EP1960216A2 - Wheel construction enabling to roll over threshold - Google Patents

Wheel construction enabling to roll over threshold

Info

Publication number
EP1960216A2
EP1960216A2 EP06824293A EP06824293A EP1960216A2 EP 1960216 A2 EP1960216 A2 EP 1960216A2 EP 06824293 A EP06824293 A EP 06824293A EP 06824293 A EP06824293 A EP 06824293A EP 1960216 A2 EP1960216 A2 EP 1960216A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
frame
fork
wheels
movement
arrangement according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06824293A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Martin Van Rijn
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Manger Cats Pier
Original Assignee
Manger Cats Pier
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Manger Cats Pier filed Critical Manger Cats Pier
Publication of EP1960216A2 publication Critical patent/EP1960216A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B33/00—Castors in general ; Anti-clogging castors
    • B60B33/0036—Castors in general ; Anti-clogging castors characterised by type of wheels
    • B60B33/0042—Double or twin wheels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B33/00—Castors in general ; Anti-clogging castors
    • B60B33/0028—Construction of wheels; methods of assembling on axle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
    • B62B5/02—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts providing for travelling up or down a flight of stairs

Definitions

  • Wheel construction enabling to roll over threshold
  • the invention relates to a wheel suspension to facilitate the movement of means of transport with wheels or swivel castors, these wheels being mostly mounted at the front side, in the direction of movement, primarily facilitating to negotiate an obstacle like a threshold, an edge or a sudden elevation in the surface in the direction of movement in general.
  • the fork moves forward, causing the centre of gravity of the load to move to the secondary wheel which is above the obstacle.
  • the frame can turn over relative to the fork enabling the main wheel to roll over the obstacle without load.
  • the present invention relates to a wheel suspension enabling a load bearing wheel, either a castor or a fixed wheel, to be guided over an obstacle by a secondary wheel, providing, in a preferred form, two or more cams on either side mounted on the inner surfaces of the side faces of the fork that fit into the specific contour of guiding grooves in the frame, also possible in another form where the side faces of the fork have guiding grooves and the cams are mounted on either side of the frame.
  • the horizontal movement of the frame in the direction of the plane of the wheels and the vertical movement of the frame up and down are restricted by the movement of the cams in the guiding grooves, whereby one of the grooves guides the cam along a path with a specific contour that begins and ends with a specific angle of inclination and the track resembles the form of a sinus.
  • the other guiding groove restricts the movement of the cam or cams by the specific contour on the upper and lower side that resembles the form of a sinus whereby the frame tilts within a specific angle in the plane of the wheels within the borders of movement defined by the motion freedom of the cams in the guiding grooves.
  • the fork and the frame are connected by one or more elastic elements holding the fork and the frame in a specific position and pulling the frame back in the starting position after a movement of the frame relative to the fork.
  • the wheel suspension enables the secondary wheel to slide sideways or tilt over a minor angle in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wheels and is centred by spring elements.
  • the supporting fork has only one face that is enclosed between two sides of a frame whereby the frame has guiding grooves on the inner side, enclosing cams mounted on the side of the face of the fork.
  • Fig. 1. shows a drawing of the wheel suspension assembly
  • Fig. 2. shows the frame with the main wheel and the secondary wheel
  • Fig. 3 A - F shows the function of the wheel suspension when rolling over an obstacle
  • the wheel suspension 1 consists of a fork 2 mounted to a means of transport, holding a frame 4 between the faces 3 of the fork 2 supporting a main wheel 5 and a secondary wheel 6. This is shown in fig. 1.
  • the respective axes of the wheels 5 and 6 are mounted in the frame 4 with some distance between them and at different heights, as is shown in fig. 2.
  • the frame 4 can move relative to the fork 2 in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the means of transport and vertically.
  • the freedom of movement of the frame 4 relative to the fork 2 is limited by the guiding grooves 7 and 8 enclosing the cams 9 and 10.
  • the position of the frame 4 in the fork 2 is influenced by the elastic elements 11 mounted between the frame 4 and the fork 2 on both sides.
  • the pair of cams 9 is forced by guiding groove 7 to follow a track resembling a sinus while the pair of cams 10 can move freely within the borders of the guiding groove 8, having the same sinus shape on the upper and lower side.
  • the fork 2 slides forward in the frame 4 forced by the forward movement of the means of transport, thus gradually moving the centre of gravity towards the secondary wheel 6.
  • the centre of gravity is moved forward sufficiently, releasing the load on the main wheel 5 to a value minor to the upward force, the main wheel 5 can roll over the obstacle 13 while the frame 4 turns over.
  • the movement of the frame 4 during the sliding of the fork 2 in the frame 4 is guided by the shape of the guiding grooves 7 limiting the movement of cams 9 and the shape of the guiding grooves 8 enabling the cams 10 to move freely between borders.
  • the shape of the guiding groove 7 enforces the load transfer to the secondary wheel 6 while the guiding groove 8 limits the tilting angle of the frame 4 and thus controls the displacement of the wheels 5 and 6.
  • the secondary wheel 6 can tilt in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wheels and is kept in a vertical plane by spring elements 14.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
  • Carriages For Children, Sleds, And Other Hand-Operated Vehicles (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel suspension (1) to facilitate the movement of means of transport with wheels or swivel castors, these wheels (5, 6) being mostly mounted at the front side, in the direction of movement, primarily facilitating to negotiate an obstacle (13) like a threshold, an edge or a sudden elevation in the surface in the direction of movement in general . Such a wheel suspension (1) can be applied to numerous means of transport like for example rolling containers, furniture, transport containers, baby- carriages, shopping carts, wheelchairs and rollators.

