Actuation mechanism for casters

Abstract

An actuation mechanism assembly comprising a pin (2), a load bearing member (3) and a caster wheel (4), wherein the inner portion of the pin (2) comprises a cam mechanism (8), the cam mechanism (6) comprising a plurality of cams (6a, 6b, 6c), wherein at least one cam from the plurality of cams (6a, 6b, 6c) is in contact with at least one lifting member (8), wherein the at least one lifting member (8) is in contact with at least one locking lever (9), wherein the at least one locking lever (9) is in contact with at least one pawl (10), wherein the at least one lifting member (8) or locking lever (9) is restrained by at least one spring (11).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] One technical solution describes an actuation mechanism for casters, which actuation mechanism brakes and positions the casters by means of a cam mechanism, which uses a minimum force generated on the brake lever or brake bar to achieve the braking of the casters. The proposed technical solution also facilitates easy handling of the casters of patient support equipment in healthcare and nursing facilities, which uses a minimum force generated by nursing staff or an electronic caster braking system if the electronic caster braking system is used for braking of the casters of the patient support equipment. Another positive aspect of the technical solution is a significant reduction in the noise level of the casters on the patient support equipment. BACKGROUND

[0002] The technical solution described herein focuses on the actuation and control of casters used with beds, in particular patient support equipment in hospitals, healthcare and nursing facilities or environments. The aforementioned bed has four and more casters or guide wheels fixed to the base frame, which can be turned around a horizontal axis and a vertical axis to move the bed from one place to another and are equipped with brakes to fix the casters in the desired position and move the bed in the desired direction.

[0003] Patient support equipment known in the prior art in principle has four standard casters, which can be equipped with an independent system for locking (preventing) the rotation of the caster, which is located inside the caster, or is controlled locally at each individual caster, or has a centralized system for locking all casters at once. The disadvantage of the aforementioned systems for locking and / or rotation is that they generate too large or too small a locking force and / or braking force to actuate the casters, which causes damage to the casters or insufficient locking and / or braking of the casters. These types of casters are rotated towards the direction of travel and / or around a vertical axis and / or horizontally around a fixed axis.

[0004] The aforementioned prior art is disclosed in patent US8789662B2. In this technical solution, all casters are braked and, in the neutral mode and with the release of the brakes, all casters are rotated around a vertical axis, which means that all casters can be turned to different lateral sides. However, in addition to left and right turns, each patient support equipment also needs to be guided towards the direction of travel, in which case this is also provided by a large double wheel actuated by a motor. Therefore, the disadvantage of this technical solution is the need for another pair of casters to guide the patient support equipment to the desired direction of travel. This is economically demanding, in addition, the additional wheels with actuation systems needed to maneuver and brake the wheels of the patient support equipment increase the weight of the patient support equipment. Therefore, the patient support equipment is heavier, more expensive and more complex to produce.

[0005] The prior art also discloses beds or wheeled devices, such as trolleys, strollers, chairs, stretchers, etc., which have a combined castor with only horizontal rotation and a castor with horizontal and vertical rotation. If a patient support device is equipped with castors that can all be rotated horizontally and vertically, the question arises of how to correctly direct such a patient support device into the desired direction of travel. Such a patient support device needs to have at least one of the castors as an orientation castor, which is achieved by using a separate locking mechanism located on the castor for horizontal rotation only in the direction of travel. The locking mechanism locks (or prevents) the rotation of such a castor around the vertical axis of the castor. The locking mechanism can be in the form of a separate lever or a control member fixed to the castor to lock the direction of travel. Such a locking mechanism complicates the structure of the castor, and in addition, requires the use of a lever or control member at all times to directly lock the direction of travel on the castor. Alternatively, such a lever or control member for locking the direction of travel can be integrated into the castor itself, which is complex and economically demanding. Most often, such an integrated lever or control member is smaller than a brake lever, so the caregiver needs to bend down to the castor and manually set the lever, which is not user-friendly. Sometimes the caregiver needs to exert more force to push the lever, and sometimes it is even difficult to do so with the foot.

