Patent ID: 7281296

Claim:
A debris collection device for collecting debris with limited dispersion of airborne particles comprising: (a) a vehicle including a plurality of wheels, at least one of said plurality being maneuverable by operation of a selectively operable steering mechanism and at least one wheel of said plurality providing propulsion to said vehicle; (b) a debris storage compartment; (c) a collecting mechanism that contacts debris and moves said debris away from a surface that is to be cleaned in a direction substantially the same as the direction of forward movement of the vehicle; (d) a transport mechanism including a first inlet located proximal to said collecting mechanism, said transport mechanism being configured to receive debris at said first inlet and move said debris towards said storage compartment where at least a portion of said debris are deposited; (e) a filter and vacuum assembly disposed downstream of the first inlet relative to the path of transported debris and being physically separated from said storage compartment, said filter and vacuum assembly including a second inlet, a vacuum-generating component, and at least one filter; (f) an airflow passageway comprising first and second ends, said first end being located in said storage compartment near the side opposite where said transport mechanism engages said storage compartment and said second end of said airflow passageway being in communication with said second inlet; wherein operation of said vacuum-generating component produces a primary airflow that draws airborne particles into said first inlet, along a path proximate to said debris transport mechanism, and wherein said debris collection device is configured such that debris-laden air must travel across most of the storage compartment before entering said first end of said airflow passageway and substantially all primary airflow must pass through said airflow passageway before entering said second inlet of said filter and vacuum assembly and contacting said filter.