WO2017145187A1

WO2017145187A1 - Mini dumper for loose material

Info

Publication number: WO2017145187A1
Application number: PCT/IT2017/000031
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio VEDOVE
Original assignee: Alitrak Srl
Priority date: 2016-02-22
Filing date: 2017-02-20
Publication date: 2017-08-31
Also published as: ITUA20161295A1

Abstract

A mini dumper comprises a chassis (1), featuring a motor-transmission unit attached to it (3) with the batteries installed inside of it (4). Positioned on the chassis is the skip (5), which rotates on the fulcrum (6) and is held in position by a hook (7) coupled to the chassis and disengaged by using the lever (8). The fixed handle (9) on the skip (5) has a special shape and the grip (10), located inside the handle bar cowling (12) is positioned at a distance (11) from the fulcrum (6), a distance that offers the operator the correct position for control. When the skip (8) release lever is used, it can be gripped together with the handle, with both hands. It is in the ideal position to be gripped and accompanied along the entire skip (30) emptying movement. The handle bars (12) are attached to the handle bar cowling (2) and the inside of the cowling contains the electrical parts 14, the battery charger 15 and the control dashboard (16) is built into the top.

Description

TITLE "Mini dumper for loose material"

DESCRIPTION

This application for patent for an invention refers to an electrically-driven barrow for loose material known as mini-dumper, structured for heavy duty use, especially for building and in construction yards in general, with an effective capacity of 350-500 kg, equipped with a steel container, commonly referred to as skip, said skip is closed on the front and can be emptied out manually.

A mini-dumper is known to be a barrow equipped with a motor system, handle bar-control and a container known as a skip, coupled to the chassis.

Usually these types of barrows are used in the building sector, especially in construction yards, to carry loose materials and must guarantee considerable effective capacities and at the same time be easy to manoeuvre, particularly for unloading the material contained in the skip.

Unloading is usually carried out by turning the skip on its rotation fulcrum by manually operating the handles which are usually on the side or central position of the skip structure.

At the current state of the art, there are the mini dumper categories described below:

Mini dumper with spark-ignition engine: this type of mini dumper is normally used outdoors/in outdoor yards and are characterised by high noise levels and exhaust emissions. In terms of construction, the spark-ignition engine is positioned at the rear, it does not require batteries and electric components;

Mini dumper with electric motor: this type of mini dumper normally requires the construction solution described below: the skip is usually fitted with handles on it, to manually unload the contents: the side or central position of the handle/s only makes it possible to grip them by hand, acting on the sides of the skip, making it difficult to unload. Typically, the skip extends forwards from the chassis frame and the fulcrum of rotation: as a result, with a full load, the weight on the rear wheel/s is insufficient and therefore to brake on rough terrain the wheel/s tend to raise off the ground losing stability and possibly causing the load to spill out. In some cases it is not easy to install the motor-transmission unit and the relative wiring is not suitably protected; in almost all cases the system is equipped with two batteries, one of which is installed in the chassis and the other inside a designated container attached to the rear of the handle bar cowling thereby making the structure of the barrow complex and articulated;

the battery attached to the rear of the handle bar cowling is also not sufficiently protected and hard to access; also, on existing barrows the electrical components are not grouped together, they are not sufficiently protected and the relative wiring is hard to install.

The existing solutions with electric motor described above are therefore disadvantageous or require the use of an excessive number of components such as battery containers, containers for electrical components, offer assembly that is not mass producible and maintenance procedures are not easy to carry out. This series of characteristics make the production of this type of barrow particularly costly, and with functional and operational shortcomings.

There is also an existing type of mini dumper, with electric motor, for use with livestock farms, greenhouses and nurseries, with load capacities of approximately 150 -250 declared kg; these types of mini dumpers have specific requirements for the requested use, they are structurally different from the two categories described above and often have plastic containers, sometimes very large and open at the front.

