This non-pneumatic tire is provided with a tread ring, a wheel which is arranged radially inside of the tread ring, and spokes which are interposed between the tread ring and the wheel. Further, the wheel has a disc part to which the vehicle shaft is linked, and a rim part which is connected on the inner peripheral side to the disc part and is joined on the outer peripheral side to the spokes. In this configuration, the average thickness (T1) of the disc part is set to be greater than the average thickness (T2) of the rim part. In other words, the relation T1>T2 holds.

This non-pneumatic tire is provided with a tread ring, a wheel which is arranged radially inside of the tread ring, and spokes which are interposed between the tread ring and the wheel. Further, the wheel has a disc part to which the vehicle shaft is linked, and a rim part which is connected on the inner peripheral side to the disc part and is joined on the outer peripheral side to the spokes. In this configuration, the average thickness (T1) of the disc part is set to be less than the average thickness (T2) of the rim part. In other words, the relation T1<T2 holds.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs with associated integral hydraulic dampers coupled between the inner and outer rims to provide a suspension for relative movement between the inner and outer rims. Each gas spring and associated integral hydraulic damper may include a first cylinder body and a second cylinder body slidable therein, and a first seal defining first and second gas chambers within the first cylinder body. Each gas spring and associated integral hydraulic damper may also include a shaft extending within the first cylinder body and into the second cylinder body defining a hydraulic fluid chamber, and an enlarged orifice body coupled to the shaft defining a hydraulic damper with the second cylinder body.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs with associated integral hydraulic dampers coupled between the inner and outer rims to provide a suspension for relative movement between the inner and outer rims. Each gas spring and associated integral hydraulic damper may include a first cylinder body and a second cylinder body slidable therein, and a first seal defining first and second gas chambers within the first cylinder body. Each gas spring and associated integral hydraulic damper may also include a shaft extending within the first cylinder body and into the second cylinder body defining a hydraulic fluid chamber, and an enlarged orifice body coupled to the shaft defining a hydraulic damper with the second cylinder body.

A load handling device is disclosed for lifting and moving storage containers stacked in a grid framework structure having first and second sets of parallel rails or tracks. The load handling device includes: a body mounted on first and second sets of wheels arranged to engage with the tracks. A direction-change assembly is arranged to raise or lower the first set of wheels and or lower or raise the second set of wheels with respect to the body to engage and disengage the wheels with the tracks. The direction-change assembly includes a linkage-set having a series of members arranged between a traveller and a fixed brace, wherein the traveller is arranged to move under an applied force to cause the wheels to raise or lower.

A load handling device is disclosed for lifting and moving storage containers stacked in a grid framework structure having first and second sets of parallel rails or tracks. The load handling device includes: a body mounted on first and second sets of wheels arranged to engage with the tracks. A direction-change assembly is arranged to raise or lower the first set of wheels and or lower or raise the second set of wheels with respect to the body to engage and disengage the wheels with the tracks. The direction-change assembly includes a linkage-set having a series of members arranged between a traveller and a fixed brace, wherein the traveller is arranged to move under an applied force to cause the wheels to raise or lower.

A variable compliance non-pneumatic wheel which comprises a stationary tubular body (32) attached to the vehicle chassis. A tubular member is freely rotatable relative to the stationary tubular body and has a series of peripheral mounting rods (12, 13) on sides of the wheel. A plurality of interconnected and freely rotating caterpillar-like tiles (5), which are in contact with the ground during wheel operation, are coupled to the outer periphery of the wheel. A plurality of connecting spring members, (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), each connecting a specific mounting rod on a side of the hub (1, 2) are configured to connect the tiles (5) to the hub. The tubular member is split in two parts (1, 2) which are each free to rotate relative to one another. Each part carries approximately half number of mounting rods and connecting springs on a respective side of the wheel.

A drive belt assembly for a load handling device includes a drive belt; a drive wheel; and one or more driven wheels. A first tensioning arm, having a fixed end above an elbow and a rotatable distal end pivotally attached at the elbow, is horizontally displaceable relative to the drive wheel and driven wheels. A second tensioning arm is provided wherein the drive belt is routed around the first and second tensioning arms, and the first and second tensioning arms are arranged to put pressure on the drive belt to tension the drive belt.

A wheel with an intelligent suspension system that includes a hub, a rim and a set of spokes with dynamically adjustable spoke lengths. Further included is one or more sensors associated with at least the hub and the rim and a microcontroller unit (MCU) that receives sensory signals from the one or more sensors, and transmits control signals to the set of spokes to dynamically control spoke lengths of the set of spokes.

A non-pneumatic tire (1) includes three or more tubular bodies (2) and a plurality of elastically deformable connecting members (3) interconnecting the tubular bodies (2) and disposed along a tire circumferential direction in each annular space (9) provided between the tubular bodies (2) adjacent to each other in a tire radial direction. The tubular bodies (2) are provided with an inner tube (6) positioned on an innermost side in the tire radial direction and attached to an axle, an outer tube (4) positioned on an outermost side in the tire radial direction, and an elastically deformable intermediate tube (8) positioned between the inner tube (6) and the outer tube (4). The connecting member (3) is provided with a pair of connecting plates (21 and 22) having both end portions in the tire radial direction directly connected to the tubular body (2) and extending in the tire radial direction and separated in the tire circumferential direction from an outside toward an inside in the tire radial direction. A position (P1) of connection to the pair of connecting plates (21 and 22) connected to the intermediate tube (8) from the outside in the tire radial direction and a position (P2) of connection to the pair of connecting plates (21 and 22) connected to the intermediate tube (8) from the inside in the tire radial direction are shifted in the tire circumferential direction in the intermediate tube (8).