WO2009000027A1

WO2009000027A1 - A self propelled cart

Info

Publication number: WO2009000027A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000916
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lawrence William Hirst
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-22
Filing date: 2008-06-23
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-22

Abstract

A self propelled cart comprising a frame, at least two spaced apart ground wheels attached relative to the frame to enable the cart to be moved along the ground, a battery, an electric motor adapted to drive one or both of the ground wheels, a throttle to vary the speed of movement of the cart along the ground, a load bearing means supported relative to at least part of the frame.

Description

A Self Propelled Cart Field of the Invention.

This invention is directed to a self propelled cart which can be used outdoors or indoors and which can enable a load to be carried much more easily than would otherwise be possible. The invention is particularly directed to a specially designed self propelled cart which contains a water tank, a pump, an electric motor and various other accessories and which can function to collect waste water from a house (e.g. a shower) or somewhere else and to enable the waste water to be used outside (e.g. in a garden). Background Art.

In many parts of Australia at least, water resources are becoming progressively scarcer and households are required to reuse waste water wherever appropriate. It is usually permissible to reuse "grey" water for garden use or outside use. Greywater can be defined as shower water, bathwater and laundry water. This is opposed to "black" water which usually includes sewage and sometimes kitchen water.

It is well-known to collect shower water/bathwater in buckets and to empty the buckets outside. However, this is time-consuming, prone to accidents (spilling of buckets indoors), and heavy work. It is also a quite well known to reuse laundry water by connecting the washing machine outlet pipe to a hose to pump the water outside.

A major disadvantage with reusing greywater is the effort involved in carrying the greywater outside. The weight of water is quite considerable- it being appreciated that 1 L of water weighs 1 kg and therefore a typical 9 L bucket weighs 9 kg. A typical person will not wish to carry more than one bucket at a time and therefore emptying bathwater (typically 100-150 L) will require between 10-20 trips between the bath and outside. A major disadvantage with shower water is that it is difficult to collect shower water in a bucket as approximately 50% (and usually more) of the shower water is not collected in the bucket. This can be partially solved by plugging the shower outlet but this can result in a pool of waste water forming around the person's feet in the shower which may be uncomfortable and which can also quite easily leak out of the shower cubicle.

A problem with connecting the laundry outlet pipe to a hose is that there is a limit to the hose length, and the washing machine pump is usually not powerful enough to pump water either a long way or uphill (which is sometimes required).

A partial solution to some of the above problems is to have a large grey water container (e.g. a 90 L bucket) outside the house but close to the front door and greywater, either from the shower or bath or from the laundry, can be carried or pumped into the large grey water container. However, it then becomes necessary to transfer this water from the container into the garden which again raises difficulties in terms of time, weight, inconvenience etc. Therefore, there would be an advantage if it were possible to provide an apparatus into which waste water could be pumped in a relatively convenient manner and where the apparatus could be driven to a suitable place (e.g. the garden) and the water emptied from the apparatus. There would also be an advantage if it were possible to provide a self propelled apparatus (cart) having a particular design which would enable a water tank to be supported by the apparatus but where the apparatus could also support other devices or attachments (for instance a tray).

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country. Object of the Invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a self propelled cart which rriay overcome at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages or provide a useful or commercial choice. hi one form, the invention resides in a self propelled cart comprising: a frame, at least two spaced apart ground wheels attached relative to the frame to enable the cart to be moved along the ground, a battery, an electric motor adapted to drive one or both of the ground wheels, a throttle to vary the speed of movement of the cart along the ground, a load bearing means supported relative to at least part of the frame. Typically, the load bearing means will comprise a water tank.

However, the load bearing means may also comprise a platform on which goods can be placed, or may comprise a tray (such as a wheelbarrow tray) and the like.

The self propelled cart may comprise a further wheel. The further wheel may be positioned in a forward part of the cart and may comprise a cylindrical or "roller" type wheel.

The self propelled cart may be designed such that it will naturally lean slightly forwardly such that each wheel will initially be on the ground but where the cart can be tipped slightly back by a person to lift the front ( roller) wheel off the ground thereby supporting the cart by the pair of spaced apart ground wheels.

It is envisaged that the spaced apart ground wheels will be mounted to an axle. It is envisaged that a single axle will be provided and that a said ground wheel is attached to each end of the axle. However, there may also be circumstances where each ground wheel is attached to a stub axle.

It is envisaged that the cart will contain an electric motor which can be energised by the at least one battery and where the electric motor drives at least one of the spaced apart wheels. As an example, the motor may be a "hub" motor inside or adjacent one of the wheels to drive that wheel. Alternatively, the motor may drive the axle and each wheel may be rigidly mounted to the axle. In another alternative, the motor may drive at least one wheel using a drive chain, drive pulley, drive shaft and the like.

It is also envisaged that the cart may be propelled by another drive member which may be separate from the spaced apart ground wheels. This drive member may comprise a further ground wheel, roller etc which can drive the cart.

The electric motor may comprise any suitable type of motor and will typically comprise a commercially available motor operating anywhere between 6- 24V.

It is envisaged that the invention may also encompass a self propelled cart (perhaps a heavy duty self propelled cart) where the electric motor is replaced with an internal combustion motor. With this apparatus, a battery may not be required to drive the motor. However, it is considered most expedient that the self propelled cart comprises an electric motor and an on-board battery.

The battery may comprise a single battery or a number of batteries (e.g. a battery pack). It is envisaged that these will be rechargeable possibly from mains power or something else. The battery may be positioned in a forward part of the apparatus such that the apparatus naturally tilts forwardly.