[0006] Another disadvantage of this type of castor is that the castor has only a single simple cam, which actuates (controls) only one control pin or lever of the castor brake system, and to set the direction of travel, the castor needs to be equipped with the separate locking system described above. The system of the internal arrangement of the brake and orientation mechanism of these castors is quite bulky, needs to be actuated by two forces, which brings the risk of improper use and poor handling of these forces and a high failure rate. In addition, the double structure of such a brake and orientation mechanism does not comply with the standard dimensions for fixing the pin of the castor, which results in an additional few centimeters of the minimum safe height of the patient support device from the ground, which can thus increase the risk of a patient falling.

[0007] The risk of a patient falling from any type of patient support device is a serious problem that must be addressed. Falling in hospital facilities and especially in care facilities and environments represents the most dangerous unpredictable event, which leads to complications in treatment and prolongs the painful health condition of the patient and consequently the treatment period. For these reasons, falling is very undesirable.

[0008] To avoid accidental falling from a patient support device with a higher lower frame position due to large castors, it is recommended to use a patient support device with a lower safe position due to the smaller height of the castors used. When using the castors with a belt brake disclosed in the international patent application PCT / CZ2021 / 000017 filed by the same applicant, the height of the castors can be significantly reduced, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0009] In principle, casters used in connection with patient support equipment in healthcare and nursing facilities and environments should meet the following necessary requirements for operating patient support equipment: The casters should move independently, i.e. the casters can rotate freely around vertical and horizontal axes; the casters need to have a brake, i.e. a mechanism that locks the caster for rotation around the horizontal axis. Since the casters can also rotate around the vertical axis, it is necessary to provide such casters with a mechanism for locking the direction, i.e. a mechanism that locks the rotation around the vertical axis and directs the caster to the direction of travel.

[0010] Another method of locking the caster is called full locking, when the rotation of the caster relative to the vertical and horizontal axes is locked.

[0011] All standard positions of the caster are actuated by a central caster control system pedal (or lever). The central caster control system pedal or a single pedal on a single caster can actuate the individual positions of the caster, such as "travel (or drive)", "brake" and "lock". The position "travel" means that all casters are centrally actuated or that each individual caster is set in the travel (drive) position. The position "brake" indicates that most or all casters are set to the full locking position by means of the central caster control system pedal. The position "lock" means that one or two casters are set to the direction locking position by the central caster control system or a single pedal and the other casters are in the travel position.

[0012] All of the above positions are currently solved in such a way that the internal structure of the caster comprises a cam with three positions. This solution is disclosed in US patent No. 7506404 B2 of TENTE GmbH. However, this caster with an internal actuation system has several disadvantages. A cam inside the caster is difficult to optimize in terms of its function, i.e. different ways of use. The brake of the caster is done by friction, when the cam force pushes the brake block into the belt and the release of the brake is done due to the spring force. For locking the rotation around the vertical axis, a lifting member is used, but often the teeth of one locking disc hit the other disc, which leads to the fact that this mechanism is damaged after a certain period of time. When using one cam, it is technically not possible to design the shape of the cam in such a way that the central caster control system pedal or the caster pedal is in the defined positions "travel", "brake" and "lock". In the standard mechanism, the pedal is always in place when the central caster control system opening state function is not obvious. Another disadvantage of this type of caster is that due to the fact that a lot of force is generated on the mechanism, the caster needs to be designed and manufactured from rigid metal materials, which leads to the fact that the caster is very noisy.

[0013] In the case of casters used together with patient support equipment in healthcare and care facilities and environments, it is important for the care staff to have central actuation (control) of the casters, not separate actuation pedals (or levers) located on the individual casters. Therefore, systems are often used which have, for example, three casters with three positions (fully locked, forward travel, backward travel) and one caster with three positions such as fully locked, travel and direction lock. The prior art also discloses different caster arrangements in which the type of one cam in the pin is changed while the other mechanisms remain the same. SUMMARY

[0014] The above-mentioned main deficiencies of the known prior art caster actuation solutions are solved by the proposed technical solution for the actuation mechanism of the caster, which comprises a brake mechanism and a direction mechanism to lock the caster in the direction of travel and to lock the rotation of the caster around the vertical axis, where both mechanisms are part of the standard pin used to fix the caster. The system simplifies the caster structure and reduces the overall height of the caster, thereby also reducing the minimum possible safety height of the patient support equipment. The proposed solution enables the use of the brake mechanism and the direction mechanism with the application of minimal force to actuate the caster. Due to the use of minimal actuation force, the noise level of the caster is also reduced, as the separate parts and components can be made of plastic material.