The purpose of this invention is to find a solution to the disadvantages of the current state of the art described above, with specific reference to the transportation of loose material in mini dumpers with an effective capacity of 350-500 kg, able to safely transport the declared load in the shortest amount of time, ensuring rear stability, even in the presence of rough terrain and slopes, to make use easy and to be able to empty the load with both hands from the driving station.

Another purpose of the mini dumper that this patent application refers to is to allow the installation of the batteries inside the chassis, to protect the motor-transmission unit and make it easily installable.

Another purpose of the mini dumper that this patent application refers to is to group together the electrical components, duly protecting them and making them easily accessible.

Another purpose of the mini dumper that this patent application refers to is to reduce the deposit of carried material on the chassis and facilitate cleaning, making it easier to build, reducing the number of components, making it mass producible, facilitating maintenance and reducing production costs.

These and other characteristics of this invention will be highlighted below in the detailed explanation of an example of this mini dumper, illustrated, though not limited to, the attached Tables, in which:

Fig. l

1- chassis

2 - handle bar cowling

5 - skip

6 - fulcrum

7 - skip-chassis coupling

8 - skip release lever

9 - lifting handle

10 - grip handle

12 - handle bars

20 - Drive wheels

22 - rear steering wheel

23 - position of the centre of gravity with full load

24 - volume of the extending skip in relation to the fulcrum 25 - volume of the non-extending skip in relation to the fulcrum Fig. 2 - Section l-l of Fig. 6

1- chassis

2 - handle bar cowling

3 - motor-transmission

4 - batteries 14 - electrical components

15 - battery charger

16 - dashboard

17 - connectors

18 - opening

19 - cover

21 - cover

Fig. 3 - X view of the handle cowling

1- chassis

2 - handle bar cowling

3 - motor-transmission

14 - electrical components

15 - battery charger

16 - dashboard

17 - connectors

18 - opening

19 - cover

Fig. 4 - Section Ill-Ill of Fig. 3

2 - handle bar cowling

13 - trapezoidal preferential form

14 - electrical components

17 - connectors

19 - cover

Fig. 5

1- chassis

2 - handle bar cowling

5 - skip

6 - fulcrum

8 - skip release lever 9 - lifting handle

10 - grip handle

11 - distance between grip handle and fulcrum

12 - handle bars

24 - volume of the extending skip in relation to the fulcrum

25 - volume of the non-extending skip in relation to the fulcrum

26 - rear end of skip 5

27 - distance between handle-grip and end of skip

28 - height from ground

29 - position of handle in relation to the handle bars

30 - handle-skip route

Fig. 6 - top view

1- chassis

2 - handle bar cowling

4 - batteries

8 - skip release lever

9 - lifting handle

10 - grip handle

12 - handle bars

16 - dashboard

29 - position of handle in relation to the handle bars

Fig. 7 - Section 11-11 of Fig. 5

8 - skip release lever

9 - lifting handle

10 - grip handle

Fig. 8 - Zoom W of Fig. 5

8 - skip release lever

9 - lifting handle

10 - grip handle

In reference to the attached tables, the mini dumper-type of barrow for loose material that this patent application for invention refers to, specifically a mini dumper equipped with chassis (1), handle bar cowling (2), drive wheels (20), rear steering wheel/s (22), skip (5) and handlebars (12). The skip (5) turns on a fulcrum (6) to unload the contents. As shown in Fig. 1, the skip (5) is made up of two volumes: volume (24) extends frontwards in relation to the fulcrum (6) while volume (25) is behind the fulcrum (6). The ratio between the two volumes determines the position of the centre of gravity with a fully-loaded mini dumper (23) and ensures the correct weight on the wheels and, therefore, the required stability.

The mini dumper that this patent application refers to features a lifting handle (9), which can also be gripped with both hands, along with a skip release lever (8), a handle positioned between the handle bar cowling (2) and the handlebars themselves (12).

