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface; b. a first duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit; c. a collector rotor assembly comprising;
a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said first duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said first direction; and
a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;i. sweep over said surface, ii. collect yard debris thereupon, and iii. impel said yard debris toward said duct entrance,
said impeller elements extending radially from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch;
said collector rotor assembly further comprising fillets extending between adjacent impeller elements for limiting carriage of yard debris around said collector rotor assembly;
said collector rotor assembly and said first duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches;d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit; e. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said first duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to; i. provide suction at said entrance of said first duct, ii. induce a flow of air through said first and second ducts, and iii. reduce said yard debris entrained in said flow of air as it passes through said blower unit; f. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said reduced yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream; g. an accumulator operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator; h. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said shredder unit; and i. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising:
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a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface; b. a first duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit; c. a collector rotor assembly comprising;
a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said first duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said first direction; and
a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;i. sweep over said surface, ii. collect yard debris thereupon, and iii. impel said yard debris toward said duct entrance,
said impeller elements extending radially from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch;
said collector rotor assembly and said first duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches;d. a lawnmower mounted on said frame wherein the collector rotor assembly is disposed along the advancing front of said lawnmower and the entrance of the first duct is operatively connected to said lawnmower to receive said yard debris; e. a second duct having an entrance and an exit; f. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said first duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to; i. provide suction at said entrance of said first duct, ii. induce a flow of air through said first and second ducts, and iii. reduce yard debris entrained in said flow of air as it passes through said blower unit; g. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said reduced yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream; h. an accumulator operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator; i. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and k. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising:
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a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface; b. a first duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit; c. a collector rotor assembly comprising;
a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said first duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said first direction; and
a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;i. sweep over said surface, ii. collect yard debris thereupon, and iii. impel said yard debris toward said duct entrance,
said impeller elements extending radially from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch;
wherein said collector rotor assembly comprises a substantially gas-impervious impediment extending substantially athwart said entrance to said first duct to direct flow of air along said surface into said first duct; and
said collector rotor assembly and said first duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches;d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit; e. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said first duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to; i. provide suction at said entrance of said first duct, ii. induce a flow of air through said first and second ducts, and iii. reduce yard debris entrained in said flow of air as it passes through said blower unit; f. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said reduced yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream; g. an accumulator operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator; h. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and i. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising:
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a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface; b. a first duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit; c. a collector rotor assembly comprising;
a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said first duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said first direction; and
a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;i. sweep over said surface, ii. collect yard debris thereupon, and iii. impel said yard debris toward said duct entrance,
said impeller elements extending radially from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch;
said collector rotor assembly and said first duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches;d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit; e. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said first duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to; i. provide suction at said entrance of said first duct, ii. induce a flow of air through said first and second ducts, and iii. reduce yard debris entrained in said flow of air as it passes through said blower unit; f. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said reduced yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream; g. an accumulator operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator; h. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and i. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor; wherein said collector rotor assembly is adapted to rotate with an impeller tip velocity of at least about three miles per hour.
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33. An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising:
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a. a frame adapted for movement in a principal direction upon a surface; b. a first duct mounted on said frame having an entrance and an exit; c. a collector rotor assembly comprising;
a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said first duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said first direction; and
a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;i. sweep over said surface, ii. collect yard debris thereupon, and iii. impel said yard debris toward said duct entrance,
said impeller elements extending radially from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch;
said collector rotor assembly and said first duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches;d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit; e. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said first duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to; i. provide suction at said entrance of said first duct, ii. induce a flow of air through said first and second ducts, and iii. reduce yard debris entrained in said flow of air as it passes through said blower unit; f. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said reduced yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream; g. an accumulator operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator; said air-solids separator and said accumulator having a baffle disposed between said air-solids separator and said accumulator for; i. generally inhibiting secondary flow from said accumulator, and ii. impeding re-entrainment of fine particulates in said debris-depleted stream as it is discharged to the atmosphere; h. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and i. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor.
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34. An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising:
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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;
a collector rotor body disposed at the entrance to said converging duct having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation generally normal to said first direction; and
a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;i. engage and sweep over said surface, ii. collect yard debris thereupon, and iii. impel said yard debris toward said converging duct entrance, said impeller elements extending radially from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch; said collector rotor assembly and said converging duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches; d. a second duct having an entrance and an exit; e. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said converging duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to; i. provide suction at said entrance of said converging duct, and ii. induce a flow of air through said converging and second ducts; f. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream; g. means for discharging said debris-depleted stream to the atmosphere; h. an accumulator operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator; i. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and j. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for collecting and reducing yard debris comprising:
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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 second duct having an entrance and an exit; d. a blower unit, disposed between said exit to said converging duct and said entrance to said second duct, adapted to; i. provide suction at said entrance of said converging duct, and ii. induce a flow of air through said converging and second ducts, said converging duct having a convergence angle of less than about 120°
;e. a collector rotor assembly comprising;
a collector rotor body disposed at said entrance to said converging duct having a plurality of impeller elements mounted upon said collector rotor body, said impeller elements being adapted to;i. engage and sweep over said surface, ii. collect yard debris thereupon, and iii. impel said yard debris toward said entrance to said converging duct, said impeller elements extending from said collector rotor body by at least about one quarter of an inch; said collector rotor assembly and said converging duct being configured for substantially untrammeled frontal engagement with yard debris having a depth of at least about two (2) inches; f. an air-solids separator disposed at said exit to said second duct for separating said yard debris in said flow of air induced by said blower into a debris-enriched stream and a debris-depleted stream; g. means for discharging said debris-depleted stream to the atmosphere; h. an accumulator operatively connected to said air-solids separator and adapted to receive said debris-enriched stream from said air-solids separator; i. means operatively connected to said blower unit and adapted to provide power to said blower unit; and j. means operatively connected to said collector rotor assembly and adapted to provide power to said collector rotor assembly.
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Specification