[0015] The proposed technical solution also eliminates the deficiencies associated with the position of the actuation pedal or central caster pedal of the caster on the chassis of the patient support equipment. The proposed solution optimizes the position of the actuation pedal so that the position where the pedal is located is completely unambiguous, i.e. in the "travel", "brake" or "lock" position.

[0016] The proposed technical solution discloses a patient support equipment comprising a patient surface platform, an upper frame, a lifting mechanism, a bottom frame, a plurality of casters fixed to the bottom frame by a pin, and an actuation pedal fixed to the pin of the caster. The actuation pedal actuates the position of the caster, such as the brake position, the neutral mode and the direction travel position. Each caster comprises a cam mechanism with a plurality of switch mechanisms for actuating and changing the individual positions of the caster.

[0017] The aforementioned fundamental shortcomings of existing standard braking and steering mechanisms are addressed by the actuation mechanism for casters disclosed herein. Casters are primarily used with patient support equipment in healthcare and nursing facilities and environments. Optionally, such casters can be used with any type of furniture requiring movement from point A to point B. The proposed actuation mechanism for casters actuates the casters in multiple positions and can also be used with casters including band brakes, as disclosed in the same applicant's international patent application PCT / CZ2021 / 000017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The proposed actuation mechanism for casters is preferably designed for casters with internal braking teeth or pawls (ratchets).

[0018] The proposed actuation mechanism for a caster with an internal braking tooth includes a pin that positions the internal actuation mechanism of the caster, a bearing, and a cover that serves as a load-bearing member (e.g., a fork) for the caster. The bearing, which allows the caster to rotate freely about the pin, is positioned between the pin and the load-bearing member. In another embodiment, a caster with a band brake can be fixed to the load-bearing member, as disclosed in the international patent application PCT / CZ2021 / 000017 filed by the same applicant, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0019] The caster pin includes the entire internal actuation mechanism, as described above, which includes a cam mechanism for actuating the position of the actuation pedal of the caster (movement of the caster, braking of the caster, and orientation of the caster, i.e., rotation about the vertical axis of the caster). The pin also includes multiple interlocking lifting members, multiple locking levers, preferably three locking levers, multiple pawls (ratchets) engaging springs, and preferably four springs, wherein each locking lever has its own spring.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the cam mechanism for the independent position of the actuating caster is designed and constructed as disclosed below. The entire cam mechanism is located inside the caster pin. The cam mechanism includes multiple cams, preferably of three types: cam A is a cam for the position of the caster's actuating pedal, i.e., this cam holds the actuating pedal in one of the three positions defined above; cam B is a cam for the direction of the caster, i.e., this cam engages or releases the directional lock; and cam C is a cam for braking the caster and simultaneously acts as a vertical brake for the caster, i.e., this cam brakes the caster. The caster pin also includes multiple interlocking lifting members that contact cams A, B, and C. Depending on the type of cam, each cam contacts one lifting member. The first cam A (the cam for the position of the caster's actuating pedal) contacts the lifting member for the position of the actuating pedal, with a spring located below the actuating pedal. Cam A actuates the position of the caster's actuating pedal by means of a backstop of the actuating pedal resting on cam A. The second cam B (the cam for the caster's direction) contacts the caster's lifting member, the caster's locking lever, the caster's pawl, and the caster's spring, which is positioned between the load-bearing member and the caster's locking lever. The third cam C (the cam for braking the caster and simultaneously the caster's vertical brake) contacts the brake's lifting member, actuating both the caster's brake locking lever and the caster's vertical brake locking lever. Both of these locking levers engage the caster's brake pawl and the caster's vertical brake pawl, and are limited / limited by the caster's brake spring and the caster's vertical brake spring. The caster's brake spring and the caster's vertical brake spring also actuate the caster's brake locking lever and the caster's vertical brake locking lever.

[0021] When producing casters according to the proposed solution, each caster is always equipped with the same cams, which in this preferred embodiment are three cams. However, those skilled in the art can assemble cam mechanisms with two or more structurally different cams, which would be able to actuate the casters by means of a lifting member, a locking lever, and a pawl.

[0022] In another embodiment, the proposed cam mechanism can also be used with casters having band brakes, as disclosed in the same applicant's international patent application PCT / CZ2021 / 000017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Using this type of caster allows the height of the patient support device to be lowered to a safe position as low as possible while maintaining the caster's standard dimensions, and enables other movements of the caster that cannot be achieved with a band brake, such as movement about a vertical axis of rotation.

