Wheelbarrow

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Image:Wheelbarrow.jpg Image:Noe schubkarre.jpg A wheelbarrow is a small one- or two-wheeled cart designed to be pushed by a single person using two handles to the rear. Designed to ease the transport of heavy, often loose, loads (see lever), their use is common in the construction industry and in gardening.

A two-wheel type is more stable, while a one-wheel type has better maneuverability.

Modern designs are usually single wheel, with a pneumatic tire. Common designs are all metal with a separate frame and tray. The noise generated by all metal designs in loading and moving means that for domestic use polypropylene trays are more common (as are solid tires) being lighter and quieter but less tough.

History

Despite the development of wheeled carts from around 5,000 years ago, the invention of the wheelbarrow is usually traced to China, where there are a number of competing claims. Invented around the 3rd century AD, it is usually credited to Zhuge Liang, advisor to the Kingdom of Shu from 197 to 234, who had the wooden ox developed as a transport for military supplies. The design was with a large single central wheel around which a wooden box was constructed, but it was soon adapted to a design with two handles for pulling. The first indications of wheelbarrows in Europe are from illustrations in the 13th century. It was in Europe that the design was reversed with the wheel moving from the centre to the front of the box and the motive power to the rear.

The first wheel barrows had two wheels.

Another belief of the origin of the wheelbarrow is said to have occurred during the rule of the Roman Empire. Back then, as it is today on highways, vehicles traveling through the empire were taxed on a per axle and per wheel basis. Travellers with two axles with four wheels were taxed higher than those with one axle and two wheels. It became obvious to those who were travelling lighter needed a cheaper solution to get another tax break. So the wheelbarrow was created so that only one axle and wheel could be taxed.

The ballbarrow is a modern variation which has a ball instead of a wheel.

Performing tricks with wheelbarrows, known as extreme wheelbarrow or freestyle wheelbarrow, is a recent development in Britain and America.da:Trillebør de:Schubkarre eo:Ĉarumo fr:Brouette la:Pabo nl:Kruiwagen pl:Taczka simple:Wheelbarrow sv:Skottkärra