GB2223461A - Powered wheelbarrow - Google Patents

Abstract

The wheelbarrow comprises a chassis (1) supported on two front wheels (2) a rear wheeled support (6) steerable by a handlebar unit (11), a container (8) and a circuit comprising a source (18) of pressurised fluid communicating, via controls (12), with motors for driving the front wheels, with an actuator for a lifting unit (13, 14) pivotally connected to the front of the container and an actuator (10) for a tipping unit pivotally connected to the container behind the lifting unit. The tipping unit is preferably pivotally connected to the lifting unit. <IMAGE>

Description

POWERED WHEELBARROW The invention relates to a powered wheelbarrow with a hig lifting and discharging facility.

Existing manual and powered wheelbarrows are generally conveyors of materials the container cf which cannot be lifted. The aim of the invention is to provide a small, economical wheelbarrow that not only conveys materials, but which can also offload them at an elevated level e.g. into skips or small trucks.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: wig.1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of a wheelbarrow in the lowered position, fig.2 is a side elevation cf the wheelbarrow in the raised position, Fig.3 is a front elevation cf the wheelbarrow, Fig.4 is a plan of the wheelbarrow, Fig.5 is a side elevation of the lifting column and carriage of the wheelbarrow, Fig.6 is a plan of the lifting column, Fig.7 is a sectional view of the hub and wheel, Fig.8 is an end elevation of the wheel hub showing a driving key, Fig.9 is a sectional view of the top part of telescoping carriage units and container pivot lugs, Fig.10 is a side elevation cf a second embodiment of a wheelbarrow in the lowered position, Fig.ll is a front elevation cf the wheelbarrow, and Fig.12 is a rear elevation cf the wheelbarrow.

The wheelbarrow comprises a chassis 1 supported at its front on two driven wheels 2 powered by a hydraulic motor 3 via chain reduction sprockets 4 and a differential 5 which is lncorporated in the diving axle to assist steering and reduce tyre wear.

At the rear of the chassis 1 are provided two castoring wheels 6 with pneumatic tyres for steering the wheelbarrow.

Two har,d~ebars 11 for controlling the wneelbarrow protect rearwardly from the chassis Between the handlebars 11 are situated hand operated valve controls 12 for forward and reverse d-ive, lifting and tilting functions.

The wheelbarrow has a telescoping carriage formed by two parallel upright units connected rigidly together (not shorn). ach said unit comprises an outer member 14 slidably carried by an inner member 13. The inner members 13 are slotted at the top (Fig.5) to allow hollow bosses 17 to slide past. The bosses 17 pass through the tops of the outer members 14 and are welded thereto with the heip of reinforcing gussets 28.

The wheelbarrow comprises a container 8 which is laterally provided with pivot lugs 16. A pivot pin 29 extends through the bosses 17 and through holes in the lugs 16 which are reinforced by support bosses 9. The pivot pin 29 is retalned In position e.g. by split pins and washers.

To the pivot pin 29 is centrally attached the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 15, whereby the pivot pin 29 is lifted and lowered and together with it all the elements associated therewith, including the container 8. The container 8 is tilted by a hydraulic cylinder 10 which is mounted between the base of the outer members 14 and container pivot lugs 16. The cylinder 10 tilts the container 8 to eject its contents in the raised or lowered position.

Two support arms 7 welded to the outer members 14 support the container 8 when it is in the basic untipped position. An engine-driven pump unit 18 supplies hydraulic fluid, hereinafter: cil, under pressure to a hydraulic diverter control valve actuated by controls 12.

The operator selects the function required and cil is diverted through a flexible hose to the motor 3 or hydraulic cylinder 15. The cil is drawn from a reservoir 19 (shown only in Pig 2) situated on the chassis 1.

A hand-cperated disc brake 20 is situated cn the differential 5. This stops the wheelbarrow from moving on an inclined surface.

When required, the engine speed is controlled by a hand throttle 22 situated on the handlebars 11. The brake 20 is controlled by a hand lever 21 situated on the handlebars 11.

The wheelbarrow is designed to pass through narrow spaces, such as doorways 2ft 6in (762 mm) wide, and also to be towed behind a car by the fitting of a towing kit which plugs into sockets, (not shown) welded to the chassis 1.

The drive wheels 2 are standard wheelbarrow type wheels. A special hub 23 (FIgs 7 and 8) is welded onto the centre of the wheel 2. Through the hub 23 passes a differential shaft 27. The hub 23 and differential shaft 27 have longtitudinal slots milled therein to accept a steel key 25. A washer 24 and circlip 26 hold the assembly together on the differential shaft 27.

