EP2222528A2 - Brouette - Google Patents

Brouette

Info

Publication number
EP2222528A2
EP2222528A2 EP08851731A EP08851731A EP2222528A2 EP 2222528 A2 EP2222528 A2 EP 2222528A2 EP 08851731 A EP08851731 A EP 08851731A EP 08851731 A EP08851731 A EP 08851731A EP 2222528 A2 EP2222528 A2 EP 2222528A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hopper
pivot
tipping
frame
wheelbarrow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08851731A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Toby Palmer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2222528A2 publication Critical patent/EP2222528A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
    • B62B3/08—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor involving tiltably-mounted containers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a wheelbarrow and to a tipping assembly for use with a wheel barrow.
  • wheelbarrow is an extremely reliable and useful tool, making the life of its user more simple and convenient in transporting loads. This has been proven especially in industry and agriculture, as well as for general home and garden maintenance.
  • Most conventional wheelbarrows comprise a hopper rigidly mounted on a frame, the frame being provided with a wheel at the front end and two ground engaging supports and two handles at the rear end in order to move the wheelbarrow and a load contained within the hopper a user grips and lifts the handles such that the ground engaging supports are lifted clear of the ground. The user then pushes the handles and the wheelbarrow travels on the wheel in the direction of the push. Steering of the wheelbarrow is effected by pushing the handles to the side in order to point the wheel in the desired direction of travel. When it is desired to unload the wheelbarrow the user must push the handles up such that the hopper pivots about the wheel and the load is discharged over the front of the wheelbarrow.
  • a first aspect of the invention provides a wheelbarrow comprising a frame, a hopper, a handle member and hopper tipping means operable to move the hopper from a load carrying position to a load discharging position, the hopper being pivotally mounted to the frame at a front pivot point, the handle member having first and second ends and being pivotally mounted between its ends to a rear pivot point of the frame, the hopper tipping means including a tipping member and a link member, the tipping member being secured to and extending downwardly and forwardly from a front portion of the hopper, the link member being pivotally secured at or adjacent one of its ends to the first end of the handle member and at or adjacent the other of its ends to a front portion of the tipping member, wherein a downward movement, in use, of the second end of the handle member causes the first end to push a rearward underside portion of the hopper upwardly from the load carrying position and to pull the tipping member to move the hopper into the load discharging position.
  • the wheelbarrow has the advantage in that it does not require a user to lift the hopper and pivot it about the front wheel in order to discharge a load from the hopper.
  • the hopper tipping means can be operated to move the hopper from a first, load carrying position to a second, load discharging position.
  • the hopper is pivotally attached to a front pivot and can pivot from the load carrying position, when the base of the hopper is generally parallel to the frame and the load is retained within the hopper, to the load discharging position, when the base of the hopper is generally perpendicular to the frame and the load is discharged from the hopper.
  • pivotally secured refers to the members being substantially secured relative to one another, only being free to pivot but not to slide relative to each other. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the linkage arrangement shown in the drawings, wherein the tipping member extends downwardly and forwardly from a front portion of the hopper, precludes the need for a slideable and pivotable connection between the link member and the handle member.
  • a second aspect of the invention provides a wheelbarrow comprising a frame with three or more wheels, a hopper and hopper tipping means, the hopper being pivotally mounted to the frame at a front pivot and handle means pivotally moveable about a rear pivot mounted to the frame, wherein the hopper tipping means comprises a tipping member extending downwardly from the front pivot and the handle means is pivotally connected to the tipping member by a link member wherein the handle means being moveable about the rear pivot such that downwards movement of the handle means actuates the hopper tipping means and causes the hopper to pivot about the front pivot from a load carrying position to a load discharging position The first end of the handle member may abut the hopper, in use, to push it upwardly from the load carrying position.
  • the hopper tipping means may exert, in use, a pulling force, e.g. in a rearward direction, in front of the front pivot, for example to cause the hopper to continue to pivot about the front pivot after the pushing action, thereby to discharge its content.
  • the link member may be caused to pull the tipping member by continued actuation of the handle member.
  • the hopper may advantageously be mounted on a hopper support frame, which frame would be pivotally attached to the front pivot. A load can therefore be discharged from the hopper without the need to lift the frame.
