Hose Carts This invention relates to hose carts.
A hose cart comprises a body which carries a drum for hose and at least one wheel means to aid in moving the cart over a ground surface. Hose carts provide a convenient way for a user to own and use a hose. There is no need for the user to mount such a device on eg a wall and the cart can be easily moved between different locations for storage and use.
An issue in general with hose carts, or indeed hose reels in general, is that it can be physically difficult or at least tiresome to rewind hose onto the drum after use. One option in such a case might be to provide an automatic hose rewind mechanism in a hose cart, but this can present some difficulties.
Significant force will be required to pull a hose from the cart against a rewind mechanism, and significant force will be used by the rewind mechanism when rewinding the hose. Further both of unwinding and winding of the hose will generally occur whilst the hose cart is unattended -that is, the user will be "at the other end of the hose". Thus a hose cart may tend to be drawn towards or tip towards the user during unwinding, may tend to tip backwards during rewinding and may tend to tip to one side or another during rewinding and/or unwinding if auto rewinding is provided. Further as these issues are considered some other problems can arise.
It would be desirable to provide hose carts which ease the process of rewinding the hose onto the hose cart.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose cart comprising a cart body, a hose drum for carrying hose, which hose drum is mounted for rotation relative to the cart body for allowing the winding of hose onto the drum and off of the drum, a hose auto-rewind mechanism for driving rotation of the drum to rewind hose onto the drum, and at least one main wheel means rotationally mounted on the cart body for facilitating wheeling translational movement of the hose cart relative to a ground surface by a user, wherein ballast means is provided on the cart body to help resist movement of the hose cart relative to a ground surface during unwinding of hose from the drum by a user.
This can help resist a tendency for the hose cart to be pulled towards a user as they unwind the hose, particularly as a situation is reached where most of fo the carried hose has been drawn from the drum.
As presently preferred the ballast means may comprise a block of ballast material, for example a brick, say a concrete brick or clay brick.
The ballast material preferably has a density greater than that of water, ie greater than 1000 kg/m3.
The block of ballast material preferably has a density greater than that of water, ie greater than 1000 kg/m3.
Preferably the ballast material has a density of at least 1500 kg/m3.
Preferably the block of ballast material has a density of at least 1500 kg/m3.
The mass of the ballast means is preferably at least 2 kg and preferably in the range of 2.5 kg to 7.5 kg, more preferably in the range 2.8 kg -3.2 kg.
In selecting the weight a balance is required between creating stability and not making the device too heavy to lift and manoeuvre.
In alternatives the ballast means may comprise a ballast container filled or fillable with a suitable ballast material. In some such cases the ballast material might be water. It has been found though that the use of water has issues since when left outside it has been found in testing that with such an arrangement there can be a tendency for water used as ballast to freeze, expand, and damage the ballast container. Water also has a lower density than other suitable ballast materials and thus an appropriate mass of water will take up more space. If a particulate ballast material such as sand is used, this can provide greater density, less susceptibility to damage in freezing conditions, but can be messy and inconvenient for a user.
The hose cart may have a wheeling configuration in which the at least one main wheel means contacts with a ground surface on which the cart is placed for facilitating wheeling movement of the hose cart.
The hose cart may have an operation configuration for use when winding hose onto the drum and/or off of the drum.
Having these two configurations can help assist a use both in moving the cart when desired and avoiding undesirable movement at other times.
The hose cart may comprise at least one stand portion on which the hose cart is supported when in the operation configuration.
The cart body may comprise at least one stand portion. At least one stand portion may be mounted on the cart body, and may be mounted for movement, relative to the cart body. The hose cart may comprise a first stand portion and a second stand portion. The cart body may comprise a first stand portion. A second stand portion may be mounted on the cart body for movement relative to the cart body.
The at least one stand portion may be pivotally mounted on the cart body. The second stand portion may be pivotally mounted on the cart body.
