A movable object includes: a steering part including a wheel provided to rotate along a ground, a wheel rod connected to the wheel and extending in a direction away from the wheel, and a steering motor connected to the wheel rod to rotate the wheel rod and steer the wheel; and a cover part disposed on top of the steering part, and including a receiving member in which a portion of the steering part is received. When the steering motor rotates the wheel rod in one direction, the steering part is engaged with the receiving member so that the steering part and the cover part may be joined, and when the steering motor rotates the wheel rod in an opposite direction, the steering part is separated from the receiving member so that the steering part and the cover part may be disengaged.

A flexible shock-absorbing parts, suitable for use in a flexible damping device which connects and absorbs torque from two different mechanical shafts, so that they are coaxial during transmission. The flexible shock-absorbing parts is arranged between the two machines and closely attached to them; the flexible shock-absorbing parts are arranged radially on the first plane. The first plane is composed of the X-axis and the Y-axis in the Cartesian coordinate system. When the flexible shock-absorbing parts are installed in the vehicle, it allows the vehicle to absorb larger instantaneous external forces received by the wheels when the vehicle is travelling so that the impact of these external forces on the structure of the motor and the second gear inside the gear box can be reduced, thereby achieving protection for them.

Selectively powered caster wheels for a maintenance apparatus are described. A motor attached to the caster wheel(s) can be selectively powered to apply force to the caster wheel. This force can be selected to overcome another force sensed at the maintenance apparatus, or to steer the maintenance apparatus on a desired course or direction. The caster wheels can be configured to orient along a direction of motion of the maintenance apparatus, in response to power from the motor or in response to the motion of the maintenance apparatus itself. In further embodiments, the motor(s) can be selectively activated or deactivated by an operator of the maintenance apparatus, in response to a remote control signal, or in response to an onboard or offboard controller of the apparatus.

The invention relates to an axle support, also referred to as a subframe, for a motor vehicle, having at least two longitudinal members, at least one cross member joining together the longitudinal members, at least two attachment points for attaching a steering gear housing to the axle support and a device for positioning the steering gear housing on the axle support prior to mounting of the steering gear housing on the axle support. In order for such an axle support to offer a cost-effective and rapid positioning of a steering gear housing, the device for positioning the steering gear housing according to the invention has at least two mounts, one mount of which being attached to one of the longitudinal members and/or the cross member and another mount of the mounts being attached to another of the longitudinal members and/or the cross member, wherein the respective mount has at least two indentations for receiving positioning protrusions provided on the steering gear housing.

A steering wheel structure for an omnidirectional mobile robot chassis is provided. The steering wheel structure can realize two degrees of freedom: the rudder rotation of the steering wheel rotation and the full free movement realized in the horizontal plane, it has the characteristics of a small size and a lower height. The wheel assembly realizes the movement of the steering wheel when it moves forward; the rudder assembly realizes the movement of the steering wheel when the steering wheel rotates, initializes the steering direction, and calibrates the rotation through the zero position sensor; the suspension assembly realizes the damping and buffering of the longitudinal motion of the steering wheel; the wiring assembly constrains the movement of various wires when the rudder rotates; the support plate is used for the connection and support of the wheel assembly and the wiring assembly with the rudder assembly.

An independent suspension system includes a steering unit configured to be controlled to adjust the steering angle of a wheel, a shock absorber engaged with the wheel in order to absorb external impacts applied to the wheel and including first and second shock absorbers, each of the first shock absorber and the second shock absorber arranged in a forward-rearward direction on opposite side surfaces of the wheel, respectively, and a link unit disposed between the shock absorber and the steering unit in order to vary the distance between the wheel and the steering unit. The link unit includes a first upper arm disposed between the first shock absorber and the steering unit, a second upper arm disposed between the second shock absorber and the steering unit, and a ground clearance adjustment unit engaged with the first and second upper arms and configured to vary the distance therebetween while varying the distance between the wheel and the steering unit at the same time.

An independent suspension system includes: a steering unit configured to adjust the steering angle of a wheel; a shock absorber engaged with the wheel in order to absorb impacts applied to the wheel and including a first shock absorber and a second shock absorber, each of which being arranged in a forward-rearward direction on opposite side surfaces of the wheel; and a link unit disposed between the shock absorber and the steering unit in order to vary the distance between the wheel and the steering unit. The link unit includes a first upper arm disposed between the first shock absorber and the steering unit, a second upper arm disposed between the second shock absorber and the steering unit, and a ground clearance adjustment unit engaged with the first and second upper arms in order to vary the distance between the first and second upper arms.

A movable object includes: a steering part including a wheel provided to rotate along a ground, a wheel rod connected to the wheel and extending in a direction away from the wheel, and a steering motor connected to the wheel rod to rotate the wheel rod and steer the wheel; and a cover part disposed on top of the steering part, and including a receiving member in which a portion of the steering part is received. When the steering motor rotates the wheel rod in one direction, the steering part is engaged with the receiving member so that the steering part and the cover part may be joined, and when the steering motor rotates the wheel rod in an opposite direction, the steering part is separated from the receiving member so that the steering part and the cover part may be disengaged.

A steerable drive wheel assembly includes two independently motor-driven wheels. The wheels are supported in side-by-side orientation for independent rotation about a common horizontal rolling axis, and equally laterally offset from said vertical steering axis. The wheels and their respective drive motors are carried in a drive module that is mounted like a turret under an intermediate suspension module via a rotary bearing. The intermediate suspension module is mounted on linear bearing assemblies within an outer housing. Biasing members urge the intermediate suspension module together with its drive module downwardly to maintain traction with a floor. A compact configuration is achieved by overlapping the drive motors with the opposite wheels. Position control is achieved by a strategic sensor array. Electrical wire management is achieved by a serpentine energy chain located in the plane of the rotary bearing.

A flexible shock-absorbing parts, suitable for use in a flexible damping device which connects and absorbs torque from two different mechanical shafts, so that they are coaxial during transmission. The flexible shock-absorbing parts is arranged between the two machines and closely attached to them; the flexible shock-absorbing parts are arranged radially on the first plane. The first plane is composed of the X-axis and the Y-axis in the Cartesian coordinate system. When the flexible shock-absorbing parts are installed in the vehicle, it allows the vehicle to absorb larger instantaneous external forces received by the wheels when the vehicle is travelling so that the impact of these external forces on the structure of the motor and the second gear inside the gear box can be reduced, thereby achieving protection for them.