Description

Wheel construction enabling to roll over threshold
The invention relates to a wheel suspension to facilitate the movement of means of transport with wheels or swivel castors, these wheels being mostly mounted at the front side, in the direction of movement, primarily facilitating to negotiate an obstacle like a threshold, an edge or a sudden elevation in the surface in the direction of movement in general.
Field of application
When the wheels of a means of transport being moved forward meet an obstacle like a threshold, an edge or a sudden elevation in the surface transverse to the direction of movement, the forward movement of the means of transport is obstructed. The resulting effect depends on the height of the obstacle in relation to the diameter of the wheels and on the height and position of the point of application of the forward force on the means of transport. Even at a relatively minor height of the obstacle in relation to the diameter of the wheels the forward movement of the means of transport is halted and an increase of the forward force on the means of transport forces it to turn over.
To negotiate such an obstacle that obstructs the front wheels raises a problem in most cases because it requires lessening the load on the front wheels by changing the point of application of the forward force on the means of transport or it requires turning over the means of transport backwards so that the fronts wheels are raised .
Background Art
Known solutions to this problem are based on a construction in or around the wheel that provide for a lifting of the wheel at the moment it hits an obstacle, without the need to change the point of application of the forward force on the means of transport.
In the Japanese patent JP 11001102, a construction fitted to the wheel is described including a secondary wheel. Both wheels are mounted in a frame enclosed in a fork attached to the means of transport. The fork can move relative to the frame along straight guiding grooves.
When the main wheel meets an obstacle the fork moves forward, causing the centre of gravity of the load to move to the secondary wheel which is above the obstacle. When the load is above the secondary wheel the frame can turn over relative to the fork enabling the main wheel to roll over the obstacle without load.
This construction is relatively simple but incorporates major disadvantages. In particular the guidance of the fork in the frame is too short to bring the load entirely above the secondary wheel causing the load to keep pressure on the main wheel behind. Also the angle of inclination in these straight guiding grooves is rather steep. The force needed to move the fork and force the frame to turn over is therefore considerable. Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wheel suspension enabling a load bearing wheel, either a castor or a fixed wheel, to be guided over an obstacle by a secondary wheel, providing, in a preferred form, two or more cams on either side mounted on the inner surfaces of the side faces of the fork that fit into the specific contour of guiding grooves in the frame, also possible in another form where the side faces of the fork have guiding grooves and the cams are mounted on either side of the frame.
Also, in a preferred form, the horizontal movement of the frame in the direction of the plane of the wheels and the vertical movement of the frame up and down are restricted by the movement of the cams in the guiding grooves, whereby one of the grooves guides the cam along a path with a specific contour that begins and ends with a specific angle of inclination and the track resembles the form of a sinus.
Furthermore, in a preferred form, the other guiding groove restricts the movement of the cam or cams by the specific contour on the upper and lower side that resembles the form of a sinus whereby the frame tilts within a specific angle in the plane of the wheels within the borders of movement defined by the motion freedom of the cams in the guiding grooves.
