Collection apparatus

Abstract

 An apparatus for collecting material from a surface, the apparatus comprising a duct (9) through which material is transported, the duct (9) including an upstream end (10), a downstream region and a collection mouth at the upstream end of the duct through which material is drawn; a source of pressurised primary air including an impeller (4) for drawing ambient air into the apparatus and a motor (1) for driving the impeller (4); and an inlet opening (8) into the duct (9) for delivering the pressurised primary air into the duct (9) generally towards the downstream region of the duct (9) to draw ambient air into the duct through the collection mouth to form a secondary stream of air for entraining material from the surface and transporting the entrained material through the duct for collection (12). The apparatus includes an air intake (2) disposed adjacent the motor (1) for taking air into the apparatus from around the motor (1) for cooling the motor (1), the so-taken air drawn into the apparatus by the source to form the pressurised primary air.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for collecting material from a surface, and in particular apparatus comprising a duct through which material is transported.

[0002] A collection apparatus is known which includes a duct through which material is transported, the duct including an upstream end, a downstream region and a collection mouth at the upstream end of the duct through which material is drawn; a source of pressurised primary air including an impeller for drawing ambient air into the apparatus and a motor for driving the impeller; an inlet opening into the duct for delivering the pressurised primary air into the duct generally towards the downstream region of the duct to draw ambient air into the duct through the collection mouth to form a secondary stream of air for entraining material from the surface and transporting the entrained material through the duct for collection.

[0003] In such a known collection apparatus, the motor will become hot during use. In the known apparatus, an air flow is generated separate from that used for collecting leaves which draws ambient cooling air over the motor and discharges the warm cooling air towards the operator. The air used for cooling the motor can reach temperatures which are dangerous to the operator and are damaging to structural plastics. It is therefore necessary to manage this air stream to ensure that the operator and product are not adversely effected, whilst ensuing that the motor is satisfactorily cooled. Additionally, as the motor has effectively 'worked' upon the cooling air, it is beneficial to utilize the energy used within the function of the product. It is prudent to avoid the discharge of any air stream into the operator region.

[0004] Apparatus for collecting material from a surface according to the present invention comprises: a duct through which material is transported, the duct including an upstream end, a downstream region and a collection mouth at the upstream end of the duct through which material is drawn; a source of pressurised primary air including an impeller for drawing ambient air into the apparatus and a motor for driving the impeller; an inlet opening into the duct for delivering the pressurised primary air into the duct generally towards the downstream region of the duct to draw ambient air into the duct through the collection mouth to form a secondary stream of air for entraining material from the surface and transporting the entrained material through the duct for collection characterised in that the apparatus includes an air intake disposed adjacent the motor for taking air into the apparatus from around the motor for cooling the motor, the so-taken air drawn into the apparatus by the source to form the pressurised primary air. Such an apparatus uses the air drawn into the source to cool the motor. The motor is therefore able to direct a greater proportion of the work done to creating the primary air rather than cooling the motor. Furthermore, more air may be directed over the motor for cooling than was possible in the known apparatus.

[0005] Preferably, the apparatus also includes a first outlet for directing at least a part of the pressurised primary air onto an area of the surface generally confronting the collection mouth for dislodging the material to assist in entrainment of the material by the secondary stream of air.

[0006] Advantageously, the apparatus includes a second outlet for directing at least a part of the pressurised primary air onto the surface remote from the collection mouth for blowing the material along the surface.

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention are described below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a part sectional side view of part of the collection apparatus; and

Figure 2 is a part sectional side view showing the whole collection apparatus.

[0008] Collection apparatus according to this invention are particularly useful for collecting loose leaves, paper drinks cans and similar debris from the ground.

