GB2596536A

GB2596536A - Trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2596536A
Application number: GB2009899.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eagle Tim; Pomeroy Laurie
Original assignee: Dutypoint Ltd
Current assignee: Dutypoint Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-29
Filing date: 2020-06-29
Publication date: 2022-01-05
Also published as: GB202009899D0

Abstract

A trolley comprising: a chassis 12; a plurality of ground bearing wheels 24 rotatably mounted to the chassis; a support bed 26 for supporting said wall of the prefabricated utility room shell, the support bed being pivotally mounted to the chassis about a substantially horizontal axis; and a support bed drive means for moving the support bed through a substantially 90 degree arc about the pivotal mount, the support bed drive means being coupled between the chassis and the support bed; wherein the support bed is movable, by the support bed drive means, relative to the chassis between a substantially horizontal position for supporting the prefabricated utility room shell in its transportation position and a substantially vertical position for supporting the prefabricated utility room shell in the fitment position. The trolley may comprise an arresting means 34 for supporting the load, said arresting means may be tines or prongs. The support bed may be driven by hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical means and may be remote controlled to operate at a distance. Finally, the trolley may comprise restraining points for receiving restraining means to secure the load.

Description

TROLLEY

The present invention relates to a trolley and particularly but not exclusively to a trolley for re-orienting a prefabricated utility room shell between a substantially horizontal transport position and a substantially vertical fitting position.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In residential construction projects, it is necessary to install utilities such as heating, ventilation and electrical power. This requires installation of utility units such as a water heating unit, a distribution board for the electricity supply, a mechanical ventilation unit, and sometimes appliances such as a washing machine or a tumble drier. The units and appliances must be connected to utility conduits such as electrical power cables, ventilation ducts, gas supply, and water flow and return pipes.

In larger projects such as apartment buildings, it may be necessary to provide a number of identical installations. It has been found that significant cost and time savings can be obtained by providing a prefabricated utility room, known in the construction field as a packaged utility room (PUR).

A PUR, once it has been prefabricated, is delivered to the construction site by a bulk carrier such as a lorry. Each PUR is provided with crane lifting points to provide a means for handling and removal from the transportation bed of the bulk carrier. A crane or similar hoisting means is required to lift off each PUR. Once on site, it is challenging to move a PUR without damaging it, because of its size and weight.

An existing solution is to lift the PUR using a bespoke trolley. The trolley is designed to sit substantially inside the PUR and to engage lifting points under a work surface of the PUR. This method of moving a PUR is described in the applicant's co-pending British patent applications GB1806324.8 and GB1913339.6.

The complimentary trolley allows the PUR to be transported through the construction site and inserted into an appropriately sized void to provide a finished utility area that is suitable for a domestic environment. The inner wall of the PUR provides a visible face to face the interior of a room.

The design of the complementary trolley and PUR minimises the overall width allowing for the PUR to be transported through narrow openings. However, careful handling of the PUR and complementary trolley is needed. This is because there is a risk of tipping as the PUR is transported around the site in its fitment position, i.e. in an upright position, and the walls of the PUR extend past the wheelbase of the trolley which increases the risk of damage to lower end portion of the PUR wall when traversing ramps.

It has now been found more expedient to lay a wall, usually the rear wall, of the PUR flat on a pallet for transportation. This has the advantage that the pallet and PUR can easily be lifted on and off a bulk carrier using a fork-lift. It also reduces the height of the palletised PUR. Often, available height to manoeuvre a PUR is limited.

However, palletising a PUR horizontally introduces a serious problem of how the PUR is re-oriented to a vertical position without damage, once in a building for installation.

Due to the size and weight of a PUR, it is generally not possible to man handle, and man handling is extremely dangerous.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce or substantially obviate these problems.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a trolley for re-orienting a prefabricated utility room shell between a transportation position in which a wall of the shell is substantially horizontal relative to the ground and a fitment position on the ground in which said wall of the shell is substantially upright, the trolley comprising: a chassis; a plurality of ground bearing wheels rotatably mounted to the chassis; a support bed for supporting said wall of the prefabricated utility room shell, the support bed being pivotally mounted to the chassis about a substantially horizontal axis; and a support bed drive means for moving the support bed through a substantially 90 degree arc about the pivotal mount, the support bed drive means being coupled between the chassis and the support bed; wherein the support bed is movable, by the support bed drive means, relative to the chassis between a substantially horizontal position for supporting the prefabricated utility room shell in its transportation position and a substantially vertical position for supporting the prefabricated utility room shell in the fitment position.

