GB2160160A

GB2160160A - Improvements in and relating to wheel mountings and assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2160160A
Application number: GB08513778A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivan Murray Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-06-12
Filing date: 1985-05-31
Publication date: 1985-12-18
Also published as: AU586974B2; GB8513778D0; GB2160160B; AU4317285A; NZ211009A

Abstract

A wheel assembly and mounting part 3 incorporating a load transfer and shock absorbing arrangement facilitating initial turning of the wheel 1 under load and/or movement by hand of a loaded conveyance such as a wheel barrow 6 to which the wheel assembly and mounting part is fitted. The assembly and mounting part 3 defining a first axis 2 of rotation extending transversely of the mounting part and about which at least the wheel peripheral part can freely rotate in a plane normal to said axis, and means 4 for supporting the mounting part 3 and wheel peripheral part for free unrestricted pivotal movement as a whole about an axis 7 eccentric and parallel to said first axis 2 of rotation. The wheel assembly has applications also as a load hoist pulley wheel and as a cultivator or harrow in agricultural work. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to wheel mountings and assemblies This invention relates to wheel mountings and assemblies, and more particularly relates to a novel wheel mounting assembly capable of adaption to a variety of applications; and it is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel assembly and mounting arrangement providing for shock absorbtion and for initial load transfer facilitating movement of the wheel under load conditions.

Other and more particular objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a wheel assembly comprising a mounting part defining or provided with a first axis of rotation extending transversely of said mounting part and about which a wheel peripheral part can freely rotate in a plane normal to said axis, and means for supporting said mounting part and wheel peripheral part for free unrestricted pivotal movement as a whole about an axis eccentric and parallel to said first axis of rotation.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a wheel assembly according to the preceding paragraph and wherein said wheel peripheral part defines a pulley wheel having a peripheral recess within which a pulley rope, chain or like endless loop flexible member is engageable for rotation of said wheel peripheral part and haulage purposes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the wheel assembly previously referred to is arranged as part of a soil cultivator and wherein said wheel peripheral part is provided with a plurality of ground engaging tines, a mounting part for the wheel assembly forming said soil cultivator being attachable to or arranged as part of a support for moving the cultivator wheel assembly over the ground and rotation of the wheel assembly being effected by ground engagement by said tines.

According to a still further aspect of this invention, there is provided a wheel assembly for a conveyance such as a wheel barrow, comprising a mounting part defining or provided with a first horizontal transverse axis about which a wheel peripheral part can rotate in a vertical plane extending in the line of travel of the conveyance, and a support for the wheel assembly arranged to extend downwardly from a main frame or chassis part of the conveyance to have a lower end part define or be provided with a second transverse axis parallel to but offset from and below said first transverse axis, said wheel mounting part being pivotally movable about said second transverse axis for forward and rearward movement below said first transverse axis.

Some particular and preferred aspects of the present forms of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the wheel assembly and mounting provided at the forward end of a conveyance such as a wheel barrow (not fully shown), Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating a second form of wheel assembly and mounting similarly located at the forward end of such as a wheel barrow (not fully shown), Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to figure 2 but showing the wheel assembly and mounting in two different relative positions, Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a third form of wheel assembly in accordance with the present invention, Figure 6 is a sectional view on lines ll-ll of figure 5, Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the wheel assembly of figure 1 and figure 2, arranged as a pulley wheel, and Figure 8 illustrates the application of a further modified form of the wheel assembly as a cultivator.

The invention may be particularly usefully applied to a load conveyance such as a hand wheel barrow. Accordingly and referring firstly to figure 1 of the drawings, a conventional wheel (generally indicated by the arrow 1) of any suitable kind applicable to its purpose e.g. a metal rimmed wheel or a solid or pneumatic tyre wheel, with the usual central axis of rotation 2, is mounted for rotation about said axis 2 in a vertical plane extending in the line of travel of such as a wheel barrow to which the wheel assembly is fitted, said wheel 1 being mounted between a pair of elongate flat link members 3 disposed in parallel relationship and defining the mounting part.The link members 3 have the said axis of rotation 2 provided in the upper parts thereof such as by a fixed axle conjoining the two link parts 3 and about which the wheel 1 can rotate, or by aligned bearings in which outer end parts of an axle fixed to the wheel 1 are rotatable.

