An article movement system includes an article and at least one ball wheel. The article has first and second article surfaces meeting at a first article edge. The ball wheel is located along the first article edge and includes a ball, a bearing arrangement and a shell. The ball engages a surface underlying the article, the bearing arrangement supports the ball for omni-directional rotational movement, and the shell is located along the first article edge and contains the ball and the bearing arrangement. The shell defines a non-circular ball opening through which a portion of the ball extends to contact the underlying surface. The article, the bearing arrangement and the shell are configured such that the ball wheel is able to support the article for omni-directional rolling motion over the underlying surface with either of the first and article surfaces parallel thereto, and at any orientation therebetween.

The invention relates to a caster for movable objects, and more particularly a bed caster, and at least comprises: a running wheel; a fork receiving said running wheel; a guide tube which is designed to be swivelable relative to the fork via at least one bearing; locking means provided on the fork side; and a braking system which can be brought into operative connection with the running wheel and is designed to block rotation of the wheels, characterised in that the braking system includes a brake shoe, a brake spindle, a guide pin and a cup-shaped guide element, wherein the brake spindle has groove-shaped guides, the cup-shaped guide element is provided with projections, and the projections can be brought into operative connection with the guides of the brake spindle in order to form the anti-rotation means.

A speed limited rotational member including a first member, a second member rotatable relative to the first member, and first and second brake elements. The first and second brake elements are pivotally mounted to the first member for both pivoting between a first position spaced apart from a cooperating surface of the second member and a second position engaging the cooperating surface of the second member for generating friction to reduce a rotational speed of the rotational member. The speed limited rotational member further includes at least one linkage connecting the first and second brake elements. The speed limited rotational member may optionally include a down pressure component.

In a method for monitoring an electromagnetically actuable brake, which has an energizable coil that interacts with a tractive electromagnet situated so as to be linearly movable, and a vehicle having an electromagnetically actuable brake, the current flowing through the coil is acquired, the acquired current value in particular being conveyed to an evaluation unit, the voltage applied at the coil is intermittently increased, and a relative position of the tractive electromagnet with respect to the coil is determined from the thereby induced current characteristic, in particular the characteristic of the current rise, it is particularly determined from the ascertained position whether the brake is in the applied state or in the released state, the tractive electromagnet in particular is arranged as a permanent magnet or has a permanent magnet.

A caster wheel brake system for a mobile support system such as a cart or other wheeled structure is operable to selectively secure caster wheels against rolling rotation. The system includes a caster wheel assembly and a braking mechanism mounted nearby. A pair of brake actuation inputs, such as handles or levers, can be secured to the cart and independently operated to rotate a rotator link, which in turn rotates a brake-actuating link. Rotation of the brake-actuating link deactivates the braking mechanism to allow rolling rotation of the caster wheels. Optionally, the operation of one of the handles to deactivate the braking mechanism has no effect on the other handle.

A geologic core inspection table includes at least two legs, each including an extending portion for increasing the effective length of each leg, the extending portion at least partially concentrically disposed within or about the leg from which it extends; and a tabletop disposed above and coupled to the legs. The tabletop includes a top surface for receiving a core sample tray. At least one leg may be extended to a different height than at least one other leg.

Described herein are various improvements to mobility devices. These improvements include, for example, adjustable lateral body supports, multi axial supports for accommodating movement of the pelvis during walking, frame folding assemblies for accommodating storage and transportation, detachable support couplings for supportive accessories, foldaway footplate assemblies for allowing users to rest, wheel brake systems, caster wheel systems, suspension support systems, control button assemblies, and center of gravity adjustment assemblies. One or more these improvements can be combined into various mobility devices as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Disclosed are systems and methods for reducing friction on a brake arm of a caster wheel brake. A washer can be positioned between the brake arm and the support arm to reduce friction in this area. Lubricant can also be provided between the brake arm and the support arm, and also between the brake arm and the brake cam, to reduce the friction in these areas. The presently disclosed embodiments therefore allow less force to actuate the brake arm as compared to prior art caster wheels.

A mechanical two-way controlled band brake has components, such as a lever, a yoke having arms and a guiding bar, a brake band, anchoring points, pivots and brake drums, which are preferably made of metal or metal alloys. The components of the mechanical two-way controlled band brake may be also made of other materials, such as plastics, combination of metal alloys and plastics or any other materials, which are firm with sufficient bearing capacity.

An anti-tilt device for a caster that includes a wheel, rotatably mounted in a frame, for rotation about a rotation axis. The anti-tilt device, comprising first and second face plates; first and second flanges extending from opposing edges of said first plate, each of the first and second flanges wrapping beside the first face plate; first and second flanges extending from opposing edges of said second face plate, each of the first and second flange extending beside the first face plate, to prevent rotation of the first and second face plates when mounted to the caster frame; first and second legs extending from the first second face plates, respectively; and a bar, extending between the first and second legs across a tread face of said caster wheel when mounted to said frame, at a defined angle of the tread face, as measured from a vertical axis extending through said rotation axis, when said caster is level. Each of said first and second legs includes a defined bend to place said bar at said defined angle.