AU2004100849A4 - Trolley - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 SKILLED EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING PTY

LIMITED

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Trolley The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Field of the Invention

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The present invention relates to a trolley, and in particular, to a trolley for picking up O and transporting heavy objects, for example gas cylinders.

Background of the Invention 00 Cylinders for transporting compressed gas such as oxygen acetylene, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, to name but a few, may come in small to medium sizes and are frequently transported on hand trolleys to and from their point of use.

Transportation of the cylinder from the point of storage to the point of use can present significant occupational health and safety issues. First, the filled cylinders can weigh upwards of 130 kilograms and are generally tall elongate structures which are often difficult to manually handle, particularly for single operators.

Second, gas cylinders generally contain gases, often flammable gases, at high pressures and there is consequently a risk that the gas can be explosively discharged from the cylinder if the cylinder is damaged during handling. It is therefore important to exercise care when handling the cylinders.

Additional problems arise with handling the cylinders in industrial applications where there may be physical access problems, including uneven ground surfaces and potential differences in the level of the ground and the level of the intended use of the cylinder.

The problem of uneven ground surfaces is generally addressed by using large wheels which can readily negotiate uneven surface. However, it would appear that there has been no attempt to address the problem of lifting the cylinder above ground level at the point of use.

It is desirable that the present invention ameliorate at least some of the problems referred to above.

It is also desirable to provide a trolley from which the delivery height of the load can be controlled.

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O _Summary of the Invention 0 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a trolley comprising, O a main body comprising at least one substantially vertical elongate frame member; and at least one base member attached to and extending substantially 00 horizontally from the frame member at the lower end thereof; two wheels rotatably mounted on the main body at the lower end thereof; a load platform slidably mounted on at least one of the substantially vertical elongate frame member N a foot actuated hydraulic lift means attached to the main body and to the load platform; wherein the height of the load platform relative to the base member can be adjusted by foot actuation of the foot actuated lift means.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a trolley comprising, a main body comprising at least one substantially vertical elongate frame member; and at least one base member attached to and extending substantially horizontally from the frame member at the lower end thereof; two wheels rotatably mounted on the main body at the lower end thereof; a load platform slidably mounted on at least one of the substantially vertical elongate frame member a foot actuated lift means attached to the main body and to the load platform; wherein the height of the load platform relative to the base member can be adjusted by foot actuation of the foot actuated lift means.

Preferably the main body has two substantially vertical elongate frame members and two base members, the trolley further comprises at least one cross member, the cross member or members arranged such that they hold the two substantially vertical elongate frame members in a parallel arrangement; at least two spaced apart side members, the two spaced apart side members being attached to the base members at a point towards the end of the base member and at the other end, towards the top of the substantially vertical elongate frame members.

m:\specifications\500000\502000\50281 Ocmpmjc.doc z4 In another embodiment, it is preferable that the lift means comprising: o a hydraulic cylinder comprising a piston, a shaft, and a chamber, the shaft extending out one end of the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder being arranged O such that extension and retraction of the shaft controls the height of the load platform wherein foot actuation of the lift means increases the hydraulic pressure in the chamber and causes the shaft to extend and thereby increase the height of the load 0 0 oO platform relative to the base members.

Brief Description of the Drawings NAn exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of the front of a trolley according to an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective illustration of the back of the trolley in accordance with Figure 1.

Figures 3 is a side plain view of a trolley in according to an aspect of the present invention, the load platform is shown lying at ground level.

Figure 4 is a side plain view of the trolley in accordance with Figure 3, the load platform is shown in an elevated position.