Advantageously, the trolley enables a horizontally disposed PUR to be fork-lifted onto its bed, without manual intervention. The bed can then be rotated with the PUR into a vertical position, in which the wheels at the base of the PUP rest on the ground or floor. This enables the PUP to be moved a short distance on it's own wheels in the vertical position, into its final fitment position.

The support bed, in its vertical position, may be substantially within a footprint defined by the wheelbase and track of the ground bearing wheels.

It is important that the PUP and/or trolley cannot tip uncontrollably, and the risk of uncontrolled tipping is minimised by providing a stable base around the tipping support bed on the wheels.

A first end of the support bed, in the vertical position, may be proximate a surface on which the ground bearing wheels are disposed. This enables the PUP to be successfully positioned onto the surface, ie the ground or floor, in a controlled manner.

The distance between the horizontal axis and a first end of the support bed may be less than, but substantially similar to the distance between the horizontal axis and a surface on which the ground bearing wheels are disposed, for enabling the support bed to rotate to the vertical position with ground clearance.

The support bed may comprise an arresting means for arresting the prefabricated utility room shell during movement, the arresting means disposed proximate one end of the support bed.

The arresting means may comprise a support foot extending from one end of the support bed.

The arresting means may include side walls.

The arresting means provides a physical stop for preventing downward slipping of the PUP during rotation to the ground or back again.

The horizontal axis may be disposed closer to one end of the trolley than the other.

At least one wheel may have braking means. For example, two, three or all four of the wheels may be braked.

A rotational locking means may be provided for preventing swivelling of at least one wheel with respect to the chassis. Advantageously, two, three or all of the wheels may be locked, either in the direction of travel or at an angle to the direction of travel. Two wheels may be locked at 90 degrees to the direction of travel.

The support bed drive means may comprise a hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical drive means The support bed drive means may comprise a remote control adapted to allow a trolley user to operate the trolley at a distance. It will be appreciated that the rotation of the bed and PUS should be gradual, controlled by the drive means and be reversible. At no point in the rotation should physical intervention be required.

A space may be provided between the chassis and the surface on which the ground bearing wheels sit for receiving a portion of a further trolley.

Advantageously, if a forklift device, such as a "Lift Mate" stacker truck is utilised, then the base of the forklift device can slide underneath the support bed on the ground surface.

The trolley may further comprise restraining points for receiving a restraining means for securing the PUS to the support bed, optionally comprising straps. The restraining means may be ratchet straps.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a system for re-orientating a prefabricated utility room shell comprising a trolley according to the present invention and a lifting trolley.

The lifting trolley may comprise lifting trines for lifting the prefabricated utility room shell from underneath.

The lifting trolley may comprise a hoist for lifting the prefabricated utility room shell from above.

The system may further comprise restraining means for restraining the prefabricated utility shell to the support bed of the trolley.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of moving a prefabricated utility room shell, the method comprising the steps of: providing a prefabricated utility room shell and a trolley for re-orientating the prefabricated utility room shell, the trolley comprising a plurality of ground bearing wheels rotatably mounted to a chassis and a support bed pivotally mounted to the chassis about a horizontal axis, the support bed being movable relative to the chassis between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position; disposing the prefabricated utility room shell to the support bed of the trolley while the support bed is in either the substantially horizontal position or substantially vertical position; and moving the prefabricated utility room shell through an arc of substantially 90 degrees.

It will be appreciated that the trolley can be used to move a PUR from a horizontal carriage position to a vertical position for fitting, or it can be moved from a vertical position to a horizontal position. If for example, a PUR has to be returned from site, then being able to re-load a PUR onto a vehicle bed is a significant advantage of the invention.

The method may comprise the further step of securing the prefabricated utility room shell to the support bed using restraining means.

In the substantially vertical position, the prefabricated utility room shell may be supported by arresting means disposed on the support bed.

The step of disposing the prefabricated utility room shell to the support bed may comprise using a lifting trolley or hoist to either place the prefabricated utility room shell on the support bed or remove the prefabricated utility room shell from the support bed while the prefabricated utility room shell is in the substantially horizontal position.

A portion of the lifting trolley or hoist may be disposed in a space underneath the chassis of the trolley for re-orientating.

