March 31, 2010 -
PRLog -- The Gopher combines several good ideas into one simple and versatile machine. It’s compact and agile yet powerful. The genius of this design originates in bringing two basic cart styles together. The traditional 4 wheeled cart has often had some type of self propulsion added to lessen the work load for workers who must move materials around large facilities. The 6 wheel cart or “truck” was developed because the more familiar 4 wheel configuration was just too clumsy. The long turn radius of a 4 wheel design meant that smaller carts were needed when passage ways and work areas had limited space. The 6 wheel design shortened the turn radius by half. It also reduced the physical forces required to turn and maneuver the cart by 50%. That’s a great ergonomic value. The 6 wheel design also provided more carrying capacity. With all the additional benefits of a 6 wheel cart there is one serious problem with it functionality;
to enable the 6 wheel cart to be controlled when pushing in a straight line and to shorten the turn radius the two center wheels had to be locked in one orientation. They were not able to swivel like the casters at the ends of the cart; allowing the cart to have all swivel casters means that control is lost. Who hasn’t tried to use one of those old style grocery carts that have a mind of their own? Cart manufactures were left with one solution if they wanted to produce a controllable 6 wheeled cart. Two of the wheels must be locked in one orientation, non-swiveling. This gave the cart controllability. Overcoming the uneven floor issue manufacturers found that by making the center fixed axis casters slightly lower than the corner swivel casters all of a sudden you could push the cart in a straight line and it still turned on its center axis. However this design reduced the load capacity to that of a 4 wheel cart because only 4 wheels touched the floor at one time. This design was also unstable as it teetered on the center wheels. Go to any large building supply company and you can see this in action in the lumber or platform carts provided for customers. Most customers are a nervous wreck by the time they reach check out from the constant rocking and teetering from these carts as they bump from one set of caters to the other.
Enter the Gopher by ERGOdynamics. The Gopher combines both designs into one by utilizing two separate frames connected by one pivot point called a trunnion. By adding propulsion to one axle on the trunnion component you now have a fully self propelled cart. ERGOdynamics calls this new system a Trunnion Drive System or TDS. The TDS is a fully functional 4 wheel cart on it own. Now add the extra 2 casters and a frame work for the full length cart. This is the secondary cart frame and it is connected to the primary TDS frame something like a trailer. (This may sound a bit confusing, but take a look at the photos and videos available on our website to see it in action
http://www.ergodynamics.net/gopher.php ) This combination provides an amazing and useful self propelled cart. It turns on it center axis so the turn radius is HALF that of similar 4-wheel carts and its load carrying capacity is increased by 50%! The basic Gopher is capable of a 3000 lb. payload. That’s a full 1.5 ton carrying capacity, yet it requires only ounces of physical force to steer and maneuver it. Now that’s some great ergonomic value. Here’s the best part; NO TEETERING! The Gopher keeps all wheels on the ground at all times. This makes it perfect for transporting high value or heavy payloads over uneven and differing floor surfaces. Move from concrete to asphalt to compacted gravel and back with ease. This increases worker safety and productivity in many work environments.
Now let’s see the full value of the Gopher. Don’t think only of a flat bed cart. The Gopher is a self propelled articulating platform that can have many different uses. You simply add the features you need to the Gopher chassis, something like starting with a standard truck chassis and adding the body of a fire truck, tow truck, motor home, etc. The Gopher cart chassis can be fitted with a side body for hauling loose materials, stake sides for flexibility, a lifting deck, or just about anything you can think of. It can even be fitted with a small jib crane for lifting items onto the cart. It all starts with the genius of ERGOdynamics finding solutions and lifting the standard of material handling.
For more information on the Gopher you can go to http://www.ergodynamics.net/
gopher.php, or give ERGOdynamics a call at 541-683-0900.
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ERGOdynamics designs and manufactures ergonomic office furniture and light duty material handling equipment for office, lab and industrial use.
