VEHICLE FOR REMOVING DEBRIS FROM ROADWAY

Abstract

A utility vehicle to remove matter from a surface includes an articulated collector attached to a front section of the utility vehicle. The articulated collector is movable, and is configured to remove the matter from the surface. A matter container is coupled to the utility vehicle and the matter container includes a slanted floor that slopes down bilaterally from a center line extending lengthwise along an interior of the matter container to a drainage area. The articulated collector is connected to the matter container, and the matter container is configured to receive and hold the matter. An articulated depositor is coupled to the matter container and is configured to deposit the matter to a disposal site.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle to remove a matter from a surface, comprising: an articulated collector attached to a front section of the utility vehicle, wherein the articulated collector is movable, and wherein the articulated collector is configured to remove the matter from the surface; a matter container coupled to the utility vehicle, wherein the matter container includes a slanted floor that slopes down bilaterally from a center line extending lengthwise along an interior of the matter container to a drainage area; the articulated collector is connected to the matter container, and wherein the matter container is configured to receive and hold the matter; and an articulated depositor coupled to the matter container, wherein the articulated depositor is configured to deposit the matter to a disposal site.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the drainage area comprises a drainage trench covered by a grate.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the matter container includes one or more sensors configured to detect a person inside the matter container.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the utility vehicle includes a security system that locks down the matter container when a dangerous condition is detected inside the matter container.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the security system activates lights on the outside of the matter container when a person is detected inside the matter container.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the matter container is a tank or a trailer.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the matter includes a road debris.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the articulated collector includes a receiving aperture.

9. The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein matter is removed from the surface by suctioning the matter through the receiving aperture.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the articulated collector is automatically movable by a matter detection mechanism to position the receiving aperture on top of the matter for removal of the matter from the surface.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the articulated collector includes a filter.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the matter container includes a door to provide access to the matter held within the container.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the articulated collector includes an internal camera.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the internal camera is configured to provide a video of the matter as the matter is collected from the surface and is routed through the articulated collector.

15. A utility truck to remove road debris from a road, comprising: an articulated collector attached to a front section of the utility truck, wherein the articulated collector is movable, and wherein the articulated collector is configured to remove the road debris from the road; a trailer coupled to the utility truck and the articulated collector, wherein the trailer is configured to receive and hold the road debris, wherein the trailer includes a slanted floor that slopes down bilaterally from a center line extending lengthwise along an interior of the trailer to a drainage area; and an articulated depositor coupled to the trailer, wherein the articulated depositor is configured to deposit the road debris to a disposal site.

16. A method of removing road debris from a road, comprising: positioning an articulated collector attached to a trailer of a utility truck over the road debris on the road, wherein the articulated collector is attached to a front section of the utility truck; starting a suction mechanism to remove the road debris from the road; routing the road debris to the trailer; and depositing the road debris into the trailer, wherein the trailer includes a slanted floor that slopes down bilaterally from a center line extending lengthwise along an interior of the trailer to a drainage area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a front facing view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a rear facing view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a front facing view of a utility vehicle 1. An example of the utility vehicle 1 may include a truck. In an example scenario, the utility vehicle 1 may be augmented with an attachable apparatus such as an articulated collector 2. The articulated collector 2 may be placed in front of the utility vehicle 1, above front wheels of the utility vehicle 1, and/or under a front door of the utility vehicle 1 in front of a matter container 6, among other positions. The articulated collector 2 may be configured to remove a matter 3 from a surface 8. An example of the matter 3 may include a snow pile, a road debris, a water stream (from rain, and/or flood, among others), and/or waste, among others. The articulated connector 2 may include a heating component to melt snow and/or ice on the surface 8.

[0027] The articulated collector 2 may be attachable to a front section of the utility vehicle 1. For example, the articulated collector 2 may be mounted to a chassis and/or a chassis support structure associated with the front section of the utility vehicle 1. The articulated collector 2 may also be moveable in a lateral direction 4. The mobility in the lateral direction 4 may allow positioning of an aperture of the articulated collector 2 over the matter 3 on the surface 8. A suction based mechanism may be used to move the matter 3 through the aperture of the articulated collector 2. As such, the matter 3 may be removed from the surface 8.

[0028] The articulated collector 2 may be installed on a central axis in relation to the utility vehicle 1. The articulated collector 2 may include three components that may be installed and/or replaced based on work scenario associated with a removal of the matter 3. An example of the three components may include a filter and/or a grill, among others.

