Design of a stair-climbing hand truck

Abstract

Every year, both at home and in the workplace, thousands of adults injure themselves while attempting to move heavy objects. Devices such as hand trucks are used to relieve the stress of lifting while on flat ground; however, these devices usually fail when it becomes necessary to negotiate a street curb or a short flight of stairs. The objective of this thesis was to design and test a consumer-grade hand truck capable of climbing stairs. Several designs were conceived that would allow a non-industrial hand truck to travel over stairs, curbs, or uneven terrain while putting minimal strain on the user. One strategy, referred to as the Blanco Stair-Climbing Wheel, was selected for development; several solid models were created and a prototype was constructed. The finished prototype was tested with a payload of approximately 300 lbs, and it was determined that the hand truck design using the Blanco strategy is a viable option for a stair-climbing consumer product.