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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.