Abstract

A high-speed pick-up head includes an air pressure chamber and an air suction chamber respectively associated with an elongated blast orifice and a suction orifice. The chambers are arranged in side-by-side relationship generally normal to the direction of vehicle/pick-up head travel and have opposite first and second ends. Each chamber defines an elongated volume corresponding in length generally to the orifice associated therewith with each volume decreasing in cross-sectional area toward its closed end. Respective air inlets and air outlets of the pressure and suction chambers are opposite each other and the blast orifice can be changed in size and/or shape, preferably diverging in a direction away from the pressure chamber air inlet to maintain maximum air velocity/flow which blasts or blows sand or similar dense debris from airport runways for subsequent removal/separation at extremely high efficiencies.