The third aspect of the invention may use the system of the second aspect of the invention. The trolley in the third aspect of the invention may be the trolley according to the any aspect of the invention defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a trolley; Figure 2 shows a further schematic perspective view of the trolley in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic plan view of a system comprising the trolley in Figure 1, a lifting trolley and a prefabricated utility room shell; Figure 4 shows a further schematic plan view of the system in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a further schematic plan view of the system in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of the trolley in Figure 1 with a prefabricated utility room shell; Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of the trolley in Figure 1 with a prefabricated utility room shell; and Figure 8 shows a schematic side view of the trolley in Figure 1 with a prefabricated utility room shell.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 8, a trolley for re-orientating a prefabricated utility room shell is indicated generally at 10.

The trolley includes a chassis 12. The chassis comprises two side frames which are connected together by frame elements. The chassis comprises two arms 16 which extend out from a first region of the chassis towards what is considered the front of the trolly 10 in use. The arms 16 effectively define a region 18 for loading or unloading a prefabricated utility room shell in its fitment position to or from the trolley 10. As can be seen from Figures 7 and 8, the loading and unloading region 18 is sized and shaped to receive a prefabricated utility room shell 100 in its fitment position.

A skin 20 may be affixed to the chassis 12 to cover the internal area of the chassis 12 and provide protection to the mechanisms inside.

A handle 22 extends outwards from one end of the chassis 12 to allow a trolley operator to move the trolley 10.

The trolley 10 includes four ground bearing wheels 24 (only some of which are visible in the Figures). Each wheel 24 is a swivel wheel rotatably mounted to the chassis 12.

A first set of two wheels 24a is disposed to one end of the chassis 12 and a second set of two wheels 24b is disposed to the other end of the chassis 12. Each wheel of the first set 24a is mounted to an arm 16 of the chassis 12. Each wheel 24b of the second set of wheels is disposed about a corner of the chassis 12.

Each wheel 24 may include a breaking means to selectively prevent the wheels from moving and/or a swivel locking means adapted to selectively lock the wheel in a specific orientation. Preferably each wheel of the first set includes a swivel locking means.

A support bed 26 with a substantially rectangular frame is pivotally mounted to the chassis 12 about a horizontal axis.

In the current embodiment, two axles 28 provide the pivot mounts, but a single axle extending across the chassis 12 may be used instead. The axles pivotally connect one side of the support bed 26 to one side of the chassis 12. The axles define the horizontal axis. Preferably the rotational horizontal axis is fixed relative to the chassis 12. The frame of the support bed 26 is raised above the horizontal axis defined by the axles 28 by an axle connection means 30.

In other embodiments, the horizontal axis may pass through the frame of the support bed 26. The frame of the support bed 26 may be directly connected to the axles 28, that is to say the axles 28 may extend into or through the frame of the support bed 26.

The frame of the support bed 26 may include strengthening elements.

The pivot mount may be provided closer to one end, preferably the front end, of the chassis 12 than the other end, preferably the end by the arms 16.

The support bed 26 is rotatable, through a substantially 90 degree arc, between a first position in which it is substantially horizontal (shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8) and a second position in which it is substantially vertical (shown in Figures 2 and 7). A first end of the support bed 26 is proximate the surface on which the ground bearing wheels 24 sit when in the second position.

An arresting means in the form of a support foot 32 extends from the first end of the support bed 26. The support foot 32 includes a cut out which essentially forms two prongs 34. A side wall 36 extends orthogonally from the ends of the support foot 32 partially up the side of the support bed 26. The arresting means provide a stop which prevents movement of a prefabricated utility room shell during rotation of the support bed 26. It may also be used to align the prefabricated utility room shell with the support bed 26.

The distance between the horizontal axis of rotation to the first end of the support bed 26, or support foot 32, is substantially similar as, or slightly less than, the distance between the horizontal axis and the ground on which the ground bearing wheels 24 sit.

A releasable restraining means (not shown), such as a strap, may be affixed to the support bed 26. The releasable restraining means may be used to secure the prefabricated utility room shell and/or a pallet for a palletised prefabricated utility room shell.

A support bed drive means is coupled to the chassis 12 and the support bed 26. The support bed drive means may be pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically powered, preferably hydraulically powered. The support drive means includes an actuator 38 which is pivotally connected at both ends to the chassis 12 and the support bed 26.

