A crane for lifting and transporting loads includes a handling element, for supporting and handling the loads, and a chassis for transferring the loads of the crane onto a support surface by a contact arranged in contact with the surface, such as wheels. A drive transmission, such as a drive wheel, moves the crane on the support surface. The drive transmission is capable of translating relative to the chassis to adjust the force exerted by the drive transmission upon the support surface. The crane includes a sensor for detecting the force exerted by the drive transmission upon the support surface; and a control unit configured for adjusting the position of the drive transmission relative to the chassis, based on the detection of the sensor.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support frame to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over a floor surface. The auxiliary wheel is movable to a deployed position with the auxiliary wheel engaging the floor surface and a stowed position with the auxiliary wheel spaced a distance from the floor surface. An actuator assembly including a lift actuator a biasing device, and a biasing load adjustment assembly. The lift actuator is operable to move the auxiliary wheel to the deployed position and to the stowed position. The biasing device configured to bias the auxiliary wheel towards the deployed position. The biasing load adjustment assembly configured to adjust a biasing force being applied by the biasing device to the auxiliary wheel.

An aircraft galley cart is disclosed. In embodiments, the galley cart includes two adjacent portions (e.g., left and right side) hingedly or slidably connected. The galley cart has a default configuration compatible with galley cart bays of galley structures. The galley cart may be transitioned into a narrow configuration by articulating the left-side portion relative to the right-side portion (e.g., by pivoting or rotating the left-side portion). When in the narrow configuration, the galley cart may be twice as long but half as wide, allowing passenger access through an aisle without removing the galley cart back out of the aisle and disrupting in-seat food and beverage services. The galley cart includes auxiliary casters that deploy during transition to support the main casters in keeping the galley cart balanced and mobile in the narrow configuration.

A vehicle equipped with a plurality of omni-directional wheels includes a grounding part that supports the vehicle by grounding to a ground surface, a moving mechanism to protrude the grounding part from the bottom of the vehicle toward the ground surface, and a controller for controlling the moving mechanism so as to ground said grounding part to the ground surface. The controller is configured to control the moving mechanism so as to ground the grounding part to the ground surface when the vehicle is detected to have stopped.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support frame to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over a floor surface. The auxiliary wheel is movable to a deployed position with the auxiliary wheel engaging the floor surface and a stowed position with the auxiliary wheel spaced a distance from the floor surface. An actuator assembly including a lift actuator a biasing device, and a biasing load adjustment assembly. The lift actuator is operable to move the auxiliary wheel to the deployed position and to the stowed position. The biasing device configured to bias the auxiliary wheel towards the deployed position. The biasing load adjustment assembly configured to adjust a biasing force being applied by the biasing device to the auxiliary wheel.

A hydraulic system for controlling at least one steerable caster wheel of an agricultural machine includes a first actuator having a piston and including an inboard fluid port for supplying fluid to a first side of the piston to move the piston in a first direction, and an outboard fluid port for supplying fluid to a second side of the piston to move the piston in a second direction. A first fluid pressure equalizer is fluidically coupled to the first side actuator and operable to equalize fluid pressure over a period of time between the first side and the second side of the piston of the first side actuator.

A hydraulic system for controlling a pair of steerable caster wheels includes a left steering command valve, a right steering command valve, and a rear steering control valve. A supply pressure fluid circuit interconnects a pressure source and the rear steering control valve. A command valve supply fluid circuit interconnects the rear steering control valve with both the right steering command valve and the left steering command valve. A left side steering fluid circuit interconnects a left side actuator and the left steering command valve. A right side steering fluid circuit interconnects a right side actuator and the right steering command valve. A fluidic tie rod fluid circuit interconnects both the left side actuator and the right side actuator with the rear steering control valve. A tank return fluid circuit interconnects the rear steering control valve, the left and right steering command valves, and a tank.

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 selectively locking rotational bearing element includes at least one bearing element supporting an outer race for rotational movement and a plurality of locking elements disposed circumferentially about an inner surface of the outer race. An actuator selectively moves the plurality of locking elements into engagement with the outer race to restrict rotational movement of the outer race and selectively move the plurality of locking elements away from engagement with the outer race such that the outer race is free to rotate relative to the locking elements.

A selectively locking rotational bearing element includes at least one bearing element supporting an outer race for rotational movement and a plurality of locking elements disposed circumferentially about an inner surface of the outer race. An actuator selectively moves the plurality of locking elements into engagement with the outer race to restrict rotational movement of the outer race and selectively move the plurality of locking elements away from engagement with the outer race such that the outer race is free to rotate relative to the locking elements.