Filed of Invention:
The invention relates to transportation of large control cubicles safely from one
place to another in the shop floor mainly, and to a method of design,
development and implementation of specialized wheel system (modular wheels)
for easily moving large and heavy control cubicles within the shop floor between
production shop and testing, in particular etc.
Background of the invention and Prior art:
Control panels are manufactured in the form of large cubicles inside which
various electrical/electronic components are mounted and connected in logical
circuits for performing specific functions in power stations and industries. All
these control panels are in general mounted over wooden pallets for the
purpose of packing later at the time of dispatch to sites. A small recess at the
wooden pallet allows for the insertion of forks of the hydraulic pallet trucks which
are used to move the cubicles within the shop for repositioning or for testing.
Control panels are made in various sizes measuring maximum about 1.6 meters
in width and 2.2 meters in height. Length of the panels varies according to the
number of suits to the extent of 5 meters.
When the cubicle is in suits and is more than 3 meters in length, movement of
the panels with the usual battery operated pallet trucks becomes difficult due to
the insufficient length of forks of the trucks for covering the length of the
cubicle. To solve the problem two numbers of trucks were used viz. one at the
front and the other at the rear of the panel.

Though this method was a solution to some extent for moving the panels,
workmen found it very difficult to maneuver with two the trucks as the steering
was to be done in both trucks in co-ordination with each other. As a result the
movement was not only difficult but also the wheels got stuck and thereby
wheels were dragged on and were damaging the floors of shop badly.
Beside this, as the width of the pallet trucks was very narrow (500 mm)
compared to the width of the cubicles and as the height of the cubicle was very
high compared to the width of the pallet trucks, cubicles were moved without
stability when they were lifted and moved.
Objects of the Invention:
An object of this invention is to propose a method for the easy mobility of heavy
and long cubicles between the production shop and testing area.
Another object of this invention is to move these cubicles without damaging the
floor in the shops.
Yet another object of this invention is to propose a method to do away with one
powered pallet truck which was used at the rear of the cubicle which posed
problem in synchronizing with the truck in the front.
Also the object of this invention is to propose a method for easily fitting the
wheels so the cubicles are ready for movement in a short time and to easily
remove the wheels after the movement is completed.

One another object of this invention is to propose a method to move the cubicles
without increasing the height of the cubicles too much due to the insertion of the
wheels.
Still another object of this invention is to propose a method is to establish a very
smooth movement without friction.
One another object of this invention is to have these modular wheels suitable for
carrying by hand easily within the shop floor.
Summary of the Invention:
To overcome all the problems the new modular wheels system was invented and
implemented in the panel assembly shop. The new invented wheels are easy to
use and easy to carry.
With this wheel system cubicles are moved with safely and smoothly. These
wheels can be fitted whenever panel is to be moved at rear of the panel. One
pallet truck only is used for traction at the front.
Accordingly, the modular wheels have been designed, developed and
implemented in the panel assembly shop which can be used at ease even by
unskilled operators.
The wheels are very convenient to use and can be inserted under the cubicles
and removed easily.

The wheel assembly has been provided with provided with sharp spikes on the
top surface which clinches into the wood of the pallet on which the cubicles are
mounted.
When the cubicle is lifted slightly the wheels falls down and can be removed out.
The modular wheels function as trailer wheels and follow the steering by the
pallet truck in the front.
Description of the Accompanying Diagrams:
Fig 1: shows the Line diagram of the modular wheels.
Fig 2: shows the Line diagram of the modular wheels in the other view.
Details Description of the Invention:
The invention will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawings
which depict an exemplary embodiedments of the invention. However, there can
be several other embodiedments all of which are deemed covered by the
description.
According to this invention a new method of wheel system has been provided to
move the cubicles within the shop easily without damaging the floor.
The wheels (1) have been provided with heavy duty roller bearings
(7) to withstand heavy loads for many years without maintenance.