Figure 5 is a back plain view of a trolley according to one aspect of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a top plain view of the trolley in accordance with Figure It should be understood that various angles of bonding or folding described herein are meant to be illustrative, and that various frame and base members can be formed or bent at other angles suitable to form different shapes and configurations of the trolley other than the embodiment illustrated in the drawings without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respect as illustrative and not restrictive.

m:\specifications\500000\502000\50281 Ocmpmjc.doc O Description of the Preferred Embodiments O Figure 1 depicts the front of a trolley 1 according to one aspect of the present invent which is adapted to transport a load, for example a gas cylinder. The main components of the trolley 1 include the main body which in the illustrated implementation of the oO present invention includes two substantially vertical frame members 12 and 12' and two base members 16 and 16' connected at the their lower ends. The frame members are held in a relatively parallel arrangement by two cross members 10 and Without altering the essence of the invention, the trolley may only have one vertical frame member, with the load held in position by at least one cross member.

The term "attached" is taken to mean that it is not intended to be removed during normal use of the trolley, and can include for example, attachment by way of fasteners, including bolts and/or nuts, welding, riveting, adhesives, and other types of connections known to those of skill in the art.

The base members are illustrated as attached to the vertical frame members at the bottom of the frame members and towards the top of the trolley via two side members 24 and 24'. Handle members 14 and 14' are attached to the ends of the side members and extend backwards from the vertical members. Alternatively, the handle members may be integral with the side members. The handle members may be covered with a suitable material to assist the user in griping the handles. In another embodiment, the handle members may be attached directly to the substantially vertical frame members Load platform 26 is movable by the action of the lift means 28 along a vertical axis or direction relative to the base member and in Figure 1 is illustrated in an elevated position. In this position, the load, for example a gas cylinder, may easily be removed from the trolley at the desired height without the need to physically lift the cylinder off the ground, which can be physically demanding and represents a significant additional hazardous step.

The space formed by the load platform, vertical frame and cross members and the side members defines the load bay. The term "bay" should be broadly understood to mean m:\speciflcations\500000\502000\50281 Ocmpmjc.doc 6 any compartment or location where the load is received or located. The load may be a 0 O gas cylinder.

O It is preferable that the load secured in the load bay with one or more straps (not shown). The straps can be made from any suitable flexible material. For example, in one embodiment, the strap may be a suitably arranged chain. In another embodiment, 00 the strap may be made from any one or more of the materials selected from the group including leather, nylon, or other synthetic materials, and may include a quick release latch, or other securing means, such as a Velcro® hook material.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the at least one base member may only be attached to the frame member at a point(s) towards the bottom of the frame members, and the side members may be replaced with straps to hold the load in position.

A pair of wheels 20 and 20' are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of the axle 21 which is attached to the main body. It should be understood that the axle could alternatively be rotatably mounted to the main body, with the wheels fixedly or rotatably mounted on the axle. Preferably the wheels are of the type with a tyre. The tyre may be hollow inflated or solid, preferably a pneumatic tyre.

Preferably the main body, and its various components, are made of steel. However, it should be understood that the various components can be made of other rigid materials to those skilled in the art, including for example, and without limitation, other types of metal, such as aluminium or titanium, hard plastic, and/or fibreglass composites. In one preferred embodiment, the material, such as steel, can be powder coated, or alternatively can be treated and or painted so as to increase its resistance to wear and corrosion.

It should be understood that the trolley could be configured with a single load bay (as shown) or more than one bay, for example two load bays for receiving two cylinders.

The lift means 28 is shown in greater detail in Figure 2 which illustrates the rear or back of the trolley in accordance with Figure 1. In this embodiment, the lift means is illustrated as a foot actuated hydraulic pump. The height of the load platform 26 relative to the base members 16 is increased by depressing the foot pedal 32. This m:\specifications\500000\502000\50281 Ocmpmjc.doc 7

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increases the pressure in the piston 30 causing the shaft 31 extending out one end of the o hydraulic lift means to extend and the load platform is pushed up relative to the base t members. The shaft is arranged such that extension and retraction of the shaft controls O the height of the load platform. The relative height of the load platform can be decreased by releasing the pressure in the piston.

00 The use of a high flow valve in the foot actuated hydraulic lift means can assist in 0minimizing the amount of foot strokes to lift the load platform, this can add to the convenience of the present invention.

