Design and Fabrication of Multi Utility Cart for Hill Areas

International Journal of Emerging
Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, May-June, 2014 (www.ijetr.org) ISSN (E): 2347-5900 ISSN (P): 2347-6079
© Copyright reserved by IJETR (Impact Factor: 0.997) 1039
Design And Fabrication Of Multi Utility Cart For Hill Areas
Maneesh Tewari1
, Dr. R.S. Jadoun2
, Dr. Ajay3
,
Sushil Kumar Choudhary4
1,2,3,4
Industrial & Production Engineering, G.B.Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, UK , INDIA
Abstract
“Multi-Purpose Manually Operated Cart” is a cart which is designed ergonomically to improve the working conditions of laborers and workers at
construction sites, factories, ports, railway stations, etc. The main objective is to prevent various occupational hazards and improve the quality of life for
workers everywhere. The simple, durable, light weight and cost effective carrier is intended to reduce the pressure put on the spine when load is carried
on the head. There is also a good hand grip which reduces stress on the spine when load is carried on the back or while pushing a cart. In due course of
our study we analyzed working condition of laborers and people living around our city, usually they carry goods or materials on their head, back,
shoulders which make the task more difficult for them and they are more prone to injuries thereby aroused the need of an ergonomic push cart which
would help them to carry materials easy and without injuries. The easily usable carrier, made up of cane which underwent bending process for giving it a
designed shape. This cane structure weighs 1 kg which is provided with cushions and belt. The main objective of the design is to prevent various
occupational hazards and improve the quality of life of the laborer. This product will help them in their work. The carrier can be used into three different
forms. This allows the user to carry lighter loads on the head, medium loads at the back and heavier loads on a trolley. Ergonomically the load is
distributed on the shoulder and at the lumber support by softer material.
Keywords: - Ergonomics, Occupational hazards, MMH, GUI, MSDs
1. Introduction
1.1. Introduction to manual material handling
Manual material handling (MMH) involves the use of the human body to lift, lower, fill, empty, or carry loads. The load can be animate
(a person or animal) or inanimate (an object). Most manufacturing or distribution systems require some manual handling tasks.
Manual material handling: Many jobs and activities requires manual material handling such as loading and unloading, removing
material from conveyer belt, storing item in warehouse, etc. MMH activities affect primarily the musculo-skeletal system. Over exertion
appears to be main reason for MMH problem. These are basically three distinct approaches can be taken for assessing MMH capabilities
and for setting recommended workload limits.
1. Biomechanical approach: This approach views the body as a system of links and connecting joints corresponding to segments of the
body. For example, upper arm (link), elbow (joint). Principles of physics are used to determine the mechanical stresses on the body and
the muscle forces needed to counteract these stresses. In objective if this approach is to limit task demands to be within the strength
capacity and compressive force tolerance of the body. This mainly considers infrequent MMH activities.
2. Physiological approach: This approach is best applied to MMH activities that are done frequently and over some duration of time.
Physiological approach is concerned with energy consumption and the stresses acting on the cardiovascular system.

