GB470589A - Improvements relating to barrows, carts or trucks - Google Patents

Abstract

470,589. Motor propelled hand-trucks &c. TOMLINSON, H. W. April 23, 1936, No. 11654. [Class 79 (iii)] A hand-cart, truck or the like is adapted to be driven at a walking pace by a low power battery-propelled motor under the control of a person walking with the vehicle, a resilient drive to the road wheel or wheels enabling the motor to be controlled by a simple switch. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the truck frame 1 provided with a pair of handles 2 is mounted, by means of an axle 4 in plummer-blocks 3, on a pair of pneumatically tyred road wheels 5. Front and rear stiffening plates 10, 11 respectively carry a motor 12 and batteries 15. The motor is connected by a chain 14 to a chain wheel 7 loosely mounted between collars and adapted to transmit the drive through a coil spring 9 to a brake drum 6 fixed on the axle. To avoid need of a differential, one of the road wheels may be loose on the axle or the wheels may be connected to the axle through free wheel clutches. At the rear end a castor wheel 26 may be supported from a bracket 25, or a fixed or pivoted prop may be provided. The motor switch, which may be of the " dead man's handle " type, may be arranged in one handle grip 21, the brake control lever 22 being fitted on the other handle. In the construction depicted in Fig. 3, the motor 12 is arranged longitudinally, the drive being transmitted through a spring 9 surrounding sleeve portions 28 to a worm engaging a worm-wheel on the axle 4, the gearing being enclosed in a casing 32. The sleeve portions 28 are secured to the shaft ends by pins 29, the ends of the spring 9 being secured by pins 33 engaging longitudinal slots in the sleeves. The batteries 16 are arranged midway on either side between lugs 36 in a metal tray which carries the whole assemblage. The wheels 5 are connected to the axle 4 by free wheel clutches allowing overrunning and are provided with brakes controlled by a lever 43 with a take-off spring 46 and ratchet holding means 45. At the rear, a castor wheel 26 is mounted in a forked bracket 49a pivoted to a resilient frame extension 48 and adapted to be steered by a handle 51 on an arm 50, the handle 51 carrying the motor switch and also control means for a brake 54 on the castor wheel. A body 59 may be mounted on cross girders 58 secured to fillets 57 in the angle bar frame 1, the body being hinged at 61 to the front girder so that it may be tilted to allow access to the batteries &c.