Battery powered vacuum trash collector

#The vacuum trash collector of the present invention provides a quiet, efficient, and pollution free battery powered unit capable of operating at two different speeds for extended periods of time without recharging. In accordance with the invention a cylindrical collecting bin is pivoted to a U-shaped frame secured on a mobile cart or vehicle. The bin is provided with a lid which acts as a plenum chamber and has a vacuum blower disposed thereon including an impeller driven by a permanent magnet direct current motor. The permanent magnet direct current motor has a generally linear or straight line speed torque relationship such that the motor will run without exceeding a predetermined speed limit under no load conditions. A perforated bowl-shaped inlet baffle is secured to the blower shaft and is disposed within the lid. A flexible hose extends upwardly and outwardly from the lid having an inner end communicating with the plenum chamber and an outer end terminating in a generally downwardly disposed opening or nozzle. The hose is supported by a flexible spring, the inner end of which is pivotally mounted for transverse rocking movement on the lid support. A counter balance spring for the lid permits it to be lifted along with the blower. The nozzle is controlled by a handle through a telescoping connection connected to a midportion of the hose support and provides a means accessible to an operator for maneuvering the outer end of the hose.

#The outer end or nozzle is disposed substantially in a flat plane and is arranged to permit the closing or blocking of the outer end or nozzle against a surface, such as the ground, thereby substantially diminishing the volume of air drawn into the plenum chamber through the hose when the motor is energized. By so blocking the outer end of the hose the load on the motor is substantially reduced, approaching a near no load condition. This causes the motor to approach the near no load speed limit with a corresponding increase in vacuum within the plenum chamber and bin, without the danger of overspeeding or burning out the motor. By placing the open end or nozzle over a piece of trash and so blocking the open end against the surface of the ground, an operator can cause the motor to temporarily approach the near no load speed limit thereby building up a substantial vacuum within the bin and plenum chamber. At the instant the nozzle is lifted from the surface of the ground a tremendous suction is generated characterized by the rapid inrush of air carrying with it the trash or debris. Unlike gasoline powered vacuum devices which employ governors to prevent overspeeding and hence run substantially at one continuous speed, the battery powered vacuum device of the present invention is capable of being repeatedly placed in the near no load condition by blocking the nozzle as described above, each time generating an instantaneous suction or inrush which is considerably greater than the suction developed by the device during steadystate operation. This capability affords a considerable savings in energy and prolonged battery life.

#The electric circuit of the present invention which is coupled to the motor and provides driving current or energy thereto comprises first and second nodes which are connected to a first source of electrical energy such as a storage battery or bank of storage batteries. Third and fourth nodes are also provided for coupling to a second source of electrical energy such as a second storage battery or bank of storage batteries. The electrical potential or voltage of both of these electrical energy sources are nominally equal to one another. A manually operable switch is provided for selectively coupling the energy sources in either series or parallel to one another by selectively coupling, in the alternative, the second node to the third node, or the first node to the third node and the second node to the fourth node. By so doing, the motor may be energized at twice the electrical potential or voltage of either one of the energy sources alone (series connection) or at the electrical potential or voltage equal to either of the sources (parallel connection). This provides an efficient two-speed operation which takes full advantage of the stored electrical energy, at either operating speed, for operating a long time before recharging. To prolong the battery life even further, a manually operable switch is provided in the handle for momentarily energizing the motor only when suction is required. Through the use of this manually operable switch, and by judiciously selecting the slower, more energy efficient speed (parallel connection) unless the higher speed (series connection) is absolutely necessary, battery life can be dramatically prolonged. Moreover, by utilizing the unit's ability to generate increased suction by momentarily blocking the nozzle the instantaneous suction developed (even at the slower speed) is usually more than adequate for collecting broken glass, beverage can tabs, cigarette butts, can, cups (whole or flat), and generally most other loose materials capable of fitting through the unit's flexible hose.

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention shown with portions of the cart on which it is mounted;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical power circuit of the invention;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical control circuit of the present invention;

#The vacuum trash collector is generally indicated at 11 and is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle such as a cart generally indicated at 12 which is partially shown in FIG. 1. The cart may be any one of various types for movement along roadways, in industrial plants or buildings, or along other terrains to collect debris such as leaves, industrial refuse, roadside trash, or the like. The vehicle has wheels 13, and an operator's seat 14 and a vertical post shown partially at 15 behind the seat 14 on which unit 11 is supported. Forward movement of vehicle 12 is to the right in FIG. 1.

#Unit 11 comprises a vertical socket 16 mountable on post 15 and a U-shaped member 17 secured to and extending downwardly and rearwardly from socket 16. Socket 16 and U-shaped member 17 together comprise a frame. A circular clamp 18 is pivoted at 19 to the arms of member 17 and supports a bin 21. This bin is of cylindrical or barrel shape having a closed bottom 22 and an open top. As shown, the bin is lined with a plastic bag 23 having a rigid liner 24 therewithin. This bag and a liner construction is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,933 entitled "Vacuum Trash Collector", issued June 26, 1973. For the purposes of this invention, however, bin 21 could be used without a bag 23 or liner 24.

#Bin 21 is tiltable on pivot 19 between various positions to facilitate the placement of liner 24 and bag 23 therein and to facilitate emptying. In FIG. 1 bin 21 is shown in its trash collection position. A holder 26 is shown on the bin for storing and dispensing additional bags.