A typical example of operation of the wheelbarrow will now be described. When the wheelbarrow is in the lowered position shown in Fig.1, it is loaded by any known means external thereto, e.g. a shovel. First the engsne-driver. pump unit 18 is started so that cil is pumped to the diverter control valve.Then, by the actaticn cf one of the controls 12, the oil is diverted to the hydraulic motor 3, whereby the wheelbarrow is propelled forwards and/cr rearwards while being manually steered via the handlebars 11 as might be necessary to brlng it te the place at which it shcvd be unloaded, in the present example a skip (ct shown). The engine speed, and thereby the pumping rate, Is controlled by the hand throttle 22, and the wheelbarrow is at its destination stopped by stopping the motor 3 by actuation of the mentioned valve control 12. The disc brake 20, which is controlled by the lever 21, may be applied additionally for safety. This is particularly the case on an inclined surface. By the actuation of another valve control 12 oil under pressure is then pumped to the hydraulic cylinder 15, the piston rod of which begins te rise and carries with it the pivot pin 29, carriage bosses 17, outer members 14, support arms 7 and the container 8. When the desired height has been reached, the container 8 is tipped forward by the cperation of the hydraulic cylinder 10, whereby the contents of the container 8 is ejected.

By operation in the reverse order the container is brought back to the position shown in Fig.1.

The wheelbarrow comprises a chassis 31 supported at its front on two driven wheels 32, powered by hydraulic motors 33.

A beam 44 projects rearwardly fon the chassis 31. On the beam 44 is, via a central pivot 46, pivotally mounted a cross-beam 35. An engine driven pump unit 36 is mounted on a plate 7 which is welded to the steering cross-beam 35. Two vertical legs 47, each provided with a welded stub axle 38 carrying a wheel 3t, are fixed to, and extend vertically downwards from the cross-beam 35.The pivotal connection of the cross-beam 35 to the beam 44 allows the machine to be steered by a substantially U-shaped handlebar 39. The handlebar 39 has a control valve dQ mouned on i, which allows forward and reverse drive, lifting and tilting functIons. The valve 40 rs activated by a rocker arm 41 which is mounted at the centre of the handlebar 39 via welded lugs 41. The valve 40 is activated by a connecting rod 42 and connecting clevis 43 between valve 40 and rocker arm 41.

Other features of the second embodiment of the wheelbarrow not specifically mentioned are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

The engine-driven pump unit 36 supplies hydraulic fluid, hereinafter: oil under pressure to a hydraulic divertor control valve 40. The operator selects the function required and oil, is diverted through a flexible hose to the motors 33 or hydraulic cylinder 15. The oil is drawn from a reservoir 45 situated on the chassis. When required, the engine speed is controlled by a hand throttle situated on the handlebar 39 (not shown).

The wheelbarrow is designed to pass through narrow spaces, such as doorways 2ft 6in (762 mm) wide and also to be towed behind a car by the fitting of a towing kit which plugs into sockets (not shown) welded to the chassis 44.

A typical example of operation of the wheelbarrow will now be described. When the wheelbarrow is in the lowered position shown in Fig. 10, is loaded by any known means external thereto, e.g. a shovel. First the engine-ariven pump unit 36 is started so that oil is pumped to the divertor control valve. Then, by the actuation of one of the controls 40, the oil is diverted to the hydraulic motors 33, whereby the wheelbarrow is propelled forwards and/or rearwards while being manually steered via the handlebars 39 as might be necessary to bring it to the place at which it should be unloaded, in the present example a skip (not shown). The engine speeds, and thereby the pumping rate, is controlled by the hand throttle and the wheelbarrow is at its destination stopped by stopping the motors 33 by actuation of the said valve 4C. By the actuation of another valve control 40, oil under pressure is then pumped to the hydraulic cylinder 15, the piston rod of which begins to rise and caries with it the pivot pin 29, carriage bosses 17, outer members 14, supports arms 7 and the container 8.

When the desired height has been reached, the container 8 is tipped forward. The operation of the hydraulic cylinder 10 whereby the contents of the container 8 is ejected. By operation in the reverse order, the container is brought back to the position shown in Fig. 10.

Claims (8)

1. A powered wheelbarrow comprising a chassis supported on two front wheels, a rear wheeled support steerable by a handlebar unit, a container and a circuit comprising a source of pressurised fluid communicating, via controls, with a motor for driving the front wheels, an actuator for a lifting unit pivotally connected to the front of the container and an actuator for a tipping unit pivotally connected to the container behind the lifting unit.

2. A wheelbarrow according to Claim 1 wherein the tipping unit is pivotally connected to the lifting unit.

3. A wheelbarrow according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the lifting unit comprises a telescoping carriage formed by two parallel upright units connected rigidly together.

4. A wheelbarrow according to Claim 3 wherein each of the units forming the carriage comprises an outer member slidably carried by an inner member, the inner member being slotted at the top to allow sliding past of hollow bosses fixed to the tops of the outer members.

5. A wheelbarrow according to Claim 4 wherein the container is laterally provided with pivot lugs, a pivot pin extending through the hollow bosses, actuator for the lifting unit and the pivot lugs.

6. A wheelbarrow according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the source of pressurized fluid is powered by an engine fixed to the handlebar unit and moveable therewith.

7. A wheelbarrow according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the controls include a control for the motor In the form of a rocker bar pivotally mounted at the centre so that its lifting at one end causes rotation of the front wheels in one direction and its lifting at the other end causes rotation of the front wheels in the opposite direction.

8. A powered wheelbarrow according to Claim 1 constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 or 10 to 1 2 of the accompanying drawings.