The support bed drive means includes a control unit 40 affixed to the chassis 12 and/or the skin 20. The control unit 40 is connected to the actuator 38 and controls its operation. A remote control 42 is connected to the control unit 40, preferably a wired connection 44 between the remote control and control unit is provided, but it may be a wireless connection. At least one, preferably two or more, emergency stop button(s) 46 is disposed to the chassis 12 and connected by wires to the control unit.

Figure 3 to 5 shows a system 1000 for use in re-orientating a prefabricated utility room shell. The system 1000 comprises the lifting trolley 10 discussed above, a prefabricated utility room shell 100, and a lifting trolley 200. The system may be used in the method discussed below.

A method of using the trolley 10 to re-orientate a prefabricated utility room shell 100 from a transportation position to a fitment position will now be described.

In the transportation position, a wall of the prefabricated utility room shell 100 is substantially horizontal relative to the ground. In the fitment position, the wall of the prefabricated utility room shell 100 is substantially upright or vertical.

A trolley 10 is provided at a building construction site, preferably on the same floor as the intended installation point for the prefabricated utility room shell 100, more preferably in close proximity to the installation point. Breaks are applied to the wheels 24, preferably the second set of wheels 24b. The swivel locking means may also be applied, preferably the orientation may be locked to a single direction.

At least one prefabricated utility room shell 100 is disposed on the building construction site in close proximity to the trolley 10, preferably on the same floor or within a few meters of the trolley 10. The or each prefabricated utility room shell 100 is provided in the transportation position.

A pallet, or similar carrier means, may be provided with the prefabricated utility room shell 100. The pallet, or similar carrier means, may be disposed to the wall of the prefabricated utility room 100. The pallet, or similar carrier means, may be disposed between the support bed 26 and the prefabricated utility room shell 100 during rotational movement.

The support bed 26 is moved into the first position, ie the horizontal position, if not already in said first position. Breaks of the wheels 24 are applied so that the trolley 10 is in a fixed position.

As shown in figure 4, a lifting trolley 200, such as a pallet truck or hoist, engages with lifting points (not shown) on the prefabricated utility room shell 100, or the pallet on which the prefabricated utility room shell is disposed. Once engaged, the prefabricated utility room shell 100 is raised to a height above the support bed 26 of the trolley 10.

As shown in Figure 5, the lifting trolley 200 is then moved so that the prefabricated utility room shell 100 is above the support bed 26 and is approximately aligned. Preferably a side, or sides, of the prefabricated utility room shell 100 is aligned with a side, or sides, of the support bed 26. Advantageously, the trolley 10 is provided with a gap between the chassis and surface on which it sits to allow support legs (not shown) of the lifting trolley 200 to be received underneath the trolley 10. Once in position breaks are applied to the wheels of the lifting trolley 200.

If finer adjustments are needed to correctly align the side(s) of the support bed 26 to the side(s) of the prefabricated utility room shell 100 then at least some of the breaks and/or at least some of the swivel locking means on the wheels 24 of the trolley may be released. The breaks and/or swivel locking means are reapplied once done.

Once the side or sides have been substantially aligned, the trolley 10 may be moved so that a lower end of the prefabricated utility room shell 100, that is the say the end which is proximate the ground in the fitment position, is in close proximity, preferably abuts, the support foot 32. The breaks of trolley 10 are reapplied. Then the prefabricated utility room shell 100 is lowered onto the support bed 26 and the trines of the lifting trolley 200 withdrawn, or the hoisting means disconnected. The lifting trolley 200 is moved away from the trolley 10.

The prefabricated utility room shell 100 is secured to the support bed 26 using restraining means such as straps.

Once the prefabricated utility room shell 100 is restrained, the operator may use the remote control 42 to operate the actuator 38 of the support bed drive means to rotate the support bed 26 through a substantially 90 degree arc from the first position to the second position thus moving the prefabricated utility room shell from the transportation position to the fitment position, as shown in Figures 6 to 8. The support bed 26 and the prefabricated utility room shell 100 are disposed between the arms 16 of the trolley 10.

As shown in Figure 8, the centre of gravity 101 of the prefabricated utility room shell moves relative to the chassis 12 during the rotational movement. The centre of gravity 101 remains within the footprint of the chassis 12, which may be defined by the wheelbase and track of the wheels 24.

Once the prefabricated utility room shell 100 is in the fitment position, the restraining means are removed. The breaks of the trolley can be released allowing the trolley 10 to be moved away from the prefabricated utility room shell 100. In some embodiments, the prefabricated utility room shell 100 may comprise omnidirectional rollers which allows it to be moved from the trolley 10.