International Journal of Emerging Technology & Research
3. Psychophysical approach: This approach is found on the fact that people integrate and combine both biomechanical and physiological
stresses in their subjective evaluation of perceived stress. The use of psychophysics in assessing a lifting task subjects adjust the weight of
a load to the maximum amount they can sustain without strain or discomfort and without becoming unusually tired, weakened. The
maximum selected weight is called “Maximum acceptable weight of load”
• To reduce the risk of over exertion, the following factors related to job design,
• work selection and work training should be considered:
• Decrease the weight of the objects handled.
• Decrease the weight of the objects handled.
• Use two or more people to move heavy or large objects.
• Change the activity i.e. pulls or push rather than carry minimize carrying distance.
• Stack materials below shoulder height.
• Keep heavy objects at knuckle joints. Job rotation to less strenuous jobs.
Any job that involves heavy labor or manual material handling may include a high risk for injury on the job. Manual material handling
entails lifting, but also usually includes climbing, pushing, pulling, and pivoting, all of which pose the risk of injury to the back. MMH
work contributes to a large percentage of a 1.1 million cases of musculoskeletal disorders reported annually. Musculoskeletal disorders
often involve strains and sprains to the lower back, shoulders, and upper limbs. Potentially injurious tasks may involve bending and
twisting, repetitive motions, carrying or lifting heavy loads, and maintaining fixed positions for a long time. MMH under these conditions
can lead to damaged muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. Manual material handling tasks may expose workers to
physical risk factors. If these tasks are performed repeatedly or over long periods of time, they can lead to fatigue and injury. The main
risk factors, or conditions, associated with the development of injuries in manual material handling tasks include:
• Awkward postures (e.g., bending, twisting)
• Repetitive motions (e.g., frequent reaching, lifting, carrying)
• Forceful exertions (e.g., carrying or lifting heavy loads)
• Pressure points (e.g., grasping [or contact from] loads, leaning against parts or surfaces that are hard or have sharp edges)
• Static postures (e.g., maintaining fixed positions for a long time)
Repeated or continual exposure to one or more of these factors initially may lead to fatigue and discomfort. Over time, injury to the back,
shoulders, hands, wrists, or other parts of the body may occur. Injuries may include damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and
blood vessels. Injuries of this type are known as musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs.
1.2 Introduction to Ergonomics
Ergonomics derives from two Greek words: ergon, meaning work, and nomoi, meaning natural laws, to create a word that means the
science of work and a person’s relationship to that work. The International Ergonomics Association has adopted this technical definition:
ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other

elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being
and overall system performance. Ergonomics is sometimes defined as the science of fitting the work to the user instead of forcing the user
to fit the work. However this is more a primary ergonomic principle rather than a definition. Also Known As: Human Factors, Human
Engineering, Human Factors Engineering The term human-factors engineering is used to designate equally a body of knowledge, a
process, and a profession. As a body of knowledge, human-factors engineering is a collection of data and principles about human
characteristics, capabilities, and limitations in relation to machines, jobs, and environments. As a process, it refers to the design of
machines, machine systems, work methods, and environments to take into account the safety, comfort, and productiveness of human
users and operators. As a profession, human-factors engineering includes a range of scientists and engineers from several disciplines that
are concerned with individuals and small groups at work. In application ergonomics is a discipline focused on making products and tasks
comfortable and efficient for the user. Examples: Using proper posture and body mechanics, good placement of computer equipment,
comfortable handles and grips as well as efficient layout of kitchen appliances are all aspects of ergonomics. Principles of ergonomics are
now applied to the design of many elements of everyday life, from car seats to garden tools. Many different occupations are involved in
implementing these "human factor" principles in the workplace, such as human factors/ergonomics specialists; safety engineers; industrial
hygienists, engineers, designers; human resource managers; occupational medicine physicians and therapists; and chiropractors. Research
in ergonomics is ongoing. Knowledge of basic ergonomics principles is important for both workers and employers because both share
responsibility for a safe work environment. One can easily imagine the potential hazards in manufacturing settings where equipment is
operated and heavy materials are handled, but hazards exist in other environments, too. And technology (especially computer use) has
brought about widespread changes in how work is accomplished. Attention to ergonomics principles helps to reduce workplace injuries
and illnesses that result in workers' compensation costs, medical claims, and lost work time. Many disorders and injuries are preventable
when work conditions are designed for human safety and comfort. People need training in how to recognize hazards and safety problems
as well as how to control their own behaviors for maximum comfort and health. Good ergonomic equipment and practices can aid you in
your work and make your life more enjoyable. But what is good for someone else may not be good for you. Ergonomics is truly personal.
And finding what works for you make take more effort, but it will be well worth it. You are like a snowflake. Your muscles and bones
make up a unique body that does not identically match anyone else. Therefore your body mechanics will be different from everyone else.
Your skills, competency and capabilities will also be different from others. Furthermore your aptitude, or how much you like doing
something, will differ. All of these aspects affect how you do something. The Graphical User Interface, or GUI (pronounced “gooey”) is
the technological interface most of us are familiar with. There was a time when you told a computer what to do through text commands
(before that it was an index card with holes punched in it called a “punch card”). As you might imagine a point and click approach to
computing provided a lot of benefits over a text based approach.
1.3 Why is ergonomics important?
Industries increasingly require higher production rates and advances in technology to remain competitive and stay in business. As a result,
jobs today can involve:
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and pushing or pulling loads without help from other workers or devices;
• Increasing specialization that requires the worker to perform only one function or movement for long period of time or day after
day;
• Working at a quicker pace of work, such as faster assembly line speeds; and
• Having tighter grips when using tools.
If work tasks and equipment do not include ergonomic principles in their design, workers may have exposure to undue physical stress,
strain, and overexertion, including vibration, awkward postures, forceful exertions, repetitive motion, and heavy lifting. Recognizing
ergonomic risk factors in the workplace is an essential first step in correcting hazards and improving worker protection. Ergonomists,
industrial engineers, occupational safety and health professionals, and other trained individuals believe that reducing physical stress in the
workplace could eliminate up to half of the serious injuries each year. Employers can learn to anticipate what might go wrong and alter
tools and the work environment to make tasks safer for their workers.

