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 support device includes a base member, a caster assembly coupled to the base member including a caster pivotally coupled to the base member, at least two planar members positioned above the caster and pivotally coupled to one another by at least two opposing hinges, and a shaft positioned between the at least two opposing hinges and extending through the at least two planar members.

A roller has a wheel, a wheel axle and a pin which protrudes upward from a housing of the roller. A sleeve sits on the pin and is spaced apart from the pin radially and axially upward by a damping material arranged between the sleeve and the pin, the damping material being arranged so that all axial and/or radial contact between the pin and the sleeve is prevented. Alternatively, an attachment damping part can be arranged on a pin of the roller in overlap with the pin, wherein the attachment damping part has an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the inner sleeve being spaced apart radially and axially upward by a damping material arranged between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. The damping material is arranged in such a way that all axial and/or radial contact between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve is prevented.

An autonomous delivery vehicle having one or more caster wheels that may be held off the ground for a portion of the time that the autonomous delivery vehicle travels. Each caster wheel is mounted in a pivot with a centering mechanism to hold the caster wheels in a design orientation. The caster wheel in the design orientation maximizes the view of forward-looking sensors on the autonomous delivery vehicle. The centering mechanism uses a compression spring that drives a follower and swashshaft to apply a rotation force on the caster wheels. The rotational force urges the casters frame and wheels to return to a design position. The rotational force increases with the rotational difference between the caster rotational position and the design position.

A wheel support assembly for a bottom drawer is disclosed. When the bottom drawer is open, the wheel support assembly may provide support in a deployed position. When the bottom drawer is closed, the wheel support assembly may be retracted in a cavity to be invisible to consumers.

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 wheel assembly includes a wheel having an axle, and a constant force mechanism coupled to the wheel. The constant force mechanism includes a horizontal support, a horizontal carriage associated with the horizontal support, a vertical support oriented perpendicular with respect to the horizontal support, a vertical carriage associated with the vertical support, and a rigid arm that is pivotally coupled with the horizontal carriage, the vertical carriage, and the axle. The rigid arm is coupled with the vertical carriage at a point intermediate where the rigid arm is coupled with the horizontal carriage and the axle. The horizontal carriage is capable of being urged along the horizontal support, and the vertical carriage is capable of being urged along the vertical support.

Disclosed is a wheel carrier for a suspension of a motor vehicle; and a motor vehicle comprising the wheel carrier. In a preferred system, the wheel carrier comprises a first carrier segment configured to carry a wheel of the motor vehicle at a wheel center; and a second carrier segment configured to couple the first carrier segment with a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. The second carrier segment comprises at least one groove, and the first carrier segment comprises for each groove a corresponding sliding pin configured to slidingly engage the respective groove such that the pin slides along the groove under vertical and/or horizontal displacements of the wheel center with respect to the second carrier segment.

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 apparatus equipped with a moving tool includes a base and the moving tool including a wheel that rolls on a floor surface during movement of the apparatus, and a support unit that is fixed to the base at a position above an upper end of the wheel and that supports the wheel. The base includes a contact portion that is disposed at a position behind the support unit in a moving direction and above the upper end of the wheel, and with which the moving tool comes into contact when the support unit is bent rearward.