The link members 3 depend downwardly from the central axis of rotation 2 of the wheel 1 to have lower end parts pivotally connected to lower end parts of a pair of depending support parts 4 fixedly secured and directed downwardly from an upper main frame, chassis or support part 5 located above the axis of rotation 2 of the wheel 1 and extending rearwardly of the wheel 1 for connection to and support of the barrow container or load carrying portion 6.The pivot connections 7 of the link members 3 and depending support parts 4 located on opposite sides of the wheel 1 are axially aligned to enable forward and rearward pivoting movement about a transverse horizontal axis parallel with the axis of rotation 2 of the wheel 1; the arrangement being such that when the barrow 6 is at rest the link members 3 will depend substantially vertical from the axis of rotation 2 of the wheel 1, and forward movement of the barrow 6 will urge the support parts 4 and depending links 3 forwardly relative to the axis of rotation 2 of the wheel 1 as shown in full in figure 1; whilst reverse or rearward movement of the barrow 6 will move the link members 3 and support parts 4 rearwardly relative to the axis of rotation 2 of the wheel 1, as shown in broken outline of figure 1.It is well known that in carrying a heavy load in a wheel barrow, considerable effort is usually needed to commence movement rearwardly or forwardly; whereas by the present invention an operator is able to commence an initial movement of the barrow 6 and its load forwardly or rearwardly, as the case may be, relative to the wheel 1 before actual wheel movement commences; and such forward or rearward movement of the barrow 6 and load provides an easy starting momentum facilitating initial rotation of the wheel 1 in the required direction. Additionally, the arrangement provides a swinging arm suspension facilitating movement of the barrow 1 and its load over uneven ground or obstacles in the way, and further absorbing shock which would otherwise be transmitted directly to an operators hands and arms.

Referring now to figures 2,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, in an alternative form of the invention the wheel assembly comprises a main fixed hub part 8 defining the mounting part and rotatably mounting a rim or tyre portion 9 on any suitabLe peripheraL bearing surface 10 of the main hub part 8 (e.g. an inner annular track of the rim or tyre portion 9 engaging an outer annular track of the hub part 8) so that the said wheel peripheral part 9 is rotatable in a vertical plane extending in the line of travel and about a horizontal concentric transverse axis 11 of the fixed hub part 8 but not about an axle located at such axis 11. The fixed hub part 8 can, for example, be of substantially Y shape as shown in the drawings with all arms of the Y shape equally spaced and extending an equal distance radially from the central axis 11 of the hub part 8.The main support frame or parts 12 for the wheel barrow 13 extend rearwardly and upwardly from opposite sides of the wheel rim or tyre portion 9, and supporting fixed and hub part 8 from a transverse pivot connection 14 with one of the hub arm parts 8a, said pivot connection 14 defining a transverse horizontal pivot axis parallel to the imaginary axis of rotation 11 and offset relative thereto downwardly as in a similar manner to the previously described link arrangement so that with the barrow 13 in the "at rest" position the pivot connection 14 will be disposed vertically below the imaginary axis of rotation 11 as shown in figure 2, forward movement of the barrow 13 will move the pivot connection 14 forwardly below the axis of rotation 11 as shown in figure 3, and rearward movement of the barrow 13 will move the pivot connection 14 rearwardly below the axis of rotation 11 as shown in figure 4, in providing the previously indicated benefits of facilitating initial momentum and movement of the barrow 13 and wheel,rim or tyre portion 9 and facilitating negotiation over objects or uneven ground.

It will be appreciated that in this second form of the invention, the fixed hub parts need not take the Y shaped formation indicated, but could for example be of solid or perforated disc form. The invention is not confined to a single wheeled wheel barrow, but two or more wheels could be similarly mounted in parallel or tandem on a barrow or other conveyance.

