KEVOS® MAKEOS · Mechanics
Cart Push Force Check (Rolling Resistance, Slope, Starting Force, Wheel Load)
How hard will it be to start and keep a loaded trolley moving on this floor and slope, and are the wheels rated for the load?
Check of a manually pushed cart, trolley or dolly: the rolling resistance from the load, wheel radius and coefficient of rolling resistance (as the rolling resistance tool), the force to push the load up the slope (as the inclined plane tool, with rolling instead of sliding), the force to accelerate it from rest, the starting and keep-moving push forces, and the load on each wheel with the number sharing the load on an uneven floor, against your push force limits and the wheel rating.
Open the calculatorRuns in your browser. No account needed.
How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Loaded mass | kg | Mass of the cart and its load. |
| Number of wheels | wheels | Number of wheels or castors. |
| Wheels sharing the load on an uneven floor | wheels | Wheels that carry the load when the floor is uneven (often one fewer than fitted for four wheels). |
| Wheel diameter | mm | Wheel diameter. |
| Coefficient of rolling resistance | mm | Coefficient of rolling resistance (lever arm, mm) for the wheel tread and floor; soft treads and soft floors are higher. |
| Slope | ° | Slope of the floor or ramp. |
| Starting acceleration | m/s² | Acceleration from rest when starting the push. |
| Limits | ||
| Largest starting push | N | Largest force a person should apply to start the cart (from your manual handling guidance). |
| Largest keep-moving push | N | Largest force to keep it moving. |
| Rating of each wheel | N | Load rating of each wheel or castor. |
Method and formulas
- Rolling resistance F = W cos θ × f ÷ r (as the rolling resistance tool).
- Slope force = W sin θ (as the inclined plane tool with no sliding friction); acceleration force = m a.
- Start = rolling + slope + acceleration; keep moving = rolling + slope; wheel load = W ÷ wheels sharing.
- Example: 212.28 N to start and 122.28 N to keep moving; each wheel carries 980.66 N.
Limitations
- Swivel castor alignment and bearing friction add to the starting force.
- Push forces only; pulling, turning and stopping on slopes need separate checks.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Check a trolley design against push force limits
- Choose wheel size and type for a floor
- See how a ramp changes the push force
Who it is for
- Design engineers
- Safety advisers
- Materials handling engineers
What you get
- Rolling, slope and acceleration forces
- Starting and keep-moving push
- Wheel load
Interpreting the result
- Doubling the wheel diameter halves the rolling resistance; on a ramp the slope force soon dominates.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 165–171. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
WORKOS tools are screening and decision-support utilities. Verify important financial, engineering, safety, legal or operational decisions using appropriate professional standards and your organisation’s approved data.
Open the Cart Push Force Check (Rolling Resistance, Slope, Starting Force, Wheel Load) calculator
