GB2150510A - Improvements in and relating to carriages and trolleys - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor driven carriage or trolley comprises in combination a chassis including at least one wheel connected to be driven through a motor supported on the chassis member and a wheeled carriage or trolley separable by a clamp from the chassis. The wheel(s) 19 of the carriage or trolley co-operate with the driven wheel(s) 2 of the chassis to support the assembly in a stable manner. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to carriages or trolleys This invention relates to carriages or trolleys and more especially to a power driven frame or chassis capable of providing motive power for a wheeled carriage or trolley, such as a golfing trolley.

Conventionally golfing trolleys comprise a two wheeled structure adapted to carry golfing equipment which can be pushed or pulled by a golfer as he proceeds around the golf course. This requires a certain amount of effort particularly on inclines and over rough ground. Purpose built power assisted vehicles capable of negotiating a golf course are available but these are both complex and expensive.

The present invention sets out to provide a power driven chassis member which can readily be connected to a conventional two wheeled trolley or carriage to provide motive power for such carriage or trolley.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a chassis member adapted to co-operate with a separable wheeled carriage or trolley to provide motive power for such carriage or trolley, the chassis member including at least one wheel connected to be driven through a motor supported on the chassis member and also including clamping means operable to connect the chassis member to the separable carriage or trolley such that the wheels of the carriage or trolley co-operate with the driven wheel(s) of the chassis to support the assembly of the chassis member and the carriage or trolley in a stable manner.

The motor supported on the chassis member may comprise an electric motor connected to a power source (e.g. an electric battery) supported on the chassis member. The motor may be connected to drive the wheel or wheels of the chassis through a gearbox also supported on the chassis. The power supplied to the electric motor may be varied through a variable resistor or similar device operated by the user of the carriage or trolley.

In one arrangement, the chassis member supports a pair of wheels mounted on a common drive shaft connected to be driven by an electric motor through a gearbox supported on the chassis member. The power supplied to the motor may be varied by the user.

According to the present invention in another aspect there is provided a motor driven carriage or trolley which comprises in combination a chassis including at least one wheel connected to be driven through a motor supported on the chassis member and a wheeled carriage or trolley separable by a clamp from the chassis, the wheel(s) of the carriage or trolley co-operating with the driven wheel(s) of the chassis to support the assembly in a stable manner.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention : and Figure 2 is a plan view from above of a part of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

The drawings illustrate a motor driven chassis member which in Figure 1 is shown separably connected to a conventional golfing trolley to provide motive power for the trolley. It is to be understood, however, that chassis members in accordance with the invention can be used to provide motive power for other wheeled trolleys or carriages which normally need to be pulled or pushed by the user for propulsion.

The chassis member illustrated in the drawings is indicated generally by reference 1. The chassis includes a pair of wheels 2 mounted for rotation on a drive shaft 3 supported by the chassis frame 4 through bearings 5. The drive shaft 3 is coupled through a gearbox 6 carried by the frame 4 to an electric motor 7 connected to recive power from a battery 8. The gearing of the gearbox 6 is selected to provide an appropriate output/economy ratio. Conveniently the battery is a 12 volt direct current battery having a capacity of, for example, 45 or 50 amp hours. The voltage and capacity of the power source will, of course, depend upon the drive motor required and the use to which the chassis is to be put. In the case of a golfing trolley it is considered that a battery capacity sufficient to allow for at least two rounds of golf before re-charging would be appropriate.A meter may be provided to indicate to the user the condition of the battery at any given time.

The battery is supported on a suitably dimensioned generally horizontal lipped tray portion 9 of the frame 4. Upstanding from the frame portion 9 is a bifurcated support post 11 comprising a pair of upstanding legs which carry co-operating sections of a clamp 12 for securing a conventional golfing trolley to the chassis member. The clamp 12 may either be a simple clamp of a variable clamp capable of receiving and retaining a variety of trolley strut cross-sections. The trolley is indicated in Figure 1 by reference numeral 13. The height of the clamp with respect to the post can be varied in any conventional manner as can its inclination to enable the chassis member to accept trolleys of differing dimensions and height. As shown the post and clamp are provided with complementary holes through which a securing bolt can pass.Additional strapping may be provided on the chassis frame further to secure the trolley 13 in position. The post 11 may be shaped additionally to locate and retain the battery in its required position on the frame tray 9.

The power output from the motor 7 and, consequently, the speed of the chassis member 1 can be controlled within appropriate limits (e.g. from 0 to 5 mph) by the user through a control box 14 positioned by means of a pair of clips 15 adjacent the handle 16 of the trolley 13 and connected through electrical wiring to the motor 7. A suitable plug and socket connection may be located between the control box and the motor to enable one to be separated from the other. Thus, the control box can be semi-permanently attached to the trolley handle.

