Abstract: An automatically retractable swivelling wheels device of a pullman case is disclosed. The swivelling wheels device comprises a bushing, in which a spring retainer is formed on a bottom of a circumferential flange of the bushing, a wheel housing assembly and a swivelling wheels. The swivelling wheels is permitted to swing in any direction as the pullman case moved by a force, and once the force is removed, the swivelling wheels is automatically returned to its original direction by the cooperation of the restoration force of two out of shape springs provided in a C shaped groove of the wheel housing assembly with the spring retainer therebetween in order for the swivelling wheels to be retracted to a recess of the pullman case.

Abstract: A single wheel caster apparatus is disclosed for supporting a plow. The apparatus includes a wheel and an axle, the axle extending through the wheel such that the wheel is rotatably supported by the axle. Additionally, a first and a second fork are provided with each fork having a proximal and a distal end. A head which defines a plurality of detents is rigidly secured to a cross member and extends therefrom in a direction away from the wheel. A tube has a first and second extremity and defines a bore for the reception therein of the head. The tube defines a first radial passageway which is disposed in the vicinity of the detents. A flexible tubular lining is disposed within the bore of the tube. A first member is slidably disposed within the first passageway with the first member being disposed adjacent to the lining such that the lining is located between the first member and one of the detents.

Abstract: A free floating castor includes a wheel assembly mounted to move relative to a vertical axis of rotation at which it is attached to a trolley to provide space for the wheel to move freely within a fixed area. In one embodiment, two parallel shafts of a bracket assembly are attached to the wheel axle, one on each side, thus permitting the wheel axle to slide along the parallel shafts and in between two stoppers/limits. In a second embodiment, a rotary joint assembly is connected between a trailing arm bracket assembly and the bearing for attaching the castor to a trolley permitting the bracket assembly and the wheel assembly to revolve through 360.degree. in the horizontal plane around it.

Abstract: A wheelchair with adjustable swivel castors is described. The wheelchair includes a mechanism to limit the swivel range of the castors. The swivel range may be limited manually or automatically as a function of the terrain or the speed of the chair.

Abstract: A roller board allowing the rider to slide laterally in a manner similar to a snowboard. The roller board is comprised of a platform having four fixed wheels, and two pivoting rollers positioned along the platform's longitudinal axis. The fixed wheels function similarly to conventional skateboard trucks. The pivoting rollers rotate to align themselves with the direction of force exerted on the platform. The pivoting rollers are spring biased to align themselves with the longitudinal axis of the platform. A height differential between the two types of rollers enables the rider to transfer weight from one type of roller to the other, alternating between the carving and sliding characteristics of a snowboard.

Abstract: A steering assistance device for a castor comprises a cam portion (39) having a lobe (41) which is fixed to the bottom of the fixing bolt of the castor and which is surrounded by a closed portion (43) of a capture device (42). The lobe (41) is engaged in an arcuate recess (49) of the capture device (42) in the dead center position of the castor. The capture device (42) is formed of a plastics material and its sides and ends are resilient slats. The arcuate recess (49) is in one end and the two sides (50 and 52) carry inwardly projecting arms (51 and 53).

Abstract: A vehicle such as a wheelchair having wheels by which the vehicle is propelled and steered and castors which support a proportion of the vehicle's weight, has its castors provided with biasing means which resists swivelling movement of the castors from the straight-ahead position thereby resisting an oversteer condition of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for preventing cart oscillation, wherein the rotation in a horizontal plane of the rear wheel side is controlled by an oscillation controlling member. The rotation in the horizontal place of the rear wheel side is also controlled by a detachable oscillation controlling member having a coupler section for permitting the cart to follow a predetermined course, when a train of a plurality of coupled carts is drawn. As shown in FIG. 5, a device for preventing oscillation for controlling the rotation in a horizontal plane of rear wheels of a cart is detachably fixed to a cart 2 having wheels connected to a wheel support which is rotative in a horizontal plane, in a way to fix the rear wheels by an engagement groove of a slant section 14.

Abstract: A roller board allowing the rider to slide laterally in a manner similar to a snowboard. The roller board is comprised of a platform having four fixed wheels, and two pivoting rollers positioned along the platform's longitudinal axis. The fixed wheels function similarly to conventional skateboard trucks. The pivoting rollers rotate to align themselves with the direction of force exerted on the platform. The pivoting rollers are spring biased to align themselves with the longitudinal axis of the platform. A height differential between the two types of rollers enables the rider to transfer weight from one type of roller to the other, alternating between the carving and sliding characteristics of a snowboard.