Some form of accelerator or throttle will typically be provided to vary the power to the motor and to enable the speed of the cart to be varied. This may be in the form of a continuous accelerator or in the form of a switch (for instance having a low, medium, high speed setting) or something else.

The frame will typically comprise a rigid frame which may be formed from frame members such as plastic or metal frame members. These may be tubular members, box section, hollow members, solid members, plate like members, rod like members and the like. The frame may include one or more plates and the like. The frame may comprise a single frame or may be formed from sections that can be removed relative to each other to allow the frame to be collapsed (possibly for storage). The frame may comprise sections or parts that can pivot or fold relative to other sections or parts (again possibly for storage).

It is envisaged that the cart will comprise an upper frame and a lower frame. The lower frame may extend in a somewhat horizontal manner and the upper frame may extend in a somewhat upright or vertical manner. Thus, the frame may comprise or have somewhat of a L shaped configuration.

The upper frame may have a length of between 0 .5-1.5 m and typically about 1-1.2 m such that the upper frame terminates at about waist height of the person operating the cart. This can of course vary to suit. The upper frame may be length adjustable to provide greater comfort to the user. Thus, the upper frame may comprise telescoping sections or separate sections that can be added or removed, and may comprise some form of pin in slot arrangement, or clamping nuts etc to clamp the sections at the desired height.

The upper frame may be provided with one or more handles which can be gripped by a person using the cart. The handle may comprise a "handlebar" such as a transversely extending bar. Of course, other types of handles may be provided. If the handle comprises a handlebar, it is envisaged that the accelerator/throttle may be provided on the handlebar for ease and convenience of use.

It is also envisaged that the cart will comprise a control to enable the cart to move forwardly or rearwardly. The control may comprise a switch that can be switched between a "moving forward" position and a "moving rearward" position. The switch may comprise a toggle switch or any other suitable type of control. It is envisaged that this control will also be on the handlebar or somewhere on the upper frame to enable the switch to be easily accessed. The cart may comprise a security switch to prevent the cart from being used without authority. The security switch may comprise a key switch to provide an "on/off switch. The key switch may be provided on the handlebar or somewhere on the upper frame for easy access. The cart may contain a "dead man" control of the type which needs to be continuously activated by the person using the cart and if the person leaves the cart, the dead man control switches off the power to the motor. This may be in the form of a lever or something similar that needs to be depressed by a person's hand (for instance) and therefore it is envisaged that this lever will be on the handle bar. In an alternative, the control may comprise a clip or something similar which can be attached to the persons belt/clothing/wrist etc, and some form of "key" which is inserted into a slot and a line member extending between the key and the clip such that if the person walks away from the cart, the key is pulled out of the slot and causes the cart to stop. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the self propelled cart can comprise a water trolley or something similar to enable wastewater (for example) to be more easily conveyed to a particular place in the garden and then emptied from the water trolley. In this particular embodiment, the load bearing means may comprise a water tank. The water tank may be supported at least partially by the lower frame of the cart.

The size and shape of the water tank may vary but it is envisaged that the water tank will be designed to hold between 15-200 L ( or more) of water/ liquids ets. It is envisaged that the water tank will be rigid or relatively rigid in design and therefore may be made from moulded plastic, fiberglass, metal, and the like. Alternatively, the water tank may comprise a flexible bladder that can be filled and emptied with wastewater. Alternatively, the water tank may comprise a lower rigid portion and an upper flexible/extendable portion. Other configurations are also envisaged.

The water tank will typically be provided with an inlet to allow water (e.g. shower water) to flow into the water tank and through the inlet. The inlet may be positioned in a top or upper part of the water tank. In a preferred embodiment, the water tank may be provided with a top removable cap which may comprise the inlet. The water tank will be typically provided with an overflow outlet such that if the water tank is over filled, water will flow through the overflow outlet. The overflow outlet may also be on the top removable cap.

The water tank will be typically provided with a second outlet which is different from the overflow outlet and through which the wastewater can pass to empty the water tank into the garden (for example). A hose or something similar can be attached to the second outlet or form part of the second outlet. The second outlet may be provided in a lower part of the water tank and, in a particular embodiment, the outlet is provided in a rear portion of the water tank.

To assist in discharging the wastewater from the water tank and into the garden (for example), a pump may be provided. The pump may be positioned in, on, or somewhere adjacent the water tank or may be positioned somewhere on the frame of the cart or somewhere else. If necessary, pipework, hoses etc may be provided to connect the pump to the water tank. The pump outlet will typically pump water through the second outlet and, if the pump outlet is in the tank, a hose or something similar may be provided to connect the outlet of the pump to the second outlet. The pump will typically be an electric pump powered by the battery on the cart.

If the pump is provided, a pump operating switch will typically be provided to enable the pump to be turned on upon demand, hi one form, the pump operating switch may be provided on the handle bar or the cart or somewhere else. In this form of the invention, an ordinary garden hose may be attached to the second outlet (the second outlet may be provided with a quick fit connector as is quite common). However, a more convenient type of pump operating means may comprise a mechanism comprising a hose attached to the second outlet, a nozzle attached to the other end of the hose, and a switch on or adjacent the nozzle which can operate the pump. An advantage of this is that the person can be some distance away from the cart and can still operate the pump by operating the switch on or adjacent the hose nozzle.

In this particular form of the invention, an electric wire may extend inside and along the hose between the switch on the nozzle and the pump on the cart to operate the pump. Alternatively, the pump may be a "pressure sensitive" type pump which turns on as soon as the nozzle is opened, and switches off when the nozzle is closed. The hose may have any convenient length and will typically have a length of between 1 .5 -5 m, and a diameter of between 5-30 mm. In this form of the invention, the hose may be permanently attached to the second outlet.