1.4 Motivation for choosing the problem
The driving force which leads us to work in this direction is the need of a material handling device which would not only reduce the
human effort at work but also would minimize the injuries and fatigue at work. this need came forth looking at the need of a material
handling device at places like construction sites, mountain terrains, Industries, ports where workers have to carry goods on their
shoulders, head or back ,pick up and carry for a long duration of time ,at intervals of time or distance, which lead to injuries such as
muscle pull ,fatigue due to persistent carrying of material, therefore any work in this direction would be fruitful for mankind.
1.5 Problem Statement
In mountain terrains a significant proportion of the people live and in order to fulfill their everyday chores they have to carry a lot of
goods uphill and downhill, among which women are the one who have to look after the daily needs such as to bring water from ponds,
fodder for cattle apart from looking after the children. we know that traditionally women carry goods on their back or head, which lead to
lot of health problems including various cuts and injuries that occur while goods from carrying goods ,as far as body built and strength is
concerned women are not as strong as men are so there is lot need to make their efforts effective and reduce the various health hazards
that are part and parcel of the same. There for looking towards the need of the day we have prepared an ergonomically designed push cart
for the hill women which is designed in such a way so as make the carriage of goods easy and comfortable that would reduce the stress
that could happen while traditionally carrying goods hence reducing fatigue and injuries , and would reduce the time at work.
2. Design & analysis
Design & development main part of the multipurposes cart.
Fig. 1 multipurpose cart
1. Element quality:
Table-1
Criterian Good Poor Bad Wrost Average
Stretch 4676 (99.94%) 3 ( 0.06% ) 0 (0.00% ) 0.278 0.579
Aspect
ratio
3986 (85.19%) 693 (14.81%) 0 ( 0.00% ) 4.876 2.041

2. Materials
Table-2
Material Cane
Young's modulus 1.6e+010 N/m2
Poisson's ratio 0
Density 450 kg/m3
Coefficient of thermal
expansion
0 Kdeg
Yield strength 0N/m2
3. Static Case:
Boundary Conditions:
Figure.2 multi purposes cart
4. Structure computation:
Number of nodes: 1791
Number of elements: 4679
Number of D.O.F.: 5373
Number of Contact relations: 0

