A protective covering is provided for covering an axle of a caster assembly including an exterior side that has an outer wall and an outer sidewall about a perimeter of and extending from the outer wall, and an interior side that has an inner wall recessed within the outer side and an inner sidewall extending from the inner sidewall. A main channel is defined within the recess of the interior side is configured to receive a leg of a bracket of the caster assembly and releasably retain the leg therein such that the protective covering is coupled to a side of the caster assembly. The exterior side preferably partially or entirely covers a hub of a wheel of the caster assembly and thereby reduces the likelihood of debris entering a cavity defined between the hub and the leg thereof.

A caster 1 includes a wheel 10, a fork 20, a second member 20, and a rolling bearing 40. The rolling bearing includes an outer ring 40A, an inner ring 40B, and a plurality of rolling elements. The outer ring 40A includes a first outer ring 41 and a second outer ring 42. The inner ring 40B includes a first inner ring 43 and a second inner ring 44.

A caster 1 includes a wheel 10, a fork 20, a second member 20, and a rolling bearing 40. The rolling bearing includes an outer ring 40A, an inner ring 40B, and a plurality of rolling elements. The outer ring 40A includes a first outer ring 41 and a second outer ring 42. The inner ring 40B includes a first inner ring 43 and a second inner ring 44.

The present disclosure relates to a robot cleaner, more particularly, to a robot cleaner that may be escaped from a trapped state by an escaping unit formed in an inner surface of a wheel, when a body of the robot cleaner is caught in a protrusion to put the robot cleaner in a trapped state where the robot cleaner cannot run during the running on the floor of a cleaning area.

Disclosed are systems and methods for reducing friction on a brake arm of a caster wheel brake. A washer can be positioned between the brake arm and the support arm to reduce friction in this area. Lubricant can also be provided between the brake arm and the support arm, and also between the brake arm and the brake cam, to reduce the friction in these areas. The presently disclosed embodiments therefore allow less force to actuate the brake arm as compared to prior art caster wheels.

A stand assembly and method of converting a stand assembly from a moveable configuration to a stationary configuration is provided. The stand assembly includes a plurality of wheel assemblies slidably engaged with a plurality of respective trivets, each wheel assembly being moveable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, thereby moving each trivet between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration, respectively. When in their respective deployed configurations, a distal end of each trivet is engaged with the floor, thereby causing the stand assembly to be in the stationary configuration. When in their respective stowed configurations, the distal end of each trivet is positioned between two wheels of the wheel assembly such that the wheel assembly prevents the trivet from engaging with objects on the floor, thereby minimizing adjustments required to obtain desired ground clearance.

A stand assembly and method of converting a stand assembly from a moveable configuration to a stationary configuration is provided. The stand assembly includes a plurality of wheel assemblies slidably engaged with a plurality of respective trivets, each wheel assembly being moveable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, thereby moving each trivet between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration, respectively. When in their respective deployed configurations, a distal end of each trivet is engaged with the floor, thereby causing the stand assembly to be in the stationary configuration. When in their respective stowed configurations, the distal end of each trivet is positioned between two wheels of the wheel assembly such that the wheel assembly prevents the trivet from engaging with objects on the floor, thereby minimizing adjustments required to obtain desired ground clearance.

A person support apparatus includes a base frame with a plurality of caster wheel assemblies, each of the caster wheel assemblies including a caster brake actuator movable between a total braking position and a non-braking position. A linkage system is coupled to the caster brake actuators for controlling the caster brake actuators and is operable to move the caster brake actuators between their total braking positions and their non-braking positions. The linkage system is configured to compensate for tolerances in the linkage system wherein the linkage system can control the caster brake actuators to simultaneously move between their total braking positions and their non-braking positions.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.