Of course, in another version of the invention, an ordinary garden hose can be coupled to the second outlet in which case the pump may need to be operated by a switch on the handlebar or perhaps by having a "pressure sensitive" pump.

The water tank may be provided with a lowermost drain outlet to allow the last wastewater to be drained from the tank (for instance if the tank is to be stored for a period of time) or to prevent grey water from staying in the tank for too long. It is envisaged that the water tank will comprise a lower part and an upper part and that the lower part in the upper part can be removably attached relative to each other. The attachment may comprise fasteners such as screws, clamps, and the like. Alternatively, the upper part can be press locked to the lower part. In this version of the invention, the lower part can be mounted to the frame and the upper part can be mounted to the lower part. If desired, the upper part may also be mounted to some part of the frame. If necessary, some form of seal may be provided between the lower part and the upper part to prevent leakage.

The upper part may be provided with at least one lift handle. This enables the apparatus to be lifted (for instance, over a step) if required. If the cart comprises a "water trolley" containing a water tank as described above, it is desirable to also provide a convenient means to fill the water tank from the shower/bath or somewhere else. This may be in the form of a separate pump and a length of hose where the pump can be positioned in the shower recess (for example) and the hose can be connected to the inlet of the water tank to pump the water into the water tank.

Therefore, there may also be provided a pump apparatus to enable water to be pumped from a shower recess, or a bath or other water collecting area, the pump apparatus comprising a pump housing, the housing adapted to be placed in the water collecting area, an inlet in the housing through which water can pass, a pump in the housing to pump water, an outlet in the housing , and a length of conduit (e.g. hose, pipe etc) attached to the outlet and through which water can be pumped.

It is preferred that the pump apparatus comprises an electrically powered pump in the housing and therefore power must be supplied to the pump. An electric wire may extend from the pump housing to enable the pump to be powered from a mains power supply (e.g. a household power socket). It is envisaged that a transformer will be provided which is plugged into a household power socket and to which the electric wire is attached. To prevent snagging and to improve safety, it is preferred that the electric wire is positioned inside and along the conduit to a position where a power plug may be provided on the conduit. An external wire can then extend between a mains power supply (e.g. household power socket) and the power plug on the conduit.

It is envisaged that the electric wire will pass along approximately 1-3 metres of the conduit. It is also envisaged that the electric wire may extend outside the conduit but be attached to the conduit, or pass through a smaller passageway next to the main conduit.

To provide ease of operation, the pump may be an automatic pump which automatically switches on when a predetermined level of water is in the water collection area (e.g. shower recess) and which switches off when the level of water is too low. An electric float switch or something similar may be provided to sense the water level in the water collection area, and the electric float switch may be provided in the housing.

Under some other circumstances, (possibly for smaller volumes of water), a manual pump may be provided for instance a foot operated pump.

A mesh or something similar may be provided to protect the inlet (and therefore the pump) against clogging with hair etc.

The conduit may comprise flexible conduit, rigid conduit, separate lengths of conduit that are attached to each other, a combination of rigid conduit and flexible conduit and the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which:. Figure 1. Illustrates a side view of the cart. Figure 2. Illustrates a front view of the cart. Figure 3. Illustrates a rear view of the cart. Figure 4. Illustrates generally how the cart can be used by a person. Figure 5. Illustrates a front battery charging socket. Figure 6. Illustrates the rear drain plug.

Figure 7. Illustrates the top cap having the inlet and waste outlet.

Figure 8. Illustrates the trigger nozzle on the front of the conduit that attaches to the second outlet. Figure 9. Illustrates some of the conduit of the cart.

Figure 10. Illustrates a bottom view of the pump housing that is placed in the shower recess (example only).

Figure 11. Illustrates the pump housing fitted with a mesh screen over the inlet.

Figure 12. Illustrates a top view of the pump housing. Figure 13. Illustrates a front lower view of the cart showing the front cylindrical

(roller) wheel.

Figure 14. Illustrates a front underneath view of the cart showing the front cylindrical wheel.

Figure 15. Illustrates the inside of the bottom half of the water tank. Figure 16. Illustrates the inside of the top half of the water tank and particularly shows the anti-slosh water baffles.

Figure 17. Illustrates the general cart chassis.

Figure 18. Illustrates a rear view of the cart chassis and particularly illustrates the upper handlebar. Figure 19. Illustrates a connection schematic.

Best Mode. Referring initially to figures 1-3, there is illustrated the main components of the self propelled cart and which comprise a frame 10, a pair of spaced apart ground wheels 11, 12, a battery 13 (better illustrated in figure 17 and figure 18), an electric motor 14 (better illustrated in figure 17 in figure 18), a throttle 15 (see at least figure 2 and figure 3), and a load bearing means which, in the particular embodiment, comprises a water tank 16.

Referring initially to the frame and wheels, and referring to figure 17 and figure 18, the frame in the particular embodiment comprises an upper frame 17 which is arranged upwardly and somewhat towards the vertical and a lower somewhat horizontal frame 18. A handlebar 19 extends transversely across the top of upper frame 17. Handlebar 19 (best illustrated in figure 18) supports the throttle 15 which, in the particular embodiment, is a twist throttle. Twisting of the throttle in one direction causes the cart to move faster, and twisting of the throttle in the other direction causes the cart to move more slowly. Letting go of the throttle causes the throttle to move to the "off position.

On the other end of handlebar 19 is a lever 20 which is a safety device and which can be seen as a "dead man" switch. Lever 20 needs to be squeezed at all times in order to operate the cart. That is, as soon as lever 20 is not depressed, electric power will be cut off from the wheel motors.

Some sort of brake may also be provided for safety.