Number of Kinematics relations: 0
Linear tetrahedron: 4679
5. Load Computation:
Name: Loads.1
Applied load resultant:
Table-3
Fx = 5 . 350e-008 N
Fy = -1 . 506e-009 N
Fz = -1 . 500e+003 N
Mx = -5 . 625e+001 Nxm
My = 5 . 365e+001 Nxm
Mz = -6 . 045e-010 Nxm
Direct Method Computation:
Name: Static Case Solution.1
Restraint: Restraints.1
Load: Loads.1
Strain Energy: 2.449e+000 J
Equilibrium
Table-4
Components Applied
Forces
Reactions Residual Relative
Magnitude Error
Fx (N) 5.3504e-008 5.3594e-008 -9.0438e-011 7.9591e-014
Fy (N) -1.5057e-009 2.0637e-009 5.5806e-010 4.9113e-013
Fz (N) -1.5000e+003 1.5000e+003 -9.2327e-009 8.1254e-012
Mx (Nxm) -5.6250e+001 5.6250e+001 -1.8851e-010 6.5060e-013
My (Nxm) 5.3649e+001 -5.3649e+001 8.7019e-010 3.0032e-012
Mz (Nxm) -6.0448e-010 6.7351e-010 6.9037e-011 2.3826e-013

Static Case Solution.1 - Deformed mesh.2
Figure.3
Static Case Solution.1 - Von Mises stress (nodal values).2
Figure-4
3. Material & fabrication
3.1 Materials used
The material used for the “Ergonomically Designed Multi-purpose Push Cart” is Cane. Cane is either of two genera of tall, perennial
grasses with flexible, woody stalks from the family Poaceae, that grow throughout the world. The genera include species of bamboo. The
genus Arundo is native from the Mediterranean region to the Far East. Arundinaria is found in the New World. Cane commonly grows in
large riparian stands known as canebrakes, found in toponyms throughout the Southern and Far Western United States; they are much like
the tules of California.Depending on strength, cane can be fashioned for various purposes such as as tools and walking sticks/crutches.
Judicial canes, or school canes. Where canes are used in corporal punishment, they must meet particular specifications, such as a high
degree of flexibility. Cane historically has been used for many other purposes such as baskets, furniture, boats, roofs and wherever stiff,
withy sticks can be put to good use.

Walking canes: Cane is often used to make walking sticks and "hospital canes" (aids to mobility). In North America, any walking stick
may be called a "cane". An example of the "walking cane" contrasted with the cane of corporal punishment: in 1856, when Charles
Sumner of Massachusetts was "caned" for bullying a disabled Congressman of the West, he was beaten with a wooden walking 'cane' that
splintered. "Canes" may also refer to the special white rods used by the blind.
Other uses:
Cane is used for a variety of artistic and practical purposes, such as Indian baskets of North America. During the 18th and early 19th
century, non-commissioned officers in some European armies could carry canes to discipline troops (when not in use, the cane was
hooked to a cross-belt or a button). Cane is used to describe furniture made of wicker. Cane also describes a length of colored, patterned
glass rod used in cane working, a style of glassblowing. Canes are used in regional folk-dancing and as props on stage. For example, folk-
dancers may twirl canes overhead, stand them on the head, spin them off to the sides, or strike them on the floor.
Figure-5 Walking Sticks
The unique beauty of a wooden cane draws the eye as well as acts as a sturdy assistant for those who need it. Wooden canes are also easy
to personalize. As a matter of fact, you can make one for yourself. You can make these canes from chestnut, diamond willow, beechwood
and other types of wood. Additionally, these materials also offer wood grain variations that add to its natural beauty and you can
embellish the canes with wooden carvings and designs.
The process of making a wood cane includes wood bending. Wood bending methods include:
• steam bending,
• laminated wood bending and
• kerf cut bending.
3.2 wood bending processes
Wood bending is one of the techniques used in the wood processing from a long time ago. Even it is particularly special, but actually not
a difficult technique (especially when using a pure material). Some of the classic examples are boat, barrel and container types. The native
Indian of the American traditionally bends a wood to make a snowshoes, sledge, luge and canoe. In Europe, this technique already been
used for a long time in the making of chair such as the slat back chair and the ladder back chair that already existed in the middle ages
(1100-1450) and often could be seen in their wood block print and the copperplate print. Here we could imagine how old the origin of the
technique is. In northeast Japan, this technique is used by the old community in the making of their traditional snowshoes called as
"kanjiki". Their method of bending the wood is to place the material directly on the pot, put a cover on it, and after steaming it for a while
they just press it to the desired shape. Basically, we can say the wood bending technique is an easy thing to do.
Nowadays, there are various designs for chair with a value-added element, and to make it as a product, the need to learn the
manufacturing technique and its application becomes very important. From now on, wood bending is one of the techniques that is
necessary in the furniture making and also in its design strategy, make us able to make and design furniture accompanied with a new
value-added elements.
3.2.1Type of bending process
Bending process such as a heating method, depends on the different of the method used, could be classified as below. These are simple
explanation for every bending process.

