ROLLER APPARATUS FOR A COVER AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

A roller apparatus (102) is provided including roller means (104), drive means (110) for driving rotation of the roller means in use, and an electrical power source for providing electrical power to the drive means in use. The electrical power source is provided by one or more batteries (112) located internally of the roller means.

Claims

1. Roller apparatus, said roller apparatus including roller means, drive means for driving rotation of the roller means in use, and an electrical power source for providing electrical power to the drive means in use, and wherein said electrical power source is provided by one or more batteries or rechargeable batteries located internally of the roller means.

2. (canceled)

3. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes recharging connection means and/or a recharging unit which is/are connected to, connectable to and/or associated with the one or more rechargeable batteries to allow the batteries to be recharged via a further electrical power source in use.

4.-5. (canceled)

6. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more batteries are provided at, immediately adjacent or adjacent a first end of the roller means, and the drive mean are provided at, immediately adjacent or adjacent a second end of the roller means; and wherein the one or more batteries are connectable to the drive means via one or more electrical cables that extend internally of the roller between the batteries and the drive means.

7. (canceled)

8. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein an inverter is provided with or associated with the one or more batteries for converting Direct Current (DC) electrical power supplied by the batteries to Alternating Current (AC), or vice versa, for use by the drive means.

9. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the one or more batteries are removably located in a battery housing, a frame and/or the roller means in use; and wherein the battery housing and/or frame is movably and/or slidably mounted within an internal cavity of the roller means in use.

10.-11. (canceled)

12. Roller apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the battery housing and/or frame is arranged to allow the one or more batteries and/or the electric terminals of the one or more batteries, to be maintained in a horizontal axis or in an axis parallel or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the roller means in use; and/or wherein connection means are provided to allow connection of the one or more batteries, the battery housing and/or frame to internal walls of the roller means in use.

13.-14. (canceled)

15. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the roller means consists of a single roller member in a radial direction; or two or more roller members joined together in an end to end manner to form an elongated roller means, with joining means and/or a sleeve member provided to join the two or more roller members together in use.

16. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the roller means is a hollow sleeve member or hollow cylindrical sleeve member.

17.-19. (canceled)

20. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes at least one motor and/or gearing.

21. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes at least one reaction arm, torque arm, bogie or external drive arm, at least part of which is provided externally of the roller means and is arranged for movement across a surface in use; and wherein the at least one reaction arm, torque arm, bogie or external drive arm is provided at an end of the roller means or at a same end of the roller means to where the drive means is provided.

22.-23. (canceled)

24. Roller apparatus according to claim 21 wherein movement of the at least one reaction arm, torque arm, bogie or external drive arm across a surface in use is directly driven from rotational movement generated by the drive means in use; and/or wherein movement of the at least one reaction arm, torque arm, bogie or external drive arm across a surface in use drives movement of the roller means in use.

25. (canceled)

26. Roller apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the at least one reaction arm, torque arm, bogie or external drive arm is arranged to be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular and/or laterally to a longitudinal axis of the roller means in use.

27. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein cover means are provided on or associated with the roller means in use, said cover means arranged with respect to the roller means such that rotation of the roller means in a first direction allows the cover means to be unwound from the roller means in use, and rotation of the roller means in a second direction allows the cover mans to be wound around the roller means in use.

28. Roller apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes any or any combination of control means for controlling operation of the roller apparatus; a user interface and/or display means provided at or adjacent an end of the roller means; sensing means for sensing one or more conditions pertaining to the rollers means, to the drive means, to the one or more batteries and/or to one or more external environmental conditions, and optionally wherein the apparatus is self-deployable when one or more sensed conditions are met; or sealing means are provided to allow the interior of the roller means to be sealed or substantially sealed from external environmental conditions in use.

29.-34. (canceled)

35. A method of using roller apparatus, said roller apparatus including roller means, drive means, and an electrical power source, said method including the steps of providing electrical power to the drive means using the electrical power source, and driving rotation of the roller means via the drive means to allow movement of the roller means across a surface, and wherein said electrical power source is provided by one or more batteries or rechargeable batteries located internally of the roller means.

Description

[0121] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0122] FIGS. 1a-1d (PRIOR ART) show a perspective view, a partially transparent view of the inner roller member with fittings, a partial view of the drive means of the roller and an exploded view of the drive means of the roller respectively for an existing externally powered roller system;

[0123] FIGS. 2a-2c show an exploded view of the main internal workings of the roller apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a view of FIG. 2a with the drive means provided in an external housing, and the view of FIG. 2b in a roller member respectively;

[0124] FIGS. 3a and 3b show an example of a battery housing according to an embodiment of the present invention located in a roller member; and the battery housing of FIG. 3a respectively;

[0125] FIG. 4 is a simplified view of the control means and receiving end of the roller means according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0126] FIGS. 5a-5d show a fully assembled view of roller apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a view of FIG. 5a without the roller member present; a view of FIG. 5b without the battery housing, drive means housing or joining sleeve present; and an end view of the fully assembled roller apparatus;

[0127] FIGS. 6a-6c show some of the interior components of the roller member according to one embodiment of the present invention, the interior components located within the roller member, and a reaction arm for use with the roller member in FIGS. 6a-6b in one example.

[0128] Referring to FIGS. 2a-5c, there is illustrated battery powered roller apparatus 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The roller apparatus 102 includes a single roller member 104 provided in a radial direction. Two or more roller members 104, 104′ can be joined together via an internal joining sleeve 105 in an end to end manner in a longitudinal direction if required to achieve a desired overall total length for the roller apparatus.