A small control box 21 is positioned approximately midway along handlebar 19 and comprises a key switch 22 to provide a measure of security to the cart. That is, a key needs to be inserted into the key switch 22 and turned to operate the cart. The control box 21 also contains a small toggle switch 23. Pushing the toggle switch 23 in one direction causes the cart to move forwardly and pushing the toggle switch 23 in the other direction causes the cart to move rearwardly. The electric wiring that extends between the throttle 15, control box 21 , and lever 20 is protected by a flexible hose 24 which extends down one edge of the upper frame 17.

More specifically, the throttle may be of the form of a trigger or twist lever, providing acceleration from zero to full speed within one stroke of the lever. The opposite hand is used to control the brake. In a preferred embodiment, the brake is combined with a safety switch, such that the brake lever must be depressed to allow the wheels to rotate. If the lever is released, it is sprung to return to its rest position and electrically apply brakes to the wheels. This function will be dependent on the electrical configuration of the motors and wheels, such that hub motors may incorporate electric brakes and alternate motor types may require a braking system acting on discs or onto the wheels directly. Furthermore, the wheel hubs may be alternately configurable to enable a freewheeling option in the event of a power failure. This alternate operation may be manually selected by manipulation of a hub switch or other control mechanism. A forward and reverse switching capability is included. The reverse control is commonly required only to extricate the unit from a narrow pathway, for example, as the preferred configuration of the unit does not lend itself to comfortable or safe reversing, since the user is positioned in the direction of drive. For this reason, the preferred embodiment includes both an audible warning alarm which sounds when the unit is switched to reverse and the brake depressed (prior to acceleration) and a reduced speed, with a maximum of a very slow walk.

The control elements fixed to the upper handle may also include a battery charge indicator panel, to remind the user that recharging is required. Other warning mechanisms may be provided, with visual or audible alarm elements for temperature of electrical components, or angle of steepness of terrain, for example. A key switch may be provided such that the unit may be disabled by key insertion. hi the event of the unit remaining idle for some time, or for transport, the batteries may be isolated to avoid damage or inadvertent activation. This function is incorporated through a switch placed in a relatively inaccessible position amongst the electrical components, such that it can only be deliberately activated / deactivated.

This switch simply breaks the connection between the batteries and electrical systems. The tank is fitted with a drain plug, located in a position that will be the lowest point of the tank when the unit it tipped toward front or rear. This drain is required to empty the contents of the tank if not distributed within a short period of time.

It is preferred that the drain plug or cap is both tethered to the tank and configured with elongated tines or lever portion such that the user may release the plug without contact to the water.

Lower frame 18 supports a battery pack comprising (in the preferred embodiment) two rechargeable batteries 25, 26 and a control box 27. A master switch

28 is provided in a forward part of the cart. A recharging socket 46 (see figure 5 is provided in a front part of the cart and allows the batteries to be recharged when required.

Socket 46 is a female electrical connect positioned and shielded / capped to avoid ingress of water. In the preferred embodiment, this recharge point is positioned at the front of the unit, below a protruding section of the chassis frame which affords protection both to this point and to the leading edge of the tank. This "nudge bar" protects the unit from bumps and collisions encountered in normal operation, and may also be utilized as a handling point for the unit.

The wheels 11, 12 are rotatably connected to an axle. In the particular embodiment, each wheel contains a hub motor 14. The hub motor 14 in each wheel is powered by the battery pack, and the voltage is controlled by the throttle 15 on handlebar 19.

The electric motors 14 may be in the form of one or two hub motors (motors mounted as part of the wheel hubs, which save space), or one or two standard axle-drive motors connected directly to a drive axle or to a differencial gear arrangement. The motors typically drive on 24V and can supply a top speed of approximately 5 to 8 km/hr, which is equivalent to a fast walking pace. Electric power may be provided by single or multiple batteries, commonly of a sealed lead- acid type, which allow recharging via a transformer connected to mains supply.

The wheels 11, 12 are of a large diameter, preferably 250 to 300mm, with wide, well-grooved tyres of solid or pneumatic construction. Tyre choice is important to ensure good traction over rough or soft ground, with minimal clogging and smooth running on hard surfaces. The cart in the preferred embodiment also has a front cylinder or roller wheel 47 which is illustrated in figure 13, figure 14 and figure 5. The arrangement and distribution of weight of the cart is such that the cart naturally adopts a slightly forwardly tilting position (see for instance figure 4 and figure 1) such that the roller wheel 47 is ground engaging and the size of the wheel reduces its impact on the ground surface and avoids "digging in". However, the cart can be quite easily tilted slightly rearwardly such that roller wheel 47 is lifted above the ground and the cart can then be moved along the ground surface.

More specifically, an area below or adjoining the tank is set aside for positioning of the batteries and electrical control components. This area is covered or shielded to avoid the ingress of water or other debris, whilst allowing the passage of air to maintain ventilation around the electrical components. This area is commonly placed upon a metal tray which forms a rigid base to the chassis, thus protecting the underside of the unit from items protruding for the ground. The roller 47 may be fixed to this underside plate, or the adjoining chassis. Access to the electrical components may be via the removal of fixing bolts and lowering of the metal tray, or by upward removal of the tank. The metal tray may be configured for easy access via a hinged mechanism when the unit is either leaned back toward the handle or forward over the roller. The chassis incorporates all structural elements such as the axle and wheel mounts, plus bracing or stiffeners suitable to render the chassis strong enough to carry the tank over uneven terrain. The tank is fixed to the chassis by means of fixing bolts locating to points on the chassis and tank for greatest strength and stability.