[0023] In another embodiment, the bidirectional band brake caster includes a caster braking mechanism partially located inside the inner space of the caster pin and partially located inside the inner space of the caster. The braking mechanism is fixed to a lateral edge of the load-bearing member, to which the bidirectional band brake system of the caster is attached. The caster pin also includes a vertical axis pivot that allows the caster to rotate about its vertical axis. The load-bearing member is fixed to the vertical axis pivot. The fork includes a guide rod of the yoke and a spring support located below the guide rod of the yoke. A lever of the spring support engages with the yoke at least at one point, and this lever of the spring support is fixed to the load-bearing member and contacts the control member of the caster at one point. Alternatively, in another embodiment, a cam-driven lever engages with the yoke inside the pin above the load-bearing member, wherein a bearing for movement of the caster about the pin is located between the pin and the load-bearing member, such that the caster with the band brake can function as both a standard caster and a guide caster. In a preferred embodiment, the yoke is a unit having a plurality of anchor points. In another embodiment, the yoke includes at least two arms for securing the yoke and at least two arms for securing the brake band. Each arm of the yoke includes at least one anchor point, preferably two anchor points at each arm that is T-shaped, or protruding from the arm of the yoke to each side to form a pair of protrusions.

[0024] Changes in the yoke position significantly affect the braking of a two-way band brake. When the lever on the yoke is released, the brake band contracts around the brake drum by means of a spring. During the first phase, the spring does not generate sufficient force to brake the caster's brake drum. When the lever is released onto the yoke, the yoke tilts according to the caster's rotation direction and rests against the guide rod of the yoke, thus generating force according to the lever ratio, causing the brake band to contract around the brake drum, and the caster to brake. Due to the symmetry of the yoke, its position can be changed. By changing the direction of the yoke to the other side, the caster can also be braked during travel in the opposite direction. When the lever is pressed onto the yoke, the anchor point is closer to the center of the caster, and the brake band around the brake drum is released, which allows the caster to be released from braking (unbrake), and the caster can then move freely in both rotational directions.

[0025] Because of this proposed solution, regarding the cam mechanism, there is no need to change the cam mechanism within the pin. If the caster's function needs to be changed, simply altering the number of locking levers and pawls (or ratchet wheels) is sufficient. Changing the number of locking levers and pawls below the caster pin, while keeping the cam mechanism inside the pin unchanged, leads to reduced production costs and faster production time. Currently, standard casters are equipped with different pins and different cams, which results in high production costs because many different pins are produced, each with a different cam mechanism for a different function of the caster.

[0026] As mentioned above, another advantage of this solution is that the casters run more quietly due to the reduced force applied to the actuating casters or central caster control system, and it can also use electric motors such as the lowest power servo motor (servo drive) and other electric motors with the lowest voltage to electronically actuate the casters to optimize motor output. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 A side view of a caster with internal teeth and pins attached to a load-bearing component (e.g., a fork) is shown.

[0028] Figure 2 The axle-side projection of a caster having internal teeth, a load-bearing component (e.g., a fork), and a portion of a cam mechanism is shown in detail.

[0029] Figure 3 The axial projection of the cam mechanism is shown.

[0030] Figure 4 A side view shows a portion of the cam mechanism and the internal actuator of the braking system of a caster with internal teeth located in a pin.

[0031] Figure 5 An axonal projection of the internal arrangement of a cam mechanism for a braking system with casters having internal teeth is shown.

[0032] Figure 6 The dynamic scheme of the internal arrangement of a caster with internal teeth is shown.

[0033] Figure 7 A side view of a braking system for a caster with a band brake, pin, and lever is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Figure 1 A caster 4 with internal teeth 15 is shown. This caster is preferably used with wheeled equipment, such as trolleys, stretchers, patient support equipment, beds, tables, bedside tables, bar counters, and similar types of furniture that need to be transported from one place A to another place B.