[0129] The roller member 104 is elongate and hollow to allow one or more drive components and internal electrical power source components or batteries to be provided therein.

[0130] The roller member 104 has a first end 106 and a second opposite end 108. Drive means 110 are provided at the first end 106 and a plurality of batteries 112 are provided at the second end 108.

[0131] A reaction arm 114 is provided at first end 106. The reaction arm 114 is provided with a wheel 116 that rotates along a ground surface during deployment of the roller apparatus in use. The wheel 116 is provided at an end 118 of the reaction arm 114.

[0132] The drive means 110 includes a combined motor and a gearbox unit 120. Although the motor and gearbox are shown in the images as a combined unit, they could be provided as separate units if required. The motor and gearbox 120 are provided in a housing 122 that is fixed to the interior walls of the roller member 104 via fixing means in the form of a plurality of bolts 124. These bolts 124 are accessible from the exterior of the roller member 104 to allow the housing 122 to be attached and detached from the roller member to allows its fitting or removal respectively for replacement and/or repair.

[0133] The output shaft 126 of the gearbox unit 120 faces towards first end 106 and is joined to the end 128 of reaction arm 114. Thus, the output shaft 126 of gearbox 120 drives rotation of the reaction arm 114 and wheel 116 directly in use. This in turn drives rotation of the roller member 104 across a ground surface in use. The output shaft 126 can optionally be provided in an output sleeve 130 if required, as shown in. FIGS. 2a-2c (but which is absent from FIGS. 5a-5d). The output sleeve 130 can be joined to the roller member 104 via bolts 124.

[0134] The batteries 112 are connected to the motor unit 120 via electrical cables 132 provided internally of the roller member 104. The batteries 112 rotate with the roller member 104 in use. The batteries are typically of a rechargeable type.

[0135] Although four batteries 112 are shown in the illustrations, it will be appreciated that the number, size, position and/or power of the batteries can be adjusted as required. A control unit 134 is typically provided between the end of the batteries 112 and the end 108 of the roller member 104 in. FIGS. 2a-2d, but does not have to present as shown in FIGS. 5a-5d.

[0136] The batteries can be provided in a housing 140, as shown in FIGS. 3a-3b, for location in the interior hollow space of the roller member 104 in use. In one example, the housing 140 has an overall cylindrical outer shape having a first end 142 for insertion into the roller member 104 and a second end 144 for location adjacent the control means 134 in use. The housing comprises four elongate frame members 146 provided between the first and second ends 132, 244. The frame members 146 define a hollow cage therebetween for location of and maintaining the position of the batteries 112 in use. Each battery is typically arranged to be held in a position such that a longitudinal axis of the electrical terminals are horizontal or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller member. This prevents the batteries from being stored in an inverted position in use, which may cause damage to the batteries over extended time periods.

[0137] The housing 140 can be slid into and out of the hollow interior of the roller member 104 in use. Fixing means in the form of bolts can be used to fix the battery housing 140 via apertures 148 defined in the frame members 146 to the interior walls of the roller member 104 in use.

[0138] The control unit 134 can house one or more components necessary for control of the batteries, and thus the motor/gearbox unit 120 in use. A removable end cover 150 can be provided to close the hollow interior of the roller member 104 at end 108 thereof. A similar end cover can be provided to cover the opposite end of the roller member if required. A plurality of bolts or screws can be used to attach the cover 150 to the roller member 104 in use.

[0139] An attachment 152 can be provided on end cover 150 to allow attachment of a steering hook (not shown) in use to help guide movement of the roller member during deployment. A display screen 154 can be provided in end cover 150 to allow one or more operational parameters of the batteries to be viewed by a user.

[0140] The roller apparatus 102 of the present invention can be operated remotely if required using a hand held remote control device 156, as shown in. FIG. 4. Alternatively the control device can be fixed and located adjacent the roller apparatus 102 if required. The device 156 can include a display screen 158 for visually displaying one or more operational parameters of the roller apparatus to a user, control buttons 160 for moving the roller apparatus between on and off operational conditions, for controlling the direction of movement of the roller member 104 in use and/or the like. A transmitter or transceiver 162 can also be provided on the device 156 to allow one or more control signals to be communicated to and/or received from the control unit 134 of the roller member 104.

[0141] The control unit 134 includes a receiver or transceiver 164 for receiving and/or transmitting one or more control signals to the control device 156 in use, a battery recharge connection 166 to allow recharging of the batteries 112 contained within the roller member 104, and display screen 154. A DC to AC inverter 168 is associated with batteries 112 to convert the electrical charge to AC for use by the motor 120.

[0142] A cover member can be provided with the roller apparatus in use for movement between a wound condition, wherein the cover member is partially or wholly wound around the roller member in an overlapping arrangement, and an unwound condition, wherein the cover member is partially or wholly unwound from the roller member. In the unwound condition, the cover member can be used to cover a ground surface in use to protect the same from rain, snow, frost, pedestrians, vehicles and/or the like.

[0143] Referring to FIGS. 6a-6c, a further embodiment of roller apparatus 202 is illustrated where the batteries 112 are not located at the opposite end of the roller apparatus to the motor and gearbox 110, 120 but are located a spaced distance apart and substantially centrally of the roller member 104. This allows better distribution of weight compared to the if the batteries were immediately adjacent the motor and gearbox. A frame 204 can be provided to maintain the batteries a spaced distance apart from the motor and gearbox. A radio receiver 206 can be provided in the apparatus to receive one or more control and/or data signals from the control means in use.