Yet the wheels (1) have been made lighter for easily lifting by hand within the
shop. The handle (5) provided on the frame (2) facilitates the operator to carry
the wheel easily.
Each wheel assembly has been made with four rollers to distribute the load so as
to give long service.
Various parts of the wheel system are explained below.
Wheel Frame (2):
As shown in Fig 1 and 2, the frame (2) where the wheels (1) are mounted is a
sturdy welded construction which has been designed to withstand heavy loads
up to 10 tonnes. Rollers (8) are housed in this frame and protected from any
damages in the shop environment. The top surface houses the spikes (3) which
are explained below.
Rollers: (8)
As shown in Fig 1, four numbers of rollers (8) are arranged in each wheel-
module. Two numbers of modules are required to move the control panel. The
rollers (8) are fitted with heavy duty roller bearings (7) for smooth movement.
The body of the rollers is made up of tough steel material. Rollers(8) are free to
rotate independently which allows the wheels (1) to naturally have the
revolutions as required during negotiating curves.

Spikes(3):
The specialty of the modular wheel (1) is mainly on the spike (3) design which
enables the wheel-modules getting clinched to the wooden pallet without
slipping by the weight of the panels. As shown in Fig 1 and Fig 2, spikes (3) are
sharp short nails and are made up of hardened and ground steel.
The spikes (3) have been designed with a conical angle so that the module does
not get attached to the wooden pallet when the pallet when the pallet is slightly
lifted when the wheels (1) are to be detached. As the pallet is lifted at the rear
end the wheel modules stay on the floor so that it can be removed by hand.
Stopper Plate (4):
As shown in Fig 1 and 2, stopper plates (4) are welded to the frame and it helps
the operator to position the modules under the pallet in proper alignment to the
pallet.
Handle (5):
As shown in Figl, handles (5) are part of the frame and facilitate the operator to
easily carry the wheels with ease.
Implementation of the new wheel system for moving the control panels has
given the following benefits.
- Minimization of transportation time of cubicles within the shop floor.
- Elimination of hard scratches in the shop floor which was happening in the
earlier method.

- Cubicles are now moved with stability which was not in the earlier
method.
The new method needs only two persons to move the cubicle whereas in
the earlier method four more peoples were required to safeguard the
cubicles from instability.
- After the introduction of the wheels, the need for two pallet trucks has
been eliminated. Only one truck is required in the present system.
- The total cost of development of the new wheel modules is very
economical.

We Claim:-
1.Modular wheel for the movement of large Control panels within the shop floor,
comprising;
- wheel frame (2) where wheels (1) are mounted,
- a plurality of rollers (8) arranged in each module,
- a plurality of spikes (3) to enable wheel-module getting clinched to wooden
pallet,
- a plurality of stopper plates (4) to position in the module under the pallet in
proper alignment to the pallet,
- a plurality of handles to easily carry the wheels;
characterized in that said wheels(l) are removable and enable safe and smooth
transportation of control cubicle requiring 30% manpower and one pallet truck in
place of two such trucks.
2. Modular wheel as claimed in claim1, wherein at least four number of rollers(8)
are housed in the wheel frame (2) of each module.
3. Modular wheel as claimed in claiml, wherein said modules required to move
the control panel are at least two in number.
4. Modular wheel as claimed in claiml, wherein said rollers (8) are fitted with
heavy duty roller bearings (7) and free to rotate independently.
5. Modular wheel as claimed in claiml, wherein said rollers are made of tough
steel material.

6. Modular wheel as claimed in claiml, wherein said spikes (3) are short nails
with a conical angle and made of handed and ground steel.
7. Modular wheel as claimed in claiml, wherein the conical angle of spike (3)
helps the module to detached from the wooden pallet, when the pallet is slightly
lifted during detachment of wheels(l).
8. Modular wheel as claimed in claiml, wherein the wheels (1) can be fitted
whenever panel is to be moved at the rear of the panel.
9. Modular wheel as claimed in claiml, wherein the modular wheels function as
trailer wheels and follow the steering by the pallet truck in the front.
10. Modular wheel as claimed in claiml, wherein the modular wheels for its
smooth movement eliminates damaging of the shop floor.

Modular wheel for the movement of large Control panels within the shop floor,
comprising
- wheel frame (2) where wheels (1) are mounted,
- a plurality of rollers (8) arranged in each module,
- a plurality of spikes (3) to enable wheel-module getting clinched to wooden
pallet,
- a plurality of stopper plates (4) to position in the module under the pallet in
proper alignment to the pallet,
- a plurality of handles to easily carry the wheels;
characterized in that said wheels(1) are removable and enable safe and smooth
transportation of control cubicle requiring 30% manpower and one pallet truck in
place of two such trucks.