초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating the energy required by an operator of a delivery cart to start the cart moving in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed as well as to recover some or all of the energy used to start the cart moving. The apparatus includes a cart, a driv

A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating the energy required by an operator of a delivery cart to start the cart moving in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed as well as to recover some or all of the energy used to start the cart moving. The apparatus includes a cart, a drive wheel, a motor for driving the drive wheel, and a rechargeable energy source to power said motor where the rechargeable energy source is recharged during normal, unpowered movement of the cart. The method includes charging a power source while moving the cart, actuating a directional button to initiate movement in a desired direction, energizing a clutch to couple the motor to the driven wheel, energizing the motor to drive the driven wheel in the desired direction. After a predetermined time period, set by a run timer, the clutch is decoupled while the motor remains activated, and thereafter the motor is deactivated.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for initiating movement of a wheeled cart, wherein said apparatus comprises: a control assembly; a drive wheel, wherein said drive wheel is one of a plurality of wheels of the wheeled cart; a motor, wherein said motor is electrically connected to said control ass

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for initiating movement of a wheeled cart, wherein said apparatus comprises: a control assembly; a drive wheel, wherein said drive wheel is one of a plurality of wheels of the wheeled cart; a motor, wherein said motor is electrically connected to said control assembly such that said control assembly is operable to activate said motor to operate in either a forward direction or a rearward direction, and wherein said motor is selectively coupled to said drive wheel to drivingly rotate said drive wheel in either the forward direction or the rearward direction based upon the activation by said control assembly; a clutch, wherein said clutch is selectively energized to couple said drive wheel to said motor and thereby drivingly rotate said drive wheel, and is selectively de-energized to decouple said drive wheel from said motor and thereby permit said drive wheel to freely rotate; and a run timer, wherein said run timer is energized to count down upon activation of said motor to drive said cart in the forward direction or rearward direction, and wherein at an end of a predetermined time period, said run timer times-out and de-energizes the clutch to decouple the motor from the drive wheel; a rechargeable battery, wherein said rechargeable battery is connected to said motor and is adapted to be recharged when said drive wheel is rotated while said motor is deactivated and decoupled from said drive wheel; and a generator, wherein said generator is electrically connected to said battery and is mechanically coupled to said drive wheel so as to generate a current to charge the battery by the rotation of the drive wheel while the motor is deactivated and decoupled from said drive wheel. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a disengaged power supply circuit that is operable to maintain power to said motor during a time in which said clutch is decoupling said drive wheel from said motor. 3. A method for initiating movement of a cart, wherein said method comprises the steps of: activating a run timer that energizes a clutch to couple a motor to a drive wheel; activating the motor to drive the drive wheel via the clutch; de-activating the run timer after a predetermined time period to de-energize the clutch while said motor remains activated; and, de-activating the motor. 4. A method for operating a cart having a movement start and energy recovery system, wherein said method comprises the steps of: moving said cart by exerting an external force on said cart which causes a plurality of wheels to rotate, said plurality of wheels including a drive wheel, wherein said external force is exerted on the cart from a source external from the cart; recharging a rechargeable power source of said cart while said cart is moved by the external force; wherein the recharging of the rechargeable power source comprises the steps of: rotating a friction drive wheel, said friction drive wheel being in frictional engagement with said drive wheel; turning a generator with said friction drive wheel, said generator generating a current; and supplying the current to the rechargeable energy source and thereby recharging said rechargeable energy source; removing said external force from said cart causing said cart to stop moving; activating a run timer that energizes the clutch to couple a motor to a drive wheel; and, after a predetermined time period de-activating the run timer to de-energize the clutch, while said motor remains activated; and, de-activating the motor. 5. An apparatus for initiating movement of a cart, wherein said apparatus comprises: a control assembly; a drive wheel; a motor, wherein said motor is electrically connected to said control assembly such that said control assembly is operable to activate said motor to operate in either a forward direction or a rearward direction, and wherein said motor is selectively coupled to said drive wheel to drivingly rotate said drive wheel in either the forward direction or the rearward direction based upon the activation by said control assembly; a rechargeable battery, wherein said rechargeable battery is connected to said motor and is recharged during unpowered operation of said apparatus; a generator assembly including a generator and a friction drive wheel, wherein said friction drive wheel is driven by said drive wheel so as to cause said generator, which is electrically connected to the battery, to generate a current to charge said battery; a run timer, wherein said run timer is energized to count down upon activation of said motor to drive said cart in the forward direction or rearward direction, and wherein at an end of a predetermined time period, said run timer times-out and de-energizes the clutch to decouple the motor from the drive wheel; and, a disengaged power supply circuit that is operable to maintain power to said motor as said clutch is decoupling said drive wheel from said motor, said disengaged power supply circuit including a capacitor that is charged during activation of said motor to operate in the forward or rearward directions, and that begins to discharge when said run timer times-out, whereby discharging of the capacitor supplies power to said motor for a predetermined period of time to permit said clutch to decouple while said motor remains activated; wherein said clutch is selectively energized to couple said drive wheel to said motor and thereby drivingly rotate said drive wheel, and is selectively de-energized to decouple said drive wheel from said motor and thereby permit said drive wheel to freely rotate.