An assisted thrust system for a carriage provided with wheels that includes a base to which a first directional wheel and a second directional wheel are fixed that are connected to the base so as to be able to rotate around a respective axis perpendicular to the base; to the base a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel are further fixed that are rotated by at least one gearmotor unit, which drives the first drive wheel by a first magnetic coupling device and the second drive wheel by a second magnetic coupling device.

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 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 pallet sled includes a base and a pair of tines extending from the base. A load wheel supports outer ends of each of the tines. A wheel supports the base. At least one motor is configured to drive the base wheel or at least one of the load wheels for driving the pallet sled. The motor may be a hub motor inside the base wheel or the load wheel.

A handcart is provided that includes a frame, wheels, and a motor that drives the rotation of the wheels. The number of wheels is two. The handcart includes a platform coupled to the frame, including a base and a vertical structure. It allows providing a self-propelled handcart with the two wheels and a variable length chassis that is as simple, safe to use, and inexpensive.

A handcart may include a prime mover, a first ground-contact part, a second ground-contact part, a clutch mechanism configured to switch between a transmission state and a non-transmission state, a differential mechanism configured to switch between a non-locking state and a locking state, a switching unit configured to switch a state of the clutch mechanism and a state of the differential mechanism; and an operation unit. The switching unit may be configured to: in response to a user’s first operation, switch the state of the clutch mechanism between the transmission state and the non-transmission state without switching the state of the differential mechanism, and in response to a user’s second operation, switch the state of the differential mechanism between the non-locking state and the locking state without switching the state of the clutch mechanism.

In this moving body, a walking assist device (1) is provided with: a plurality of drive wheels (50) capable of rotating about a plurality of rotational axes (51) disposed on a circumference centered on the same axis line (C); and a huh case (60) for supporting the plurality of rotational axes (51) so as to be able to revolve around the axis line (C). A first motor (10) is connected to the plurality of drive wheels (50) in a power transmissible manner so as to allow the plurality of drive wheels (50) to rotate, and a second motor (20) is connected to the huh case (60) in a power transmissible manner so as to allow the plurality of drive wheels (50) to revolve.

A handcart may include a frame; a drive wheel rotatably supported by the frame about a rotation axis extending in a right-left direction; a prime mover configured to rotate the drive wheel; a bracket pivotably supported by the frame about a pivot axis extending in an up-down direction; and a non-drive wheel supported by the bracket about a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The non-drive wheel may include a first non-drive wheel and a second non-drive wheel, and the first non-drive wheel and the second non-drive wheel may be configured to be rotatable independent of each other.

A cart includes: a body; wheels; a drive unit, driving each of the wheels; a handle, receiving a user's operation; an input detection sensor, detecting a load and/or moment applied to the handle; a rotation number sensor, detecting number of rotations of each of the wheels; and a control device, setting a target propulsive force to be output as a propulsive force from each of the wheels based on the load and/or moment, and controlling the drive unit to output the target propulsive force as the propulsive force. If the number of rotations of the wheel located on a side close to a turning center exceeds a predetermined threshold during turning, the control device sets the target propulsive force of the wheel located on a side away from the turning center to be less than the target propulsive force set based on the load and/or moment.

An assisted thrust system for a carriage provided with wheels that includes a base to which a first directional wheel and a second directional wheel are fixed that are connected to the base so as to be able to rotate around a respective axis perpendicular to the base; to the base a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel are further fixed that are rotated by at least one gearmotor unit, which drives the first drive wheel by a first magnetic coupling device and the second drive wheel by a second magnetic coupling device.