Downforce sweeper

Abstract

A device for collecting debris from a surface, comprising a catcher and a lifting ramp, wherein the lifting ramp is located forward of the catcher such that when the device is moved over a ground surface, debris on the ground surface passes upwardly over the lifting ramp onto the catcher, wherein the lifting ramp is shaped as an aerofoil to create downforce on the lifting ramp toward the ground surface from air moving across the aerofoil under said movement.

1 . A device for collecting debris from a surface, comprising a catcher and a lifting ramp, wherein the lifting ramp is located forward of the catcher such that when the device is moved over a ground surface, debris on the ground surface passes upwardly over the lifting ramp onto the catcher, wherein the lifting ramp is shaped as an aerofoil to create downforce on the lifting ramp toward the ground surface from air moving across the aerofoil under said movement. 
     
     
         2 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes an agitator forward of the lifting ramp and an opening between the agitator and the lifting ramp, whereby, under said movement over the ground surface, said debris on the ground surface passes through the opening and onto the catcher via the lifting ramp. 
     
     
         3 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catcher is a catcher platform. 
     
     
         4 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a single aerofoil. 
     
     
         5 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a plurality of aerofoils for creating downforce on the device toward the ground surface from air moving across the aerofoils under said movement. 
     
     
         6 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the device includes a pair of aerofoils, including a first aerofoil in the form of said lifting ramp and a second aerofoil in the form of an additional lifting ramp mounted forwardly of said lifting ramp. 
     
     
         7 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising an agitator forward of the lifting ramp and an opening between the agitator and the lifting ramp, whereby, under said movement over the ground surface, said debris on the ground surface passes through the opening and onto the catcher via the lifting ramp, wherein the additional lifting ramp is located intermediate of the opening such that a forward opening portion of the opening is located forward of the additional lifting ramp and a rearward opening portion of the opening is located rearward of the additional lifting ramp. 
     
     
         8 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a tow hitch for attaching the device to a towing vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a generally planar member having at least a portion thereof defining an undersurface of the device formed of a conformable material such that when the device is moved over the ground surface with the undersurface in contact with the ground surface the undersurface is caused to locally conform to undulations in the ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the catcher is an upper surface of the device. 
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said portion is formed from a flexible layer. 
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said portion is formed from a mat of sinuous fibres. 
     
     
         13 . A device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said portion comprises artificial grass material. 
     
     
         14 . A device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said conformable material comprises a brush-like structure. 
     
     
         15 . A device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said conformable material has bristles being constituted, and positioned with respect to the opening, whereby when the device is moved over the ground surface with the bristles in contact therewith, debris on the ground surface is agitated by engagement with the bristles and caused to pass upwardly through the opening to the catcher for collection thereon. 
     
     
         16 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a further aerofoil which is elevated above a level of the lifting ramp. 
     
     
         17 . A device for collecting debris from a surface, comprising a catcher and a lifting ramp, wherein the lifting ramp is located forward of the catcher such that when the device is moved over a ground surface, debris on the ground surface passes upwardly over the lifting ramp onto the catcher, wherein the device includes an aerofoil to create downforce on the lifting ramp toward the ground surface from air moving across the aerofoil under said movement. 
     
     
         18 . A device for collecting debris as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the aerofoil is in the form of a wing mounted atop at least one support to support the aerofoil in an airflow above a level of the lifting ramp.