Caster wheel with constant force mechanism
First Claim
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1. A wheel assembly for a material handling vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
a first caster wheel mounted to the chassis;
a second caster wheel mounted to the chassis;
a torsion bar coupling the first caster wheel to the second caster wheel;
a constant force mechanism coupled to at least one of the first caster wheel, the second caster wheel and the torsion bar;
the first caster wheel and the second caster wheel being displaceable in at least one dimension;
the constant force mechanism imparts a substantially constant force opposing a displacement of the first caster wheel and the second caster wheel in the at least one dimension; and
wherein the constant force mechanism includes a first resistance member oriented to resist a displacement along a first axis, and a second resistance member oriented to resist a displacement along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
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Abstract
A wheel assembly for a material handling vehicle includes a chassis, a first caster wheel mounted to the chassis, a second caster wheel mounted to the chassis, a torsion bar coupling the first caster wheel to the second caster wheel, and a constant force mechanism coupled to at least one of the first caster wheel, the second caster wheel and the torsion bar. The first and second caster wheels are displaceable in at least one dimension, and the constant force mechanism imparts a substantially constant force opposing a displacement in the at least one dimension.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wheel assembly for a material handling vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis; a first caster wheel mounted to the chassis; a second caster wheel mounted to the chassis; a torsion bar coupling the first caster wheel to the second caster wheel; a constant force mechanism coupled to at least one of the first caster wheel, the second caster wheel and the torsion bar; the first caster wheel and the second caster wheel being displaceable in at least one dimension; the constant force mechanism imparts a substantially constant force opposing a displacement of the first caster wheel and the second caster wheel in the at least one dimension; and wherein the constant force mechanism includes a first resistance member oriented to resist a displacement along a first axis, and a second resistance member oriented to resist a displacement along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wheel assembly for a material handling vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis; a first caster wheel mounted to the chassis, the first caster wheel including a first constant force mechanism; a second caster wheel mounted to the chassis, the second caster wheel including a second constant force mechanism; a torsion bar coupling the first caster wheel to the second caster wheel; the first caster wheel and the second caster wheel being displaceable in at least one dimension; the first constant force mechanism imparts a substantially constant force on the first caster wheel in the at least one dimension; the second constant force mechanism imparts a substantially constant force on the second caster wheel in the at least one dimension; and wherein at least one of the first and second constant force mechanisms includes a first resistance member oriented to resist a displacement along a first axis, and a second resistance member oriented to resist a displacement along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A material handling vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle chassis; a fork carriage coupled to the vehicle chassis; at least one lifting fork coupled to the fork carriage and displaceable in at least a first dimension; a first caster wheel mounted to the chassis; a second caster wheel mounted to the chassis; a drive wheel coupled to the vehicle chassis and positioned intermediate the first and second caster wheels; a torsion bar coupling the first caster wheel to the second caster wheel; a constant force mechanism coupled to at least one of the first caster wheel, the second caster wheel and the torsion bar; the first caster wheel and the second caster wheel being displaceable in at least one dimension; the constant force mechanism including a first resistance member oriented to resist a displacement along a first axis, and a second resistance member oriented to resist a displacement along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and the torsion bar transfers a torque between the first caster wheel and the second caster wheel for a displacement of constant force mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification