ROLLER DEVICE WITH ECCENTRIC WHEEL AXLE

Abstract

A rolling device having a bearing housing accommodating a wheel axle, a drive motor with first and second motor parts for conduction of relative rotation between a wheel element and the wheel axle, end portions of the wheel axle being connected to axle support members in an eccentric position displaced from the center line of the axle support members, and locks operable between an unlocked position allowing rotation of the axle support members relative to the bearing housing, and a locking position preventing the rotation of the axle support members, wherein in the unlocked position, the motor conducts rotation of the axle support members and wheel axis for displacement of the wheel element by an eccentric movement between an extended position where at least a portion of the wheel element projects outside the bearing housing and a retracted position where the wheel element is located inside the bearing housing.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A rolling device for a device to enable the moving of the device along a surface, wherein the rolling device comprises: a bearing housing for accommodation of a wheel axle carrying a wheel element, and a drive motor arranged with a first motor part and a second motor part for conduction of relative rotation between the wheel element and the wheel axle, axle support members rotatably accommodated in the bearing housing, wherein each axle support member supports an end portion of the wheel axle, the wheel axle carrying the wheel element extends in between the axle support members, with each of the end portions of the wheel axle connected to each axle support members in an eccentric position displaced off-set from the center line of the axle support members, locking means that are operable between an unlocked position allowing the rotation of the axle support members relative to the bearing housing, and a locking position preventing the rotation of the axle support members relative the bearing housing, wherein in the unlocked position of the locking means, the motor conduct rotation of the axle support members and of the wheel axis relative to the bearing housing for displacement of the wheel element by an eccentric movement between an extended position where at least a portion of the wheel element projects outside the bearing housing and a retracted position where the wheel element is located inside the bearing housing.

11. A rolling device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the locking means in the locking position, prevent rotation between the axle support members and the bearing housing, the motor then rotates the wheel element for movement of the rolling device along the surface.

12. A rolling device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the rolling device further comprises a control unit controls the rolling device and the control unit receives control signals for operation of the locking means between locking position and unlocked position, from a remote control, computer, cell phone or by voice-activation.

13. A rolling device in accordance with claim 10, wherein locking means comprises a locking bolt accommodated in the bearing housing for engagement with a locking recess in the axle support member when in locking position, and disengaged from the locking recess in unlocked position.

14. A rolling device in accordance with claim 10, wherein a spring element provides a holding force for engaging the locking bolt with the locking recess in the locking position.

15. A rolling device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the control unit is connected to actuating means for operation of the locking bolt in between engagement with the locking recess and disengagement from the locking recess.

16. A rolling device in accordance with claim 10, wherein at least one of the axle support members comprises a protruding guide element configured for accommodation in a guide recess arranged in the bearing housing for guidance of the rotation of the axle support members relative to the bearing housing.

17. A rolling device in accordance with claim 10, wherein at least one of axle support members is received in a mounting opening in the bearing housing, wherein the mounting opening is defined by an internal surrounding wall configured in the bearing housing.

18. A rolling device in accordance with claim 17, wherein at least one of axle support members (3, 10) has the configuration of a circular disc member and the mounting opening is arranged as a corresponding circular through opening.

19. A rolling device in accordance with claim 16, wherein the guide element projects from the circumferential surface of the circular disc member and the guide recess extends in the bearing housing along a portion of the circumference of the circular disc member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the rolling device in accordance with the invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of pair of rolling devices in driving mode.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows the rolling devices of FIG. 2 beginning the retraction of the wheel element.

[0040] FIG. 4-5 shows the continued retraction of the wheel element.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows the wheel element retracted from the surface.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the two rolling devices of FIG. 2-6.

[0043] A rolling device 1 for mounting or integration into a device to be moved such as furniture, euro pallets or other movable structures is shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. The rolling device 1 has a housing 2 shown in figs as a semi closed structure having two opposite frame structures here configured as side walls 4 for accommodation of the axle support members 3. A bottom structure 5 is arranged with an opening 7 configured for lifting and lowering at least a portion of the wheel element 6 through the opening 7.

[0044] The wheel element 6 is rotatably arranged on a wheel axle 8 and a drive motor (not shown) is arranged within the wheel for rotation of the wheel element 6 about the wheel axle 8. The drive motor may be a so-called hub motor or any other motor capable of rotating the wheel element 6 relative to the wheel axle 8. The drive motor typically has a first motor part connected to the wheel axle 8 and a second motor part connected to the wheel element 6 for causing relative rotation between the wheel element 6 and the wheel axle 8 upon actuation of the drive motor. The first motor part may be a stator and the second motor part may be a rotor or vice versa.