The ballast means may be provided towards the rear of the cart body. The rear of the cart body can be considered to be the region of the cart body which is away from the region at which hose is pulled off of the drum in use. The rear of the cart body may be considered to be the region of the cart body at which the main wheel means is provided.
This can help resist tipping during rewind and/or unwinding.
The ballast means may be provided in the region of the main wheel means. There may be a pair of main wheel means and the ballast may be provided between the pair of main wheel means. The ballast may be provided below the level of an axle of the main wheel means.
The ballast means may be provided below the centre of mass of the hose cart. The ballast means may be provided behind the centre of mass of the hose cart. Here behind means on the opposite side of the drum than that from which hose is pulled from the drum and/or on the side which is closest to the main wheel means. Below is used in the sense that it is closer to a ground surface on which the hose cart is stood in normal use.
This can help in stability and resisting tipping as hose is pulled from the drum and/or rewound onto the drum.
The ballast means may be provided on the cart body at a location over the first stand portion. This can help ensure grip on the ground surface at the first stand portion. In turn this can help resist the cart moving forwards towards the direction in which hose is pulled from the cart.
The mass and location of ballast means may be selected so that the centre of mass of the hose cart is above an axle of the main wheel means when the hose cart is in the wheeling configuration.
The hose cart may comprise a hose outlet through which hose may pass when leaving or joining the drum. Such a hose outlet may be provided at what is considered the front of the hose cart. Such a hose outlet may be provided towards a top of the cart body, when the hose cart is stood in its normal orientation.
The cart body can be considered to have four quadrants, two lower quadrants which are closest to the ground when the cart is stood in its normal orientation and two upper quadrants above these. The front two quadrants are those at the end of the cart body from which hose is pulled from the drum with the two rear quadrants being the remaining two.
In such a case, at least one of the following may hold true: i) where present the hose outlet will typically be provided in the upper front 1 quadrant; ii) the main wheel means will typically be provided in the lower rear quadrant; iii) the ballast means will preferably be provided in the lower rear quadrant; iv) where present the first stand portion will preferably be provided in the lower rear quadrant; v) where present the second stand portion will preferably extend from the lower front quadrant.
The at least one stand portion may comprise a gripping portion arranged for gripping with a ground surface on which the hose cart is stood to help resist translation movement of the cart relative to the ground surface. The gripping portion may be of a material which is softer than the remainder of the cart body. The gripping portion may be of an elastomer. The first stand portion may comprise the gripping portion.
At least one stand portion, say the second stand portion, may be mounted on the cart body for movement between an active position for supporting the hose cart and a stowed position. The stowed position may be such that when the hose cart is stood on a ground surface in its normal orientation, the stowed stand portion is clear of the ground surface.
When the least one stand portion, say the second stand portion, is in the active position, the stand portion may extend beyond the cart body in a direction in which hose is pulled off of the drum.
This can provide the hose cart with enhanced support as hose is pulled off of the drum by a user. This can help resist tipping of the hose cart and/or translational movement of the hose cart in the direction in which the hose is being pulled.
The operation configuration may be such that the at least one main wheel means is clear of a ground surface on which the hose cart is sat when in the operation configuration.
The at least one main wheel means may be clear of a ground surface on which the hose cart is sat when supported via the at least one stand portion.
The at least one main wheel means may be clear of a ground surface on which the hose cart is sat when supported by the first stand portion and the second stand portion.
The hose cart may comprise the first stand portion, the second stand portion, and an auxiliary stand portion, wherein the cart body comprises the first stand portion and the auxiliary stand portion, whereas the second stand portion is mounted on the cart body for movement between an active position for supporting the hose cart and a stowed position and the hose cart is supportable on a ground surface via the first stand portion and the auxiliary stand portion when the second stand portion is in the stowed position.
The above configuration with the second stand portion stowed can be considered a storage configuration. This configuration can facilitate the hose cart being stably supported in a convenient upright orientation whilst the floor space which it occupies is minimised.
The storage configuration may be such that the at least one main wheel means is clear of a ground surface on which the hose cart is sat when in the storage configuration. The storage configuration may be such that the second stand portion is clear of a ground surface on which the hose cart is sat when in the storage configuration.