  • the wheelbarrow preferably comprises a hopper locking mechanism to lock the hopper in the first position during normal use. A user must then unlock the hopper before attempting to discharge the load.
  • the wheelbarrow may comprise three or more wheels, for example two front wheels and a centrally mounted rear wheel.
  • the front wheels may be mounted on a front axle attached to a front end of the frame and/or the rear wheel may be centrally located on a rear axle attached to a rear end of the frame.
  • the rear wheel may be a 360 swivel castor. This allows for on the spot 360 turning which greatly improves the manoeuvrability of the wheelbarrow compared to prior art wheelbarrows.
  • the three wheels help to stabilise the wheelbarrow, both during transportation of a load and during discharge of a load.
  • conventional wheelbarrows tend to have a single wheel located at me front of the frame.
  • the front wheel tends to dig in, making it very difficult to push.
  • the two front wheels help to spread the load and reduce the possibility of getting stuck.
  • the two front wheels provide a stable base to support the wheelbarrow when the load is being tipped using the tipping mechanism.
  • the rear axle is preferably pivotally mounted on the frame. This provides an effective steering mechanism which enables a user to maneuver the wheelbarrow easily.
  • the wheelbarrow has a relatively sharp turning circle.
  • the wheels are pneumatic tyres. Pneumatic tyres make the wheelbarrow easy to use on a variety of terrains, including boggy marsh.
  • the wheelbarrow is preferably provided with a brake system.
  • the brake system may be connected to one or more of the wheels.
  • the tipping means comprises pushing means which acts on the hopper at a location behind the front pivot, e.g. on the base of the hopper, to push the hopper over the front pivot.
  • the pushing means may conveniently be actuated by the handle means.
  • the hopper tipping means may exert a pulling force on the front of the hopper to cause it to pivot about the front pivot.
  • the pulling force preferably acts on the hopper in a rearward direction.
  • the rearward pulling force may act radially about the front pivot, e.g. thereby causing the front end of the hopper to pivot down and around the front pivot.
  • the hopper tipping means may take a variety of forms, so long as it is capable of exerting the pushing and pulling forces. Once the initial pulling force has acted on the hopper the load in the hopper begins to fall under gravity and assists in the tipping action.
  • the pushing means acts in conjunction with the means which exerts the pulling force, wherein it is preferred that the pushing means acts first. This serves to give the hopper the initial energy to pivot about the front pivot. Once the pivoting has begun then the pulling force takes over and pulls the front of the hopper down and around the front pivot thus, the tipping operation is effectively a two-step process.
  • the pushing means acts on the hopper to get it started; this is the first step. Once the hopper is moving the second step begins and the pulling force takes over to complete the discharge.
  • the handle means may comprise a pair of handles extending rearwardly from the wheelbarrow frame, or it may comprise a generally U-shaped member, with the arms being attached to the frame at the rear pivot. This offers the advantage of providing a central bar, rather like a shopping trolley, which the user may push.
  • the handle means is preferably the handle that is used to push the wheelbarrow, but may also be a separate tipping handle.
  • the handle means is preferably connected to the tipping member by a link member.
  • the link member may conveniently be pivotally attached to the tipping member and the handle means.
  • the handle means acts as a lever to exert a rearward radial pulling force on me tipping member in response to a downward movement of the handle means.
  • the mechanical advantage provided by the lever system means that a heavy load may be discharged from the hopper with relative ease.
  • a third aspect of the invention provides a tipping assembly for use in a wheelbarrow, the assembly comprising a support frame, a hopper frame a link member and a handle assembly, the handle assembly being pivotally connected to the support frame by a rear pivot, the hopper frame being pivotally connected to the support frame at a front pivot, the hopper frame comprising an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the front pivot, the link member being pivotally secured to the handle assembly by a first link pivot located intermediate the front and rear pivots, wherein the link member is pivotally connected to the arm of the hopper assembly by a second link pivot which pivot is moveable from a first position forward of the front pivot in a load carrying position to a second position intermediate the first link pivot and front pivot in a load discharging position.
  • a fourth aspect of the invention provides a method of discharging a load from a hopper mounted to the aforementioned tipping assembly, wherein the hopper frame rests on the first link pivot in the first position and is rotated about the front pivot by the first link pivot when the handle assembly rotates about the rear pivot to the point where the front pivot and second link pivot are substantially aligned in a vertical plane.
