Looking for ideas concerning the install of rear swivel wheels on a beach cart

Let's Make Robots Project Ideas
1

Hi All,

I am struggling a little with a rear-wheel design for my beach cart. Remember, I am using the base of an electric wheelchair which had swivel wheels on the back of the chair. Unfortunately, the soft sand of the Maryland beaches wouldn’t allow those wheels to move in the sand. I purchased swivel wheels from Wheeleez and installed them on the existing swivel wheel bar that was already on the chair. The problem is the size of the new wheels are too close to the cart AND too close to each other, so I do not get a full 360 swivel from them. If I only ran the car in a forward direction, the issues would be minimal but that’s not practical.

I am attaching two pictures. One is the cart and I circled an area that is an opening that my idea would utilize. The second is a drawing of what I am considering. It’s a V shape design with a sleeve that would insert in the opening at the top of the cart (the bolt currently goes through that area). This design would give me enough distance away from the frame of the cart as well as enough distance between the two wheels so they can spin freely.

I am no engineer and not even sure this weld would hold up. I am open for any ideas or suggestions. Thanks in advance.
Vito

Swivel Wheel Design.pdf (103.9 KB)

Cart
Cart690×919 90.7 KB

1 Like
2

Hi @VitoMu ,

Can’t you just cut this bar and extend it (welding additional piece of bar let’s say 20cm) and problem is solved?

image
image547×510 99.7 KB

1 Like
3

Hi Igor, that would work. I need to make sure the weld can hold, it seems those wheels do have some weight on them. I took the cart out this past weekend for the first time since the test runs. I’ll post separately shortly, thanks again for always being a great source to turn to!
Victor

1 Like
4

There’s a chance you don’t need two rear wheels and can get away with just one (two drive and one idler). The idea is three points make a plane, so unlike four wheels, three will always be in contact with the ground. For the wheel to swivel however it needs enough distance between the axis of rotation and the swivel axis. Backing up might be a bit problematic if the wheel gets too close to the main body.

2 Likes