Abstract: A assemblage for mounting a caster wheel on a depending stationary post on a wheeled load carrier comprises a body element having a cylindrical chamber concentrically surrounding the support post. The body element has a bracket for mounting a caster wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis. A vertical stack of washers surround the support post and alternate ones of such washers are secured to the support post and rotatable within the cylindrical chamber while the remainder of such washers are co-rotatable with the body element about the axis of the support post. The cylindrical chamber is filled with a lubricating fluid to a sufficient depth to cover all abutting surfaces of said washers, thereby providing viscous fluid shearing resistance to shimmying movement of the caster wheel relative to the support post. To maintain the friction between the support post and body element independent of the amount of load, anti-friction thrust bearings are provided between the support post and the body element.

Abstract: A wheelchair frame comprises a base frame part (1, 2) with a plurality of wheels (3, 33), including two front wheels (3), wherein each of said front wheels can be driven by an electromotor (4). The base frame part carries at the back side a castor assembly (13) located in the center and comprising a swivel axle (14) with a neutral straight on position, wherein a device 22 is are provided for exerting a rotation force on the swivel axle in the direction of the straight on position at rotation of the swivel axle out of the straight on position.

Abstract: An improved dual wheel caster assembly is provided having a limited slip frictional clutch to create rotational coupling between the two wheels, but with sufficient slippage to allow adequate directional maneuverability. The caster has improved resistance to flutter due to the rotational coupling between the wheels.

Abstract: A rotary mower (22) having an improved castering wheel assembly (39, 92) so as to reduce rotation of the castering wheel (4) about its support shaft (6). In one embodiment, a torsion resistance mechanism (2) is interposed between the shaft (3) and mower frame (67), the torsion resistance mechanism (2) including a resilient material (46) rigidly bonded to a sleeve (77) in which the shaft (3) is retained. The resilient material (46) is press fit into a housing (11), the housing (11) being rigidly bonded to the mower frame (67). In another embodiment, a cap (98) housing a spring (102) is threadably attached to the castering wheel support shaft (81). Rotation of the cap (98) compresses spacers (85-90) mounted co-axially on the shaft (81) while urging the shaft (81) in an upward direction (111) so as to prevent axial rotation of the shaft (81) when the castering wheel loses contact with the ground.

Abstract: A caster wherein the wheel frame and the wheel can be locked in a first axial position of a post which is installed in an upright support serving to turnably mount the frame. When the post is moved to a second axial position relative to the support, the wheel is free to turn in the frame but the frame is releasably held against turning relative to the support. However, if it should become necessary to change the orientation of the frame relative to the support, the frame is turned with a selected force to overcome the bias of a spring which tends to maintain the frame in the selected angular position. Several different angular positions of the frame can be determined by a set of balls which are mounted in a base of the post and by the sockets of a ring-shaped female coupling member which is installed in the frame and whose sockets can receive the balls. The balls are expelled from the aligned sockets to permit turning of the frame relative to the support when the bias of the spring is overcome.

Abstract: A cargo trailer for towing behind another vehicle has a cargo container platform and a stabilized caster swivel assembly supporting the cargo container platform. The swivel assembly includes an elongated frame, a caster wheel on a swivel member being rotatably mounted about a vertical axis to a rear end of the frame, a cam member mounted on the swivel member for rotation therewith, a centering mechanism coupled to the cam member, a hydraulic stabilizing mechanism coupled to the swivel member, and a hydraulic control circuit mounted on the frame.

Abstract: To prevent "shimmying", due to uncontrolled swivelling of a castor during non-engagement of its wheel or wheels with the ground, frictional resistance to swivelling is provided. An upper or lower cap or cover for the bearing between the castor body and its mounting head can thus be non-rotatably engaged with the mounting head and frictionally engaged with the body. Additionally, or instead, a spring washer around the mounting head in an aperture in the body containing the bearing can provide this friction.