Releasable attachment of the tank or other mounted accessories may alternately be via a universal rail or socket system or other clamping / locking mechanism.

The water tank 16 is made of an upper housing 29 and a lower housing 30 which are connected together by a number of fasteners 31. Some form of seal or gasket 60 maybe provided to prevent leakage (see figure 15).

The tank material may be engineered by composition or surface finish to exhibit anti-microbial, anti-odor or easily cleanable properties. The shaping of the tank, both internally and externally should limit places where water or debris may pool, and should remain accessible to cleaning by a spraying or wiping action.

The construction of the tank in an upper and lower configuration is also useful for the manufacture process, allowing production by injection moulding techniques, and to improve part stacking density for storage and shipping.

Upper housing 29 contains a top removable cap 32 into which is positioned an inlet 33 and a waste outlet 34 each of which comprises a plastic elbow. This is also illustrated in figure 7.

The tank inlet may be equipped with a filter element, in the form of an elongated flexible mesh "sock" enclosing the inlet pipe, or a more rigid mesh "basket" element to further remove large particles from the incoming water stream. The tank may be equipped with an overflow or automatic fill valve, such that incoming water beyond the fill capacity may be diverted to waste.

When the water level within the tank reaches the level of the waste outlet pipe 34, water will flow to the outlet. By varying the relative levels of the inlet and outlet pipes within the tank, the overflow level may be maintained. Alternately, float valves or other means of stopping or diverting incoming flow at a particular point maybe employed.

The cap 32 may be replaced or otherwise reconfigurable when the unit is not in "fill" mode to provide a cap free of protrusions or openings. In a preferred embodiment, a secondary cap is provided which replaces the fill cap and encloses the tank while in use as a distribution means.

Referring to figure 16, the inside of upper housing 29 contains a pair of "anti-slosh" baffles or partitions 35 extending from one side of the housing to the other side of the housing and substantially parallel relative to each other. The baffles typically extend from the upper tank wall to the plane of the tank join, with air vents positioned at their highest point to avoid bubble entrapment. The baffles may be shaped to best reduce water movement and the associated shift in the center of gravity of the full tank. The upper face of the tank is shaped to accommodate a flat area which may be utilized as a seat or resting area. The inlet cap shall be placed to not obstruct this area and sharp protrusions or pinch points should be avoided. The tank is equipped with a pair of handles 36 on its upper outer edges, for the purposes of supporting the unit during handling, or for user support should the user sit upon the top of the tank. The handles are commonly not intended for the lifting of the entire unit; however the unit may be repositioned in the event of a mechanical failure or other stoppage.

Lower housing 30 is better illustrated in figure 15 and comprises a moulded shape which allows the lower housing to be fitted to the lower part of the frame while still making room 37 for the wheels 11, 12 and room 38 for the battery pack. A pump 39 is positioned in the lower part of housing 30. The lowermost part of housing 30 contains a drain opening 40 which is also illustrated at least in figure 3 and figure 6. A rear wall of lower housing 30 contains a second outlet 41 which is also illustrated in at least figure 3. Pump 39 is connected to outlet 41 by a short length of flexible hose 42 which sits inside the lower housing 30.

The pump 39 is commonly an impeller-type pump, and may incorporate an automatic level switch, which allows the tank to be pumped empty in an automatic fashion when activated.

Pump 39 is operated in a manner which will be described immediately below.

The outlet 41 of the water tank is connected to an outlet hose 43 which is illustrated at least in figure 4. Outlet hose 43 has a convenient length which, in the particular embodiment, is between 1-5 m. A trigger nozzle 44 is attached to the other end of hose 43. The trigger nozzle 44 is better illustrated in figure 8 and comprises a trigger 45 which is attached to an electric wire 46 which extends along the inside of hose 43 and through the outlet 41 in the lower part of the water tank and the electric wire 46 (see also figure 15) connects to pump 39. Operation of the trigger nozzle sends an electric signal along the electric wire 46 to operate pump 39. Thus, pump 39 is operated by squeezing the trigger nozzle 44 which is a convenient way to enable the water to be pumped out of the water tank 16.

Reference will now be had to how waste water can be pumped into the water tank 16. In a preferred embodiment, this is achieved by a separate electric pump connected to a hose which is connected to the inlet 33 on the top of the water tank. This can also be termed a "reclamation unit" as it can be a separate unit.

In the majority of domestic situations, the shower tray or bathtub includes a portion of relative flatness, suitable for placement of the reclamation unit. Due to the location of this area and the need for the user to occupy the space, the reclamation unit is sized to be relatively small, rounded and of a weight to enable the frictional engagement of the base to maintain its position if kicked, stood upon or otherwise impacted. The unit is not intended to be stood upon in normal use, however the shape and construction of the housing is intended to be sufficiently strong to not pose a breakage hazard if the unit is momentarily trodden upon. The reclamation unit is constructed using materials and components to provide a density sufficient to maintain a position on the floor of the water body. Thus, the placement of the unit relative to the lowest point of the water body will determine the extent of water removal.

The electric pump of the reclamation unit is illustrated at least in figure 10, figure 11 and figure 12 and comprises a housing 49 (see figure 12) which is designed to be placed in a shower recess, bath tub or any other water collecting area. The housing is relatively compact such that it is not in the way in the shower recess and will typically have a length of between 10-20 cm. The housing has a lower inlet 50 and a side outlet 51. The inlet 50 comprises an opening in the lower wall of the housing.

The reclamation unit housing is provided with a substantially flat base, constructed in a material which, when configured with multiple ribs 52 or projecting feet to the underside, may retain some flexibility to conform to non-flat surfaces and allow relatively unimpeded water flow toward the center of the unit where the pumping inlet may be situated. The ribs 52 enable water to pass into the inlet 50.

