GB2588979A

GB2588979A - Wheelbarrow with ramp

Info

Publication number: GB2588979A
Application number: GB2000784.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rafael Loura Alexandre
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-09-16
Filing date: 2020-01-20
Publication date: 2021-05-19
Also published as: GB202000784D0

Abstract

A wheelbarrow with a flat plate, or ramp 1 attached, the ramp being used to allow the wheelbarrow traverse obstacles and changes in elevation. Cables attached to the ramp have magnetic spheres 6 attached at the distal end. The hub of the wheel has magnetic grooves 2 to which the magnetic spheres can be brought into contact, causing the ramp to deploy across the obstacle. A lever and Bowden cable 3 and springs on hinges 5 are used to secure and release the ramp. The ramp has “tick” shape levers aligned horizontally along the top and bottom edge.

Description

Description Title

Wheelbarrow with ramp

Introduction & Background to the invention

The invention is a wheelbarrow with a flat plate (ramp) attached figure 1(1). The ramp rotates around the wheel using tension of the attached cables and with force of forward (pushing) and backward (pulling) motion created by the user. This invention is used for the wheelbarrow to go up and down elevations or to go over obstacles when performing tasks. The ramp is attached with magnets onto the wheelbase with cables. The cables are permanently fixed onto the ramp, these cables have magnetic spheres figure 1(6) on the end of them to allow the connection between the cables and magnetic cylindrical grooves on the wheelbase. The wheelbase has magnetic cylindrical grooves which have gradual depth running along them figure 1(2). Once the magnet on the cable is connected, using the force of forward and backward motion the spherical magnet moves along these grooves, once reaching the end of the groove it secures the magnet in place, allowing it to pull the ramp. The ramp is secured in place at the front surface of the wheelbarrow and on the underside surface of the wheelbarrow with small triangular shape (joints) running horizontally across the top edge and bottom edge of the wheelbarrow surfaces to secure the ramp in place with a hinge mechanism and clamping motion figure 1(4). The lower joint at the bottom of the front wheelbarrow surface moves on a vertical axis along the bottom of the wheelbarrow surface with a spring mechanism, and the joint nearest to the wheel on the underside surface of the wheelbarrow moves on a horizontal axis, this is operated with a spring mechanism connected with a cable controlled by the user figure 1(5). The clamping mechanism and spring mechanism will essentially work using a "Bowden cable" and lever figure 1(3), which will control both mechanisms simultaneously. The magnets are different polarization, the front levers on the ramp will have south polarization magnets to connect to north polarization magnets on the groove of the wheelbase and the back levers of the ramp will have north polarization magnets to connect to south polarization magnets on the groove of the wheelbase. The ramp has horizontal levers in a "tick" shape figure 1(7), which are lifted from the base of the ramp when the wheel of the goes directly over them, allowing the magnets to connect to the wheelbase.

Introduction to the drawings

Figure 1 shows a 3D drawing of the invention, with all its features displayed and numbered in sequence from 1 to 7. The features shown in figure 1 are: the levers (7) on the flat plate (ramp) (1) secured in place at the front of the wheelbarrow. It also shows the wheelbase with its magnetic grooves (2). The cables with magnetic spheres (6) on the levers of the ramp. The clamping mechanism joints with hinges (4). The spring mechanism on the joints (5). The lever and cable for clamping the hinges and compressing the springs (3).

Figure 2 shows a front view of the invention, with some features displayed in detail. The features displayed in this drawing include the flat plate (ramp) (1) secured in place at the front of the wheelbarrow and a detailed version of the ramp with its levers (7) and cables with magnetic spheres (6).

Figure 3 shows a side view of the invention, with some features displayed in detail. The features displayed in this drawing include the wheelbase with the magnetic grooves (2). The cable (3) and lever for operating the hinges and springs. The spring mechanism and the joints (5). The clamping mechanism and joints with hinges (4).

