A pallet truck has a brake release mechanism. The pallet truck has a break release mechanism operably coupled to a brake for stopping rotation of a drive wheel. The brake release mechanism includes a brake release sensor and a profile feature that is detectable by the brake release sensor. The profile feature is fixedly coupled to a pivot shaft of a tiller arm of a tiller, and configured to rotate with the pivot shaft as the tiller arm is pivoted. The brake release sensor is positioned adjacent to the pivot shaft and configured to output a signal that causes the brake to release when the profile feature is detected.

Wheel assembly (200) a self-propelling trolley (100), comprising a wheel (111,112); an electric motor (151,152) arranged to perform a rocking drive pattern; an electric connector (220), arranged to connect the motor (151,152) to a battery (156); and a mechanical brake (230) activatable so that a rotational movement of the wheel (111,112) is limited, The invention is characterised in that the mechanical brake (230) is arranged so that, in an engaged state, the wheel (111,112) can turn freely in relation to the trolley (100) across a ground distance of between 5 and 20 cm between a first rotary limit position and a second rotary limit position. The movement limitation is provided by several elongated concentric tracks interacting with a pin.

A hand truck having a frame with first and second ends and a handle adjacent the first end and a platform extending from the second end. Wheels adjacent the second end support the frame and platform for rolling movement. A lever member with first end pivotally connected to the frame at the first end and second free end. A position stabilizing member is pivotally connected to each side of the frame proximate the second end with each shoe assembly being pivotal to a support position extending below a respective wheel. The free end of the lever member is positioned against a surface and the frame pivoted thereabout with the shoe portion of each shoe assembly moving to the support position. An automatic braking system prevents unwanted downward movement. A repositioned lever member and multiple commonly hinged lever members allow for full stair lifting and elimination of the position stabilizing member.

A motor-driven trailer and towbar system includes a towbar having a vehicle side end configured to connect with the vehicle and a trailer side end configured to connect with a trailer coupling. The towbar is pivotably coupled to the trailer and configured to pivot along a pivoting path (P) between a lowered position (L) and a raised position (R) with respect to the trailer. At least one first sensor element is configured to detect a position of the towbar along the pivoting path (P). A control unit (TCU) is in communication with the at least one first sensor element and is configured to switch the system between an operating mode and a parking mode. The system is switched into the parking mode when the towbar is in a raised position (R) and is switched into the operating mode when the towbar is in a lowered position (L).

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.

A wheel-at-rest automatic brake system including a base, a cam, two reset brackets and an interlocking gear is installed in a wheel hub and connected to a wheel shaft of the wheel hub. The base is installed in the wheel hub and has multiple mounting holes and three first pivot holes; the cam is hinged to the first pivot hole and has a protrusion and two driving portions; the two reset brackets are pivoted to the remaining two first pivot holes; each driving portion has a limit notch; the interlocking gear is fixed to the wheel shaft and engaged to the protrusion; and the two driving portions are situated in the two limit notches to define a locked state. When moving, the interlocking gear drives the protrusion to deflect, and the two driving portions prop the two reset brackets up to define a released state.

An improved auto-chocking enabled cargo dolly that is towable by ground support equipment. The dolly has a frame, wheels attached to the frame that support the frame and rotate to allow movement of the frame, a tow bar, a linkage in communication with the tow bar and that actuates when the tow bar is raised, and a wheel engagement chocking system fixed to the dolly frame and disposed to selectively engage at least one of the wheels attached to the dolly frame. The wheel engagement system is responsive to a position of the linkage, where the wheel engagement chocking system applies pressure directly to at least one of the wheels to hold the wheel(s) in place when the linkage is actuated by the tow bar.

Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Various techniques utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Navigation techniques can include navigation history and backtracking, motion direction detection for dual swivel casters, use of gyroscopes, determining cart weight, multi-level navigation, multi-level magnetic measurements, use of lighting signatures, use of multiple navigation systems, or hard/soft iron compensation for different cart configurations.

An improved auto-chocking enabled cargo dolly that is towable by ground support equipment. The dolly has a frame, wheels attached to the frame that support the frame and rotate to allow movement of the frame, a tow bar, a linkage in communication with the tow bar and that actuates when the tow bar is raised, and a wheel engagement chocking system fixed to the dolly frame and disposed to selectively engage at least one of the wheels attached to the dolly frame. The wheel engagement system is responsive to a position of the linkage, where the wheel engagement chocking system applies pressure directly to at least one of the wheels to hold the wheel(s) in place when the linkage is actuated by the tow bar.

Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a plurality of casters allowing the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to be moved according to a control signal, a detection sensor configured to detect a motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, an input configured to receive a control command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from a user, and a controller configured to determine whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of at least one of the detected motion or the received control command, and upon determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, transmit a control signal for locking at least one of the plurality of casters.