Abstract: A caster retention device is disclosed that supresses flutter or shimmy of a caster wheel and that is easily adjustable. The device includes a caster stem receiving chamber in which a bushing is disposed. The bushing receives a caster stem assembly that includes bearing elements. An adjustable locking device secures the stem assembly within the bushing and is positioned at an opening of the receiving chamber. In one embodiment the device may include first and second collars that are useful for adjusting a preload on the bearings.

Abstract: A double wheel caster for being rotatably mounted on a leg of a transport carrier includes a support rod having a center portion and opposite first and second end portions. The center portion of the support rod is rotatably positioned within an opening located in a wheel caster trailing housing. A pair of caster wheels are rotatably positioned on the first and second end portions of the support rod. Each caster wheel has an aperture generally centrally located therethrough and a plurality of fingers extending radially inward and into engagement with the support rod such that the caster wheels are frictionally mounted on the support rod. Upon movement of the transport carrier in a direction which forces one caster wheel to rotate faster than the other, the frictional mounting inhibits the one caster from freely rotating with respect to the other to thereby prevent shimmying.

Abstract: A sterilizer cart for transporting a wheeled carriage, the cart having improved control and docking capabilities utilizing a docking post receptacle having a hinged tongue. The front caster wheel assemblies of the cart are provided with spring-loaded guide members which are selectively urged into and out of indentions in detent members for wheel steering. The invention also provides a method for easily directing the wheeled carriage from the cart along rails for convenient carriage insertion into and extraction from a sterilizer equipped matching rails and a centralized docking post.

Abstract: An improved caster wheel assembly for a wheelchair or the like includes adjustable bearing components for variably resisting swivel motion of a caster wheel to prevent undesired wheel flutter. The caster wheel assembly includes a wheel fork unit having a rotatable caster wheel, and a housing sleeve adapted for mounting onto the frame of a wheelchair or other castered device. An upstanding swivel post on the wheel fork unit is supported within the housing sleeve by the bearing components for rotation about an upright swivel axis. The bearing components include an outer bushing mounted on the housing sleeve, and having a conical bearing surface for axially engaging a mating bearing surface of a longitudinally split inner bushing. A nut threaded onto the swivel post urges the inner bushing axially against the outer bushing with a selected adjustable axial load to resist rotation of the swivel post, and thereby resist undesired rotational flutter of the swivel post and the associated caster wheel.

Abstract: A skatecraft is shown having three planes with two wheels mounted on the central plane and one wheel each mounted on each outboard planes. The wheels on the outboard planes are provided with a magnetically oriented wheel mount that will permit the mounted wheel to swivel when in contact with the ground, but will return the wheel to an aligned position when contact is removed.

Abstract: A caster wheel assembly which uses a mechanical brake to apply force in order to prevent shimmying at high speeds. A controller arrangement provides that no braking force is supplied until the vehicle reaches a preset speed. Thereafter, a predetermined amount of force is applied to the brakes. The predetermined force is great enough to prevent shimmying but low enough to permit the caster wheel mounting member to continue to rotate about its axis so that the vehicle may continue to be maneuvered even at high speeds.

Abstract: A viscous rotary damper adapted to attenuate shimmy of a rotary member such as a caster relative to an associated member such as a wheelchair leg, comprises a pair of relatively rotatable annular portions having structure for respective attachment to the members. The damper portions have annular cooperative working surfaces of substantial length defining therebetween a shear film space gap working chamber which is closed at opposite ends by dynamic seals and has a viscous damping medium substantially filling the working chamber gap and providing viscous shear coupling yieldably resisting relative rotary movements of the working surfaces. The damper is adapted to be in a miniaturized form comprising a stator ring and a rotor housing, the stator ring being arranged to be keyed to one of relatively rotary members and the rotor being arranged to be keyed to the other of relatively rotary members.

Abstract: For an implement, a caster wheel assembly including a tubular member connected to reciprocate as the caster wheel swivels. An adjustable brake assembly resists movement of the tubular member to eliminate caster wheel wobble as the implement is transported. A plurality of caster wheel assemblies permit the implement to crab between the towing vehicle and a trailing implement. The brake assemblies provide convenient locking and control of selective wheels for the desired swivel action in numerous operating situations.

Abstract: Device for automatically bringing the pivoting wheels of a manual truck back to a predetermined direction, each pivoting wheel (1) being mounted in a fork (2) pivoting about a vertical axis with respect to a fixed support (4) integral with the base (5) of the truck, comprising at least one mobile shoe (10) carried by the fork (2) and bearing resiliently on an appropriately shaped cam (12) integral with the fixed support (4) of said fork (2), under the action of a spring (11) working under compression.