  • the hopper frame may become separated from the first link pivot by continued rotation of the handle assembly about the rear pivot.
  • the hopper frame may continue to rotate about the front pivot, for example due to the rearward pulling action of the handle assembly on the link member which may cause the hopper to discharge its load.
  • a wheelbarrow comprising a frame, a hopper and at least three wheels, wherein two front wheels are mounted at the front of the wheelbarrow and a rear wheel is centrally mounted at the rear of the wheelbarrow.
  • the three wheels help to stabilise the wheelbarrow, both during transportation of a load and during discharge of a load.
  • conventional wheelbarrows tend to have a single wheel located at the front of the frame.
  • the front wheel tends to dig in, making it very difficult to push.
  • the two front wheels help to spread the load and reduce the possibility of getting stuck.
  • the provision of three wheels also avoids the need for the user to lift the wheelbarrow in order to transport a load. The user simply needs to push the handles of the wheelbarrow in the manner of a shopping trolley.
  • the two front wheels are preferably mounted on a front axle attached to a front end of the frame and the rear wheel is mounted on a rear axle attached to a rear end of the frame.
  • the rear axle is preferably pivotally mounted on the frame. This provides a convenient steering mechanism and allows a user to turn relatively sharp corners.
  • the wheelbarrow preferably further comprises hopper tipping means for moving the hopper from a load carrying position to a load discharge position.
  • the hopper is preferably pivotally mounted to the frame at a front pivot and the hopper tipping means is connected to the hopper at or near the front pivot such that, in use, it is operable to pivot the hopper about the front pivot. Additional features of the hopper tipping means may be as described in relation to the wheelbarrow described in the first aspect of the invention.
  • Fig. 1 shows a side view of a wheelbarrow according to one aspect of the invention in a first position
  • Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the wheelbarrow support frame according to one aspect of the invention
  • Fig. 3 shows a side view of the support frame shown in Fig 2 in a first position
  • Fig. 4 shows a side view of support frame during the "pushing" phase of the tipping process
  • Fig. 5 shows a side view of the support frame during the "pulling" phase of the tipping process
  • Fig 6 shows a perspective view of wheelbarrow shown in Fig 1 ;
  • Fig 7 shows an end elevation of the wheelbarrow shown in Fig 1 .
  • Figs. 1 and 2 show a wheelbarrow 2 in a first, or load carrying, position.
  • the wheelbarrow 2 comprises a frame 4 and a hopper 6 attached to a front end of the frame 4 and a front pivot 8 (shown in Fig 2).
  • the hopper 6 is mounted on a hopper support frame 7 which is pivotally connected to the frame about the front pivot 8.
  • the frame 4 and the hopper support frame 7 are formed from lengths of metal tubing and the frame 4 is arranged such that in the first position the hopper support frame 7 supported by, the frame 4.
  • the hopper 6 is made of plastics material, or other suitable material, and is of a generally conventional, moulded construction.
  • the shape of the hopper is different to a conventional shape in order to move the centre of mass for the reasons outlined below.
  • the front end of the frame 4 is provided with a pair of front wheels 10, preferably in the form of pneumatic tyres.
  • the front wheels 10 are mounted on a front axle 12, which is connected to a front end of the frame 4 to define the front pivot 8.
  • a swivel castor 50 is mounted to the rear of the frame 4. This improves the manoeuverability of the wheelbarrow 4 and enables a user to move in forward and rearward directions without turning due to the self correction of the swivel castor 50.
  • a handle 32 is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point to the rear of the frame 4 at a rear pivot 40.
  • the handle 32 is used to push the wheelbarrow 2 in normal use and may also be used to discharge a load from the hopper 6, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the handle 32 comprises a length of tubular material which is bent to form a pushing handle 38 and has a pair of arms 34 which extend under the hopper 6 and are pivotally mounted to the rear of the frame 4 at the rear pivot 40.
  • the arms 34 are bent such that in the load carrying position a forward portion 35 of the arms (in front of the rear pivot) is located under the hopper 6 and a rear portion of the arms (behind the rear pivot) is bent upwards to provide the pushing handle 38.
  • the arms 34 are connected together by intermediate members 39 and 41 which form the rear pivot 40 and an intermediate pivot 31.
  • the hopper support frame 7 comprises a length of tubular material which is bent to form a cradle for receiving the hopper 6, shown in Figure 2.
  • the hopper support frame 7 includes an intermediate member 43 which forms pivot 8 and an arm 45 extending downwardly, which forms part of the tipping means 26 described below.
  • the wheelbarrow 2 is provided with tipping means 26, for moving the hopper 6 about the front pivot 8 between the load carrying position (as shown in Fig. 3) and the load discharging position (as shown in Fig. 5).
