A formfitting securing device for a roller has a rotation blocking engagement part which is biased into an engagement position by means of a first spring. The first spring exerts a bias onto the rotation-blocking engagement part both in the engaged position as well as in the nonengaged position, and a bias is achieved in the non-engaged position by acting on the rotation-blocking engagement part by means of a second spring.

Several solutions are described for making it easier to move a surgical robotics patient table, either from rest or to turn it. The table has a base, a support, and a table top on which the patient is supported. A number of casters are mounted to a body of the base. In one case, controllable jacks lift the body to release the casters thereby allowing them to swivel to a desired orientation. In another case, a drive assembly is rotatably coupled to the body of the base and includes an electric drive motor and a drive wheel to drive the table across the floor. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

A smart wheel is provided, including a main body, at least one wheel body and a GPS module. The main body includes a pin and a wheel seat, and the wheel seat is connected with the pin. The at least one wheel body is pivoted to the wheel seat along an axial direction. The GPS module is arranged on the main body and includes a GPS chip.

An actuation assembly includes a torque input element, a torque output element, and a transfer linkage assembly comprising a connector assembly which connects the input element to the output element. The connector assembly includes a first connector having a proximate end and a connector portion. The proximate end of the first connector is the end closer to either the input element or the output element, and the connector portion is further from that same element. The connector assembly also includes a second connector having a proximate end closer to the other of the input element and the output element. The connector portion is further from that same element. The connector portions are selectively joinable to either permit or resist relative longitudinal translation of the first and second connectors. One example application for the actuation assembly is as an actuation assembly for a braking system on a hospital bed.

A formfitting securing device for a roller has a rotation blocking engagement part which is biased into an engagement position by means of a first spring. The first spring exerts a bias onto the rotation-blocking engagement part both in the engaged position as well as in the nonengaged position, and a bias is achieved in the non-engaged position by acting on the rotation-blocking engagement part by means of a second spring.

Systems and methods for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus has a support structure and a patient support surface. Caster assemblies are coupled to the support structure to roll about a roll axis and swivel about a swivel axis. A control system is configured to control brake mechanisms, steer-lock mechanisms, and pre-swivel mechanisms of the caster assemblies based on one or more inputs.

A castor suspension system for suspending a first castor at a patient support device is provided. The castor suspension system comprises a pivoting suspension link pivotably attachable to the patient support device, and a springy element comprising a leaf spring made of a band deformed such that the band makes at least one U-turn so that the band has a first leg and at least one second leg. One of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a first support portion supported on the pivoting suspension link, and the other of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a second support portion for supporting the springy element with respect to the patient support device such that the springy element is configured to provide a pre-stress force to the pivoting suspension link.

A caster assembly comprises a caster wheel having an outer surface. A wheel support is coupled to the wheel to support the wheel for rotation about a rotational axis and for swiveling about a swivel axis. A brake assembly comprises a brake having a cammed wheel engaging surface shaped to engage the outer surface of the wheel and a brake actuator to move the brake relative to the wheel from an unbraked position to a braked position in which the brake limits rotation of the wheel about the rotational axis. The cammed wheel engaging surface is arranged to articulate relative to the wheel support. The cammed wheel engaging surface articulates relative to the wheel support in response to the wheel rotating about the rotational axis after the brake is initially placed in the braked position such that the cammed wheel engaging surface more deeply engages the wheel with rotation of the wheel about the rotational axis.

A chassis of a transportable device including a base structure, four casters arranged thereon, four lowerable and raiseable support feet also mounted on the base structure, and a hydraulic support foot actuating device. The hydraulic support foot actuating device has a reservoir (1), a pump (2) manually operable by hand or foot, four support foot linear actuators (3) and a purely hydro-mechanical pipe and valve arrangement (4) which connects the reservoir (1), the pump (2) and the linear actuators (3) to one another. Therein, by means of hydraulic fluid delivered by the pump (2) from the reservoir (1) the two support feet assigned to two primary linear actuators (3a) can be fully extended until a mechanical stop is reached while raising the base structure by first applying pressure to the two primary linear actuators (3a) before applying pressure to the two other, secondary linear actuators (3b).

Systems and methods for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus has a support structure and a patient support surface. Caster assemblies are coupled to the support structure to roll about a roll axis and swivel about a swivel axis. A control system is configured to control brake mechanisms, steer-lock mechanisms, and pre-swivel mechanisms of the caster assemblies based on one or more inputs.