Inside housing 49 is a small impeller pump 54. Pump 54 is electrically operated and the electric motor is inside housing 49. However other pump types may be used dependent mostly on physical size, output volume, power consumption, relative cost/complexity and noise. The advantage of an impeller pump in this application is compact size, quiet operation at low power, limited moving parts and low potential for failure due to blockage or fouling. The size of the impeller and design of the water path dictates the output of the pump. To reduce the likelihood of fouling of the impeller by hair or other entangling elements, a mesh filter screen 53 is provided surrounding the inlet portion of the pump. The inlet portion is oriented on the bottom of the reclamation unit, in the center, surrounded by the supporting fins or projections of the housing base. The water flow is allowed through the fins or projections and is thus drawn into the pump via the filter screen.

The filter screen 53 may be metal or plastic mesh or other material suitable to entrap large particles without impeding flow and should be easily removable by the user for cleaning or maintenance. In the preferred embodiment, the screen is removably attached to the unit housing via a plurality of flexible pegs, magnets or other jointing / locations means. A handling point may be provided to enable removal and replacement of the screen with minimal contact with collected debris, and the screen may be shaped to correctly orient to the pump inlet or unit housing.

The inlet flow path of the water should be such that the pumping capacity of the pump is not restricted. The outlet capacity of the pump is otherwise determined by the "lift" required of the outlet water - that is, the height and resulting gravitational back-pressure of the column of outlet water in the outlet pipe. The pump should be configured to match common bathroom configurations. Given that the reclamation unit has greatest value in a domestic property where waste water plumbing is not available, exit for water is most reliably achieved via a nearby window. Common domestic construction then dictates a height of a normal window opening at approximately 1.2 to 1.5 metres. In instances where bathroom windows are of the non-opening, high or shielded type, the use of the reclamation unit may be limited to water outlet via another opening.

To provide power to the pump ( typically a 12v pump), an electric wire 55 (see figure 11) extends through outlet 51 and into the flexible hose that connects the pump to the tank inlet 33. This flexible hose 56 is illustrated in figure 9 which also illustrates the pump housing. The flexible hose can have any convenient length (typically 1-5 metres). However, and referring to figure 19, the flexible hose may also comprise a number of separate lengths some of which may be flexible and some of which may be somewhat and rigid which can be coupled together typically to enable the hose to extend over the edge of a bath, over a windowsill to the outside etc. The electric wire 55 extends along the hose 56 but not entirely along the hose. Instead, and at a convenient distance away from housing 49 (typically 1- 3metres), the electric wire terminates in an electric plug 57 which is illustrated in figure 9. A transformer 58 can be plugged into a household power socket (for instance in the bathroom) and the transformer line can be electrically coupled to plug 57 to provide power to the pump inside housing 49.

The pump inside housing 49 is automatically turned on and switched off depending on the water level in the showeϋ^bath or wherever. This is achieved by providing an electric float switch (not illustrated) in housing 49 and which senses the level of water in the shower/bath etc. The electric float switch has its own separate inlet 58 (see figure 10 which it separate from the inlet which communicates with the pump.

The reclamation unit is typically electrically sealed and intrinsically safe, however venting points may be provided as breaks in the external housing in order to reduce the entrapment of air bubbles that may affect the buoyancy or location of the unit. The unit housing may be shaped to reduce any pooling or entrapment of water, and the material and surface finish may be engineered to retain hydrophobic properties, thus improving the resistance to marking or microbial activity. The unit housing may be configured to enable basic cleaning and maintenance of the unit, particularly removal of soap residues or any particles attracted to the material or through the inflow of water.

The outlet hose coupling from the unit housing may be configured to be positionable in any exit orientation, such that the pipe may be trained upward to exit a deep tray, or may be routed toward an edge or horizontal position. In this way, the outlet pipe may be positioned with minimal stress to the pipe, couplings and electrical connections and the pipe position will impart minimal twisting or dragging force on the unit when placed in the shower or bath. In a preferred embodiment, the housing outlet coupling includes a lockable elbow coupling providing a strong and secure housing connection customizable by the user, without risk of bending or occlusion of the pipe.

The housing exit coupling may incorporate a waterproof electrical connector, or may simply allow free movement of the coupling independent of the wire traveling in or alongside the bore. A permanent wire connection may be provided with sufficient slack or shielding to be immune to damage to the wire due to twisting or excessive tension.

The type of pipe may be selected to improve the performance of the reclamation unit. Various pipes are available, from lay-flat pipes, highly flexible tubing of various materials, and corrugated or armored pipes which resist kinking. Each of these types exhibit properties beneficial to particular applications but may also have particular disadvantages, commonly related to the combination of flexibility and kink-resistance. The preferred embodiment of the reclamation unit includes a pipe structure of smooth bore to reduce turbulence and improve flow, plus wound armoring to eliminate kinking and crushing leading to flow occlusion. These benefits are balanced by lower flexibility, but access to common bathroom architecture is not restricted.

The pipe assembly and positioning of couplings may be customizable by the user, either by provision of modular elements or an unassembled kit of items and pipe lengths from which the user can create customized plumbing.

The reclamation unit may include a feedback means to notify the user that the unit is in operation. In this embodiment, a colored LED 60 (see figure 12) is illuminated when the pump is activated by the level switch. The level switch may incorporate delay periods at the start or end of the cycle to enhance water removal, thus, an indicator of operation is useful, since the pump itself is generally very quiet.