[0009] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus includes a motor 1 which drives an impeller 4 for drawing ambient air into the apparatus. The motor 1 and impeller 4 constitute a source of pressurised primary air. The apparatus includes an intake duct 3 having an air intake opening 2 at one end thereof, the intake duct 3 leading into an impeller inlet chamber 5. The air intake opening 2 is disposed in the region of the motor 1 so that while the impeller 4 is driven by the motor, ambient air is drawn into the intake duct 3 via the air intake opening 2 from around the motor 1, thereby establishing a flow of cooling air over the motor 1. This flow of cooling air reduces the likelihood that the motor will overheat and therefore reduces the likelihood of motor failure or deterioration of the apparatus.

[0010] In use, the impeller 4 discharges pressurised primary air into a duct 7. Referring now to Figure 2, the apparatus includes a collection duct 9 having a collection mouth 10 at an upstream end thereof, and a downstream end which opens into a collection receptacle 12. An inlet 8 opens into the duct 9 near the downstream end of the collection duct 9. In use, the apparatus is held by a handle 6 disposed at the rear of the apparatus, and by a top handle (not shown) disposed forward of the motor, with the collection mouth 10 disposed above a debris-littered region of the ground. The motor 1 is switched on so that the impeller 4 draws ambient air into the intake duct 3 from around the motor 1 and blows the air into the duct 7 under pressure to form pressurised air. The air is blown under pressure through the inlet 8 into the collection duct 9. The position of the inlet 8 and the inclusion of a curved attachment surface 13 cause the pressurised air to be directed downstream through the collection duct 9 away from the collection mouth 10. This flow of primary air causes ambient air to be drawn into the collection duct 9 via the collection mouth 10. This flow of ambient air forms a secondary stream of air which is used to entrain and lift debris from the ground confronting the collection mouth 10 into the collection duct 9 where the primary and secondary streams of air carry the debris into the receptacle 12. Warm air is discharged through the loose weave bag fabric of the receptacle 12.

[0011] A first outlet (not shown) is included adjacent the collection mouth 10 for directing a part of the pressurised air from the duct 7 onto the area of the ground confronting the collection mouth. This part of the pressurised air is used for dislodging debris, such as damp leaves laying flat on a path, from the ground so that it is more easily entrained.

[0012] A second outlet 11 is included for directing at least a part of the pressurised air from the duct 7 onto the ground at a position remote from the collection mouth. This permits an operator to blow debris such as leaves into a pile before collection. Normally air is permitted to pass through one or other of the inlet opening 8 or the second outlet, but not through both.

[0013] The pressurised air which is directed outwards from the first or second outlets is warm, since it has been passed over the motor. Thus, the pressurised air can be used to melt light frost or snow from a surface.

[0014] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a collection apparatus in which the motor is an internal combustion engine. According to another embodiment of the present invention (not shown) the motor 1 is an electric motor.

[0015] In another embodiment (not shown), warm air is directed through the rear handle 6 of the collection apparatus to warm the handle 6. This feature is of particular advantage in cold autumn months when leaves need to be collected. The rear handle 6 therefore forms a duct through which the warm air is directed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for collecting material from a surface, the apparatus comprising:

a duct through which material is transported, the duct including an upstream end, a downstream region and a collection mouth at the upstream end of the duct through which material is drawn;

a source of pressurised primary air including an impeller for drawing ambient air into the apparatus and a motor for driving the impeller;

an inlet opening into the duct for delivering the pressurised primary air into the duct generally towards the downstream region of the duct to draw ambient air into the duct through the collection mouth to form a secondary stream of air for entraining material from the surface and transporting the entrained material through the duct for collection

   characterised in that the apparatus includes an air intake disposed adjacent the motor for taking air into the apparatus from around the motor for cooling the motor, the so-taken air drawn into the apparatus by the source to form the pressurised primary air.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a first outlet for directing at least a part of the pressurised primary air onto an area of the surface generally confronting the collection mouth for dislodging the material to assist in entrainment of the material by the secondary stream of air.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 including a second outlet for directing at least a part of the pressurised primary air onto the surface remote from the collection mouth for blowing the material along the surface.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including a passage through which the said air is drawn into the apparatus by the source from around the motor, and a handle having an airway therethrough which constitutes part of the passage whereby, in use, hot air from around the motor warms the handle.

Drawing