The method can be performed in reverse to allow the prefabricated utility room shell to be re-orientated from the fitment position to the transportation position.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims

Claims

CLAIMS1 A trolley for re-orienting a prefabricated utility room shell between a transportation position in which a wall of the shell is substantially horizontal relative to the ground and a fitment position on the ground in which said wall of the shell is substantially upright, the trolley comprising: a chassis; a plurality of ground bearing wheels rotatably mounted to the chassis; a support bed for supporting said wall of the prefabricated utility room shell, the support bed being pivotally mounted to the chassis about a substantially horizontal axis; and a support bed drive means for moving the support bed through a substantially 90 degree arc about the pivotal mount, the support bed drive means being coupled between the chassis and the support bed; wherein the support bed is movable, by the support bed drive means, relative to the chassis between a substantially horizontal position for supporting the prefabricated utility room shell in its transportation position and a substantially vertical position for supporting the prefabricated utility room shell in the fitment position.
2. A trolley as claimed in claim 1, in which the support bed, in its vertical position, is substantially within a footprint defined by the wheelbase and track of the ground bearing wheels.
3. A trolley as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which a first end of the support bed, in the vertical position, is proximate a surface on which the ground bearing wheels are disposed.
4. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the distance between the horizontal axis and a first end of the support bed is less than, but substantially similar to the distance between the horizontal axis and a surface on which the ground bearing wheels are disposed, for enabling the support bed to rotate to the vertical position with ground clearance.
5. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support bed comprises an arresting means for arresting the prefabricated utility room shell during movement, the arresting means disposed proximate one end of the support bed.
6. A trolley as claimed in claim 5, in which the arresting means comprises a support foot extending from one end of the support bed.
7. A trolley as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which the arresting means includes side walls.
8. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the horizontal axis is disposed closer to one end of the trolley than the other.
9. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one wheel has a braking means.
10. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a rotational locking means is provided for preventing swivelling of at least one wheel with respect to the chassis.
11. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support bed drive means comprises a hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical drive means.
12. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support bed drive means comprises a remote control adapted to allow a trolley user to operate the trolley at a distance.
13. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a space is provided between the chassis and the surface on which the ground bearing wheels sit for receiving a portion of a further trolley.
14. A trolley as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the trolley further comprises restraining points for receiving a restraining means for securing the PUR to the support bed, optionally comprising straps.
15. A trolley as claimed in claim 14, in which the restraining means are ratchet straps.
16. A system for re-orientating a prefabricated utility room shell comprising: a trolley as claimed in any preceding claim; and a lifting trolley.
17. A system as claimed in claim 16, in which the lifting trolley comprises lifting trines for lifting the prefabricated utility room shell from underneath.
18. A system as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, in which the lifting trolley comprises a hoist for lifting the prefabricated utility room shell from above.
19. A system as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, in which the system further comprises restraining means for restraining the prefabricated utility room shell to the support bed of the trolley.
20. A method of moving a prefabricated utility room shell, the method comprising the steps of: providing a prefabricated utility room shell and a trolly for re-orientating the prefabricated utility room shell, the trolley comprising a plurality of ground bearing wheels rotatably mounted to a chassis and a support bed pivotally mounted to the chassis about a horizontal axis, the support bed being movable relative to the chassis between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position; disposing the prefabricated utility room shell to the support bed of the trolley while the support bed is in either the substantially horizontal position or substantially vertical position; and moving the prefabricated utility room shell through an arc of substantially 90 degrees.
21. A method of moving a prefabricated utility room shell as claimed in claim 20, in which the method comprises the further step of securing the prefabricated utility room shell to the support bed using restraining means.
22. A method of moving a prefabricated utility room shell as claimed in claim 20 or 21, in which, in the substantially vertical position, the prefabricated utility room shell is supported by arresting means disposed on the support bed.
23. A method of moving a prefabricated utility room shell as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22, in which the step of disposing the prefabricated utility room shell to the support bed comprises using a lifting trolley or hoist to either place the prefabricated utility room shell on the support bed or remove the prefabricated utility room shell from the support bed while the prefabricated utility room shell is in the substantially horizontal position.
24. A method of moving a prefabricated utility room shell as claimed in any of claims 20 to 23, in which a portion of lifting trolley or hoist is disposed in a space underneath the chassis of the trolley for re-orientating.