A high load pivoting caster with integral jack preferably includes a wheel mounting base, a pair of wheels, a high load jack, a slewing ring, an wheel axle and an attachment cube. The wheel mounting base includes a base plate, and first and second pairs of wheel support plates. The first wheel is retained between the first pair of wheel support plates. The second wheel is retained between the second pair of wheel support plates. The wheel axle is inserted through the pair of wheels and the first and second pair of wheel support plates. The slewing ring preferably includes a stator ring, a rotor ring, an indexing plate and a set of rotary bearings. An opening is formed through the indexing plate to receive an outer perimeter of the high load jack. The attachment cube is preferably attached to a top of the indexing plate with welding.

A high load pivoting caster with integral jack preferably includes a wheel mounting base, a pair of wheels, a high load jack, a slewing ring, an wheel axle and an attachment cube. The wheel mounting base includes a base plate, and first and second pairs of wheel support plates. The first wheel is retained between the first pair of wheel support plates. The second wheel is retained between the second pair of wheel support plates. The wheel axle is inserted through the pair of wheels and the first and second pair of wheel support plates. The slewing ring preferably includes a stator ring, a rotor ring, an indexing plate and a set of rotary bearings. An opening is formed through the indexing plate to receive an outer perimeter of the high load jack. The attachment cube is preferably attached to a top of the indexing plate with welding.

A swivel caster (1) including a support plate (2) for connection to a container, and including a caster mount (3) having a caster (6) rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis (H). The caster mount (3) is connected to the support plate (2) rotatable about a vertical rotation axis (V). At least one first magnet (15a) is connected to the caster mount (3) and at least one second magnet (15b) is connected to the support plate (2). The magnets (15a, 15b) are magnetized and disposed so as to be mutually parallel including a gap in such in an alignment of the caster mount outside a defined basic alignment (G) of the caster mount (3) the magnets (15a, 15b) interact such that the caster mount (3) swings into basic alignment (G). The caster mount (3) has a cover plate (11) which collectively with the saucer (9) of the support plate (2) and with the mounting plate (7) encloses an intermediate space for the magnets (15a, 15b). The cover plate (11) has two legs (17a, 17b) which extend in the direction of the horizontal rotation axis (H) of the caster (6). Each leg (17a, 17b) has a free end (18a, 18b) remote from the cover plate (11) is connected to the caster mount (3) via a connector.

A patient care bed including a caster locking mechanism having a foot movable between retracted and extended positions, a lock bar movable from an unlocked to a locked position, a release bar movable from an initial to a release position, and a lock and release assembly. The lock and release assembly includes a guide plate defining a slot, a rocker coupled to the lock bar and including a protrusion slidable within the slot, and a release member coupled to the release bar and including a protrusion slidable within the slot. Moving the lock bar to the locked position slides the protrusion of the rocker through the slot to extend the foot. Moving the release bar to the release position urges the protrusion of the release member through the and into contact with the protrusion of the rocker to urge the protrusion of the rocker back, thereby retracting the foot.

A driving device for use in a hub assembly includes a stationary ring, a connecting seat and a pawl unit, all of which surround an axis. The stationary ring has a plurality of angularly spaced-apart ratchet grooves that are symmetric. The connecting seat has a sprocket and at least one connecting portion, both of which are arranged along the axis. The pawl unit includes a ring-shaped coupling seat that is removably sleeved on the connecting seat and that has at least one coupling portion engaging removably the at least one connecting portion, and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart retaining grooves, each retaining a pawl and a resilient member for engaging a corresponding one of the ratchet grooves of the stationary ring.

A swivel caster (1) including a support plate (2) for connection to a container, and including a caster mount (3) having a caster (6) rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis (H). The caster mount (3) is connected to the support plate (2) rotatable about a vertical rotation axis (V). At least one first magnet (15a) is connected to the caster mount (3) and at least one second magnet (15b) is connected to the support plate (2). The magnets (15a, 15b) are magnetized and disposed so as to be mutually parallel including a gap in such in an alignment of the caster mount outside a defined basic alignment (G) of the caster mount (3) the magnets (15a, 15b) interact such that the caster mount (3) swings into basic alignment (G). The caster mount (3) has a cover plate (11) which collectively with the saucer (9) of the support plate (2) and with the mounting plate (7) encloses an intermediate space for the magnets (15a, 15b). The cover plate (11) has two legs (17a, 17b) which extend in the direction of the horizontal rotation axis (H) of the caster (6). Each leg (17a, 17b) has a free end (18a, 18b) remote from the cover plate (11) is connected to the caster mount (3) via a connector.

Systems and methods for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus has a support structure and a patient support surface. Caster assemblies are coupled to the support structure to roll about a roll axis and swivel about a swivel axis. A control system is configured to control brake mechanisms, steer-lock mechanisms, and pre-swivel mechanisms of the caster assemblies based on one or more inputs.

A caster wheel assembly includes a frame configured to pivotally couple to a tool bar, a sub-frame rotatably coupled to the frame, and a connecting linkage configured to control movement of the frame relative to the tool bar. The caster wheel assembly also includes a locking assembly, which includes a lock lever movably coupled to the frame, wherein the lock lever includes a locking element and a release element, a locking structure fixedly coupled to the sub-frame, and a driving element fixedly coupled to the connecting linkage. The locking element is configured to block rotation of the sub-frame relative to the frame while the locking element is engaged with the locking structure, and the driving element is configured to contact the release element as the connecting linkage moves the frame downwardly relative to the tool bar to drive the locking element to disengage the locking structure.

A caster wheel assembly includes a frame configured to pivotally couple to a tool bar, a sub-frame rotatably coupled to the frame, and a connecting linkage configured to control movement of the frame relative to the tool bar. The caster wheel assembly also includes a locking assembly, which includes a lock lever movably coupled to the frame, wherein the lock lever includes a locking element and a release element, a locking structure fixedly coupled to the sub-frame, and a driving element fixedly coupled to the connecting linkage. The locking element is configured to block rotation of the sub-frame relative to the frame while the locking element is engaged with the locking structure, and the driving element is configured to contact the release element as the connecting linkage moves the frame downwardly relative to the tool bar to drive the locking element to disengage the locking structure.

A mobile surgical robotic cart assembly includes a vertical column supporting a robotic arm thereon, a base, and a plurality of casters each having wheels and each being attached to the base thereby allowing the surgical robotic assembly to move. Each of the plurality of casters has a wheel alignment assembly configured to lock each of the respective wheels in a plurality of orientations.