A caster may include a shaft, a first elastic ring, a C-shaped ring, and a second elastic ring. The shaft has one end inserted and secured in a wheel, and a first rod is extended from the other end of the shaft, and a second rod protrudes from an end of the first rod. The diameter of the first rod is larger than that of the second rod, and an end of the second rod comprises a flexible portion. The shaft only needs to be processed to form the second rod and the flexible portion, and the first elastic ring and the second elastic ring which are identical are adapted to be formed through the same mold so as to save the manufacturing cost.

A rail-based floor conveyor system, with a floor conveyor with concavely grooved wheels and rails having a surface which, when in contact, dips at least partially into the grooved area of the wheels, thereby producing at least two load-bearing lines during the movement of the floor conveyor, wherein a wheel holder is provided for each wheel, with at least one horizontal axis of rotation for each wheel and a vertical axis of rotation to a bearing connected to the floor conveyor, and wherein the wheels can be moved by drives or manually on the rail, bearing including a first bearing part and a second bearing part, wherein one of the bearing parts has a concave surface section, which is at least partially in contact with a convex surface section of the respective other bearing part, and wherein both bearing parts are movable relative to one another while maintaining contact.

In one version there is provided a shaft locking assembly for use in an apparatus, to provide motion control and unwanted movement elimination of the apparatus. The shaft locking assembly includes a locking device with a locking shaft having a castellated ring element with castellations. The shaft locking assembly includes a drive shaft and a rotating element disposed around the drive shaft. The shaft locking assembly includes a retaining structure assembly having a side portion with projection members corresponding to the castellations. The shaft locking assembly is in a locked position when the castellations are engaged and interlocked with the projection members, and the shaft locking assembly is in an unlocked position when a shaft engagement device is engaged with the drive shaft and the locking shaft, and actuates the locking shaft, so that the castellations are disengaged and unlocked from the projection members, and rotates the drive shaft.

The present invention relates to a mechanical system for stabilization on the floor for vehicles on castors (for example a surgical assistance robot used in an operating room) that can adopt two stable states, i.e. disengaged, the vehicle resting on the castors, and activated, the vehicle being immobilized on the floor, respectively. According to the invention, the stabilization system comprises: feet for resting on the floor, movable between a first retracted position, at a distance from the floor, and a contact position ensuring the immobilization of the vehicle through mechanical friction against the floor; means for mechanically controlling said supporting feet, said control means being movable between two stable positions corresponding to the activated and disengaged states; mechanical means for transmitting the displacement of the control means simultaneously to all the supporting feet.

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.

There is described a caster wheel support assembly for a wheelchair, the caster wheel support assembly having a first section configured to be securable to a frame member of the wheelchair and a second section configured to hold a swivel member coupled to a caster wheel. The caster wheel support assembly has a holding member designed as a collet configured to hold a first portion of the swivel member, in which first portion extends along a first axis. A second portion of the swivel member, which is coupled to the caster wheel, extends away from the first portion along a second axis, in which second axis forms an angle relative to the first axis. The holding member and swivel member are configured such that the first portion of the swivel member is supported by the holding member to selectively allow rotation of the swivel member relative to the holding member about the first axis and thereby cause adjustment of a camber of the caster wheel. The collet is configured to selectively allow clamping of the swivel member onto the holding member, thereby preventing rotation of the swivel member relative to the holding member, and release of the swivel member with respect to the holding member, thereby permitting rotation of the swivel member relative to the holding member.

A caster wheel bracket, a caster and a movable container are disclosed. The movable container includes a frame and a caster. The caster includes a caster wheel bracket and a caster wheel. The caster wheel bracket includes a support plate. A first restricting portion is disposed on an upper surface of the support plate. The first restricting portion is detachably fitted to corresponding two of the transverse rods. A second restricting portion is disposed on one end of the support plate. The second restricting portion is detachably fitted to a corresponding one of the longitudinal rods. A mounting portion is connected to a lower surface of the support plate for mounting a caster wheel. The caster can be mounted and dismounted quickly and the position of the caster can be adjusted according to the actual needs.

A caster-wheel assembly (100; 200) for a vehicle, for example a wheelchair or powered wheelchair. The caster-wheel assembly comprises a switch (13) coupled to a housing (3); a castering wheel bracket (9) configured to receive a wheel (10), wherein the bracket is rotatably mounted about a caster pivot axis (28) with respect to the housing; biasing means (15) configured to provide a biasing force such that the wheel bracket is biased away from the housing; and a switch-actuating member (13) coupled to the wheel bracket such that movement of the wheel bracket towards the housing and against the biasing force causes the switch-actuating member to actuate the switch.

A multi-functional active container (e.g., luggage or suitcase) with a plurality of sensors and actuators is described. The container may include a body defining an enclosure and having at least one opening. The container may include a processor, a wireless receiver, and an electronically controllable lock. The processor can selectively lock or unlock the electronically controllable lock based on signals received via a wireless receiver (e.g., via Wi-Fi or BLUETOOTH connections). In some examples, a distance between the active container and a remote device (e.g., a smart phone) can be determined (e.g., based on relative GPS signals or connection strength) and if the distance exceeds a threshold, the electronically controllable lock can be activated to secure the container. Further, the container may include a rechargeable power source for powering external devices and an integrated weight sensor for detecting the weight of the container.

[Problem]

Related to a caster structure in which a sign groove for indicating a tire replacement timing of a caster including a wheel braked by a brake shoe is provided.

[Solution]

A caster structure in which a mark groove is provided in a tire of a wheel of a caster in which rotation of the wheel is braked by pressing a brake shoe onto the tire, characterized in that the mark groove in which a groove bottom portion is set to a predetermined depth is provided in an outer peripheral surface of the tire annularly along an outer periphery of the tire, and projecting portions for alarm each having an upper surface connecting right and left side walls forming the groove and closing the groove are provided in plural at predetermined intervals along an extending direction of the mark groove at a middle position of the depth between the groove bottom portion and a groove opening portion in the mark groove.