[0035] Figure 1A side view of a caster 4 with internal teeth 15 is shown, which is fixed to a support member 3 (e.g., a fork) in the middle of the caster by means of a retaining pin 14 (not shown) passing through an opening 13. The retaining pin 14 for fixing the caster 4 to the support member 3 can be a screw, rivet, or any other type of pin. The support member 3, having a vertical axis of rotation, is connected to a bearing 5, which is attached to the pin 2. The side view of the pin 2 shows a hexagonal opening 16 for fixing an actuating pedal 1 (not shown). This opening 16 is also an opening for the cam mechanism 6. In another embodiment, a caster 17 with a bidirectional belt actuator can be fixed to the support member 3 through the opening 13 to be fixed by means of the retaining pin 14, see details. Figure 7 .

[0036] The proposed solution discloses a cam mechanism 6 comprising a hexagonal opening 16, similar to those of simple cams of other known types in standard design. The proposed cam mechanism 6 includes a cam 6a for actuating the pedal position, a cam 6b for the caster direction, and a cam 6c for braking the caster and serving as a vertical brake for the caster. Due to the use of this cam mechanism 6, the overall braking system of the caster 4 achieves good quality with lower requirements for deployment force and lower friction.

[0037] Figure 2 The axle-side projection of caster 4 is shown in detail, illustrating a caster 4 with internal teeth 15. This caster 4 includes three locking levers 9: a locking lever 9b for the caster's direction, a locking lever 9c for the caster's brake, and a locking lever 9d for the caster's vertical brake. These locking levers are located under the cover of the bearing 5 of the connecting pin 2 of the bearing member 3. The entire cam mechanism 6 is located within the pin 2 (partially shown). The cam mechanism 6 includes a cam 6a for actuating the pedal position, a cam 6b for the caster's direction, and a cam 6c for braking the caster and also serves as the caster's vertical brake. Figure 2 Also shown is a support member 3, which includes an opening 13 for securing the caster, a pawl 10b for the caster's orientation, and a mechanism for interlocking lifting members 8a, 8b, and 8c (not shown) located above the support member inside pin 2. A bearing 5 is located above the pawl 10b for the caster's orientation, and pin 2 for securing the caster to the frame of the patient support device and attaching the actuating pedal 1 (not shown) is located above bearing 5. A cam mechanism 6 is located in the upper portion of pin 2; however, for clarity, the cam mechanism 6 is disclosed separately in [the following section / section / etc.]. Figure 3 middle.

[0038] Figure 3 The axial projection of the cam mechanism 6 is shown. The cam mechanism 6 is located in the upper part of the pin 2 of the caster 4 and is part of the internal actuation mechanism that actuates the caster 4 in all the following positions: the rotation, braking and travel directions of the caster 4 about the vertical rotation axis and the horizontal rotation axis.Figure 3 The cam mechanism 6 is shown to have a cylindrical shape with a hollow interior, including an opening for actuating the pedal 16. This opening is parallel and simultaneously hexagonal in shape. For better observation, the cam mechanism 6 is rotated with its bottom side facing upwards, allowing the individual sections of the cam mechanism 6 to be seen.

[0039] The cam mechanism 6 is divided into two parts to better assemble it into the pin 2. The first part is a cylinder having at least one toothed side, forming the actuating portion of the cam for actuating the position of the pedal 6a. The second part fits into the middle portion of the cylinder of the cam 6a for actuating the pedal position. The middle portion is a rectangular cutout so that the second part can be set on the cylindrical portion of the cam 6a for actuating the pedal position to create a component, namely the cam mechanism 6. The shape of the second part is two outer waveforms and one inner waveform. Figure 3 The waveforms are shown in an axial projection visible from above. Two outer waveforms form a cam 6c for braking the caster and is a vertical brake for the caster, while an inner waveform forms a cam 6b for directional control of the caster. In another embodiment, the second part of the cam mechanism 6 includes teeth of different shapes. Optionally, the cam mechanism 6 may be made of a single piece of plastic material, metal, or a metal alloy.