Detailed description of the invention

The flat plate (ramp) figure 1(1) is attached to magnets on the wheelbase with cables, the cables are permanently fixed onto the ramp, these cables have magnetic spheres figure 1(6) permanently fixed onto the end of them, to allow the connection between the cables and magnetic grooves on the wheelbase figure 1(2). The ramp is placed over an obstacle or elevation by the rotation of the wheel, the magnets will detach when from the wheelbase with forward (pushing) and backward (pulling) motion of the user and the magnets reach the shallow end of the magnetic grooves. The wheelbase has magnetic grooves which have gradual depth running along them, once the cable magnet is connected to the shallow end of the magnetic groove, using the force of motion the spherical magnet moves along these grooves once reaching the deeper end of the groove it secures the magnet in place, once the magnet is secured it can move the ramp around the wheel. These grooves on the wheelbase are adjacent and located next to each other, the magnets on the levers and grooves are different polarization for moving in different directions, the front levers will use south polarization to connect to north polarization groove on the wheelbase and the back levers will use north polarization to connect to south polarization grooves.

The ramp has horizontal levers figure 1(7) along the top and bottom to allow the cables to be lifted into place and connected to the wheelbase. The ramp has horizontals levers in a "tick" shape which are lifted from the base of the ramp, the wheel of the wheelbarrow passes over a certain area at the centre of the ramp causing the levers to be lifted, the levers containing the cables magnets connect to the wheelbase. The levers have holes on each end of them to allow the cable to run through them to guide the magnets to connect to the wheelbase. The ramp is secured in place at the front and underside surfaces of the wheelbarrow, a small plate in shape of a triangle (joints) running horizontally across the top edge and bottom edge of the wheelbarrow surfaces secure the ramp in place, this is the same ramp which rotates around the wheel using the tension of the attached cables, with the force of forward (pushing) and backward (pulling) motion created by the user. The lower joint on the bottom of the front surface and the joint nearest to the wheel on the underside surface have hinges, this causes a clamping motion figure 1(4) when the ramp is directly on the joint put into place by the rotation of the wheel. The clamping mechanism allows the ramp to be aligned with the wheelbarrow surfaces to be safely secured between the two joints. The lower joint at the bottom of the front wheelbarrow surface moves on a vertical axis along the bottom of the wheelbarrow surface, and the joint nearest to the wheel on the underside surface of the wheelbarrow moves on a horizontal axis, this is operated with a spring mechanism connected with a cable controlled by the user figure 1(5). The clamping mechanism and spring mechanism will essentially work using a "Bowden cable" and lever figure 1(3), which will control both cables simultaneously. This mechanism slides the ramp from secured position, when the ramp is in a secured position it cannot be connected to the wheelbase using the cables, only when moved into place using the spring mechanism, the permanently fixed cables with the use of gravity will then dangle over the wheelbase and connect to the magnets on the wheelbase when in the correct proximity.

Possible modifications & Variations Some features of this invention are welded in place but could be fastened on with bolts or screws. The magnets could possibly be modified to cylindrical shape rather than spherical. The flat plate (ramp) could applicable to other mobility apparatus. There could be multiple plates (ramps) for overcoming bigger obstacles and elevations.

Advantages of the invention * Less time consumable.

* Cost effective.

* Practical.

* Performs well without a lot of human input.

* Adaptable for different obstacles.

* Simple design.

Claims

Claims 1. The flat plate (ramp) with "tick" shape levers running horizontally along the top and bottom edge.
2. Cables with spherical with north and south polarization magnets to connect to the corresponding polarization on the wheelbase.
3. The wheelbase magnetic grooves with north and south polarization to connect to corresponding polarization of the spherical magnets on the cables.
4. The springs at the top and bottom front surface of the wheelbarrow to move the joint on a vertical axis and the joint on the underside of the wheelbarrow to move on a horizontal axis.
5. The joints at the top and bottom of the wheelbarrow surfaces with a hinge to clamp and secure the ramp.