B62B5/0069

Cargo Carrier Adapted for Use with a Self-Propelled Cart
20230191981 · 2023-06-22 ·

A cargo carrier for mounting on a mobile cart, comprising: a base configured to be releasably attached to a top surface of the mobile cart; first and second opposing side walls, each having a bottom edge attached to the base, a top edge, a front side edge running from the bottom edge to the top edge and a rear side edge running from the bottom edge to the top edge; a front end wall, having a bottom edge hingedly connected to the base so as to hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, a first front end wall side edge fits against the front side edge of the first side wall, and a second front end wall side edge fits again the front side edge of the second side wall, to thereby close a front end of the cargo carrier; and in the open position, the front end wall is generally parallel to the base, to thereby open a front end of the cargo carrier; a front end wall lock for releasably locking the front end wall in the closed position; a rear end wall, having a bottom edge hingedly connected to the base so as to hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein: in the closed position, a first rear end wall side edge fits against the rear side edge of the first side wall, and a second rear end wall side edge fits again the rear side edge of the second side wall, to thereby close a rear end of the cargo carrier; and in the open position, the rear end wall is generally parallel to the base, to thereby open a rear end of the cargo carrier; a rear end wall lock for releasably locking the rear end wall in the closed position; whereby the cargo carrier can be converted between a four-walled bin, for containing objects within its four walls, to an open ended cargo carrier, allowing elongated objects in the cargo carrier to extend beyond the front end wall and/or the rear end wall by hingedly moving the front end wall and/or the rear end wall, respectively, between the closed and open positions is disclosed.

System for Mounting a Component on a Self-Propelled Cart
20230192166 · 2023-06-22 ·

A system for mounting a stowed component on a self-propelled cart, comprising: the self-propelled cart comprising: a body having a top, bottom, front end, rear end, left side, and right side, and further comprising: a battery compartment, and a platform; a battery housed in the battery compartment; a controller; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one wheel and each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart; at least one sensor for determining the position of the component to be mounted on the cart; wherein the controller can adjust the height of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arm actuators and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the wheels; and wherein the cart is configured to approach a location of a component and adjust its orientation to compliment an orientation of the component to thereby facilitate mounting of the component on the cart is disclosed.

Self-Docking Cart
20230191857 · 2023-06-22 ·

A self-docking, motorized cart, comprising: a body comprising a battery compartment and a platform; a battery housed in the battery compartment; a cart docking attachment arm; a controller; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; wherein the controller adjusts the height of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arms; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one of the four wheels, each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the four wheels; whereby the cart can be moved into an appropriate position and orientation for connecting the docking arm attachment to a docking station by the controller selectively pivoting the arms and rotating the wheels; and wherein the docking attachment arm comprises connections for electricity or data is disclosed.

Galley cart assembly and an aircraft that utilizes the galley cart assembly

A galley cart assembly that includes a cart and a wheel assembly attached to the cart. The wheel assembly includes a plurality of wheels and a drive assembly configured to drive one or more of the plurality of wheels to propel the cart. The wheel assembly also includes a primary brake assembly to lock one or more of the plurality of wheels to prevent movement of the cart. Furthermore, the galley cart assembly includes a controller coupled to the cart and including a processor and a memory. The controller includes a turbulence monitoring system configured to detect a turbulence event. The controller is in communication with the wheel assembly, and is configured to automatically operate the primary brake assembly to lock the cart in position when the turbulence monitoring system detects the turbulence event. In certain configurations, an aircraft includes the galley cart assembly.

Powered sled

A pallet sled includes a base and a pair of tines extending from the base. A load wheel supports outer ends of each of the tines. A wheel supports the base. At least one motor is configured to drive the base wheel or at least one of the load wheels for driving the pallet sled. The motor may be a hub motor inside the base wheel or the load wheel.

Crane for lifting and transporting loads, equipped with a drive system
11420852 · 2022-08-23 ·

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.

PRAM
20220274638 · 2022-09-01 ·

The invention relates to a pram or pram frame comprising a pusher bar for pushing the pram or pram frame and at least one force sensor device for detecting a direction or a magnitude of a force or a force component acting on the pusher bar and for detecting a variable derived from said force or force component, in particular a change in the force or force component over time, wherein the at least one force sensor device is designed to measure a force (component) or a variable derived therefrom at least over a vast majority of a horizontal section of the pusher bar, and is designed to measure a force (component) or a variable derived therefrom in at least one, in particular curved or arcuate, transition section of the pusher bar between the horizontal section of the pusher bar and a connecting section of the pusher bar.

Smart self-driving systems with motorized wheels

A smart self-driving system includes a body, such as a piece of luggage, supported by a plurality of wheel assemblies. At least one wheel assemblies includes a wheel rotating motor configured to rotate a wheel of the wheel assembly to move the luggage in a given direction. At least one wheel assemblies includes a wheel orientation sensor configured to measure the orientation of the wheel. At least one wheel assembly includes a wheel orientation motor configured to orient the wheel in the given direction. The smart self-driving system is configured to move in forward direction that is different than a head direction of the body.

TRAVELING DIRECTION STATE DETECTION DEVICE AND CART USING TRAVELING DIRECTION STATE DETECTION DEVICE

A traveling direction state detection device includes: a first distance sensor installed near a front side of the wheels in a traveling direction and configured to linearly measure a distance to a first linear position perpendicular to the traveling direction, the first linear position existing on the traveling surface diagonally downward in the traveling direction; a second distance sensor configured to linearly measure a distance to a second linear position perpendicular to the traveling direction, the second linear position existing on a traveling surface behind the traveling surface diagonally downward in the traveling direction, and ahead of ground contact points of the wheels; and a detector configured to detect a step, an inclination and an opening of the traveling surface based on an amount of change in the distances continuously measured by each of the first distance sensor and the second distance sensor at certain time intervals.

ELECTRIC HANDCART
20220289263 · 2022-09-15 ·

An electric handcart, comprising: a main body (1), a power supply device (9) mounted on the main body (1), a power device, and a control device. The power supply device (9) and the control device are separately connected to the power device.