Anti-shimmy caster wheel assembly using a speed sensor and braking action about the verticle axis
First Claim
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1. A caster wheel assembly for preventing shimmying, comprising:
- a support;
a caster wheel mounting member rotatably mounted on said support so as to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
a caster wheel mounted on said caster wheel mounting member so as to freely rotate about its own substantially horizontal axis;
a brake, includingA. a rotating brake member, which is fixed with respect to said caster wheel mounting member so it rotates with said caster wheel mounting member, andB. a stationary brake member; and
a controller assembly for operating said brake in order to prevent shimmying of said caster wheel by limiting rotation of said caster wheel mounting member about its substantially vertical axis, including a speed sensor for sensing the speed of the vertical on which the caster wheel assembly is to be mounted; and
an actuator, which, when the speed of the vehicle is below a preset speed, provides that no braking force is applied to said brake, and, when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a preset speed, applies a predetermined force to said brake.
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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.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A caster wheel assembly for preventing shimmying, comprising:
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a support; a caster wheel mounting member rotatably mounted on said support so as to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; a caster wheel mounted on said caster wheel mounting member so as to freely rotate about its own substantially horizontal axis; a brake, including A. a rotating brake member, which is fixed with respect to said caster wheel mounting member so it rotates with said caster wheel mounting member, and B. a stationary brake member; and a controller assembly for operating said brake in order to prevent shimmying of said caster wheel by limiting rotation of said caster wheel mounting member about its substantially vertical axis, including a speed sensor for sensing the speed of the vertical on which the caster wheel assembly is to be mounted; and an actuator, which, when the speed of the vehicle is below a preset speed, provides that no braking force is applied to said brake, and, when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a preset speed, applies a predetermined force to said brake. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A caster wheel assembly, comprising:
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a support; a caster kingpin rotatably mounted on said support; a caster wheel mounting member fixed to said caster kingpin so as to rotate with said caster kingpin; a caster wheel mounted on said caster wheel mounting member so as to freely rotate about its own axis; a brake, including A. a rotating brake member, which is fixed with respect to said caster kingpin so as to rotate with said caster kingpin; and B. a stationary brake member; a controller assembly for operating said brake, including a speed sensor for sensing the speed of the vehicle on which the caster wheel assembly is to be mounted; and an actuator, which, when the speed of the vehicle is below a preset speed, provides that no braking force is applied to said brake, and, when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a preset speed, applies a predetermined force to said brake. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification