GB2167633A

GB2167633A - Litter collecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2167633A
Application number: GB08529253A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael George Prigg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-03
Filing date: 1985-11-27
Publication date: 1986-06-04
Also published as: GB8529253D0

Abstract

Apparatus for collecting litter, e.g. horse droppings, comprises a suction unit (4) adapted to be driven from a tractor power take-off shaft. The suction unit preferably comprises an impeller and gearing arranged to drive the impeller in rotation at a speed substantially greater than that of the tractor power take-off shaft. Preferably the suction unit is mounted on a box trailer (1) arranged to be towed behind a tractor, the trailer having a receptacle (19) for storing litter. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Litter collecting apparatus The invention relates to apparatus for collecting litter, particularly discrete materials such as grass cuttings, leaves and other rubbish and trash from the aground. From one particular aspect the invention relates to apparatus for collecting horse droppings from grassed areas such as paddocks.

It has long been known to provide a so-called vacuum cleaner to collect discrete rubbish and even liquids both domestically and industrially and such devices take many different forms. It is for example known to provide a trailer mounted suction device which is powered by an internal combustion engine mounted on the trailer. The trailer is arranged to be towed by a tractor and the tractor driver is provided with a flexible hose connected to the suction device and which he can control to collect horse droppings or the like which are then transferred to the trailer for eventual disposal.

Among the problems associated with such a device are that it is costly and noisy since the power source is a small internal combustion engine operating near to its maximum output. Another problem is that when turning corners with the tractor the flexible hose moves relatively to the driver which affects his control over the hose.

It is among the objects of the invention to mitigate these disadvantages in a paddock vacuum cleaner.

According to the invention apparatus for collecting litter comprises a suction unit adapted to be driven from a tractor power take-off shaft. In this way the need for a separate prime mover is removed as is the additional noise of such a prime mover. The suction unit may be mounted on the three-point linkage of a tractor or may be trailer mounted. Preferably the suction unit comprises a vacuum inducing device in the form of an impeller mounted for rotation in a housing to create a partial vacuum and preferably gearing is provided between an input shaft on the suction unit arranged for connection to the tractor power take-off shaft so that the impeller is driven at a speed substantially above that of a conventional tractor power take-off shaft. Thus for example in one embodiment the impeller is driven at around 3000 revolutions per minute.

Where the apparatus is tractor mounted the flexible hose connected to the suction device and through which the material is sucked from the ground remains stationary relative to the driver when manoeuvering the tractor. The material may be transferred by the impeller into a collector box on a trailer attached to the tractor for eventual disposal.

Where the apparatus is trailer mounted, the trailer preferably also carries ducting connected to the suction unit and terminated by an inlet carried above the ground. Preferably the height of the inlet above the ground is adjustable.

If desired the drive train to the impeller may include a one-way drive device, for example a free-wheeling or ratchet device to reduce the risk of accidental damage to the device and similarly the power train may be provided with a slipping clutch to prevent accidental damage in the event that the impeller is jammed by a hard object such as a stone.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front perspective view of one embodimentofa paddockvacuum cleaner; Figure 2 is a second front perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the appar atus of Figure 1 but with parts removed for clarity.

In the drawings there is shown litter collecting apparatus comprising a box trailer 1 having a box 19 and arranged to be towed by a tractor (not shown) through a known coupling 2 on the chassis 3 of the trailer. The interior of the trailer box forms a receptacle for storing collected litter for eventual disposal.

The litter is collected by a suction unit 4 comprising a bevel gear-box 5 having an input shaft 6 adapted for connection to a tractor power take-off shaft (not shown), the gear-box 5 turning the drive through right angles and geared such that its output shaft revolves substantially faster than the input shaft, e.g. around two and one half or three times the speed of the input shaft. The output shaft carries a pulley wheel 7 for a V-belt 8 which drives a relatively small pulley wheel 9 on an impeller shaft 10 which in turn carries an impeller 12 (see Figure 3) mounted in a housing 11. The housing is formed with an inlet 13 to which is attached a flexible hose 14 terminated by a "fish-tail" suction inlet 15 adjustably suspended above the ground on chains 17 supported by a frame 16 on the trailer chassis.The impeller housing 11 has an outlet which is connected by trunking 18 to the trailer box 19 so that the material collected by the device can be stored temporarily. The box 19 is formed near its top with a grill 20 through which air is exhausted from the interior of the box.

In a modified device (not shown in the drawings) the bevel gear-box is replaced by a gear-box in which the input and output shafts are aligned and in which the impeller housing is turned through 90 degrees with respect to that shown so that the V-belt pulley of the impeller shaft is aligned with a V-belt pulley on the output shaft of the gearbox.

In another embodiment (not shown in the drawings) the suction unit may be mounted on a tractor three-point-linkage in which case the suction hose can, if desired, be directly under the control of the tractor driver.

The invention provides a simple and effective mechanism for cleaning paddocks which satisfies a long felt want in the market. However the invention has other applications as an industrial vacuum cleaner in the collection of refuse, e.g. in parks, streets, pedestrian precincts, caravan sites and the like. If desired the suction inlet can be fitted centrally, instead of being side-mounted as shown in the drawings and may, if desired, be supported above the ground on wheels. Furthermore in certain applications it may be advantageous to fit rotary brushes, which are preferably electrically drive, on either side of the suction inlet, to direct the litter towards the inlet.

Claims

1. Apparatus for collecting litter comprising a suction unit adapted to be driven from a tractor power take-off shaft.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction unit comprises an impeller and means arranged to drive the impeller in rotation at a speed substantially greaterthan that of the tractor power take-off shaft.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the suction unit is mounted on a trailer arranged to be towed behind a tractor, the trailer having a receptacle for storing litter.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a duct connecting the inlet of the suction device to a suction inlet supported above the ground.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the suction inlet is adjustably suspended above the ground by means on the trailer.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, comprising an exhaust air grill in an upper part of the storage receptacle.

7. Apparatus for collecting litter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.