Additionally, in a preferred form, the fork and the frame are connected by one or more elastic elements holding the fork and the frame in a specific position and pulling the frame back in the starting position after a movement of the frame relative to the fork.
Also, in a preferred form, the wheel suspension enables the secondary wheel to slide sideways or tilt over a minor angle in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wheels and is centred by spring elements.
According to another embodiment, the supporting fork has only one face that is enclosed between two sides of a frame whereby the frame has guiding grooves on the inner side, enclosing cams mounted on the side of the face of the fork.
Description of Drawings
Fig. 1. shows a drawing of the wheel suspension assembly
Fig. 2. shows the frame with the main wheel and the secondary wheel
Fig. 3 A - F shows the function of the wheel suspension when rolling over an obstacle
The wheel suspension 1 according to the present invention consists of a fork 2 mounted to a means of transport, holding a frame 4 between the faces 3 of the fork 2 supporting a main wheel 5 and a secondary wheel 6. This is shown in fig. 1. The respective axes of the wheels 5 and 6 are mounted in the frame 4 with some distance between them and at different heights, as is shown in fig. 2. The frame 4 can move relative to the fork 2 in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the means of transport and vertically. The freedom of movement of the frame 4 relative to the fork 2 is limited by the guiding grooves 7 and 8 enclosing the cams 9 and 10. The position of the frame 4 in the fork 2 is influenced by the elastic elements 11 mounted between the frame 4 and the fork 2 on both sides.
The pair of cams 9 is forced by guiding groove 7 to follow a track resembling a sinus while the pair of cams 10 can move freely within the borders of the guiding groove 8, having the same sinus shape on the upper and lower side.
When the main wheel 5 hits an obstacle 13 as shown in fig. 3 A - F, the fork 2 slides forward in the frame 4 forced by the forward movement of the means of transport, thus gradually moving the centre of gravity towards the secondary wheel 6. When the centre of gravity is moved forward sufficiently, releasing the load on the main wheel 5 to a value minor to the upward force, the main wheel 5 can roll over the obstacle 13 while the frame 4 turns over. The movement of the frame 4 during the sliding of the fork 2 in the frame 4 is guided by the shape of the guiding grooves 7 limiting the movement of cams 9 and the shape of the guiding grooves 8 enabling the cams 10 to move freely between borders. In particular, the shape of the guiding groove 7 enforces the load transfer to the secondary wheel 6 while the guiding groove 8 limits the tilting angle of the frame 4 and thus controls the displacement of the wheels 5 and 6.
As soon as the main wheel 5 is on top of the obstacle or over, the horizontal force on this wheel 5 caused by the obstacle 13 and opposite to the forward movement of the means of transport through the fork 2 is absent. The elastic elements 11 that have been extended during the forward slide of the fork 2 in the frame 4 now pull the frame 4 back in the starting position in fork 2, bringing back the vertical load on the main wheel 5. Simultaneously the frame 4 tilts back in starting position enabling the secondary wheel 6 to negotiate a new obstacle. This tilting movement is limited by the specific shape of the guiding grooves 8 and the cam pair 10.
If the main and secondary wheels are not aligned when they hit an obstacle, sideward forces on the secondary wheel may be the result. These are compensated by the freedom of movement of the secondary wheel 6 over its axis, perpendicular to the plane of the wheels, centred by spring elements 14. According to another embodiment (not shown), the secondary wheel 6 can tilt in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wheels and is kept in a vertical plane by spring elements 14.

