| Details of Innovation |
The Aaruni cart performs a tilting function aided by a lever, a gearbox and a handle. No bullock cart has ever before had a tilting mechanism installed in it. In this system, the body of the cart tilts gradually so that manure falls directly on the target in a uniform manner.The carts tilting mechanism helps in making it more versatile and adept at new functions in addition to the basic function of transportation. The new mechanism opens up a new market for the cart as new users, like municipalities and builders, looking for vehicles with a tilting mechanism to reduce human intervention may find the Aaruni to their liking. The tilting mechanism operates through a simple system of levers and therefore while having all the benefits associated with the facility, the cart costs much less than traditional transport systems with hydraulic-based tilting mechanisms designed. It can be used as a camel cart or attached to a tractor as well. The four- wheel (pneumatic) base and yoke gall prevention: The yoke gall is a tumour on neck of the bullock caused due to excessive pressure and continuous rubbing of the yoke. The pressure and the rubbing cause abrasions on the neck of the bull. The yoke in the conventional bullock cart is made of strong and heavy wood- this itself is a potential cause for gall formation. The abrasion slowly turns into a wound, which turns into a gall. The gall once formed sometimes stays with the bullock till its death. The gall also reduces the efficiency of the draught animal and causes immense pain to the animal at the time of pulling. The Aaruni bullock cart has a four-wheel base and can therefore balance on its own when the cart is being loaded. The weight is evenly distributed between the front and the rear wheels. The resulting reduction in pressure not only reduces the pressure on the neck of the bullock but also reduces tension in the yoke, diminishing or effectively nullifying the chances of emergence of the yoke gall. The pneumatic wheel in Aaruni makes it easier to pull the cart. Hence minimum stress on the bullocks enhances the capacity of the animal for pulling the cart.
Advantages over existing carts:
The cart is also more efficient as it has three times the capacity of the conventional cart. Amrutbhai recalled that early models of the camel cart had only two wheels. Those carts could take a load of only one khandi (400 kg). After the introduction of four-wheel camel carts the efficiency increased fivefold. The same camel can now pull a load of five khandi.
Modifications made over period of time:
Amrutbhai has made some modifications in his cart over a period of time. He has always been keen to know the reviews of customers who have bought his cart. Their feedback became his guiding force. In addition to this, he also felt that some of the changes could made his cart better than ever before. Hence, he has thought of some changes on his own. Previously this cart had a simple brake. Amrutbhai utilised a drum-based brake system when he received suggestions to improve the braking system. Similarly, he used jumpers with simple springs in the cart. They have been replaced by the rear jumpers of a Rajdoot motorcycle. Amrutbhai has effected a change in the turning mechanism also. He has used a stronger shafting here to make it more durable. However, the most important change is in the tilting mechanism. Amrutbhai realised from his experience that previously the cart was pulled from the back side. As a result, it tilted from the front. The cart was pulled by a strong string. Amrutbhai noticed that this operation required great strength on the part of the cart driver. At the same time, the fear of breaking the string was very high, which might result in damage to the cart or injury to the driver. Therefore, Amrutbhai decided to find a solution to this limitation. He thought over it and felt that the only way to solve this problem is to lift the cart from the front. He developed a mechanism that could perform this task. This change involved the use of a chain wheel which is fixed vertically right behind the seat of the driver and beneath the front of the body. The mechanism has been successful in resolving the limitations. Apart from this, Shashank Mehta from NID and Amrutbhai are trying to reduce the weight of the cart as its iron body makes it very heavy. The Venture Promotion Fund TePP (Technopreneurial Promotion Programme) of the Department of Science and Technology and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, provided a grant of Rs. 5 lakhs (12000 US $) to Amrutbhai through GIAN for upgrading of the cart and his workshop. Presently Amrutbhai, with the help of TePP, is developing some new models for the cart which would be suitable for sugarcane transportation and camel-driven carts. As a result of the technological collaboration with Fabwell Engineerings, Aurangabad, Amrutbhai has developed a fiber-reinforced plastic cart retaining the tilting mechanism of the original cart.
Price:
The Aaruni cart is available in three different models at an affordable price. As the four-wheel carts have better capacity, longer life and are comfortable, they are suitable for farmers with large and medium-size incomes. The two and three-wheel Aarunis are suitable for small size farmers who can only afford a cart in the same price range as the conventional cart. The prices of the carts of different models are:
-Aaruni Shreshth: Rs. 28000
-Aaruni Adhyatan: Rs. 20000,
-Aaruni Two Wheel: Rs.12500.
Product acceptability:
The product has been very well accepted in the market all over the country. A turnover of Rs. 20 lakhs has been achieved in the project. The product has received overwhelming response from the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Marketability: The Aaruni cart can be marketed to the target customers directly or through the dealer-distributor network. The Rural Development Department of the State Government also provides help for marketing. The Agriculture Department and other departments / agencies of the state which are working on the development of non-conventional energy sources may provide marketing assistance in the form of subsidies for market development.
Technology demonstration-cum-training facility:
A demonstration of the technology can be arranged at the innovators place or at the GIAN office with prior appointment. After entering into an agreement for technology transfer, the requisite training for manufacturing the product will be arranged by GIAN either at the innovators place or at the entrepreneurs location as per mutual understanding.
Patent: GIAN filed a patent on behalf of Amrutbhai (2170/Cal/98 dated 14 December, 1998) on the design of the tilting bullock cart. The patent right was assigned to SRISTI by the innovator in order to facilitate the transfer of technology and to safeguard the rights of the innovator. |
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