WO2003031311A1

WO2003031311A1 - Haulage device

Info

Publication number: WO2003031311A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/004601
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stanley Le Baigue
Original assignee: Portawinch Limited
Priority date: 2001-10-10
Filing date: 2002-10-10
Publication date: 2003-04-17

Abstract

A portable device for hauling a heavy object, such as a sailing dinghy or caravan, over the ground is described. The device comprises a base (1) that rests on the ground, a post (2) extending upwardly and rearwardly from a forward position on the base (1) and a haulage mechanism (4) secured to the post (2) capable of being locked in any one of a plurality of positions along the post (2). The haulage mechanism (4) is manually operable by an operator standing on the base (1) at a position toward the rear of the base (1). In use, with the haulage mechanism (4) being operated to haul in an object over the ground, the post (2) is subject to a force having a component tending to lift the rear end of the base (1), which is counterbalanced by the weight of the operator standing on the base (1).

Description

HAULAGE DEVICE

This invention relates to a portable device for hauling a heavy object, such as a small boat or caravan, over the ground.

Hauling a heavy object, such as a small boat, over the ground generally involves the use of a device such as a winch, permanently anchored at a fixed location. For a single person without access to such a fixture, such as a lone dinghy sailor, there is a need for a portable device which can be easily stored in the boot of a car and is available to be set down and used at any convenient location.

According to the present invention such a portable device comprises a base that rests on the ground, a post extending upwardly from a forward position on the base and a haulage mechanism secured to the post, the haulage mechanism being manually operable by an operator standing on the base at a position toward the rear of the base. In use, with the haulage mechanism being operated to haul in an object over the ground, the post is subject to a force having a component tending to lift the rear end of the base off the ground, this component being counterbalanced by the weight of the operator standing on the base.

The force acting on the post may have an additional component tending to pull the base over the ground toward the object, and the base preferably includes means, such as a projection on the underside of the base, adapted to resist this sliding movement.

The post is preferably inclined at an angle of 45°- 90° to the base, and the haulage mechanism preferably comprises a winding device, such as a winch or windlass, but may alternatively comprise a block and tackle. The haulage mechanism is preferably locked in a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the post. The post is preferably hinged to the base such that it is pivotable from its inclined operative position to a collapsed non-operative position resting on the base, and can be folded for storage.

In an alternative embodiment the post is detachable from the base and can be dismantled for storage.

In the accompanying drawings, by way of example only:

Fig.1 is a side view of a portable haulage device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, from the opposite side and above, of the device of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view, from the front end and above, of the device of Fig. 1;

Referring to the drawings, the portable device has a platform 1 on which an operator may stand. Attached to a bracket 14 at the front end of the platform is a post

2, the post being raked back at an angle of between 45° and 90°, preferably around 50°, to the platform so that an operator standing at the rear of the platform can operate a handle 3 of a winch mechanism 4 secured to the post. The winch mechanism 4 has a drum 6 on which is wound a winch line 8. The winch mechanism 4 is conventional and will not therefore be described in detail. It includes a pinion 7 engaged with the teeth 9 of a main gear wheel 10, the pinion being rotated by the handle 3 and the gear wheel 10 being rotatable with the drum 6.

In operation, the free end 11 of the winch line 8 is attached to an object such as a sailing dinghy or caravan that is being winched. When the handle 3 is turned, the post 2 acts as a lever and the pull exerted by the line 8 on the post will include a component tending to rotate the post in an anti-clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig.l) so as to lift the rear end of the platform 1 off the ground. However, with an operator standing on the base and operating the winch, the base also acts as a lever and there is a counterbalancing force exerted by the weight of the operator which keeps the base in contact with the ground and effectively anchors the post 2 to the ground.

The pull exerted by the line 8 will also have a component tending to pull the platform along the ground toward the object being winched. The underside of the platform 1 therefore includes at least one and preferably two transverse ribs, each rib preferably comprising an angled steel bracket 5 extending the full width of, and bolted to, the front and/or rear end of the platform. Each arm of the L-shaped bracket 5 is preferably about 25mm in length and about 3mm thick. As an alternative, individual studs may be attached to the underside of the platform towards the front and/or rear end. For all but the smoothest surfaces the brackets or studs will resist any sliding movement towards the object being winched by digging into the ground. A winch housing 15 may be bolted to the post in one of two or more alternative positions and secured by wing nuts. Alternatively the housing could be slidably mounted on the post and locked at a selected position. In either case the position selected would depend on the nature of the ground surface and therefore the tendency of the platform to slide. Selecting a position for the winch near to the top of the post makes the platform less likely to slide but more likely to lift at the rear. The position selected will therefore on each occasion depend on the nature of the ground surface and the likelihood that the platform will slip.

The post 2 may be attached to the bracket 14 in a hinged arrangement by a bolt 16, and held at a preferred angle to the platform by front and rear edge stops 12, 13. The front and rear edge stops may comprise bolts, and a sleeve may strengthen the bolt comprising the front edge stop 12. The post may be folded for storage when not in use by removing the rear edge stop 13 and folding the post onto the platform. Replacing the rear edge stop locks the post in this inoperative position. Alternatively the attachment of the post to the bracket may be detachable, in which case the component parts may be stored separately. As the skilled person will appreciate, various modifications and changes can be made to the described embodiment. It is intended to include all such modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS;

1. A portable device for hauling a heavy object over the ground, the device comprising a base (1) that rests on the ground, a post (2) extending upwardly from a forward position on the base (1), and a haulage mechanism secured to the post (2), the haulage mechanism (4) being manually operable by an operator standing on the base (1) at a position toward the rear of the base (1), the arrangement being such that, in use, with the haulage mechanism (4) being operated to haul in an object over the ground, the post (2) is subject to a force having a component tending to lift the rear end of the base (1) off the ground, the said component being counterbalanced by the weight of the operator standing on the base (1).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the force acting on the post (2) has an additional component tending to pull the base (1) over the ground toward the object, the base (1) including means (5) adapted to resist sliding movement over the ground.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the means adapted to resist sliding movement comprises a projection (5) on the underside of the base (1).

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the projection (5) is at least one transverse rib located toward or at the front and/or rear end of the base (1).

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the post (2) extends upwardly and rearwardly from its forward position on the base (1).

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the post (2) is inclined at an angle in the range of 45° to 90° to the base (1).

7. A device according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the post (2) is pivotable from its inclined operative position to a collapsed non-operative position resting on the base (1).

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the haulage mechanism comprises a winding device (4).

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the winding device is a winch (4).

10. A device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the location of the winding device (4) along the post (2) is adjustable.

11. A device according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the post (2) is detachable from the base (1).

12. A method of hauling a heavy object over the ground, the method including the steps of attaching the heavy object to the haulage mechanism (4) of the device of claim 1, an operator operating the haulage mechanism (4) while standing on the base

(1) of the device at a position towards the rear of the base (1), wherein a force is exerted on the post (2), due to the haulage mechanism (4) hauling the heavy object over the ground, which tends to lift the rear of the base (1) off the ground, and which is counterbalanced by the weight of the operator standing on the base (1).