An articulating carriage for moving an object across a surface having a non-planar obstruction to allow movement of the object over the obstruction. The articulating carriage has a walking beam assembly that pivotally supports a pedestal to dispose a support surface thereof above the walking beam assembly. The walking beam assembly has a base plate, wheeled casters and a pair of spaced apart hangers having articulation openings. The walking beam pivots relative to the pedestal. In one embodiment, the pedestal is pivotally mounted on the walking beam assembly. In another embodiment, a pair of walking beam assemblies are connected with a crosstube that pivotally supports the pedestal. In another embodiment, a major crosstube assembly connects a pair of crosstubes to define a carriage having four walking beams. In yet another embodiment, a compound crosstube assembly connects pairs of major crosstube assemblies to define a carriage having eight walking beams.

A parallel fixation means for fixing two swivel wheels of a non-motorized vehicle in parallel to one direction that includes a rigid strip with connecting means for connecting the parallel fixation means to a body of the non-motorized vehicle and two locking means to be mounted on the two swivel wheels and to fix them in parallel to the one direction for preventing a rotation of the swivel wheels. The two locking means are connected to the rigid strip by means of pivot connections to be in a fixed direction or in a loose and free to rotate position. When the pivot connections are in the fixed direction the two swivel wheels are fixed in the one direction, and when the pivot connections are in the loose and free to rotate position the two swivel wheels are free to function as swivel wheels.

A cart stabilization system and rolling cart elements for robotic surgery and other medical instrumentation are disclosed. The cart stabilization system includes a base and lifting caster systems coupled to a bottom portion of the base. Each lifting caster system includes a rolling element, a swivel foot assembly moveably coupled to the rolling element; and a hydraulic mounting base coupled to a portion of the swivel foot assembly. Methods of assembling a lifting caster system and for using a cart stabilization system are also disclosed.

An arrangement for limiting rotation, the arrangement including a base structure; a drive member rotatable relative to the base structure and having a drive feature; a stopping member having at least one driven feature, wherein the stopping member is arranged to be intermittently driven relative to the base structure between a plurality of discrete positions by a continuous rotation of the drive member and by cooperation between the drive feature and at least one driven feature, wherein the stopping member in a first end discrete position is arranged to limit rotation of the drive member in a first end position of a rotation range of the drive member; and a holding mechanism arranged to hold the stopping member in each discrete position, the holding mechanism being at least partly provided in the base structure.

A ride-on zero-turn work machine has two drive control levers longitudinally pivotable for locomotive and steering control, and laterally tiltable inboard and outboard for parking brake control. Two brake control linkages are each connected between one of the levers and one of the parking brakes. Each linkage features a rotatable bell crank, a brake connection link running from the bell crank to the parking brake, and a lever connection link having one end coupled to the bell crank, and another coupled to drive control lever through a ball joint that, in an inboard position of the lever, and throughout a full longitudinal pivot range thereof, lies on the lever's pivot axis, with no motive effect on the bell crank or parking brake. Laterally outward tilting of the lever moves the ball joint off axis, in a manner driving rotation of the bell crank, and thereby actuating the parking brake.

A swivel castor, having a housing which can be pivoted into a rolling direction via pivot means and two wheels rotatably mounted on the housing on a horizontal wheel axle, wherein the pivot means are arranged in front of the wheel axle, contrary to the rolling direction, and having a braking device designed to be adjustable between a braking position, in which the braking device exerts a braking force on at least one wheel, and a free-rolling position, in which the braking device releases the wheels. A brake pedal generating the braking force is pivotably mounted on the housing via a pedal axle, which extends parallel to the wheel axle and arranged between the wheels, and, in the braking position, at least one brake shoe arranged on the brake pedal exerts a braking force parallel to the wheel axle directly on one side of at least one wheel.

A ride-on zero-turn work machine has two drive control levers longitudinally pivotable for locomotive and steering control, and laterally tiltable inboard and outboard for parking brake control. Two brake control linkages are each connected between one of the levers and one of the parking brakes. Each linkage features a rotatable bell crank, a brake connection link running from the bell crank to the parking brake, and a lever connection link having one end coupled to the bell crank, and another coupled to drive control lever through a ball joint that, in an inboard position of the lever, and throughout a full longitudinal pivot range thereof, lies on the lever's pivot axis, with no motive effect on the bell crank or parking brake. Laterally outward tilting of the lever moves the ball joint off axis, in a manner driving rotation of the bell crank, and thereby actuating the parking brake.

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.

A shopping cart wheel includes a braking apparatus, and electronics that control the braking apparatus in response to wireless signals. The wireless signals include low frequency electromagnetic signals within a low frequency band and high frequency signals within a high frequency band. The braking apparatus includes a moveable interposer and an interposer controller where the moveable interposer is moved between braking and non-breaking positions at least partially with magnetic force.