The hose cart may comprise a wheeling handle portion for use by a user when causing translation movement of the hose cart by wheeling the hose cart on the at least one main wheel means.
The cart body may comprise the wheeling handle portion. The wheeling handle portion may be mounted on the cart body. The wheeling handle portion may be removably mounted on the cart body. This can facilitate storage and/or transport of the hose cart -ie by allowing a reduction in the to cube space occupied by the components of the cart.
The hose cart may be arranged so that the hose cart is moveable into the wheeling configuration by a user pulling on the wheeling handle portion so as to bring the main wheel means in contact with ground surface on which the cart is stood.
In general the required pulling will be in a backwards direction -ie in a direction opposite to that which hose is pulled off of the drum.
The hose cart may be arranged so that the hose cart is moveable from the storage configuration and/or the operative configuration into the wheeling configuration by a user pulling on the wheeling handle portion to bring the main wheel means in contact with ground surface on which the cart is stood.
The wheeling handle portion may be oriented so that when the hose cart is in the storage configuration and/or the operative configuration, the wheeling handle portion is inclined forwards over the hose drum.
This can facilitate, in terms of ease of movement and/or indication/hint to the user of required movement, moving of the hose cart by a user from the storage configuration and/or the operative configuration into the wheeling configuration.
This forward inclination of the wheeling handle portion may also be defined by saying that an angle made between i) the wheeling handle portion as this extends away from a base of the hose cart, and ii) a ground surface on which the hose cart is stood in normal use is less than 90 degrees.
At least one of the stand portions may comprise rotation mobilising means for facilitating turning of the hose cart about an axis transverse to a ground surface on which the cart is stood.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose cart comprising a cart body, a hose drum for carrying hose, which hose drum is mounted for rotation relative to the cart body for allowing the winding of hose onto the drum and off of the drum, a hose auto-rewind mechanism for driving rotation of the drum to rewind hose onto the drum, and at least one main wheel means rotationally mounted on the cart body for facilitating wheeling translational movement of the hose cart relative to a ground surface by a user, wherein the hose cart has an operation configuration for use when winding hose onto the drum and/or off of the drum and comprises at least one stand portion on which the hose cart is supported when in the operation configuration, the stand portion comprising rotation mobilising means for facilitating turning of the hose cart about an axis transverse to a ground surface on which the cart is stood.
The rotation mobilising means can facilitate turning of the hose cart towards a direction in which hose is pulled by a user from the drum of the cart in use. Desirably translational movement of the hose cart towards the user is inhibited as hose is pulled from the drum whilst angular movement of the cart is facilitated. With these features the cart can be considered to be arranged to follow the user, in an angular sense, as hose is drawn from the drum. This can help resist a tendency for the hose cart to tip if hose is pulled at an angle from a straight ahead direction.
The rotation mobilising means may comprise a skid portion which is arranged for encouraging sliding movement of the skid portion on a ground surface on which the cart is stood. This gives a simple construction but has been found ineffective on rough ground and particularly on lawn surfaces.
The rotation mobilising means may comprise a roller ball captured for rotation about its centre. Such a ball need not be restricted to rotation about a single axis. This may help in assisting angular motion, it may however be less effective at inhibiting translational movement.
The rotation mobilising means may comprise a foot portion which is rotatably mounted to the base of the hose cart so as to facilitate rotation of the cart body relative to the foot portion when the foot portion is stood on a ground surface. This can provide angular movement of the hose cart relative to the ground in the same way as a turntable or "Lazy Susan" which is very effective. However the construction is relatively complex and it can lead to instability in the cart, especially on uneven ground.
Preferably, the rotation mobilising means comprises at least one auxiliary wheel means arranged to rotate around an axis. The axis may be defined by an axle. The auxiliary wheel means may rotate with the axle or relative to the axle.
Preferably, the hose cart comprises a first stand portion and a second stand portion as defined above and the rotation mobilising means are provided on the second stand portion.