1. Laminated Bending
The method used in laminated bending is to press the lamination of veneers glued at the former made from metal, plywood etc. With the
former, this method is comparatively easy to make the bend component. It is widely used in the making of chair component for the mass
production. In Japan Tendo-Mokko Co., Ltd is well known for their specialty in laminated bending.
Figure-6 Laminated Bending
In laminated bending the thin layer is chosen so that it would be easy to bend (between 1mm to 5mm) depends on its curvature. For the
mass production, the ready-made veneer is widely used. Regarding the former, it is better to make both the male former and the female
former, but for a trial making or a partial component making, we can make only the one side former and do the clamping.
Figure-7
In America, we can see the laminated bending technique using a vacuum type mold device. Here, the molding range is limited, but of
course one side mold is already enough. Different from a pure bending technique, the laminated bending technique keeps the 'R' shape of
the product from straightening out when it is removed from the mold. It has the strength. One of the merit is there is almost no spring
back occurred to the material. Keeping a fixed shape of the 'R', and to get a same quality of the components means a big merit for the
maker side. Moreover, since the laminated bending using a large quantity of adhesive material causes a rise in the moisture content, it is
important to fully dry it before removing it from the former. Basically, if the drying process is done carefully after applying the adhesive
to the material, there should be no spring back problem. But, if it is removed from the mold too quickly, spring back will occur.
Moreover, the problem in the manufacturing of the veneer, small crack along the grain of the material after the molding caused by its
moisture content are some of the things that might occur. In the case where a gap occurs between the veneer layers, wood dust is applied
to the place and super glue is used to fix it (use a low adhesive type used for metal use, high adhesive type for wood material use is not
good enough to be used). More, the efficiency would increase if we use a spray type primer.

2. Kerfing
Generally, the method used is to make a saw kerf (cut) on the inner surface of the material. The formula for this kerf bending is the
relation between the thickness of the material, the curve 'R' (outer side) and the quantity of the saw cut. Here we figure out how many saw
cut can be made with in the R/4 or? Of the circle.
Quantity of saw cut = 1.75 x thickness of wood / thickness of saw blade
In the above formula, the quantity of the saw cut has no relation with the value of 'R'. For example, for the cuts with the thickness of
2mm, to get a 300mm radius of the outer 'R', we need to make 15.7 (about 16 cuts) to the material with the length 471mm (1.57x300).
Here, make about 1 ~ 2mm of the outer side of the material remain uncut. Since the 'R' is not included in the formula, even the quantity of
the cuts made decided from the formula, there will be a case where we could not get the desired 'R'. Here we need to make a little
adjustment, by adding more cuts or by crushing the angle of the saw cut.
The surface where the saw cut is made becomes the inner side, and glue is applied so that the saw cuts are filled. Then bend the material
so that the saw cuts close.
Figure-8
3. Chemical softening used in bending process
This type of method is to apply a chemical substance to the material in order to soften it before the bending process is done. Some of
the common examples of chemical softening in bending (plasticizing) are ammonia treatment (liquid ammonia, ammonia water,
ammonia gas), alkali treatment and etc.
4. Compression bending
This is a new technique in bending process. Firstly, the material is pressed along its length direction (along the grain) before it is bended.
Means, the structure of the fiber becomes like a bellow, making it easier to bend. However, compare to other method that usually use a
heat (Tohnet's method : will be discussed later), it is weaker in term of the strength. The method used is to use a device that hold both the
ends of the material firmly, then it is inserted into a casing (like a pipe etc) that just fit its size, and using a hydraulic cylinder the material
is pressed along its length for about 10%, and then it is returned back to about 5%.
5. Cold bending
Bending method used after the material is boiled or steamed usually called as a hot bending. Cold bending is a method where water is
applied to the material before it is put into the mold and bended. The left figure shows a bending process for a slat of the backrest of a
chair. The material becomes soft when it is applied with water, so in case of a big 'R' bending, it could be bended sufficiently. However,

