CS262679B2 - Wheel - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wheel for use in small transport applications.

The classic wheel · includes a frame with two arms forming handles, armrests and a wheel mechanism located at the front end of the wheel.

This type of wheel has a number of disadvantages for the user.

Its main drawback, coupled with the fact that the wheel mechanism is created once and for all, is that the use of the wheel can be made difficult on some types of terrain (grass, gravel, sand, mud).

It is not known that any solution for adjusting the wheel to different types of terrain is proposed.

The object of the invention is a wheel which removes these drawbacks.

The caster according to the invention consists of a frame with two arms forming handles, backrests, a hull placed above the wheel support structure and a support bumper, the invention being characterized in that the arms forming handles comprise extensions extending forward up to the support bumper which is positioned on both sides of the median longitudinal plane of the wheel parallel to the rotating shaft, which is mounted removably in two bearings with a variable number of wheels at the positions defined by the stops.

The elongate portions of the arms that form the handles are preferably provided such that when the wheel is in the rest position on the headrests, the support bumper is substantially flush with the front edge of the body in a vertical direction.

The arms forming the handles preferably further comprise a rearward extension of the ends of the handles.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support bumper is formed by a rectilinear profile section having a length substantially corresponding to the length of the rotating shaft.

The wheel according to the invention has a number of advantages:

- allows adaptation to the nature of the terrain by being equipped with a number of wheels of various types, adjustable in position on the axle and easily removable, - facilitates unloading forwards and sides thanks to its support bumper, located at the front and creates a new stable vertical storage a position which reduces the storage space required and facilitates the cleaning of the body and the maintenance of the wheel mechanism as well as the replacement of the wheels.

Further advantages and details of the wheel will become apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments of the invention and in which Fig. 1 shows a wheel according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 2 the wheel of Fig. 1 in front view; Fig. 3 shows a wheel according to the invention in side view, Figs. 4 to 7 show four embodiments of the wheel bearing structure of Fig. 1 in a partial bottom view, Fig. 8 a wheel in a stable vertical storage position in side view.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the wheel comprises a frame 1a, two arms 1 forming handles, supports 2, a body 10 and a wheel bearing structure 3 with a shaft provided with two wheels 8.

The two arms 1 forming the handles that extend from the frame 1a are bent up and out and terminate with handles 15 substantially parallel to the ground.

The frame 1a serves to accommodate the body 10, which is preferably removable (not shown).

In front of the body 10, the frame 1a passes into two substantially parallel arm portions 16, the free ends of which are welded to a transverse member forming a support bumper 5 extending from one arm portion 16 to the other. The two elongated arm portions 16 are slightly cranked or bent towards the ground such that the support bumper 5 is positioned substantially at the same level as the shaft 6.

The wheel support structure 3, located below the frame 1a, forms on each side thereof an angular support with two arms 3a, 3b.

The end of the first arm 3a is welded to the frame 1a, while the end of the second arm 3b is welded to the bumper 5. Each angular support 3 carries a bearing 4 at its bending position. The two bearings 4 are mounted on the same axis to support the shaft δ .

The wheel support structure 3 is provided below the frame 1a so that the shaft 6 lies substantially in a vertical plane passing through the center of gravity of the body 10.

Further, the front edge 10a of the hull lies again in a substantially vertical plane passing through the bumper 5.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the shaft 6 extends over both bearings 4 so as to be able to support at least one outer wheel at each end thereof, and the transverse bumper 5 is substantially the same length or slightly shorter than the shaft 6 to substantially align both ends the external faces of the respective external wheels, if any (see Figures 5 to 7).

Finally, it carries the frame 1a of the armrest 2. In the illustrated embodiment, each armrest 2 has an overall V-shape whose base serves to support and both free ends are welded to the frame 1a.

Next, with reference to Figures 4 to 7 ', various wheel bearing options 8 will be explained in more detail.