[0029] Furthermore, the articulated collector 2 may be moved in a linear direction 5 to elongate or retract the articulated collector 2. The linear direction 5 based movement may be used by an operator to position the articulated collector 2 over the matter 3. The operator may manually move the articulated collector 2 in the lateral direction 4 and/or the linear direction 5 to manually position the aperture of the articulated collector 2 over the matter 3 while the utility vehicle 1 is in motion or at rest. Alternatively, an automated mechanism may automatically move the articulated collector 2 in the lateral direction 4 and/or the linear direction 5 to automatically position the aperture of the articulated collector 2 over the matter 3 while the utility vehicle 1 is in motion or at rest. The automated mechanism may include components such as camera(s), laser(s), and/or radar(s) to recognize the matter 3 on the surface 8 and move the aperture of the articulated collector 2 over the matter 3. The aperture may be automatically positioned to remove the matter 3 from the surface 8 while the utility vehicle 1 is in motion or at rest.

[0030] The articulated collector 2 may route the matter 3 to a matter container 6. The matter container 6 may include a tank or a trailer, among others latched (or attached) to a rear section of the utility vehicle 1. The matter container 6 may also be configured to receive the matter 3 from the articulated collector 2. The articulated collector 2 may be connected to the matter container 6 with a pipe routed underneath or through a chassis of the utility vehicle 1. The pipe may connect to a pumping mechanism 9 positioned in a front section of the matter container 6. The pumping mechanism 9 may include components such as a pump, a flow motor, and/or a refrigeration unit to provide the suction mechanism to route the matter 3 to the matter container 6 and to provide refrigeration in relation to a storage of the matter 3. The pumping mechanism may deposit the matter into the matter container 6 through an aperture 10.

[0031] In another example scenario, one or more heating components may be integrated with the articulated component 2, the utility vehicle and/or the matter container 6. The one or more heaters may be turned on and used to maintain the picked up and/or stored matter 3 in a liquid state. The matter container 6 may be configured to store non-hazardous material. As such, the articulated collector 2 may include a filter and/or a grill, among others. The filter and/or grill may prevent collection of the matter 3 such as solid item(s). The solid item(s) in excess of a predetermined size may fail to pass through the filter and/or the grill.

[0032] The matter container 6 may also include an articulated depositor 7. The articulated depositor 7 may be configured to remove the matter 3 from the matter container 6. The articulated depositor 7 may deposit the matter 3 to a disposal site (such as a waste management site and/or container, roadway, among others). The articulated depositor 7 may be moveable to the

left, right, up and/or down. The articulated depositor 7 may deposit or spray the material 3 to the deposit site.

[0033] A number of control components (boxes) may be installed in various locations on the utility vehicle 1 to manage the articulated collector 2 and the articulated depositor 7. A first control component may be installed inside a cabin of the utility vehicle 1 to manage the articulated collector 2 and/or the articulated depositor 7. A second control component may be installed in an external service of the cabin to allow for control and management of the articulated collector 2 and/or the articulated depositor 7. A third control component may be a portable management component to control and manage the articulated collector 2 and/or the articulated depositor 7.

[0034] The utility vehicle 1 may also include

a generator to power components associated with routing the matter 3 from the surface 8 to the matter container 6. Furthermore, the utility vehicle 1 may also include a turbine to route the matter 3 from the surface 8 to the matter container 6.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a rear facing view of the utility vehicle 1. The matter container 6 may receive the matter 3 (removed from the surface 8 by the articulated collector 2. The pumping mechanism 9 may route the matter 3 through the aperture 10 to deposit the matter 3 into the matter container 6.

[0036] The matter container 6 may have a slanted floor that slopes down on either side of a center line extending the length of the container interior. A drainage area covered by a grate or mesh, or metal bars may be disposed at the bottom of each sloped side of the floor. The drainage area may extend the length of the container interior, on opposite sides of the center line, and is meant to collect larger pieces of debris such as garbage picked up by the articulated collector 2, while allowing fluids or smaller debris to flow or fall into a drainage area such as a drainage trench. The grate may be one or more removable grates such as square or rectangular grates that can be inserted in series over a drainage area that extends the length of the container interior. In one exemplary embodiment, the grates fit into a track in the floor for holding the grates snugly in place. The removable grates may be light weight for ease of removal, such as plastic, aluminum, wood, or fiberglass, or may be a heavier metal grate to prevent the grates from popping out of the track during transport. The grates may also include an anchoring means such as retention pegs that fit into corresponding slots in the track to help keep the grates in place.

[0037] The slanted floors of the container 6 allow larger pieces of debris such as garbage to slide or roll down the floor onto the grate(s) where it collects for later removal. Separating the larger debris or garbage in this manner helps prevent the articulated depositor 7 from getting clogged. More specifically, the garbage/debris that collects over the grates can be removed prior to activating the depositor and evacuating the matter 3.