  • the front pivot 8 itself is the point about which the hopper 6 pivots but it is not part of the tipping means 26.
  • the tipping means 26 comprises the arm 45 which is securely fixed to the pivot member 43 of the hopper support frame 7, at the front pivot 8, and extends downwardly away from the pivot 8.
  • the end of the arm 45 remote from the hopper 6 is pivotally attached to a first end of link member 13 by pivot 33.
  • a second end of the link member 13 is pivotally connected to the intermediate pivot 31 , formed from intermediate member 41 of the handle 32.
  • the pivotal connections of link member 13 to the pivots 31 and 33 are loose fitting, in that the connecting tubes of link member 13 have an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of intermediate member 41 and arm 45 respectively.
  • Figs 3, 4 and 5 the section of the wheelbarrow frames are in a load carrying position.
  • the position of the intermediate pivot is at point A
  • the front pivot 8 is at point B
  • the pivot 33 is at point C.
  • Points A, B and C are relative positions in a horizontal plane.
  • the intermediate member 41 is in contact with the hopper frame 7 at point A.
  • the centre of mass designated by reference M is preferably between pivots 40 and 8, to ensure a stable structure when the wheelbarrow moves. More preferably the centre of mass is positioned between points A and B to assist with the discharge action, described below.
  • FIG. 4 shows the support frame of Fig. 3 in an intermediate discharge position.
  • the handle 32 When it is desired to discharge a load from the hopper 6 the handle 32 is pushed downwards in the direction shown by the arrow 42. This action causes the intermediate member 41 to pivot upwards about rear pivot 40. The upwards movement of the pivot 31 exerts an upward pushing action force on the bottom surface of the hopper 6 which causes it to begin to pivot about the front pivot 8.
  • This action causes the centre of mass M to move towards point B.
  • the pushing action tips the hopper frame 7, which causes the arm 45 to pivot downwardly about pivot 8, which in turn forces member 13 to move and pivot about both pivots 31 and 33.
  • the pivot point A' moves away from B and C towards B.
  • the pushing action is completed.
  • This position is defined as the intermediate tipping position and represents the first step of the two-part tipping process.
  • the pivot 33 passes under pivot 8 at a point when the centre of mass in above pivot 8 or proximate to it, so that B, C" and M are substantially aligned in a vertical plane.
  • the arrangement described above improves the handling characteristics of the wheelbarrow during the discharge action, because a positive downward force is required throughout the tipping action, which is in a controlled manner.
  • a locking mechanism (not shown) is provided to lock the hopper 6 in position during normal use. When the hopper 6 is locked in position it is not possible to push the handles 32 down. This avoids the situation where a load may be inadvertently discharged.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur une brouette (2) comprenant un cadre (4) avec trois roues (10, 50), un bac (6) et un dispositif de basculement du bac. Le bac (6) est monté pivotant sur le cadre (4) au niveau d'un pivot avant et une poignée (34) est mobile en pivotement autour d'un pivot arrière monté sur le cadre. Le dispositif de basculement du bac comprend un élément de basculement (45) s'étendant vers le bas et vers l'avant à partir du pivot avant (8). La poignée (34) est fixée à pivotement à un élément de liaison (13), lequel élément (13) est relié à pivotement à l'élément de basculement (45). La poignée (34) est mobile autour du pivot arrière (40) de telle sorte qu'un mouvement de celle-ci vers le bas actionne le dispositif de basculement du bac, amenant le bac (6) à pivoter autour du pivot avant (8) d'une position de support de charge à une position de déchargement de charge.
EP08851731A 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 Brouette Withdrawn EP2222528A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0722800A GB0722800D0 (en) 2007-11-21 2007-11-21 Wheelbarrow
PCT/GB2008/051098 WO2009066111A2 (fr) 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 Brouette

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2222528A2 true EP2222528A2 (fr) 2010-09-01

Family

ID=38925796

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08851731A Withdrawn EP2222528A2 (fr) 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 Brouette

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2222528A2 (fr)
GB (1) GB0722800D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2009066111A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT12541U1 (de) * 2011-06-24 2012-07-15 Bts Gmbh & Co Kg Schubkarre
CN107284494B (zh) * 2017-07-25 2023-08-22 永康市东汇科技有限公司 货运推车

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB830406A (en) * 1955-12-23 1960-03-16 Fermin Beites Portales Improvements in tip carts, trucks, barrows or the like
GB0013451D0 (en) * 2000-06-05 2000-07-26 Roddom Derek H Wheelbarrow
GB0601139D0 (en) * 2006-01-20 2006-03-01 Palmer Toby J Wheelbarrow

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2009066111A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2009066111A2 (fr) 2009-05-28
GB0722800D0 (en) 2008-01-02
WO2009066111A3 (fr) 2009-12-17

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