Referring now to figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings a general purpose wheel assembly, applicable to such as a wheel barrow or hand truck and the like in much the same manner as aforedescribed, can comprise a hub part 15 defined by a pair of spaced and parallel triangular plate members 16 mounting in the corner parts thereof and between such plate members 16 freely rotatable bearing or roller members 17 each rotatable about parallel axes (which may be provided by bolts defining axle shafts 18 for the rollers 17 and clamping the assembly of mounting plate parts 16 and rollers 17 together) such that the rotatable peripheral parts of the rollers 17 project an equal distance beyond the respective apexes 16a of the triangular plate mounting parts 16, such triangular plate mounting parts 16 being of equilateral triangle form.

The wheel peripheral part 19 is an annular member having an inner annular recess 20 within which the roller peripheral parts can locate for free rotation of the wheel rim or periphery 19 relative to the hub part 15 (comprising the mounting parts 16 and rollers 17), or vice versa, and about the true axis of rotation 'A'. (Similarly rollers engageable in a recessed track of the wheel peripheral part 9 can be provided at each end of the arms of the hub part Y-shape 8 in the previously described arrangement of figures 2,3 and 4).

The mounting plates 16 of the hub assembly 15 are further provided with a pair of aligned apertures 16b offset relative to the true axis of rotation A of the wheel assembly for the receipt of a pivot pin or pair or aligned pivot pins extending in parallel relationship with the true axis of rotation A of the wheeL assembly and the axes of rotation of the roller bearings 17, for connection to such as a main support frame of a conveyance to which the wheel assembly is fitted, or a fixed support frame or bracket or the like in the case of a depending wheel assembly.

Referring now to figure 7 of the drawings, one modification of this third form of the wheel assembly envisages the formation of the rim or peripheral part 19' of the wheel as a pulley wheel with an outer annular peripheral groove 21 within which such as a pulley rope, chain or like flexible endless loop member 22 can locate. The outer annular groove 21 can be of substantially U or V crosssection, and in the case of an ordinary link chain of the kind used in block and tackle assemblies, the outer annular groove 21 may have fluted side walls arranged for mating engagement with the link chain in the usual manner. It is further envisaged that the outer peripheral wheel part 19 of the assembly can be arranged as a sprocket with outwardly projecting teeth and with which a parallel linked roller chain can be engaged. By such arrangement of wheel assembly as a pulley wheel assembly for use in haulage, the eccentric mounting 16b arrangement relative to the true axis of rotation 'A' enables an initial load transfer with movement of the pulley rope or chain 22 on one side and pivotal movement of the wheel assembly about the eccentric connection 16b and pulley fixed support 23 before full rotation of the wheel periphery 19' about its true axis of rotation 'A', and haulage of the load, take place.

Referring now to figure 8 of the drawings, it is envisaged that the invention may have application in the agricultural field by providing a wheel assembly substantially similar to that described with reference to figures 5 and 6, but arranged for use as a harrow or cultivator wheel assembly by providing the outer peripheral rim part 19" with a plurality of projecting tines or spikes 24 arranged for ground engagement; the hub mounting part 15 being mounted with its eccentric pivot connection 16b to a main support 25, which can be pulled or pushed manually over the ground or can be attached to a vehicle such as a tractor for dragging over the ground; the direction of rotation of the wheel peripheral part 19', being dependant on the arrangement and angling of the tines 24, and the eccentric pivot mounting 16b arrangement being arranged to absorb or accommodate shock and the encountering of obstacles such as large stones as the implement is moved over the ground. It is envisaged that a plurality of similar cultivator or harrow wheel assemblies can be mounted in parallel, tandem or staggered relationship, on a supporting frame for rotation about vertical or substantially upright planes aligned with or at an inclination to the general direction of movement of the implement in use; or in other variations it is envisaged that one or more similar tined wheel assemblies can be substantially horizontally disposed and arranged for rotation and pivotal movement about substantially vertical axes.