[0040] Figure 4 The components of caster 4 are shown, including pin 2 (not shown), bearing 5 (not shown), and load-bearing member 3 (not shown). Figure 4 The internal structure of pin 2, including cam mechanism 6, is shown in part, Figure 4 A cam 6b for directional control of the caster is shown, the cam 6b including an internal waveform of a cam mechanism 6, and a cam 6c for braking the caster and acting as a vertical brake for the caster, the cam 6c including an external waveform of the cam mechanism 6. The cam mechanism 6 contacts a lifting member 8, wherein... Figure 4 The diagram shows the lifting member 8b for the caster's direction and the lifting member 8c for the caster's brake and vertical brake. Additionally, the pin 2 includes a spring 11a for actuating the pedal position, which... Figure 5The lifting member 8a of the actuation pedal position shown is in contact. Simultaneously, the spring 11a of the actuation pedal position contacts the pin 2 at one end and the lifting member 8a of the actuation pedal position (not shown) at the other end. The pawl 10d of the caster's vertical brake includes a ring gear (gear ring) with teeth at its bottom edge, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the locking lever 9d of the caster's vertical brake and the teeth of the locking lever 9b of the caster's directional brake. The locking lever 9d of the caster's vertical brake and the locking lever 9b of the caster's directional brake are interlocked at at least one point, wherein they are simultaneously in parallel contact with the third locking lever 9c of the caster's brake. The pawl 10c of the caster's brake engages with the locking lever 9c of the caster's brake, wherein the ratchet 10c of the caster's brake is the internal tooth 15 of the caster.

[0041] Figure 5 An axonal projection of a portion of the internal arrangement of the cam mechanism 6 with the actuation mechanism of the casters 4 is shown. Figure 5 Only the portion of the cam mechanism 6 that actuates the actuating pedal is shown, namely the cam 6a for actuating the pedal position, which rests against a toothed lifting member 8a for actuating the pedal position, which has a rack-like shape (toothed tower). The lifting member 8a for actuating the pedal position includes two other interlocking lifting members: a lifting member 8b for the caster's direction and a lifting member 8c (not shown) for the caster's brake and vertical brake. The cam 6a for actuating the pedal position and the lifting member 8a for actuating the pedal position contact and engage the backstop 12 of the actual pedal (not shown here). The spring 11a for actuating the pedal position contacts the lifting member 8a for actuating the pedal position. All lifting members 8 are interlocked and in contact with the cam mechanism 6, namely the cam 6a for the caster's position, the cam 6b for direction, and the cam 6c for braking and acting as a vertical brake. All lifting members 8, namely lifting members 8a, 8b, and 8c, are coaxially located in pin 2. The pawl 10d of the caster's vertical brake includes a ring gear with teeth at its bottom edge, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the locking lever 9d of the caster's vertical brake and the teeth of the locking lever 9b of the caster's directional brake. The pawl 10c of the caster's brake engages the locking lever 9c of the caster's brake, wherein the ratchet 10c of the caster's brake is an internal tooth 15 of the caster.

[0042] Figure 6 The kinematic scheme of the entire cam mechanism 6 is shown. Figure 6 The diagram shows three independent cams of the cam mechanism 6, which actuate the caster 4 to independent positions. Figure 6A cross-sectional view of pin 2 is shown, in which a cam 6a for actuating the pedal position, a cam 6b for the caster direction, and a cam 6c for braking the caster and serving as a vertical brake for the caster are located. Pin 2 also includes interlocking lifting members 8 such that the lifting member 8a for actuating the pedal position contacts the cam 6a for actuating the pedal position, the lifting member 8b for the caster direction contacts the cam 6b for the caster direction, and the lifting member 8c for the caster brake and vertical brake contacts the cam 6c for braking and serving as a vertical brake for the caster. Figure 6 The pin 2 is clearly shown to be connected to the load-bearing member 3, and the bearing 5 is located between the load-bearing member 3 and the pin 2. A caster 4 with internal teeth is attached to the load-bearing member 3, wherein the teeth of the caster simultaneously serve as the caster's braking pawl 10c. In another embodiment, a caster 17 with a bidirectional band brake may be attached to the load-bearing member 3.