In order to enable semi-permanent placement of the reclamation unit into a bathroom whilst retaining security of windows or the pipe exit point whilst not in use, the pipe may be equipped with one or multiple couplings allowing separation of pipe segments. Either end of the couplings may be provided with hooks, suction cups or other location means such that the uncoupled ends of the pipe may be retained near window openings or the like ready for reconnection and use.

The nature of contemporary bathroom and plumbing design leads to many shower trays being of a very shallow shape, or incorporating no lip to retain water in a defined area. In this instance, the absence of a contained depth of water may render the reclamation unit inoperable. The configurations of the automatic level switch and pump inlet dictate that a water level of approximately 1.5 to 3cm is reached before the pump may effectively remove water. Naturally, for the water to be retained for reclamation by the unit, the normal waste exit or plughole must be closed or blocked.

The configuration of many contemporary shower fittings does not include a recessed plug hole or other waste exit closure. In many cases the waste exit is a flush fitted grate or grill not suitable to closure with a plug arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure of the plughole (if not provided with a fitted plug) may be effected in a cosmetic manner by a thin, flexible mat of a silicone or similar material that remains pliable with age and domestic soap / chemical contact and will not foster microbial growth or discoloration. This mat may be placed over the plug hole to occlude flow, and may be transparent to retain a visible clue to exit position. hi situations where the water inflow may not match the outflow of the reclamation unit, the resident water volume may increase to overflow retention features of the shower tray. To prevent this overflow, the plughole mat may be provided with an element of sufficient buoyancy to lift the mat and reopen the waste stream at a depth surpassing the pump level capacity. This buoyancy element may be skinned expanded foam or other suitable material disc or volume formed integrally or otherwise with the silicone mat such that the profile of the mat remains relatively unobtrusive. The relative position of the buoyancy element to the perimeter of the mat should allow the buoyant edge of the mat to bend upward with water pressure until the waste stream is progressively reopened. The position of the mat relative to the plughole may be adjusted by the user to control the depth of opening and the subsequent opening rate and diversion of water to the waste stream. However, it is also envisaged that the pump may be manual and may have a switch.

In use, the cart can be pushed or driven to a position outside the house but still somewhat close to the bathroom. The pump/housing 49 can then be placed in the shower recess and the attached hose 56 can be passed through an open window

(for example) and connected to the inlet 33 in the top of the water tank on the cart.

The transformer 58 can then be plugged into a bathroom power socket and attached to the plug 57 which is somewhere along hose 56. The pump is now ready for use but will not switch on until there is a sufficient level of water in the shower recess. The shower recess drain will then be plugged (a conventional plug might do), and the shower water turned on. When the water in the shower recess rises to a certain level

(expected to be a few centimetres), the electric level switch in the pump housing will activate and the pump will pump the water out of the shower recess and into the water tank on the cart. As the level in the shower recess falls, the pump will switch off and the process will continue.

It is also envisaged that the pump can be powered by the battery pack on the cart and in this alternative the electric wire may pass entirely through the hose and connected to the battery pack on the cart.

When the shower has been switched off, and the remaining water pumped out, the pump and hose 56 can be removed and either left on the cart or also removed from the inlet 33 on the cart.

The center of gravity of the entire unit is placed above and slightly forward of the main wheels, such that the unit maybe maneuvered easily with a gentle tilt backward toward the user, or may travel on a three point base including the roller. The unit is steered under the guidance of the user holding an elongated inverted U- shaped handle extending upward behind the tank to a height reaching a common adult waist height.

The balance of the unit when fully loaded is typically maintained fore of the wheels, and tipping backward is avoided by both this balance point, maintaining the center of gravity as low as possible, and by inclusion of projections integral or additional to the chassis, which limit the backward rotation around the wheel axis.

The cart can then be driven to any particular place in the garden and the trigger nozzle (see figure 8) can be actuated to cause the pump in the water tank to operate to pump the water out of the water tank and through the trigger nozzle. Any residual water can be drained through the drain hole 40.

Thus, in times of water scarcity, the ability to reclaim water from household sources for re-use is an important support to water use reduction strategies. The ability to reclaim this water and distribute it where needed in a flexible manner, not requiring additional plumbing is a significant advantage to the domestic market. Additionally, devices suitable for this function may have application in general water or chemical handling, fitting a market niche between fully manual water cartage and rural systems. The embodiment of the invention describes a device for collecting normally waste water from a shallow domestic source, such as a shower tray, and removing it, via a pumping means for collection within a device provided with mobility and dispersal means to spread the collected water. This system is easily adapted to collection of water or any body of runoff or pooled fluid, plus the spraying or ejection of this volume at a remote location.

The arrangement of the reclamation and distribution units as described above lend themselves to semi-automatic operation, in that collection of water and filling of the tank may be achieved without user intervention beyond positioning of both items. A preferred embodiment of the reclamation / distribution system, whether used in combination or separately, incorporates a "docking station" element as an accessory to the distribution unit. The docking station provides a location to which the distribution unit may return after each use, at which the filling and electrical recharge services are reattached in a substancially or fully automated fashion. In this manner, the use of a float- valve controlled filling system may allow the reclamation of water to be a user-transparent process. Each day, or periodically, the user is able to return to the docking station and retrieve a filled and recharged distribution unit, ready for use.

Coupling of the distribution unit to the docking station may be effected by use of a positional wheel ramp or other guide means such that the unit is driven or rolled toward the engaging elements of the docking station, which penetrate or otherwise locate to and make connection with the electrical and plumbing connection points automatically. Alternately, a user-manipulated lock or arm may be lowered onto the filling aperture of the tank to ensure a secure location. This arm may incorporate electrical connections integral to its construction, or these may require the manipulation of the user to make a secure electrical connection.

