Vehicular apparatus for removing de-icing liquid

A vehicular apparatus adapted for removing fluids including snow and/or ice and de-icing liquids from a surface as said apparatus traverses said surface, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first container for depositing a first portion of said fluids removed from a zone of said surface;
• (b) means for collecting and means for transferring the first portion of said fluids from said zone to said first container;
• (c) a second container having a first end and a second end, the first end positioned substantially opposite said second end and at least one vacuum fan in communication with the first end of said second container, said vacuum fan operable to maintain said second container under less than atmospheric pressure;
• (d) a head device connected by a conduit to said second container, the head device being open to said surface and having a forward wall located above said surface to permit entry of residual fluids into said head device, the head device comprising:
• (i) means for impinging water at a high pressure on said surface to loosen residual fluids;
• (ii) side walls connected to a rear wall having a concave curved shape, the side walls and rear wall connected forward of said concave curved shape, said rear wall provided with a wiper blade for contacting said surface for maintaining residual fluids and water in a region defined by said head device for removal to said second container;
• (iii) a top wall connected to said side walls and said rear wall, the top wall having a concave-shaped opening therein generally parallel to said rear wall;
• and
• (iv) said conduit having a lower portion connected to said concave-shaped opening, the lower portion of said conduit defined by a concave-shaped forward wall and a concave-shaped rear wall, said forward wall and said rear wall of said conduit having edges connected to form said conduit, said rear wall and said forward wall of said conduit tapered inwardly from said concave-shaped opening to form a conduit having a generally concave shape in cross section at said opening to a substantially circular cross section at an upper portion;
• and
• (e) an air sweep generated by said vacuum fan, said air sweep in fluid communication with said second container for drawing said loosened residual fluids and water in said head device through said conduit into said second container.