[0043] The first cam 6a for positioning the actuating pedal is actuated by a lifting member 8a for positioning the actuating pedal, with a spring 11a for positioning the actuating pedal located below this lifting member 8a. The spring 11a for positioning the actuating pedal lifts the lifting member 8a, which rests against the cam 6a for positioning the actuating pedal and locks the position of the actuating pedal 1 (not shown). The cam 6a for positioning the actuating pedal also rests at its edge against a backstop 12 of the actuating pedal. The backstop 12 is located above the cam mechanism 6 in the pin 2, and the position of the actuating pedal 1 is limited by this backstop (not shown). The second cam 6b for the direction of the caster actuates a locking lever 9b for the direction of the caster via the lifting member 8b for the direction of the caster. The locking lever 9b of the caster direction contacts the pivot 7, and the distance between the locked and released positions of the pawl 10b of the caster direction, i.e., the locking and releasing mode of the caster direction, is limited by the spring 11b of the caster direction, which is located below the locking lever 9b of the caster direction. The third cam 6c, which is the vertical brake of the caster, actuates the locking lever 9c of the caster brake and the locking lever 9d of the vertical brake of the caster by means of the caster brake and the lifting member 8c of the vertical brake. Both levers 9c and 9d are in contact with the pivot 7, with the locking lever 9d of the vertical brake of the caster at the same level as the pivot 7, and the same is true for the locking lever 9b of the caster direction, where the locking lever 9d of the vertical brake of the caster is limited by the spring 11d of the vertical brake of the caster. The locking lever 9c of the caster brake contacts the pivot 7, and the lever 9c is limited by the spring 11c of the caster brake.

[0044] Figure 7 The braking mechanism is shown in the side view. Figure 7The diagram shows a pin 2 including a cam mechanism 6, which includes a cam 6a for actuating the pedal position, a cam 6b for the caster direction, and a cam 6c for braking the caster and serving as a vertical brake for the caster. The internal arrangement of the pin 2 is the same as in all previous figures. A bearing 5 is fixed to the pin 2, and a load-bearing member 3 with a cover is located below the bearing 5. Locking levers 9, namely, the locking lever 9b for the caster direction, the locking lever 9c for the caster brake, and the locking lever 9d for the caster vertical brake, are located within the cover. A caster 17 with a bidirectional band brake is fixed to the load-bearing member 3. The internal portion of the caster 17 with the bidirectional band brake includes an inner brake drum 18, a yoke 19 with an anchor point 21 for fixing a brake band 20, and a band brake 20 fixed to the anchor point 21 of the yoke 19 by a lug 22. The locking lever 9c of the caster brake rests on the yoke 19 and is actuated by the cam 6c for braking and serving as a vertical brake for the caster. When the locking lever 9c of the caster's brake rests against the yoke 19, the brake band 20 surrounding the brake drum 18 is released, thereby releasing the caster 17 with the bidirectional band brake. In this case, the yoke 19 is in the same plane as the axis of rotation, and the caster 17 with the bidirectional band brake is released.

[0045] Braking of the caster 17 with a bidirectional band brake occurs when the locking lever 9c of the caster's brake releases its pressure on the yoke 19, thereby changing the position of the yoke 19. The release of the lever force generated on the yoke 19 causes a change in position via a spring member 25 (not shown) below the yoke, thereby causing the brake band 20 to contract around the brake drum 18 of the caster 17 with the bidirectional band brake. When the caster moves in the first stage, the spring member 25 below the yoke does not generate sufficient force to brake the brake drum 18 of the caster. At the moment the locking lever 9c of the caster's brake releases onto the yoke 19, the yoke 19 tilts according to the direction of rotation of the caster 17 with the bidirectional band brake and rests against the guide rod 23 of the yoke, thus generating a force that causes the brake band 20 to contract around the brake drum 18, which brakes the caster 17 with the bidirectional band brake. The change in position of the yoke 19 is achieved through the symmetry of the yoke 19, whereby the yoke 19 changes position to the opposite direction of travel. The brake drum 18 of the caster 17 with a bidirectional band brake can be braked even during the opposite direction of travel by changing the position of the yoke 19 to the opposite side.

[0046] List of reference numerals

[0047] 1) Brake pedal (not shown) for the caster wheel

[0048] 2) Sales

[0049] 3) Fork (load-bearing component)

[0050] 4) Casters (with internal teeth)

[0051] 5) Bearings

[0052] 6) Cam mechanism

[0053] 6a) Cam for the position of the actuating pedal

[0054] 6b) Cam for caster direction

[0055] 6c) A cam used to brake the caster and is the vertical brake of the caster. 7) A pivot.