[0038] As discussed above, the articulated depositor 7 aids in removal of the matter 3 from the matter container 6. The articulated depositor 7 may include an internal component 14 that is situated at a bottom section of the matter container 6. A positioning of the internal component 14 may allow a pumping mechanism to remove an entirety of a content of the matter container 6 (through the articulated depositor 7). The internal component 14 may also be movable 19 to position an inlet of the internal component 14 in different locations within the matter container 6. For example, the inlet of the internal component may be positioned over or inside the drainage area to remove matter 3 from that area. Access to the drainage area may be achieved by removing one or more of the grates. The internal component 14 may also include extensions attachable to the inlet (such as a filter) to control and manage a flow of the matter 3 out of the matter container 6.

[0039] The articulated depositor 7 may also include a first joint 12 and a second joint 13. The first and second joints (12 and 13) may be rotatable. Rotation

of the first and second joints (12 and 13) may allow an operator to position an output component 11 over a disposal site and/or a disposal container. Furthermore, the operator may be able to extend and retract the articulated
depositor 7 to position the output component 11 over the disposal site and/or disposal container. Upon positioning the output component 11, the operator
may enable the pumping mechanism to remove the content of the matter container 6. A content gauge may provide a visual indicator of a fullness level of the matter container 6. Furthermore, a window on the matter container 6 may allow the operator to view the content of the matter container 6.

[0040] The matter container 6 may be equipped with one or more doors and/or windows that provide ventilation, ingress into the matter container 6, and provide access

to the contents therein. For example, a worker can access the container interior to remove garbage picked up by the collector 2. However, in the event that conditions inside the matter container 6 are too dangerous, such as if the temperature is outside a predetermined safe range or toxic materials are present inside the container, the door(s) and windows will not open from the outside. In other words, when a dangerous condition is detected inside the matter container, the matter container is locked down to prevent anyone from entering. To this end, the sensors for detecting a dangerous conditions inside the matter container may be one or more temperature sensors, gas detectors such as a toxic gas detector made by Honeywell, radiation detectors, infrared sensors, smoke detectors, toxic chemical sensors such as those made by Owlstone, and others.

[0041] The matter container 6 may also include sensors as part of a security system, such as container door and/or window mounted sensors. Some sensor may be motion detector, ultrasonic proximity sensors, and/or infrared sensors configured to detect a person inside the matter container 6. If the sensors detect a person inside the matter container 6 the door(s) and or window(s) will automatically open. In the event that the door(s) and/or window(s) are somehow closed while someone is inside the matter container, the door(s) and/or window(s) can always be pushed open from the inside even if the door(s) and/or window(s) are locked to people on the outside. In addition, the security system may be configured to activate safety lights on the outside of the matter container when the sensors detect someone inside the matter container.

[0042] A removal action associated with the contents of the matter container 6 may also be automated. An automated scheme may position the output component 11 over the disposal site and/or the disposal container in response to a trigger event. The trigger event may include a detection of the matter container 6 in an adjacent position in relation to the disposal site and/or container. Subsequently, the content of the matter

container 6 may automatically be deposited to the matter site and/or container.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows an alternative example of the articulated collector 2. In an example scenario, the articulated collector 2 may be attached to a pipe 15. Alternatively, the pipe 15 may be attached directly to the matter container (without the articulated collector 2). The pipe 15

may include a joint 17 (and other joints) to aid in positioning an inlet of the pipe to the matter 3. The joint 17 may be rotated and the pipe 15 may be retracted
or extended to position the inlet of the pipe over the matter 3. The matter 3 may be removed from a surface or other environment through a suction mechanism. The matter 3 may be routed through the pipe 15 to the matter container.

[0044] The pipe 15 may also include a camera 18. The camera 18 may provide an image and/or a video stream facing a front direction from the inlet of the pipe 15 to aid in viewing the matter As such, an operator of the pipe may start and stop the suction mechanism to allow or reject a collection of the matter 3.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows another

alternative example of the articulated collector 2. In an example scenario, the articulated collector may be attached to a pipe 15 using a connector 20. The connector 20 may be bendable to position the articulated collector 2 over a surface 8. The articulated collector 2 may also include a filter 21 that may screen material(s) from the matter 3 as the matter 3 is collected from the surface 8. An example of the matter 3 to be picked up from the surface 8 by the articulated collector 2 may include liquid material that is non-hazardous such as rain water, among others.

[0046] A method of removing a non-hazardous road debris from a road is also described. The method includes, positioning an articulated collector, attached to a trailer of a utility truck, over the road debris on the road. The articulated collector is attached to a front section of the utility truck. A suction mechanism is started to remove the road debris from the road. The road debris is routed to the trailer. Furthermore, the road debris is deposited into the trailer.

[0047] In addition to the foregoing, other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better comprehended through a careful reading

of a detailed description provided herein below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Although this invention has been described with a certain

degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes
in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.