Abstract: A sports wheel chair has elongated side frame members of hollow high strength tubing extending along the two sides of the chair to provide rear wheel and seat support and extending accurately downwardly to provide front wheel supports. The elongation provides a degree of flexibility that permits front end collisions without damage and permits flexure to maintain contact of all four wheels with uneven terrain. Elongation of the frame increases stability and concentrates weight on the rear wheels for greater maneuverability. The main wheels are cambered out from top to bottom to protect the hands and provide a wider wheel base. All of the frame members are hollow tubes to impart light weight to the chair along with great strength. The two elongated side frame members are joined by novel strong quick connecting and disconnecting parts at the front and back to permit rapid disassembly without sacrificing strength. The front connecting part also provides a foot rest.

Abstract: A self-steering caster is biased into one or more predetermined steering positions with a constant force by a bias wheel arranged to roll along a cam surface in the shape of a circle which is concentric with the caster's swivel axis and whose radius increases at a linear rate in both directions from the point corresponding to the steering position to a point or points on the cam surface remote from the steering position. Detent means may be provided at the steering position to releasably lock the caster in the steering position.

Abstract: A self-aligning mechanism for swivel caster comprising a carriage supported for rotation about a predetermined axis, a wheel mounted on the carriage for rotation about an axis at right angles to said predetermined axis and a coiled spring yieldable means interconnecting the carriage and support yieldably holding the carriage in a predetermined position of rotation relative to the axis and structured to permit the carriage to rotate continuously in either direction relative to said axis.

Abstract: A caster assembly is provided with a housing readily mountable into rectangular, square or round tubing and securable therein. A lever operable in a horizontal plane about the swivel axis is pivotable from a first position for free swiveling and rolling of the caster, to a second position for swivel locking in the trailing position, to a third position for swivel and wheel locking. It is readily attached to a centralized control handle on a bed or other object to be supported by the caster.

Abstract: A caster wheel supporting arrangement including anti-shimmy means which is particularly useful for vehicles in which the caster wheels may be orientated at different angles to the parts supported thereby during normal forward movement of the vehicle. Such a situation occurs in large airport runway sweepers where the broom frame, which is supported by caster wheels, may be set at varying orientations to the normal sweeper direction. The support arrangement includes a rotary hydraulic pump, preferably of the gerotor type, the rotor of which is connected to rotate with the caster wheel bracket, and a hydraulic circuit connects the ports of the pump, this circuit including a pressure sensitive flow resisting device which opens to increase the flow area therethrough with increasing pressure difference between the pump ports.

Abstract: Fluttering of caster wheels having a swivel mechanism including ball-type or roller-type bearings is effectively prevented by substituting, for some of the steel rolling elements of the bearings, resilient rubber-like rolling elements of somewhat greater diameter. Flutter resistance and steering characteristics of the caster can be varied by varying the size of the resilient rolling elements, or the proportion of resilient rolling elements to steel rolling elements in the bearing.

Abstract: A vehicle having a swivel caster wheel. The caster wheel has two spaced magnets attached to a fixed part of the caster and a third magnet attached to the caster fork so that the third magnet is influenced by the field of the first and second magnets, moving the caster to a predetermined position when the wheels are lifted from the floor. The wheels caster to proper position when they again engage the floor.

Abstract: A self-aligning swivel caster for use on carts and the like, the caster being equipped with a member for locking and releasing the caster with respect to swivel movement. The locking and releasing member, which can selectively be oriented in an operative or an inoperative position, is friction and gravity actuated. The structural relationship of the caster and the member is such that automatic camming and actuation of the member occurs as the caster is swiveled from an unlocked position into a locked position or from a locked position into an unlocked position. During actuation of the locking and releasing member, the caster makes direct contact with the member until the member finally drops into the proper position to either restrict or facilitate further swivel movement of the caster.

Abstract: A swivel caster is disclosed having a mounting plate, swivel yoke, swivel bearing, a wheel on the yoke, and structure which will locate and cammingly index the yoke and plate in a predetermined relative radial position and cammingly release the index in response to a torque force between the yoke and the plate.