Apiary cart: types and instructions for assembling a wheelbarrow for transporting beehives

Apiary adjustable trolley is a necessary design for an apiary. Every beekeeper knows how hard it is to take care of bees. To increase the productivity of the apiary and reduce labor costs, you should make a small cart for transporting beehives. Its design is simple, outwardly reminiscent of a metal frame. With blueprints, the beekeeper will be able to make it himself.

What are bee carts

Beehive cart is a small metal lift. It should be light, but able to withstand the heavy weight of the hives. As a rule, the design consists of the following parts:

two frames (one of them must be fixed);
two wheels;
fork;
rope;
lever;
adjusting screw;
mounting holes;
clamp bracket.

The principle of operation is quite simple so that the beekeeper can easily drive a wheelbarrow. For loading, you need to bring a cart with a raised lever to the hive.

The bracket with the screw should be moved to a position where the distance between it and the hive will be no more than 5 mm. Next, the handle must be lowered down, then the hive will be clamped. The load is lifted to the required height by means of a winch.

Varieties of lift carts

There are two main types of carts - mechanical and manual. The choice depends on the size of the apiary, as well as on the daily workload of the beekeeper.The manual drive is suitable for a small apiary and small beehives. As a rule, they are not heavy, so it will take a little effort to raise or lower the hive.

If the territory of the apiary is extensive, then it makes sense to get a cart with a mechanical drive, as it will reduce the physical burden on the beekeeper. This design will ensure the transportation of beehives with significant dimensions.

Requirements and standard drawings

Standard trolleys have certain requirements:

max load weight: 120kg;
possibility to transport beehives up to 1100 mm high;
stainless steel frame;
wheels with quality off-road tires;
strong, securely fortified platform;
clips top and bottom.

Whether choosing a trolley model from a specialized shop or making it yourself according to drawings, it is important to carefully consider every detail. The cart must be strong and reliable, because, most likely, you will have to transport the hives over rough terrain.

Everything must be done to exclude the slightest chance of the fall of the bee family.

Required tools and materials

If you plan to build a cart yourself, you should prepare the necessary materials and tools in advance. You need to take care of the following materials:

pipes for professional square use;
wheels;
stainless steel rod;
two kinds of bolts;
nuts for fastening;
durable rope;
reel for winding;
roller and bearings;
spring.

It is desirable to find handles with rubberized inserts, so that during operation it would be more convenient to load or unload.

You will need some tools, such as a drill, screwdriver, tape measure, hammer, wire cutters. You also need to prepare a welding machine and protective gloves with special glasses.

Step by step assembly instructions

Assembly of the trolley should be done sequentially, focusing on the drawings. Minor details should not be neglected, as they affect the strength and stability of the structure. Before starting work, you need to once again check the materials and tools.

Assembling the Frame

You need to start with the frame, because this is the simplest design. First you need to take measurements. Then proceed in the following sequence:

Cook a frame from square pipes. The result should be four cross beams that are butt welded.
Weld the lowest beam to the sidewalls. Use the same size pipe for the top and bottom beams as for the frame. Medium beams will require a smaller pipe.
Fix the second beam from above at a distance of 50 cm from the top. From below, weld the second beam at a distance of 38 cm from the bottom.
Make a cut along the entire length of the racks from the outside to move the bearing. 2 cm will be enough. In this cut, install the M6 bolts at the top and bottom. They will prevent the bearing from flying out of the groove.
On the third beam on both sides, make side holes for attaching wheels. Handles welded at a distance of 20 cm from the top edge of the frame to the side tubes.

Next, you can proceed to the installation of the lifting mechanism.

Installation of reel, hoist and wheels

The installation algorithm is as follows:

Attach a bearing with a retainer to the front of the upper tube, which will prevent the cable from falling out. Place the rope in the ditch. Fasten the free upper end on the left side.
Attach a coil to the second beam. When the carriage is raised, the rope will be wound on the reel. Install the axle in the bearing. Weld the lever on the opposite side.
Connect the lever handle with a cable to the metal tongue and spring. The tongue will act as a safety lock.

The axles of the wheels should be fixed with brackets, from the outside they should be fixed with nuts.

Installing the bottom bracket, fork and clamps

The lifting part of the trolley, or the carriage, is the most complex part. First you need to make the frame of the carriage, leaving space for the clamps. They will be held by hinges. When the hinge tilts under the influence of thrust, the square begins to warp, which pulls the tube of the side hinge.

The inclination of the hinge is adjusted by a bolt with a spring. The degree of compression of the clamps depends on the deflection of the hinges. Clamps are also made from pipe. It is important to provide clamp forks for gripping.

A cable block is welded in the center of the lower transverse tube of the lifting part. The movement of the carriage along the frame is possible due to four bearings, which are placed on the side posts of the lifting structure.

At the bottom of the carriage, it is important to fix the pipe sections with M6 bolts on both sides, into which the forks are then inserted. To achieve compression of the carriage mechanism, it is necessary to actuate it with a lever with a rod.