A caster device includes a support unit, two caster wheels, a resilient member, two friction wheels, and two protruding teeth units. Each of the caster wheels has an inner wheel surface and a plurality of meshing teeth that are angularly arranged and that are formed on the inner wheel surface. Each of the protruding teeth units includes a plurality of protruding teeth. The support unit is downwardly movable against a resilient force of the resilient member to a stop position, where each of the friction wheels is in frictional contact with the meshing teeth of a respective one of the caster wheels, and where the protruding teeth of each of the protruding teeth units are meshed with the meshing teeth of the respective one of the caster wheels.

A driven caster wheel assembly may include a wheel, an axle, a drive assembly, a drive shaft, and a bevel gear. The wheel may be mounted to the axle for rotation about a drive axis and steering about a substantially vertical steering axis. The drive shaft may extend along the steering axis from a first end to a second end, with the first end being connected to the axle and the second end being connected to the drive assembly such that the drive assembly controls rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis. The bevel gear may connect the first end to the axle such that rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis controls rotation of the wheel about the drive axis to drive the driven caster wheel assembly in a substantially horizontal direction. Various other assemblies and methods are also disclosed.

A wheel dolly for raising a vehicle wheel off the floor is disclosed. The dolly has at least two wheel straddle bars, each straddle bar having a non-swing caster assembly. A swing caster assembly is connected to each straddle bar. The assembly includes a stationary frame supporting a swing axle, a swing frame that rotates about the swing axle, and a swing caster connected to swing frame. The swing caster defines a swivel plane. A lift bar connects the two wheel straddle bars. The dolly can transition between two configurations: a lowered configuration, wherein the swivel plane is not parallel to the floor, and a raised configuration, wherein the swivel plane is substantially parallel to the floor.

A patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a base and a patient support surface for supporting a patient and a caster assembly coupled to the base. The caster assembly comprises a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly includes a first edge, a second edge, and a center disposed between the first edge and the second edge. Each of the edges have a lower coefficient of friction than the center. The caster assembly further includes a tilt assembly coupled to the wheel assembly. The tilt assembly is configured to allow the wheel assembly to tilt relative to a floor surface such that at least one of the first and second edges contact the floor surface.

A driven caster wheel assembly may include a wheel, an axle, a drive assembly, a drive shaft, and a bevel gear. The wheel may be mounted to the axle for rotation about a drive axis and steering about a substantially vertical steering axis. The drive shaft may extend along the steering axis from a first end to a second end, with the first end being connected to the axle and the second end being connected to the drive assembly such that the drive assembly controls rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis. The bevel gear may connect the first end to the axle such that rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis controls rotation of the wheel about the drive axis to drive the driven caster wheel assembly in a substantially horizontal direction. Various other assemblies and methods are also disclosed.

Bearing for at least one supporting roller of a carriage, which supporting roller is supported on at least one bearing surface, comprising at least one axle device which can be rotated about at least one rotational axis, at least one rocker which is connected to the axle device such that it is reliably driven, wherein, at an end which lies opposite the axle device, the rocker has at least one first connecting device for connecting the rocker to the supporting roller, at least one spring device which is arranged mechanically between the axle device and/or the rocker on one side and at least one holding device on the other side, wherein a force which forces the supporting roller onto the bearing surface can be built up on the axle device and the rocker by means of the spring device, and at least one damping device, by means of which a rotational movement of the axle device about the rotational axis can be damped, characterized in that the spring device and the damping device are configured in one piece at least in regions by way of at least one torsion spring element which is of rubber-elastic configuration at least in regions.

An industrial truck comprises a load part comprises a load-carrying means including at least one load wheel and a drive part including a vehicle frame defining an opening. A steerable drive wheel and at least one support wheel are arranged on the vehicle frame. The at least one support wheel is arranged on a side of the drive wheel that faces away from the load part and is mounted as a trailing wheel that swivels about a vertical axis. The at least one support wheel is configured to at least partially protrude through the opening defined in the vehicle frame.

Bearing for at least one supporting roller of a carriage, which supporting roller is supported on at least one bearing surface, comprising at least one axle device which can be rotated about at least one rotational axis, at least one rocker which is connected to the axle device such that it is reliably driven, wherein, at an end which lies opposite the axle device, the rocker has at least one first connecting device for connecting the rocker to the supporting roller, at least one spring device which is arranged mechanically between the axle device and/or the rocker on one side and at least one holding device on the other side, wherein a force which forces the supporting roller onto the bearing surface can be built up on the axle device and the rocker by means of the spring device, and at least one damping device, by means of which a rotational movement of the axle device about the rotational axis can be damped, characterized in that the spring device and the damping device are configured in one piece at least in regions by way of at least one torsion spring element which is of rubber-elastic configuration at least in regions.

A device for mounting an aircraft tail wheel includes a support plate having, on the one hand, an articulation shaft with an arm and, on the other hand, an articulation shaft with a fork receiving the freely rotating tail wheel, while the articulation shaft of the plate is positioned near a rotation shaft of the tail wheel.