As mentioned above the cart body may comprise the first stand portion.
Further as mentioned above the second stand portion may be mounted on the cart body for movement relative to the cart body.
Moreover, the second stand portion may be pivotally mounted on the cart body.
At least one stand portion, say the second stand portion may extend beyond the cart body in a direction which hose is pulled off the drum.
Again as mentioned above at least one stand portion, say the second stand portion, may be mounted on the cart body for movement between an active position for supporting the hose cart and a stowed position. The stowed position may be such that when the hose cart is stood on a ground surface in its normal orientation, the stowed stand portion is clear of the ground surface.
When the least one stand portion, say the second stand portion, is in the active position, the stand portion may extend beyond the cart body in a direction in which hose is pulled off of the drum.
This can provide the hose cart with enhanced support as hose is pulled off of the drum by a user. This can help resist tipping of the hose cart and/or translational movement of the hose cart in the direction in which the hose is being pulled.
The provision of rotation mobilising means on the second stand portion when this extends, say when in the active position, beyond the cart body in a direction in which hose is pulled off of the drum has particular utility. In such a case angular movement of the hose cart can occur with a relatively small amount of sliding occurring at the first stand portion, say under the body of the cart and greater "side to side" movement occurring at the second stand portion -facilitated by the mobilising means. Without rotation mobilising means the provision of the second stand portion can serve to significantly resist any turning of the hose cart and there may be a desire to make the stand wider to reduce the risk of tipping when hose is pulled at an angle. Increasing the width of the stand is undesirable as, besides anything else it increase the space occupied by the hose cart, especially say in the storage configuration. Further increasing stand width is not necessarily the best way to avoid side to side tipping in all circumstances.
The auxiliary wheel means may comprise a hub portion and may comprise an outer rim. At least one ground engaging grip portion may be provided on the outer rim. The grip portion may assist in resisting translational movement of the hose cart when in contact with the ground surface.
The grip portion may be of a material which is softer than the material of a body of the auxiliary wheel which comprises the hub portion and the rim. The grip portion may be of an elastomer.
The auxiliary wheel means may be relatively flat, that is disc like, or may comprise a roller portion or a roller ball portion arranged for rotation around the axis.
The axis of rotation of the auxiliary wheel means may be transverse to an axis of rotation of the main wheel means.
The axis of rotation of the auxiliary wheel means may be parallel to a ground surface on which the hose cart is stood when the hose cart is supported by the stand portion of which the auxiliary wheel means is part.
The axis of rotation of the auxiliary wheel means may point towards a base region of the hose cart.
The rotation mobilising means may comprise a plurality of auxiliary wheel 25 means, say two auxiliary wheel means.
The respective axes of rotation of the auxiliary wheel means may be in a common plane which may be parallel to a ground surface on which the hose cart is stood when the hose cart is supported by the stand portion of which the auxiliary wheel means are part and the respective axes of rotation of the auxiliary wheel means may be inclined to one another within that plane. The respective axes may be inclined towards one another, and may get closer to one another as they get nearer to a centre of the hose cart.
The respective axes of rotation of the auxiliary wheel means may intersect with one another at a location which is within or under the bounds of the hose cart.
The auxiliary wheel means may be arranged along an arc and their respective axes of rotation may be directed towards the interior of the arc, say towards a centre of the arc.
The cart body may comprise a casing which houses the hose drum. This can provide an arrangement which is sometimes termed a cased hose reel and can help keep the hose clean. Such a casing can also protect other components of the hose cart, and help protect a user from injury during auto-rewinding of hose under action of the auto-rewind mechanism.
The casing may comprise the first stand portion. The casing may comprise the auxiliary stand portion. The casing may comprise a supporting portion for supporting the cart as it is moved by a user between the operation and/or storage configuration and the wheeling configuration.
The casing may comprise a hose opening through which hose may pass when leaving or joining the drum.