Some preferred forms of the present invention have been described and illustrated by way of example, but it will be apparent from the aforegoing description that wheel assemblies with shock absorbing and/or load transferring means in accordance with the invention may have various further applications in other fields, in some cases without modifications and in others with minor modifications still in accordance with the invention. Other variations of and modifications to the invention can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly comprising a mounting part defining or provided with a first axis of rotation extending transversely of said mounting part and about which a wheel peripheral part can freely rotate in a plane normal to said axis, and means for supporting said mounting part and wheel peripheral part for free unrestricted pivotal movement as a whole about an axis eccentric and parallel to said first axis of rotation.

2. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wheel peripheral part defines a pulley wheel having an outer annular peripheral recess within which a pulley rope, chain or like endless loop flexible member is engageable for rotation of said wheel peripheral part and haulage purposes.

3. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 arranged as a soil cultivator and wherein said wheel peripheral part is provided with a plurality of ground engaging tines, a mounting part for the wheel assembly forming said soil cultivator being attachable to or arranged as part of a support for moving the cultivator wheel assembly over the ground and rotation of the wheel assembly being effected by ground engagement by said tines.

4. A wheel assembly for a conveyance such as a wheel barrow, comprising a mounting part defining or provided with a first horizontal transverse axis about which a wheel peripheral part can rotate in a vertical plane extending in the line of travel of the conveyance, and a support for the wheel assembly arranged to extend downwardly from a main frame or chassis part of the conveyance to have a lower end part define or be provided with a second transverse axis parallel to but offset from and below said first transverse axis, said wheel mounting part being pivotally movable about said second transverse axis for forward and rearward movement below said transverse axis.

5. A wheel assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said wheel peripheral part is fixed relative to and rotatable with a wheel hub part about a central transverse axis of said hub part, said hub central axis being provided at an outer free end part of a link which has its opposite end part pivotally engaged with a fixed support for pivoting about an axis parallel to said hub axis so that the wheel periphery and hub part are rotatable and pivotally movable relative to the fixed support.

6. A wheel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 inclusive, wherein said wheel assembly has a hub part forming the mounting part and arranged for pivotal movement about a transverse axis offset and parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel peripheral part, said hub part being pivotally movable but non-rotatable relative to a fixed support and the wheel peripheral part being rotatable about said hub part, there being annular tracking means at the junction of the wheel peripheral part and hub part.

7. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tracking means comprises an inner annular track of the wheel peripheral part engaging an outer annular track of the hub part.

8. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tracking means comprises a plurality of roller members rotatably supported at the hub part outer periphery and in rolling engagement with an inner annular track of the wheel peripheral part.

9. A wheel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 inclusive wherein the hub part is of substantially Y shape with all arms of the Y shape equally spaced and extending an equal distance radially from the central axis of the hub part.

10. A wheel assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 inclusive wherein the hub part is of equilateral triangular plate form.

11. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 9 when dependant upon claim 8, wherein the annular track of the wheel peripheral part is an inner annular recess, and a roller is rotatably supported at each arm end of the hub part Y shape for rolling engagement in said inner annular recess of the wheel peripheral part.

12. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 10 when dependant upon claim 8, wherein the annular track of the wheel peripheral part is an inner annular recess, and a roller is rotatably supported at each apex of the triangular plate hub part for rolling engagement in said inner annular recess of the wheel peripheral part.

13. A wheel assembly for a wheel barrow arranged, constructed and operable substantially as herein before described with reference to figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A wheel assembly for a wheel barrow arranged, constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 2,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A wheel assembly for a conveyance arranged, constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A wheel assembly for a pulley hoist arranged, constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A wheel assembly for a cultivator arranged, constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A wheel barrow incorporating a wheel assembly substantially as described with reference to figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A wheel barrow incorporating a wheel assembly substantially as described with reference to figures 2,3 and 4 or figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A pulley arrangement incorporating a wheel assembly substantially as described with reference to figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A cultivator or harrow arrangement incorporating a wheel assembly substantially as described with reference to figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.