SIt should be understood that the various modifications to the lift means can be made without departing from the original concept of the present invention. For example, the lift means may be powdered by an electrical current, a petrochemical engine, compressed gas, pneumatic arrangement or the like, or any other means for providing the appropriate lift known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to Figure 3, the load platform 26 is shown at the same vertical level as the base members 16 and 16'. At this level the load, for example a gas cylinder, can be placed onto the trolley at the point of storage, transported to the point of use, and then through the action of the lift means, the load platform and the load can be raised above ground level, as shown in Figure 4, to a suitable level whereby the load can be removed more easily than if the load had to be manually lifted without the assistance of the lift means. This represents a significant advance over previous trolleys where the load had had to be manipulated by hand at the point of use.

It is preferable that the foot pedal 32 is within the line of the wheels to reduce the chance of the user accidentally hitting the pedal during use of the trolley.

Referring to Figures 5 the trolley according to Figure 1 is illustrated from the back or rear view. In this embodiment, the relative arrangement of the wheel and axle and base members and lift means is illustrated. A release valve 34 for the hydraulic lift means is shown to the left of the foot pedal 32. In use, the foot pedal is used to increase the pressure in the lift means and therefore cause the relative height of the load platform to increase. When the load has been removed, the pressure in the pump is released via depression of the release valve, and the load platform will return to the lower position, ready for receipt of another load.

m:\specifications\500000\502000\50281 Ocmpmjc.doc 8 O Referring to Figure 6, a top view of the trolley according to one aspect of the present Sinvention is illustrated. It is preferable that the foot pedal 32 and release valve 34 are O arranged within the line of the wheels.

The trolley provided by the present invention represents a significant advantage when 00 compared to previous trolleys. For example, the improved trolley may assist users in the safe transport of gas cylinders from the point of storage to the point of use, even when there are variations in the ground level and the intended point of use of the cylinder. The present arrangement is particularly useful as there is no need to manually N lift the cylinder off the ground at the point of use.

As used in herein, the term "trolley" is taken to generally mean any wheeled apparatus for the transport of a load. The terms trolley, cart, dolly, roll cart and hard truck can be used interchangeably depending on the circumstances.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

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Claims (4)

1. A trolley comprising, O a main body comprising at least one substantially vertical elongate frame member; and at least one base member attached to and extending substantially 00 horizontally from the frame member at the lower end thereof; two wheels rotatably mounted on the main body at the lower end thereof; a load platform slidably mounted on at least one of the substantially vertical elongate frame member a foot actuated hydraulic lift means attached to the main body and to the load platform; wherein the height of the load platform relative to the base member can be adjusted by foot actuation of the foot actuated lift means.

2. A trolley comprising, a main body comprising at least one substantially vertical elongate frame member; and at least one base member attached to and extending substantially horizontally from the frame member at the lower end thereof; two wheels rotatably mounted on the main body at the lower end thereof; a load platform slidably mounted on at least one of the substantially vertical elongate frame member a foot actuated lift means attached to the main body and to the load platform; wherein the height of the load platform relative to the base member can be adjusted by foot actuation of the foot actuated lift means.

3. The trolley according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the main body has two substantially vertical elongate frame members and two base members, the trolley further comprises at least one cross member, the cross member or members arranged such that they hold the two substantially vertical elongate frame members in a parallel arrangement; at least two spaced apart side members, the two spaced apart side members being attached to the base members at a point towards the end of the base member and at the other end, towards the top of the substantially vertical elongate frame members. m:\specifications\500000\502000\50281 Ocmpmjc.doc -q- O

4. The trolley according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lift means comprises: O a hydraulic cylinder comprising a piston, a shaft, and a chamber, the shaft extending out one end of the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder being arranged such that extension and retraction of the shaft controls the height of the load platform 0 0 wherein foot actuation of the lift means increases the hydraulic pressure in the O chamber and causes the shaft to extend and thereby increase the height of the load platform relative to the base members. A trolley substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings. Dated this seventh day of October 2004 Skilled Equipment Manufacturing Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO m:\specifications\500000\502000\50281 Ocmpmjc.doc