Claims

Claims
1. Arrangement in a wheel suspension mechanism designed to reduce the force needed to negotiate an obstacle, the arrangement comprising a fork with two faces in between which a frame with two wheels is fitted comprising one or more guiding grooves in the side surfaces, characterised in that on the inner surfaces of the side faces of the fork (2) two or more pairs of cams (9 and 10) are mounted on each side, that fit into the specific contour of guiding grooves (7 and 8) in the frame (4) whereby one pair of grooves (7) guides the cam pair (9) along a path (12) with a specific contour that begins and ends with a specific angle of inclination and between begin and end resembles the form of a sinus, while the other pair of grooves (8) limits the movement of the cam pair (10) by the specific contour on the upper and lower side that resembles the sinus form track of guiding groove (7).
2. Arrangement according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the horizontal movement of the frame (4) in the direction of the plane of the wheels and the vertical movement of the frame
(4) up and down are restricted by the movement of the cams (9 and 10) in the guiding grooves (7 and 8).
3. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the fork (2) comprises cam pairs (9 and 10) with or without a bearing arrangement.
4. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the guiding groves (7 and 8) guide the cam pairs (9 and 10) along a path resembling a segment of a circle.
5. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the frame (4) tilts within a specific angle in the plane of the wheels within the borders of movement defined by the motion freedom of the cams (10) in the guiding grooves (8).
6. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the fork (2) and the frame (4) are connected by one or more elastic elements (11 ) holding the fork (2) and the frame (4) in a specific position and pulling the frame (4) back in the starting position after a movement of the frame (4) relative to the fork (2).
7. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the secondary wheel (6) can slide sideways over its axis in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wheels and is centred by spring elements (14).
8. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the secondary wheel (6) can tilt over a minor angle in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wheels and is kept in a position aligned with the plane of the wheels by spring elements (14).
9. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the side faces (3) of the fork (2) have guiding grooves and one or more cam pairs are mounted on either side of the frame (4), fitting within the contours of the guiding groves in the fork (2)
10. Arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the fork (2) comprises one face, with cams on one side or both sides and the frame (4) is enclosing this face on both sides and is provided with groves guiding these cams.
EP06824293A 2005-12-08 2006-12-05 Wheel construction enabling to roll over threshold Withdrawn EP1960216A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1030623A NL1030623C2 (en) 2005-12-08 2005-12-08 Wheel suspension, to reduce the force needed to drive a wheel over an obstacle.
PCT/NL2006/000617 WO2007067040A2 (en) 2005-12-08 2006-12-05 Wheel construction enabling to roll over threshold

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1960216A2 true EP1960216A2 (en) 2008-08-27

Family

ID=36691588

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06824293A Withdrawn EP1960216A2 (en) 2005-12-08 2006-12-05 Wheel construction enabling to roll over threshold

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1960216A2 (en)
NL (1) NL1030623C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2007067040A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1035945C (en) * 2008-09-16 2010-03-17 Idetra Bv IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION TO DRIVE A WHEEL OVER AN OBSTACLE.
NL1035896C (en) * 2008-09-04 2010-03-15 Idetra Bv CONSTRUCTION TO DRIVE A WHEEL OVER AN OBSTACLE.
US20100251514A1 (en) * 2009-04-01 2010-10-07 Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Caster
JP6174621B2 (en) * 2015-04-15 2017-08-02 株式会社ユーエイキャスター Caster device for level difference
JP6431626B1 (en) * 2018-01-15 2018-11-28 株式会社星光医療器製作所 caster
JP6986460B2 (en) * 2018-02-08 2021-12-22 アロン化成株式会社 Mobile car
CN108824789A (en) * 2018-06-01 2018-11-16 江北建设有限公司 A kind of construction machinery of scene 3D printing building
CN112519489B (en) * 2020-12-08 2023-02-21 至善时代智能科技(北京)有限公司 Universal wheel set capable of climbing steps
CN112587050B (en) * 2020-12-24 2026-01-23 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 Cleaning equipment and robot sweeps floor
JP7828638B2 (en) * 2022-03-28 2026-03-12 大森工業株式会社 wheel structure

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL56531C (en) *
JP3046565B2 (en) * 1997-06-13 2000-05-29 邦夫 隈本 Wheel for step over
JP2001213110A (en) * 2000-01-30 2001-08-07 Keisuke Tsujii Two-wheel caster applicable for level difference
JP2004042685A (en) * 2002-07-08 2004-02-12 Youth Engineering Co Ltd Caster
JP3578758B1 (en) * 2003-12-05 2004-10-20 玄壮 楊 Wheel support structure
US20060267295A1 (en) * 2004-03-09 2006-11-30 Gensou You Supporting structure for wheel

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2007067040A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007067040A2 (en) 2007-06-14
WO2007067040A3 (en) 2007-07-26
NL1030623C2 (en) 2007-06-11

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