this method needs to use a good material with no shake compare to the one used in hot bending. Usually, bending with a small curvature
has a high possibility of failure. Component with a big 'R' such as the slat of the ladder back chair and a spindles of the Windsor chair etc
have a high possibility to bend using this cold bending method. After it is bended, apply a heat treatment would stabilize the form of the
material. In Japan, this method is widely used and is not something very particular, where water is applied to the bended material and then
it is bended in reverse and hold to fix it again.
Figure.9
3. 3 Tohnet's bending method
Applying a heat to get ductility - general technique of bending. This is the method of bending that we are going to do in the course.
Tohnet's method use a pure material, where using a heat to ductile the material, then bending is done using a bending strap and a former.
It's popular among other technique for bending. Here I will explain about the procedures, points of notice and problems regarding this
method.
The person that responsible to transfer this bending technique so that it could be used in the mass production was an Austrian Michael
Tohnet (1796-1871). He started to develop this bent wood technique in 1930. At the beginning, the method designed by him was to use a
glue to bond thin boards together before bending it (a method that now known as laminate; a basic technique to make a cast plywood),
and released a chair that using that method. After that, he designed another method of casting, using a bending strap to establish the
technique that could be used for a mass production known as "Michael's Method". By using this technique, the pure material could be
bended effectively. Here the wood material has to go through the steaming or the boiling process to improve its ductility, before placing it
on the former along with the strap and force it to bend. Then the material will be hold in that condition. If the material is dried in this
condition, it will keep its bended shape after that.His bent wood chair was very epoch-making, not only in the aspect of making method
but also in the aspect of design. This is because, his chair was completely different compare to the others, very light, strong, the
components were assembled using a screw that was also made from a wood, make it lot easier to fix it when the chair is broken.
Moreover, there were no excessive decoration, with most of the components in its structure took a curve shape that make it looks simple
and couldn't be found in other chairs at that time, its functions that closed to the daily life and the practicality it has, all these things had
made it to become the forerunner for the modern chair. After that, his chair received lots of recognition in the expo and exhibition, made
his light and modern bent wood chair to become very popular.
3.4 Bending procedures
3.4.1. Softening process
Before starting the bending, the material needs to be softened first. As explained earlier, this is to improve the ductility of the material,
thus lessening the possibility of the material to break. Here, boiling and steaming are the general method used. We can think boiling and
steaming as a process of applying a heat and moisture to the material. Important points need to be considered during steaming process are
the material's moisture content, processing temperature and processing period.
Regarding the period of the softening process, the practical standard used is for the air-dried timber, for every inch of the scantling
material, 1 hour is needed to steam (or boil) at normal pressure (used in many cases). From my experience, both the air dry and the kiln
dry timber could be bended without any problem after it is steamed for 1 to 2 hours.

3.4.2. Bending procedure
The former must be fixed firmly with a bolt to the workbench so that it would not move. Do not forget to wear a cotton glove to prevent
burn during the bending work.
• After the material is taken out from the steamer, set it right away to the bending handle and insert the shim with a suitable
thickness.
• Make sure the center marking made in advance at the material and the former meets with each other and fix it using a wedge.
• Start to bend the material promptly, same to both right and left side, and clamp it so that it would not straightening out by itself.
• Together with the former, take them off from the workbench and dry it. Or together with the bending handle, take them off from
the former and dry it (depends on the case).
After taking out the material from the steamer, bend it as soon as possible. This is the key to make it successful. When taking out the
materials from the steamer, take out the thin and the slim one first. It is better to steam the thick one much longer. Figures at below show
a former and its using method used by the maker specialized in wood bending. The former is made from steel.
Figure-10
3.4.3 Drying:
In the bending process, after the material is taken out from the former, it is important to make sure the material has a little spring back and
a little varying in property. For that reason, after the bending is finish, the material is dried in a high temperature without taking it out
from the former. During the drying process, we need to relief the internal stress of the material, stabilize the moisture content condition
and to fix the radius of the curvature as planned before.
At one company, the method used is to circulate a 50-60°C wind for about 12 hours to dry the material. In order to prevent a crack from
occurring at the surface of the material, the drying is done in a low temperature condition. By this way we could assume that the material
somehow is in a negative spring back condition.
After the drying process, the material is leaved in the air (room temperature 20°C, humidity 50%) for 1 hour. After that, the material is
removed from the former and after 1 hour the spring back quantity is measured.
4. Results and discussion