The hose auto-rewind mechanism may comprise a spring for driving the mechanism and arranged so that elastic potential energy is stored in the spring as hose is drawn from the drum and this stored energy is used during rewind to drive rotation of the drum to automatically rewind hose back on to the drum.
The spring may be carried in the hose drum.
The hose auto-rewind mechanism may comprise lock means for selectively locking the drum against auto-rewinding. The lock means may be manually operable between a locking state and an unlocked state, for example via a user control such as a lever. The lock means may be arranged to automatically releasably lock the drum against auto-rewinding as and when a user stops pulling hose off of the drum.
The hose cart may comprise a layering mechanism for evenly layering hose onto the drum as the hose is rewound onto the drum. The layering mechanism may comprise a hose guiding portion for guiding the hose as it joins and leaves the drum.
The hose outlet may comprise the hose guiding portion. The hose outlet may comprise the hose opening.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose cart arrangement comprising a hose cart as defined above and a length of hose provided on the drum.
The mass and location of ballast means may be selected so that the centre of mass of the hose cart arrangement is above an axle of the main wheel means when the hose cart arrangement is in the wheeling configuration.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose cart comprising a cart body, a hose drum for carrying hose, which hose drum is mounted for rotation relative to the cart body for allowing the winding of hose onto the drum and off of the drum, a hose auto-rewind mechanism for driving rotation of the drum to rewind hose onto the drum, and at least one main wheel means rotationally mounted on the cart body for facilitating wheeling translational movement of the hose cart relative to a ground surface by a user.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a hose cart comprising a cart body, a hose drum for carrying hose, which hose drum is mounted for rotation relative to the cart body for allowing the winding of hose onto the drum and off of the drum, a hose auto-rewind mechanism for driving rotation of the drum to rewind hose 5 onto the drum, and at least one main wheel means rotationally mounted on the cart body for facilitating wheeling translational movement of the hose cart relative to a ground surface by a user, the method comprising the step of providing ballast means on the cart body to help resist movement of the hose cart relative to a ground surface during unwinding of hose from the drum by a user.
Note that, in general terms and with any necessary modifications in wording, all of the further features defined above following any aspect of the invention above are applicable as further features of all other aspects of the invention defined above. These further features are not restated after each aspect of the invention merely for the sake of brevity.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a hose cart in an operation configuration; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the hose cart of Figure 1 when in a storage configuration; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the hose cart of Figure 1 when in a wheeling configuration; Figures 4A and 4B are schematic front and rear views of the hose cart of Figure 1 an operation configuration; Figure 5 is a partially cut away rear view of the hose cart of Figure 1 in an operation configuration; and Figure 6 is a partially cut away front perspective view of the hose cart of Figure 1 in an operation configuration.
Figures 1, 4A, 4B, 5 and 6 show a hose cart comprising a body 1, on which are mounted two main wheels 2 (only one of which can be seen in Figure 1), and a wheeling handle 3. In the present embodiment the body 1 comprises a casing 11 in which is rotatably mounted a drum 4 (see Figures 5, 6) for carrying hose.
The drawings show the hose cart without any hose in place. It will be appreciated that hose will be provided on the drum 4 in use to provide a hose cart arrangement comprising the hose cart as shown and the length of hose.
The casing 11 serves to contain the hose when present as well as other main components of the hose cart. As such the hose cart can be considered a cased hose cart. As well as protecting the hose and components of the hose cart, the casing 11 can help protect against injury to a user from contact with the drum 4 during rotation of the drum 4. The casing 11 has an opening or mouth 12 (see Figures 4A and 6) through which hose runs when being wound on to and off of the drum 4.
The hose cart comprises a hose rewind mechanism 5 for automatically driving rotation of the drum 4 relative to the body 1 of the hose cart to rewind hose onto the drum 4. The hose rewind mechanism 5 is a standard rewind mechanism which is available in commercial products of the applicant and others and will not be described in great detail herein. The rewind mechanism 5 comprises a spiral spring 51 (see Figure 6) provided in the drum 4. As hose is pulled from the drum 4, turning the drum 4, the spring 51 is "wound up" storing elastic potential energy. When it comes to rewinding the hose, this stored elastic potential energy is used to drive rotation of the drum 4 as the spring 51 "unwinds". The hose rewind mechanism 5 may also comprise a lock (not shown) for selectively locking the drum 4 against rotation. The hose rewind mechanism 5 may also comprise a damper (not shown) for controlling the speed of rotation of the drum 4 during rewind.