In this manner of coupling the distribution unit to a fixed point, one which may be a permanent fixture attached to a dwelling, functions of the unit which may require additional electrical power, such as a treatment process, may gain access to mains supply. The docking station, additionally, may be a permanent fixture of the building, such that plumbing and electrical connections are provided to suit the distribution unit, or may be incorporated into the building design.

Due to the potentially pathogenic nature of grey water, the unit may incorporate systems for the treatment of the collected water. These systems operate in several ways, from heat, chemical or physical filtration methods and may be configured to suit the capacity and physical size of the system. Alternately, a timed dump-to-waste system may be incorporated into the overflow cap or the tank drain plug, such that water is not resident for more than a pre-defined period. In a preferred embodiment, the connection of electrical power to the distribution unit enables a powered treatment means such as an ozone generation unit or a UV radiation source such as a lamp or LED array sufficient to achieve a sterilization result to meet particular local legislation. Alternately, the unit may incorporate a receptacle for chemical tablets or media which may be automatically or manually dispensed to the water volume either periodically or at the time of each docking connection.

The reclamation unit or the distribution unit may be used separately, performing a water handling task suitable to the circumstance. The reclamation unit may be equipped with special fittings to enable coupling of the outlet pipe to other collection or dispersal items, or may be configured to deliver water to other engineered devices. The distribution unit may of course accept water from any source, requiring special connections to provide leak-free coupling, or simply opening the fill cap and allowing filling to overflowing. Other devices that the reclamation unit may be coupled to include tanks, sumps, garden dripper systems and the like. An alternate distribution system may be provided as a household water reuse system, comprising a tank or cistern unit configured to receive grey water from the reclamation unit and provide it, either by gravity feed or by a pumping / pressurizing mechanism to other domestic systems configured to receive that waste water. An example may be a toilet cistern, for which flush water may be provided by the collected grey water.

The cistern unit coupled to the reclamation unit may take the form of an internal or external structure to a dwelling or other building. In a preferred embodiment, the cistern may take the form of an internal tank unit, configured, constructed and shaped as a bathroom fitting which would not be visually or physically obtrusive in this environment. The cistern unit may be mounted in an elevated position, thus removing the need for additional pumping attachments.

The water collected within this cistern unit must be treated or otherwise rendered pathogenically safe and cosmetically benign, that is, substantially free of odours, particles or coloration that may preclude its use. The cistern unit may incorporate filtration means and chemical or other treatment means to achieve this function. It is intended that the resident time for water in a cistern unit of this description would be minimal, with likely complete turnover within each day, however it is envisaged that some water would be resident in the system at all times, to enable use of the downstream appliances. Thus treatment systems must maintain a continuous function, suitable for the volume throughput. Naturally, if the cistern unit has insufficient capacity to service downstream appliances within its normal filling cycle, adaptations to allow topping up of the system with normal town supply water may be included, such that appliances are not solely dependent on the grey water volume.

Treatment systems may require user management (cleaning filters or recharging / replenishing active agents) and may be configured to enable such action while maintaining an ergonomically sound design and appealing visual design. The cistern unit, configured as an internal fixture, may be incorporated into other functional fittings, such as shelving or other items, such that functionality is maximized. The cistern unit as an external fixture may take a much simpler storage

"tank" configuration, and methods of construction and design are well known. The treatment methods noted above may be accordingly implemented in this system, scaled to suit the volume of water and intended period of storage. Throughout the specification and the claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention . Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims.

1. A self propelled cart comprising a frame, at least two spaced apart ground wheels attached relative to the frame to enable the cart to be moved along the ground, at least one battery, an electric motor adapted to drive one or both of the ground wheels, a throttle to vary the speed of movement of the cart along the ground, and a load bearing means supported relative to at least part of the frame.

2. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 1 including a further wheel positioned in a forward part of the cart.

3. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further including an electric motor energised by the at least one battery and where the electric motor drives at least one of the spaced apart wheels.

4. A self propelled cart as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame has an upper frame extending in a somewhat upright or vertical manner and a lower frame extending in a somewhat horizontal manner.

5. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 4 wherein the upper frame includes a handle assembly which can be gripped by a person using the cart.

6. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 5 wherein the handle assembly includes a "handlebar" such as a transversely extending bar.

7. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the handle assembly is use to control movement of the cart forwardly and rearwardly.

8. A self propelled cart as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the handle assembly is provided with control means to vary the power to the motor and to enable the speed of the cart to be varied.

9. A self propelled cart as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including a "dead man" control of the type which needs to be continuously activated by the person using the cart and if the person leaves the cart, the dead man control switches off the power to the motor.

10. A self propelled cart as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the self propelled cart is configured as a water trolley to enable water to be more easily conveyed and then emptied from the water trolley.

11. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 10 wherein the load bearing means includes a water tank.

12. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 11 wherein the water tank is provided with an inlet to allow water to flow into the water tank, an overflow outlet such that if the water tank is over filled, water will flow through the overflow outlet, a second outlet through which the water can pass to empty the water tank and a lowermost drain outlet to allow the last wastewater to be drained from the tank.

13. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein a pump is provided to assist in discharging the water from the water tank.

14. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 13 wherein a pump operating switch is provided to enable the pump to be activated, upon demand.

15. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pump operating switch is provided on the frame

16. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 14 wherein a mechanism comprising a hose with a first end in communication with the water tank, a nozzle attached to the other end of the hose, and a switch on or adjacent the nozzle which can operate the pump.

17. A self propelled cart as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein the water tank comprise a lower part and an upper part and that the lower part and the upper part can be removably attached relative to each other.

18. A self propelled cart as claimed in claim 17 wherein the upper part is provided with at least one lift handle.