Abstract: A lift-enabled motorized wheel assembly and material handling cart. A drive wheel is supported on an axel between a fixed leg and a floating leg. The axel passes through the fixed leg without interference, but is captured in the floating leg by a self-aligning bearing. The axle is driven by a drive motor that is bolted to the fixed leg through a right-angle gearbox. A vertical suspension unit provides compliance for drive wheel traction. A lifter sub-assembly alternately raises and lowers the drive wheel into and out of contact with the ground. The lift-enabled motorized wheel assembly is attached to the bottom of a cart frame, along with a plurality of caster wheels. The cart includes a tow-bar that is moveable between raised and lowered positions. When the tow-bar is lowered condition for towing, the drive wheel automatically lifts out of contact with the ground.

Abstract: A lift-enabled motorized wheel assembly and material handling cart. A drive wheel is supported on an axel between a fixed leg and a floating leg. The axel passes through the fixed leg without interference, but is captured in the floating leg by a self-aligning bearing. The axle is driven by a drive motor that is bolted to the fixed leg through a right-angle gearbox. A vertical suspension unit provides compliance for drive wheel traction. A lifter sub-assembly alternately raises and lowers the drive wheel into and out of contact with the ground. The lift-enabled motorized wheel assembly is attached to the bottom of a cart frame, along with a plurality of caster wheels. The cart includes a tow-bar that is moveable between raised and lowered positions. When the tow-bar is lowered condition for towing, the drive wheel automatically lifts out of contact with the ground.

Abstract: A lift-enabled motorized wheel assembly and material handling cart. A drive wheel is supported on an axel between a fixed leg and a floating leg. The axel passes through the fixed leg without interference, but is captured in the floating leg by a self-aligning bearing. The axle is driven by a drive motor that is bolted to the fixed leg through a right-angle gearbox. A vertical suspension unit provides compliance for drive wheel traction. A lifter sub-assembly alternately raises and lowers the drive wheel into and out of contact with the ground. The lift-enabled motorized wheel assembly is attached to the bottom of a cart frame, along with a plurality of caster wheels. The cart includes a tow-bar that is moveable between raised and lowered positions. When the tow-bar is lowered condition for towing, the drive wheel automatically lifts out of contact with the ground.

Abstract: A caster wheel assembly includes at least one hub that has an annularly dished concave region disposed between a pair of cylindrical lips about its outer periphery. An elastomeric tread has a convex inner periphery that seats in the concave region of the hub. The interface between the hub and tread is parabolic in cross-section to manage load-inducted stresses in the tread. The parabolic cross-section is defined by the equation y=A*x2, where A is between 1.5 and 4. A cylindrical lip/pad interface is established between hub and tread on opposite sides of the parabolic interface to accommodate high load situations. A bearing is supported in the hub, and a bushing inside the bearing. An axle shaft passing through the bushing attaches the hub and tread to a support bracket for use in a wide variety of industrial applications.

Abstract: A caster wheel assembly includes at least one hub that has an annularly dished concave region disposed between a pair of cylindrical lips about its outer periphery. An elastomeric tread has a convex inner periphery that seats in the concave region of the hub. The interface between the hub and tread is parabolic in cross-section to manage load-inducted stresses in the tread. The parabolic cross-section is defined by the equation y=A*x2, where A is between 1.5 and 4. A cylindrical lip/pad interface is established between hub and tread on opposite sides of the parabolic interface to accommodate high load situations. A bearing is supported in the hub, and a bushing inside the bearing. An axle shaft passing through the bushing attaches the hub and tread to a support bracket for use in a wide variety of industrial applications.

Abstract: A caster wheel assembly includes at least one hub that has an annularly dished concave region disposed between a pair of cylindrical lips about its outer periphery. An elastomeric tread has a convex inner periphery that seats in the concave region of the hub. The interface between the hub and tread is parabolic in cross-section to manage load-inducted stresses in the tread. The parabolic cross-section is defined by the equation y=A*x2, where A is between 1.5 and 4. A cylindrical lip/pad interface is established between hub and tread on opposite sides of the parabolic interface to accommodate high load situations. A bearing is supported in the hub, and a bushing inside the bearing. An axle shaft passing through the bushing attaches the hub and tread to a support bracket for use in a wide variety of industrial applications.