The hose cart comprises a hose layer mechanism 6 (see Figure 6) which comprises a hose guide 61 provided at the mouth 12 of the casing 1. The hose guide 61 is driven in a (slowly) oscillating manner by a drive bar 62 as hose is rewound onto the drum 4 so as to spread the hose across the drum 4. In this oscillating movement, the hose guide 61 moves from one side of the mouth 12 to the other. The drive bar 62 is rotated at an appropriate rate under action of the rotating drum 4 to achieve even layering. Again the layering mechanism is a standard layering mechanism which is available in commercial products of the applicant and thus is not described in great detail herein.
The hose cart is shown in an operative configuration in Figures 1, 4A, 4B, 5 and 6 -this being a configuration which is suitable for drawing hose off of the drum 4 and allowing rewind of hose onto the drum 4.
The casing 11 comprises a first stand portion 13 which is provided towards the rear of the hose cart. The first stand portion 13 is provided between the main wheels 2. In the present embodiment, the first stand portion 13 comprises two gripping portions 13a (see Figures 1 and 4A) which act as ground contact points when the that hose cart is in the operative configuration. The gripping portions 13a are each a portion of elastomer material provided as an insert in the lower wall of the casing 11.
As can be seen, by considering for example, Figure 1, when the hose cart is in the operative configuration with the first stand portion 13 in contact with a ground surface, the wheels 2 are spaced from the ground surface. This helps resist unwanted movement of the hose cart during winding and unwinding of the hose.
The hose cart comprises a second stand portion 7. The second stand portion 7 is pivotally mounted on the body 1 of the hose cart, in particular the casing 11. The second stand portion 7 is shown in an extended state in Figure 1 and this corresponds to the hose cart of the present embodiment being in the operative configuration. The second stand portion 7 extends forward of the body 1 of the hose cart and assists against undesirable forward tipping of the hose cart as hose is pulled off of the drum 4. The second stand portion 7 also assists against undesirable forward movement of the hose cart towards a user as hose is pulled from the drum 4. The second stand portion 7 can be considered to "dig in" to the ground surface as hose is pulled from the drum 4.
The hose cart comprises an auxiliary stand portion 14. In the present case the auxiliary stand portion 14 is provided by part of the casing 11. In the operation configuration shown in Figure 1, the auxiliary stand portion 14 is clear of the ground surface G on which the hose cart is stood.
The second stand portion 7 is moveable between the extended state shown in Figure 1 and a stowed state as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the hose cart in a storage configuration. This is the same as the operation configuration except that the second stand portion 7 is in its stowed state and when stood on a ground surface G, the auxiliary stand portion 14 supports the hose cart in place of the second stand portion 7.
In this state, the rear of the hose cart is still supported by the first stand portion 13 with the main wheels 2 clear of the ground.
Whilst resistance of movement is of less interest when the hose cart is in the storage configuration, ground engaging ribs are provided on the underside of the auxiliary stand portion 14 in the present embodiment.
In the storage configuration, the space taken up by the hose cart is reduced.
In the storage configuration, the second stand portion 7 is clear of a ground surface G on which the hose cart is stood.
Referring particularly to Figure 6, the second stand portion 7 comprises a pair of leg portions 71. A first end 71a of each leg portion 71 is pivotally mounted to the casing 11. The second ends 71b of the leg portions 71 are joined by a cross piece 72. In the present embodiment, the leg portions 71 and cross piece 72 are of tubing, say Aluminium tubing. The leg portions 71 and cross piece 72 may be integrally formed as a bent U-shaped length of tubing.