According to these different methods, the wheels 8 are always mounted freely rotatably on the shaft 6 by means of ball bearings, and at the same time they are displaceable on the shaft 6 "so that their position and spacing can be controlled as desired.

252679

When their position is defined, each wheel is fastened on the shaft side by means of sliding stops 7 secured in place by pressing, for example, by a screw 7a;

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the shaft 6 carries two wheels 8 located between two bearings 4. Each wheel 8 is mounted on the shaft 6 by two sliding stops 7 which can be locked in adjacent positions of the bearings 4.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, again two wheels 8 are visible but are mounted externally of the bearings 4 on the end portions of the protruding shaft B, each wheel 8 being secured in this case by a pin 8 extending through a bore 9a provided for this purpose near the shaft icon. while on the inside there is a stop 7 supported on the respective bearing 4.

The same arrangement is shown in Fig. 6, but with the third wheel 8 fastened by two stops 7 to the center of the shaft 6.

In Fig. 7, the shaft 6 carries two inner wheels similarly mounted as in Fig. 4 and two outer wheels 8 mounted similarly to Fig. 6.

The various wheel bearings shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 have the advantage that the arrangement of the stops 7 (FIG. 4) and the stops 7 and the cotters (FIGS. 5 to 7) keep the shaft 6 in place without the need for additional means.

The choice between the different possible ways of aligning the wheels in number and position allows the wheel mechanism to be adapted to different conditions of use and, in particular, to the nature of the terrain.

The version with two inner wheels of Fig. 4 is usually suitable for driving on rough terrain. The embodiment of FIG. 5 with two outer wheels increases lateral stability of the wheel.

In the case of loose terrain (e.g. gravel), the three-wheel type of Fig. 6 can be advantageously used. Finally, the four-wheel design of Fig. 7 can be applied to even more difficult terrains, such as muddy terrain, grass, etc.

Giant. 8 shows a stable vertical storage position of the wheel, which is supported by the bumper S and the outer edge 10a of the body 10. This position facilitates in particular the cleaning of the body, maintenance, adjustment and replacement of the wheels.

The bumper 5 according to the invention further provides a great advantage by facilitating the unloading of the hull considerably both forward and laterally, with minimal effort and with all the safety due to the solid support provided by said bumper.

Finally, it should be noted that the handles are preferably of the telescopic type. For this purpose, an axially displaceable cylindrical element 12 is provided on each arm 1. The elements 12 and the arms 1 are provided with openings 13 so that they can be fixed in a variable position, for example with a split pin 14. The telescopic adjustment of the arm lengths use wheels to avoid uncomfortable posture.

It is clear, therefore, that the invention has a number of advantages to improve performance while improving the user's working conditions by: - minimizing the weight to be carried, - allowing the driving conditions to be adapted to the terrain, - stabilizing the wheel position during unloading, facilitates cleaning and maintenance of the wheel as well as its storage.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiment described. Thus, for example, sliding, attachable stops may be provided in various ways. Instead of telescopic arms, any other construction with equivalent function can be used. Instead of welding, for example, a removable connection may be used for the pedestals, in particular by means of screws.

Claims (4)

Wheel comprising a frame with two arms forming handles, armrests, hulls placed above the wheel support structure and having a support bumper, characterized in that the arms (1) forming the handles forward to the support bumper (5) which: is located on both sides of the median longitudinal plane of the wheel parallel to the rotary shaft (6), which is mounted removably in two bearings (4) with variable number of wheels (8) at positions defined by axial stops (7). Wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the support bumper (5) located on the elongated portions (16) of the mennus men (1) substantially aligns vertically with the front edge (10a) of the wheel body in the rest position on the armrests. (2). Wheel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the arms (1) further comprise a telescopic part (12, 13) in the rearward extension. Wheel according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support bumper (5) is formed by a rectilinear profile section of a length substantially corresponding to the length of the rotary shaft (6).