In particular, the handle bar cowling (2), preferably but not exclusively built with shaped sheet metal, and preferably, but not exclusively, trapezoidal (13, Fig. 4), open on the operator side, (Fig. 2, 3, 4) and is preferably, but not exclusively, welded or screwed to the chassis (1).

As shown in Fig. 2, 3, inside the handle bar cowling (2) the electrical components are installed at the top (14), protected by the cover (19); the battery charger (15) is located at the bottom.

As shown in Fig. 2, 3, 6, the dashboard assembly (16) is built into the top opening of the handle bar cowling (2), with relative components and wiring. The dashboard wiring (16) is connected to the remaining wiring by the connectors (17), to make it easier to install and remove the elements.

At the bottom of the handle bar cowling (2) there is an opening (18, Fig. 2, 3), which can be used without tools, to access the battery charger (15). If necessary, this opening provides access to the connectors and makes it possible to remove the dashboard (16).

The chassis (1) of Fig. 2 is built preferably, but not exclusively, with shaped sheet metal; the motor- transmission (3) is attached to the bottom of the front part of the chassis (1), protecting it, while the batteries (4) are installed at the top of the rear part of the chassis (1). The batteries (4) and relative wiring are protected by the cover (21) and made easily accessible.

With specific reference to Figure 5, the grip (10) is at a distance (27) from the rear end of the skip (5) and the position (29) in relation to the handle bar grip. This position (29-27) determines an increase in the distance (11) between grip (10) and fulcrum (6) which reduces the force required to empty out the carried load. Also, the height from the ground (28) makes it easier for the operator to perform the unloading operation.

When the skip release lever (8) is used, with fulcrum on the sides of the handle (9), it couples with the grip (10), making it possible to grip both handle (9) and grip (10) at the same time, even with both hands.

When the operator uses the grip (10), he/she acts on the skip (5) which will turn on its fulcrum (6) and unload its contents. The grip (10) is therefore maintained by the operator from the start of lifting to the end of the skip's stroke (30) and return back to its horizontal position.

In accordance with the invention, this objective has been achieved by re-designing the mini dumper its with motor-transmission unit at the front of the chassis (1) attached from below , with the battery positioned at the rear of the chassis (1) installed from above, and with the skip and relative rotation fulcrum on the chassis deck (1) so as to increase the weight on the rear wheel/s at full load, thereby ensuring stability during braking, on rough terrain and on admissible slopes. The system built according to the above also features a handle (9), attached to the skip, with grip (10), as far away from the skip rotation fulcrum as possible, and which can also be gripped with both hands, along with the skip release lever (8), from the driving position.

Claims

1) Loose material mini dumper with chassis (1), skip (5), motor-transmission unit (3), drive wheels (20), at least one rear drive wheel (22), handle bars (12) attached to the cowling (2) said mini dumper characterised by a lifting handle (9) for the skip (5) with fulcrum (6); a grip (10) with skip (5) release lever (8).

2) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the skip (5) is comprised of a first volume (24) that extends out further than the fulcrum (6), and a second volume (25).

3) Mini dumper with the features of claim 1, characterised by the fact that the grip (10) is positioned on the handle bars.

4) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the release lever (8) of the coupling (7) between skip (5) and chassis (1) is equipped with a fulcrum on the sides of the handle (9).

5) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the release lever (8) couples with the grip (10) when used.

6) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the handle (9) is positioned between the handle bar cowling (2) and the handle bars themselves (12).

7) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the handle bar cowling (2) contains the electrical components (14).

8) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the handle bar cowling (2) contains the battery charger (15).

9) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the handle bar cowling (2) has an opening (18).

10) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the handle bar cowling (2) is preferably, but not exclusively, trapezoidal.

11) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the control dashboard (16) is coupled to the handle bar cowling (2).

12) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the motor- transmission unit (3) is coupled to the undercarriage at rear of the chassis (1).

13) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the batteries (4) are installed from above, in the rear position of the chassis (1).

14) Mini dumper with the features of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the batteries (4) are protected by a cover (21).