The leg portions 71 support a carriage 73. In the present embodiment the carriage 73 is mounted on the cross piece 72 via clips 731 that receive the tubing of the cross piece 72 and retaining screws (not shown). The carriage may be provided separately from the cart when supplied to the user and mounted using the clips 731 and retaining screws to help minimise the envelope of the product in shipping/transport.
The second stand portion 7 locks into position in the extended position and/or the stowed position. This is achieved in the present embodiment by the provision of suitable recesses and/or detents lla provided in the side wall llb of the casing 11 which engage with one or both of the leg portions 71. The recesses and/or detents lla are arranged to initially resist movement out of the respective extended position towards the stowed position and/or out of the stowed position towards the extended position, but allow such movement as the force exerted on the stand portion 7 by a user is increased. On the other hand the recesses and/or detents lla are arranged to in practice prevent movement from the respective extended position further away from the stowed position and/or movement from the stowed position further away from the extended position. That is to say the recesses and/or detents lla limit overall travel of the pivotal movement of the second stand portion 7.
Two auxiliary wheels 74 are mounted for rotation in the carriage 73. When the second stand portion 7 contacts the ground to support the hose cart, contact with the ground is via the auxiliary wheels 74.The wheels run on axles 74a received in the carriage 73 and have a hub portion 74b at the axle 74a and an outer rim 74c. The outer rim 74c of each wheel 74 may be provided with a gripping portion (or tyre).
The axes of rotation of the two auxiliary wheels 41 are transverse to that of the main wheels 2. This is because the auxiliary wheels 41 are provided to assist in angular movement of the hose cart when hose is pulled off of the drum 4.
As hose is pulled from the drum in use the first and second stand portions 13, 7 act together to resist forward tipping of the hose cart and forward translation movement of the hose cart towards the user. However if the user pulls the hose at an angle to the straight forward direction (in the present embodiment nominally a hose passage axis through the hose guide 61, or nominally a perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum), this can tend to cause side to side tipping of the hose cart and/or resistance to unwinding. Similar issues, but perhaps to a lesser extent, can occur during rewind.
With suitably oriented wheels on the second stand portion 7, angular "following" of the user is facilitated, where the hose cart can turn around a vertical axis so as to face the direction in which hose is being pulled (or the direction from which it is being rewound).
In the present embodiment the auxiliary wheels 74 are provided on an arc with their axes of rotation pointing towards one another and towards an interior of the arc -optionally at the centre of the arc. The axes intersect under the body of the cart. The axes of rotation are in a common plane, which with the second stand in the extended state and the hose cart in contact with a ground surface G, is parallel to the ground surface.
As may be noted for example in Figures 4A and 6, the contact points with a ground surface provided by the second stand portion 7, via the wheels 74 in the present embodiment, extend outside the width of the body 1 of the hose cart. In fact they extend beyond a width defined by the outer edges of the main wheels 2. To put this another way the spacing between the centres of the auxiliary wheels 74 is greater than at least one of, and this embodiment all of: i) the spacing between main wheels 2; ii) the width of the hose cart body 1; hi) the width of the casing 11; iv) the overall width of the cart across the main wheels 2.
This helps resist side to side tipping of the cart, especially if and when hose is pulled off of the drum 4 at an angle.
It may be noted that because in the storage configuration, the auxiliary wheels 74 of the second stand portion 7 are not in contact with the ground, angular movement of the hose cart is less likely. This can help avoid undesirable movement of the hose cart on the auxiliary wheels 74 in storage. Further, in a limited set of circumstances, the hose cart might be used for the delivery of water and/or during winding/unwinding when in the storage configuration if there were a desire to resist angular movement of the hose cart in use.
As mentioned above the hose cart comprises a wheeling handle 3 which can be used by a user in wheeling the hose cart from place to place. Figure 3 shows the hose cart in a wheeling configuration in which the main wheels 2 contact with a ground surface G on which the cart is stood.
