Systems and methods for console braking

• US 8,684,145 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research, LLC (Alcon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Boukhny, Mikhail, Thoe, David A., Koontz, John, Nguyen, Long Q., Newton, Scott B., Bauen, Daniel, Bair, Cassilyn, Davis, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOMPER, ANNA M
• Application Number:
  US13/017,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 188 68- 69, 188/17, 188/31, 188/2.F, 188/19, 188/156, 188/158, 188/161, 16/35.R, 312/351.13
• US Class Current: 188/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/15 Mayo stands; Tables
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2200/20 Furniture or medical appliances
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/00 Castors in general; Anti-clogging castorscastors for large containers B65D90/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0042 Double or twin wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0078 characterised by details of the wheel braking mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0086 acting on rim or side portion of tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0092 actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/86 Carts; Golf carts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/20 using electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/02 with axially-movable discs or pads pressed against axially-located rotating members
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 63/00 Brakes not otherwise provided for; Brakes combining more than one of the types of groups F16D49/00 - F16D61/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 63/006 Positive locking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 67/02 Clutch-brake combinations

Abstract

In various embodiments, a braking system may include an actuator, a pawl gear coupled to the actuator, and a wheel gear plate. The braking system may further include a brake pad, an outer wheel coupled to the brake pad, and a spring washer plate configured to press the wheel gear plate against the brake pad such that the wheel gear plate is configured to inhibit rotation of the outer wheel through friction between the wheel gear plate and the brake pad when the pawl gear inhibits rotation of the wheel gear plate. In some embodiments, the braking system may further include a sensor and the actuator may be triggered to actuate the pawl gear in response to signals from the sensor.

Claims

1. A braking system for a console, comprising:

an actuator;

a wheel gear plate, wherein the actuator is configured to interact with the wheel gear plate to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate;

a brake pad;

an outer wheel coupled to the brake pad; and

a spring washer plate configured to press the wheel gear plate against the brake pad;

a pawl gear, wherein the actuator is configured to interact with the wheel gear plate to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate through the pawl gear, wherein the actuator is coupled to the pawl gear through a plunger rod;

wherein the outer wheel is coupled to the console through a rotatable stud connection and wherein the plunger rod passes through the stud connection such that the outer wheel is configured to rotate both about a first axis of rotation that is collinear with the plunger rod and rotate about a second axis of rotation that is offset from and rotated approximately 90 degrees from a plunger rod centerline;

wherein the wheel gear plate is configured to inhibit rotation of the outer wheel through friction between the wheel gear plate and the brake pad when the actuator inhibits rotation of the wheel gear plate.

2. The braking system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a bi-stable solenoid.

3. The braking system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor located on a handle of the console, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a touch from a human user.

4. The braking system of claim 3, wherein the actuator is triggered to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate at least partially in response to a signal from the at least one sensor.

5. The braking system of claim 4, wherein the actuator is configured to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate unless a touch is being detected through the at least one sensor.

6. The braking system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor is a field effect or capacitive sensor.

7. The braking system of claim 1, wherein the spring washer plate is attached to the outer wheel.

8. The braking system of claim 1, further comprising a manual lever coupled to the pawl gear and accessible to a user of the console, such that a user of the console can manually actuate the pawl gear to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate through the manual lever independent of the actuator.

9. A method for braking a console, comprising:

moving an actuator to interact with a wheel gear plate, wherein interaction between the actuator and the wheel gear plate inhibits rotation of the wheel gear plate and wherein the wheel gear plate is configured to inhibit rotation of an outer wheel through friction between the wheel gear plate and a brake pad coupled to the outer wheel when the actuator inhibits rotation of the wheel gear plate;

receiving a user input indicating the user is about to move the console; and

moving the actuator to disengage braking on the wheel gear plate;

wherein moving the actuator to interact with a wheel gear plate comprises the actuator moving a pawl gear to interact with the wheel gear plate, wherein the actuator is coupled to the pawl gear through a plunger rod;

wherein the outer wheel is coupled to the console through a rotatable stud connection and wherein the plunger rod passes through the stud connection such that the outer wheel is configured to rotate both about a first axis of rotation that is collinear with the plunger rod and rotate about a second axis of rotation that is offset from and rotated approximately 90 degrees from a plunger rod centerline.

10. The method for braking a console of claim 9, wherein receiving user input comprises detecting user contact with at least one sensor on the console.

11. The method for braking a console of claim 9, further comprising receiving an indication to stop the console.

12. The method for braking a console of claim 11, wherein receiving an indication to stop the console comprises not detecting user contact with a sensor on the console.

13. The method for braking a console of claim 10, wherein the actuator is triggered to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate at least partially in response to signals from the at least one sensor.

14. The method for braking a console of claim 13, wherein the actuator is configured to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate unless a touch is being detected through the at least one sensor.

15. The method for braking a console of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor is a field effect or capacitive sensor.

16. The method for braking a console of claim 9, wherein a spring washer plate is configured to press the wheel gear plate against the brake pad and wherein the spring washer plate is attached to the outer wheel.

17. A braking system for a console, comprising:

an actuator;

a pawl gear coupled to the actuator;

a wheel gear plate, wherein the pawl gear is configured to interact with the wheel gear plate to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate;

a brake pad coupled to the wheel gear plate;

an outer wheel; and

a spring washer plate configured to press the wheel gear plate against the outer wheel;

at least one sensor located on a handle of the console, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a touch from a human user, and wherein the actuator is triggered to inhibit rotation of the wheel gear plate at least partially in response to a signal from the at least one sensor;

wherein the wheel gear plate is configured to inhibit rotation of the outer wheel through friction between the brake pad and the outer wheel when the pawl gear inhibits rotation of the wheel gear plate;

wherein the actuator is coupled to the pawl gear through a plunger rod;

wherein the outer wheel is coupled to the console through a rotatable stud connection and wherein the plunger rod passes through the stud connection such that the outer wheel is configured to rotate both about a first axis of rotation that is collinear with the plunger rod and rotate about a second axis of rotation that is offset from and rotated approximately 90 degrees from a plunger rod centerline.