[0045] The wheel axle 8 has end portions 8a, 8b each inserted into receiving recesses 3a, 3b in the axle support members 3, 10 thereby forming a fixed connection between the wheel axle 8 and the axle support members 3, 10. The end portions 8a, 8b is connected to each axle support members in an eccentric position EP displaced offset from the center line CL of the axle support members 3, 10. The center line CL is also the rotational axis of the axle support members 3, 10.

[0046] As such the rotational axis of the wheel element is displaced in parallel from the rotational axis of the axle support members 3, 10.

[0047] The axle support members 3, 10 are each rotatably accommodated in corresponding mounting opening 12a, 12b, here shown as spherical hollows or through holes in the bearing housing 2. The axle support members 3, 10 is shown configured as circular disc members, but also other rotational bodies allowing rotation relative to the bearing housing 2 may be used in this application.

[0048] Each of the axle support members 3, 10 shown as circular disc members comprises a protruding guide element 17 that projects from the circumferential surface 19 of the circular disc member. The protruding guide element 17 is configured for accommodation in a guide recess 21 arranged in the bearing housing. The protruding guide element 17 moves in the guide recess 21 following the rotation of axle support members 3, 10 for guidance of the axle support members relative to the bearing housing.

[0049] Locking means, which in the figures are exemplified as a locking bolt 13 arranged to be displaced into and out of a locking recess 14 in the axle support member 3, 10 are operable between an unlocked position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and a locked position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In the locked position as illustrated FIG. 2, the rotation of the axle support members 3, 10 relative to the bearing housing 2, is prevented and the rolling device is then in driving mode. A portion of the wheel element 6 project outside the housing and the drive motor enables the rotation of the wheel element 6 for moving the rolling device along a surface S.

[0050] The locking bolt 13 is arranged in an accommodating recess 15 in the bearing housing 2 and is pretensioned by a spring element 16 providing a holding force for keeping the locking bolt 13 in locked position in the locking recess 14. Actuating means 17 such as a solenoid (shown in the figs) or an electro motor (not shown in the figs) is provided for the disengagement of the locking bolt 13 from the locking recess 14, thereby obtaining an unlocked position. In the unlocked position the axle support members 3, 10 are allowed to rotate relative to the bearing housing 2, and the rolling device is arranged in a projection/retraction mode. When the drive motor rotates the wheel element 6 relative the wheel axle 8, the wheel axle 8 and the axle support members 3, 10 are free to move as an entity due to the release of the locking bolt 13 from the locking recess 14. The axle support members 3, 10 will rotate counter wise to the rotational movement of the wheel element 6, as illustrated by arrows A and B. The eccentric position of the wheel axle 8 causes the wheel element 6 to be displaced by an eccentric movement from an extended position where at least a portion of the wheel element projects outside the housing, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a retracted position where the wheel element is located inside the bearing housing 2 and the bearing housing 2 rests against the surface S.

[0051] A control unit 20 is provided for control of the rolling device. The control unit 20 receives control signals for operation of the locking means between locking position and unlocked position, from a remote control, computer, cell phone or by voice-activation.

[0052] If the wheel element 6 is to be displaced from the retracted position, for instance as shown in FIG. 6, to the extended position, the drive motor will be operated for rotation of the wheel element 6 in the direction opposite to the direction that caused the retraction of the wheel element 6.

[0053] The axle support members 3, 10 could also be provided with an addition locking recess (not shown) for locking the axle support members 3, 10 when the wheel element 6 is retracted as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0054] In FIGS. 2-6 two rolling devices 1, 20 are shown. These may for instance be part of a set of wheels as mounted to a device to be moved, for instance a euro pallet. When the locking bolts 13 are released from the locking recesses 14, the wheel elements 6 of the two rolling devices 1, 20 are rotated in opposite directions as illustrated by arrows B and C, to minimize the rotation of the wheel element 6 and enhance the rotation of the of the wheel axle 8 and the axle support members 3, 10 to ensure efficient the retraction of the wheel element 6 into the housing. As such the friction/weight on the wheel element ensures that the rolling device is kept standstill during the retraction of the wheel element 6. Other ways to effectuate resting of the rolling device while the wheel element is in extended position and about to be retracted, might include driving the device to be moved against a wall or other obstacles or to provide counterweight means for countering the rotation of the wheel element 6.