[0056] 8) Lifting components

[0057] 8a) Lifting member for the position of the actuation pedal

[0058] 8b) Lifting mechanism for the direction of the casters

[0059] 8c) Caster brakes and lifting components of the vertical brakes of the casters 9) Locking levers

[0060] 9b) Caster direction locking lever

[0061] 9c) Locking lever of caster brake

[0062] 9d) Locking lever of the vertical brake of the caster

[0063] 10) Pawl (ratchet)

[0064] 10b) Pawls in the direction of the casters

[0065] 10c) Pawl of the caster brake

[0066] 10d) Pawl of the vertical brake of the caster

[0067] 11) Spring

[0068] 11a) Spring for actuating pedal position

[0069] 11b) Caster direction spring

[0070] 10d) Caster wheel brake spring

[0071] 11d) Spring of the vertical brake of the caster

[0072] 12 (of the actuating pedal) backstop

[0073] 13 (Opening for securing casters)

[0074] 14) (Cast wheel) Retaining pin, not shown

[0075] 15) Internal teeth of (caster)

[0076] 16) Opening for actuating the pedal

[0077] 17) Casters with two-way band brakes

[0078] 18) Brake drum

[0079] 19)Yoke part

[0080] 20) Brake band (for bidirectional band brakes)

[0081] 21) Anchor points (a, b, c, d)

[0082] 22 (for securing the brake band) lug

[0083] 23) Guide rod of the yoke (with two openings)

[0084] 24) Yoke support (not shown)

[0085] 25) Spring member below the yoke (not shown)

[0086] 26) Yoke arm (not shown)

Claims

1. An actuation mechanism assembly for a caster (4), comprising a pin (2) and a load-bearing member (3), characterized in that, The internal portion of the pin (2) includes a cam mechanism (6), which includes a cam (6a) for actuating the position of the pedal, a cam (6b) for the direction of the caster, and a cam (6c) for braking the caster and serving as a vertical brake for the caster. At least one cam (6a, 6b, 6c) is in contact with at least one of the three lifting members (8), at least one of the lifting members (8) is in contact with at least one of the three locking levers (9), at least one of the locking levers (9) is in contact with at least one of the three pawls (10), and at least some of the lifting members (8) or the locking levers (9) are limited by at least one spring (11).

2. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cam (6a) for the position of the actuating pedal contacts the lifting member (8a) of the actuating pedal position of the caster (4), and the lifting member (8a) of the actuating pedal position contacts the spring (11a) of the actuating pedal position.

3. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that, A cam (6b) for the direction of the caster contacts a lifting member (8b) for the direction of the caster, the lifting member (8b) for the direction of the caster contacts a locking lever (9b) for the direction of the caster, the locking lever (9b) for the direction of the caster rests on a pawl (10b) for the direction of the caster, wherein the locking lever (9b) for the direction of the caster is limited by a spring (11b) for the direction of the caster.

4. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cam (6c) for braking the caster and is the vertical brake of the caster contacts the brake of the caster and the lifting member (8c) of the vertical brake of the caster, and actuates the locking lever (9c) of the brake of the caster and the locking lever (9d) of the vertical brake of the caster.

5. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The locking lever (9c) of the caster brake rests against the pawl (10c) of the caster brake and is restricted by the spring (11c) of the caster brake.

6. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The locking lever (9d) of the vertical brake of the caster rests on the pawl (10d) of the vertical brake of the caster and is limited by the spring (11d) of the vertical brake of the caster.

7. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The spring (11a) for the position of the actuating pedal rests against the backstop (12) of the actuating pedal by means of the lifting member (8a) for the position of the actuating pedal and the cam (6a) for the position of the actuating pedal.

8. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cam mechanism (6) includes a cylinder with an inner slit, wherein at least one outer portion has a wave-like or protruding form that contacts at least one of the three lifting members (8).

9. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cam mechanism (6) comprises two parts, wherein at least a portion of the cam mechanism (6) includes a cam (6a) for actuating the position of the pedal, and at least a portion of the cam mechanism (6) includes a cam (6b) for the direction of the caster and a cam (6c) for braking the caster and serving as a vertical brake for the caster.

10. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cam (6c) for braking the caster and is the vertical brake of the caster contacts the brake of the caster and the lifting member (8c) of the vertical brake of the caster, and actuates the locking lever (9c) of the brake of the caster, which rests on the yoke (18) of the caster (17) having a bidirectional band brake.

11. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cam mechanism (6) comprises two parts, wherein the first part comprises a cylinder, at least a portion of which comprises teeth.

12. The actuation mechanism assembly for the caster (4) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The cam mechanism (6) comprises two parts, wherein the second part is fitted into the middle part of the first part of the cylinder, and the opposite sides include two waveforms.

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