The control may be effected through a variable resistor 17 positioned electrically in circuit between the electric motor 7 and the battery 8 and located in the control box 14. As illustrated, the resistor 17 is of a sliding type which can readily be operated by the user's thumb from an OFF position (i.e. an open circuit position) to a fully ON position (i.e. maximum current). An on-off switch 18 is also provided on control box 14. The switch may be lockable in the OFF position to immobilise the vehicle. Additionally, a forward/reverse switch may be provided.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the trolley frame is so connected to the chassis member 1 by clamp 12 that its idle wheels 19 run over the ground and co-operate with the driven wheels 2 of the chassis to provide a stable support for the assembled power driven trolley.

The chassis member 1 may be made of any material having the required properties of strength and formability. Thus, the chassis may be constructed of a plastics material, aluminium or stainless steel. The chassis wheels 2 may either be manufactured from a plastics material or alternatively, may include pneumatictyres. In one particular arrangement, a single electric motor connected to a 12 volt direct current battery is provided, the motor turning at, for example, 4,000 rpm with a reduction gearing of 25 1 to produce a maximum speed of approximately 5 mpl through 10 inch diameter wheels.

In use the chassis 1 is placed on the ground with the battery 8 seated on the tray portion 9 of the chassis frame. The trolley 13 which can be either of a rigid or collapsible construction is then placed on the chassis with the inclined trolley bracket 21 which supports the bottom of the golf bag seating on a similarly shaped upwardly inclined portion 22 of the frame. The lower end of the trolley is, therefore, located between the drive wheels 2 and the cradle formed by the clamp 12. The trolley 13 is then connected to the chassis by operation of the clamp 12 and by the additional strap if required. On assembly the golftrolley and bag will be positioned with its bottom end resting on the front end of the chassis and forward of the drive shaft which will assist in counterbalancing the battery positioned on the frame tray 9.As mentioned above, the battery is retained in position by the clamp 12 when this is tightened on to the trolley frame to secure the whole assembly. Propulsion of the assembled trolley can then be effected through the control box 14.

The apparatus described provides a number of advantages, these including assisting a golfer to negotiate a golf course without the effort of carrying or pushing any equipment. In addition, the chassis is simple to attach to almost any existing golf trolley.

Further, it is cheaper to manufacture than any purpose built power assisted trolley and is clean and simple to use. Also it can be transferred easily from one trolley to another to allow, for example, different members of a family playing at different times to share its use. Additionally, it can readily be attached to hired trolleys either by personnel of a golf club or by the operator having his own chassis available. It may also be possible to have a charging pointfitted to motor vehicles for charging up the battery during transit thereby eliminating or minimising the need for home charging units.

It is to be understood that the above described apparatus is merely exemplary of a chassis and powered trolley in accordance with the invention, and that various modifications can be made to the apparatus without departing from the scope of invention. Thus, in one unillustrated embodiment, the chassis 1 includes a single centrally disposed drive wheel connected to the electric motor. Alternatively, each wheel of the illustrated chassis may be driven through a separate electric motor connected to the power source. With such an arrangement, it would be possible to steer the chassis by selective control of the power to the respective motors.

Further, whereas the power source has been described as a 12 volt battery, any suitable power source may be provided.

In addition, the chassis may be provided with a remote control system to start and stop the vehicle and, where the chassis wheels are individually driven by separate motors, to steer the vehicle as well. Further, for security purposes, a locking device may be fitted to the clamp 12 and/or to the control box 14 to immobilise the vehicle. Alarms may also be provided to prevent theft of the vehicle or its contents.

Claims (6)

1. A chassis member adapted to co-operate with a separable wheeled carriage or trolley to provide motive power for such carriage or trolley, the chassis member including at least one wheel connected to be driven through a motor supported on the chassis member and also including clamping means operable to connect the chassis member to the separable carriage or trolley such that the wheel(s) of the carriage or trolley co-operate with the driven wheel(s) of the chassis to support the assembly of the chassis member and the carriage or trolley in a stable manner.

2. A chassis member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motor supported on the chassis member comprises an electric motor connected to a power source supported on the chassis member.

3. A chassis member as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the motor is connected to drive the wheel or wheels of the chassis through a gearbox also supported on the chassis.

4. A chassis member as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the power supplied to the electric motor is varied through a variable resistor or similar device operable by a user of the carriage or trolley.

5. A motor driven carriage or trolley comprising in combination, a chassis including at least one wheel connected to be driven through a motor supported on the chassis member and a wheeled carriage or trolley separable by a clamp from the chassis, the wheel(s) of the carriage or trolley co-operating with the driven wheel(s) of the chassis to support the assembly in a stable manner.

6. A motor driven chassis member substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 ofthe accompanying drawings.