Upside down Umbrella 6m diameter loop on Barrow

• Price: Price on application

This product consists of telescopic booms folding into a pentagonal upside down umbrella configuration mounted to fold into a central pillar that then folds down onto a non-metallic but electrically propelled wheelbarrow. This folds out to function as a 6m diameter transmitter loop using a system of pulleys such that retraction is very easy. The wheelbarrow must balance on one wheel so it does not violently tilt when crossing tussocky ground like a quad bike or 4WD do. To make it easier to keep upright two balloon ‘trainer’ wheels can be placed across the rear wheelbarrow supports making it like a trike but with the rear wheels normally lifted slightly above the ground when steering and travelling. On rough ground an extra person should walk holding one side boom tip to keep the loop in balance – this is really easy, and that person can attend to other tasks the remainder of the time.

This loop support structure is suited to jobs such as blast pattern optimizing where the equipment must be compactly stored but frequently and quickly deployed. Loop deployment takes only tens of seconds.

As of January 2025 this design requires rethinking of how the wheelbarrow wheel and motor may be quickly extracted for maintenance but otherwise is finished. The system should be used as part of the Wallaroo system of parts.

The ‘barrow’ presently uses a 24V motorized wheelchair motor and has space to carry all system batteries and electronics. With metal inside the transmitter loop, only a Slingram receiver loop can be used, with system response removal. Alternatively, and perhaps preferably, if the barrow is towed, or pushed by hand which is difficult in some circumstances, all metal can be removed, and a central receiver loop can conduct highly targeted shallow exploration.