An eddy current magnetic braking device includes two outer elements surrounding a central element in relative movement with respect to the two outer elements, the central element being made of an electrically conductive material, the two outer elements having first faces facing opposite second faces of the central element and each of the two outer elements including plural magnets for emitting, via the first faces, a magnetic flow that generates in the central element eddy currents when the two outer elements are in relative movement. The plural magnets are arranged in such a way that the two outer elements attract each other. The central element has a thickness such that a skin effect is generated from each face of the central element over more than half the thickness of the central element over at least a range of possible relative speeds of the central element relative to the two outer elements.

A portal axle as well as a method for manufacturing a portal axle for a rail vehicle, which has an axle centre part extending along a longitudinal axis and two kingpins, one of which sits on a first end section of the axle centre part and a second on a second end section of the axle centre part formed opposite to the first end section. The kingpins are oriented away from the axle centre part and form an axis of rotation in use for a rail wheel rotatably mounted on the respective kingpin. The portal axle has optimised usage properties with minimised weight. This is achieved by a longitudinal opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the portal axle being formed in at least one of the mould components. The invention further provides a method for manufacturing an axle of this type.

A patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and at least one caster assembly coupled to the structure to facilitate movement of the structure along a floor. Each caster assembly comprises a wheel, an actuator moveable between three actuator positions, a steer lock assembly moveable by the actuator between a steer and non-steer locked state, and a brake assembly movable by the actuator between a braked and unbraked state. The brake assembly includes a plunger, a retainer coupled to the plunger, a brake pad for sliding movement along the retainer, and a brake biasing element disposed between the plunger and the brake pad to urge the brake pad away from the plunger such that movement of the actuator to place the brake assembly in the braked state simultaneously brings the brake pad into engagement with the wheel and slides the brake pad along the retainer to compress the biasing element.

A wheel for a vehicle comprises a rim to support a tire and a wheel disc connected to the rim and configured to engage an axle hub of a vehicle. The wheel disc comprises one or more spokes extending outwardly from a center section of the wheel disc to the rim, each spoke being formed by a substantially planar curbside spoke member and a substantially planar inside spoke member, The curbside and inside spoke members are oriented transversely to each other and to a portion of the center section lying between the curbside and inside spoke members to define a triangle. A plane of the triangle is substantially parallel to a center axis of symmetry of the disc.

A lightweight fastener assembly with reduced weight and method is provided. The fastener assembly has a fastener body with a cap retention feature adjacent a first end and a threaded portion extending from a second end. A load bearing surface is configured to mate with a fastener seat on a wheel. A flange is formed adjacent a load bearing surface and having a diameter larger than the cap retention feature. A wrenching feature is formed between the cap retention feature and the second end and is configured to be engaged by a standard tool. A cap is secured to the cap retention feature on the fastener body and has upright contoured walls extending to a cap top. The cap is hollow in a capped region defined by the contoured walls and cap top beyond the first end of the fastener body.

A braking device includes one or more stationary elements and one movable element that is movable with respect to the one or more stationary elements, the moveable element being made of an electrically conductive material, one or the one or more stationary elements including magnets capable of generating eddy currents in the movable element, when the one or more stationary elements and the movable element are in relative movement. The magnets include first magnets and second magnets disposed alternating, the first magnets having a first magnetization vector and each of the second magnets having a second magnetization vector, and the magnets have widths such that the first magnets are spaced apart in pairs by a first distance that is less than a second distance separating the second magnets in pairs, and the length of the second magnets being around 70% of the length of the first magnets.

A wheel mounting structure for a vehicle includes a wheel hub, a wheel fitted around a center boss of the wheel hub at an internal diameter portion of the wheel, a center lock bolt coupled to the center boss and configured to press the internal diameter portion of the wheel against a hub flange of the wheel hub, and a latch mounted between the center lock bolt and the center boss and configured to lock the center lock bolt in the center boss.