The designed cart is made of cane wood which is a light weight wood,it is designed in such a way looking after the need of men and
women at work by first taking the measurements of the various heights and weights of men and women and then a standard height
that is the mean of the various heights is considered. This design is made according to the standard height and design is first made
roughly on the papers and then a final design is selected and drawn with the help of designing software catia with proper dimensions
and then analysis of the design is simultaneously done , in the analysis part various types of loads are acted on it and effect of that
loads are studied upon and conclusions are drawn on its applicability and the design that comes forth can be used to carry heavy
weight by rolling the cart on its wheels through various terrains and at times when there is any difficulty in rolling the cart while
carrying material or to avoid monotonous working of labour then our design was wood worked and bending of the cane wood was
done by heat treatment, now the cart made can be carried on the shoulder which is provided with cushions at the collar and shoulder
regions so as to reduce the stress and strain. It is also provided with an adjustable belt that helps to hold the cart comfortably around
the waist of the cart holder while carrying cart on shoulders after loading. Then the prototype designed was put to practical
experimentation by putting various goods such as gas cylinder and it was also put to experimentation by providing the cart at work
places to the workers and their various activities, movements were analyzed and it at the end of the analysis it was observed that time
taken by them was reduced as compared to the normal (traditional) working, it also helped to reduce fatigue and workers didn’t found
any stress and no injuries occurred to them and as we know women are less strong as compared to men so after using the cart they felt
that it reduced the efforts and they were not tired could also look after their household activities more efficiently.
5. Conclusions
This work focuses on some of the ergonomics issues involved with manual pushing or pulling activities and lifting weight.
Ergonomics is an applied science that is used to improve human performance. We can expect to improve bottom-line measures in
productivity, quality, health and safety, and other product and process areas by applying ergonomics principles. By studying a task or
job in detail, and carefully matching equipment and people with those demands, surprisingly heavy loads and equipment can be
manually moved, safely and efficiently. In some cases, depending on required task factors such as repetition, distance traveled, force
requirements, and handhold locations, a combination of manual and assisted material handling can be used. Understanding the task
requirements, operating environment and conditions, and the people that will perform the work when selecting carts.
6. Scope for further improvement
The prototype designed for manually operated cart is made of cane which is type of wood light in weight, durable and of high strength
,easy to work on, therefore useful to be used at workplaces to carry load and would reduce the effort at work ,reduces fatigue and
leaves negligible scope for injuries. this prototype can be put to mass production but instead of cane wood alternative composite
materials should be used that are light in weight, durable, corrosion resistant and of high strength than cane wood because as we know
cane is a wood and if cart made of cane is put to mass production it would lead to cutting of trees which will lead to deforestation and
hence is not environment friendly. Work can be done on its design to make it ergonomically suitable; ergonomically testing can be
done on it.
References
1. R.N.Pateriya and Shailesh Singh(2009) “Ergonomic evaluation of tractors seat”, , Pantnagar Journal of Research, Vol.7, No.2. pp.200-207
2. Telsang Martand, (2003) “Industrial Engineering And Production Management”,, S.Chand, Delhi
3. Tiechauer,E.R.,(1978) “The biomechanical basis of Ergonomics”, Wiley, New York.
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cart

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