To reach this wheeling configuration from the operation configuration shown in Figure 1, the user pulls back on the wheeling handle 3. Note that the hose cart may also be used in the wheeling configuration when the second stand 7 is stowed as shown in Figure 2 -in such a case the wheeling configuration is reached in the same way.
As a user moves the hose cart from the orientation shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 3, the hose cart is supported on the ground surface G via a support portion 15 of the casing 1 provided at the rear of the casing 1 between the main wheels 2. The cart can in effect be rolled backwards from the first stand portion 13 onto the wheels 2 via the support portion 15.
The wheeling handle 3 comprises a user grip portion 31 which is mounted on the body 1 of the hose cart via at least one, and in this embodiment two, support members 32. In the present embodiment each support member 32 comprises a length of tube, say Aluminium tube. In this embodiment the support members 32 are removably mounted on the body 1 of the hose cart so that the envelope of the cart can be minimised for transport and storage.
The support members 32 are secured in position via locking nuts 33.
As can be seen for example in Figure 1, the wheeling handle 3 is inclined forwardly over the casing 11/drum 4. This can assist in helping a user moving the hose cart from the operation/storage configuration to the wheeling configuration and/or finding a comfortable position for wheeling.
A block of ballast material 8 in the form of a brick (see Figures 5 and 6) is provided on the body 1 of the hose cart to increase stability and help resist unwanted translational movement of the hose cart. The ballast, in this case the brick 8, is provided in the casing 11. A ballast housing portion 16 is provided in the casing 11 for housing the ballast, in this case the brick 8. The block of ballast material 8 is provided at a rearwards portion of the cart between the main wheels 2. It is provided below an axle 21 which supports the main wheels 2. In the present embodiment the block of ballast material 8 is directly under the axle 21.
The ballast, in this case the brick 8, is provided over the contact portions 13a of the first stand portion 13. This can help increase the resistance to movement of the hose cart when in the operative configuration. It can also help resistance against forward tipping.
Other locations for ballast are less effective at preventing movement and/or forward tipping.
The block of ballast material 8 may sit on supports on the inner wall of the casing 11 in the region of the first stand portion 13.
Another consideration is possible backward tipping during hose rewind -especially under the shock load experienced as rewinding is complete and a stopper 52 (see Figure 6) fitted on the hose impacts the casing 1. In such a case weight at the front of the cart would be helpful, but is impractical for other reasons. It has been found that keeping the ballast as low as possible at the rear of the cart reduces the risk of any increased tendency to topple backwards in rewind.
The ballast, in this case the brick 8, is provided behind and below the centre of mass of the hose cart. When the hose cart is carrying hose as a hose cart arrangement, the ballast is behind the centre of mass of the hose cart arrangement. This remains true when the hose is fully unwound off of the drum 4.
In the present embodiment the block of ballast material 8 is a concrete block/brick having mass in the range 2.8 kg -3.2 kg and a dry density in the region of 2200 kg/m3.
Masses in the range 2.5 kg -7.5 kg are likely to be appropriate in products of the present kind. Lighter masses will give insufficient stabilising effect and masses greater than 7.5 kg are likely to the impractical from the product point of view -the housing needed to support a greater mass would have to be substantial. Further a mass of this magnitude would make the cart unwieldy to use/manoeuvre.
In alternatives different forms of ballast may be used, say for example, a metal block, water, sand or other aggregate material.
The position of the ballast and the mass used may be selected to give the cart a combined centre of mass that sits above the wheel axle 21 when the wheeling handle 3 is at an ergonomically suitable position for the user to tow the hose cart.
The tendency of the hose cart to move or topple forward will increase as the hose is pulled from the drum. The mass of the cart decreases as hose is pulled off of the drum and the spring force in the rewind mechanism 5 increases as hose is pulled off of the drum 4.
In designing/manufacturing the cart, the ballast may be positioned as far back and as low as possible in the cart and the mass used may be selected so as to resist forward movement of the cart and forward toppling of the cart when the cart is placed on a flat ground surface such as a patio and the hose is pulled out of the cart to the point where the carried hose is fully unwound from the drum 4.