A tooling trolley based on an adjustable wheel set

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of tool trolley based on adjustable wheel group, including car body and at least three universal wheels rotationally arranged on car body, it is characterized in that, tool trolley further includes at least three for locking each universal wheel limiting device, wherein, limiting device includes: first fixed part, fixed on car body, first fixed part has first limiting hole on it;Second fixed part, fixed on universal wheel, second fixed part has multiple second limiting holes on it;Limiting piece, detachably inserted in first limiting hole and any second limiting hole, to make first fixed part and second fixed part relatively fixed, and make universal wheel lock in preset steering angle.The utility model solves the problem of single combination form of traditional tool trolley wheel group and insufficient flexibility in narrow space by adjustable wheel group structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of transportation equipment, specifically to a tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets. Background Technology

[0002] Tooling carts, as a common type of industrial transport equipment, are widely used in factories, warehouses, and repair shops for moving tools, parts, or materials. Traditional tooling carts are typically equipped with fixed sets of wheels to achieve basic movement functions, such as linear propulsion, turning, or rotation in place. The combination of these wheels directly affects the cart's flexibility and applicable scenarios.

[0003] In existing technologies, the moving wheel sets of tooling trolleys mainly adopt the following combination forms:

[0004] A combination of two omnidirectional wheels (coaxial) and two fixed wheels (coaxial): This configuration is suitable for scenarios where linear movement is the primary function and occasional turning is required. The omnidirectional wheels allow the vehicle to make small turns, while the fixed wheels provide stability for linear movement. However, this combination has limited steering flexibility and cannot achieve flexible movement in multiple dimensions.

[0005] The combination of four omnidirectional wheels: This configuration gives the vehicle omnidirectional mobility, supports multi-dimensional steering and U-turns, and is suitable for complex environments that require frequent changes of direction. However, four omnidirectional wheels may lack stability during straight-line movement, are prone to wobbling, and have lower control precision in small spaces.

[0006] The combination of four directional wheels: This configuration is specifically designed for directional movement on straight tracks or flat surfaces, and has high stability, but it has no steering function at all, making it extremely inconvenient when turning or adjusting the orientation.

[0007] In summary, the existing tooling trolleys described above have relatively simple forms and lack adaptability. Therefore, there is an urgent need in the field for a new type of tooling trolley to overcome the limitations of the existing wheel assembly combinations and enhance the trolley's adaptability and flexibility. Utility Model Content

[0008] To address at least one of the aforementioned problems in the prior art, this utility model provides a tooling trolley based on an adjustable wheel set, comprising a trolley body and at least three swivel casters rotatably mounted on the trolley body. The tooling trolley further includes at least three limiting devices for locking each swivel caster, wherein the limiting devices include:

[0009] The first fastener is fixed to the vehicle body and has a first limiting hole.

[0010] The second fastener is fixed to the caster wheel and has multiple second limiting holes.

[0011] The limiting member is detachably inserted into the first limiting hole and any second limiting hole to fix the first fixing member and the second fixing member relative to each other, and to lock the caster wheel at a preset steering angle.

[0012] This invention solves the problems of limited wheel combinations and insufficient flexibility in confined spaces in traditional tooling trolleys by using an adjustable wheel set structure. Specifically, each swivel wheel is equipped with an independent limiting device. Through the cooperation of the limiting device with the first limiting hole on the first fixing member and the second limiting hole on the second fixing member, the swivel wheel can be quickly locked at a preset steering angle, such as 90°. This allows the tooling trolley to flexibly switch between multiple wheel set modes, ensuring stability during straight-line movement while achieving multi-directional maneuverability in narrow environments.

[0013] Preferably, there are four casters, and the position and number of the limiting devices correspond to the number of casters.

[0014] Optionally, the number of casters may be three, five or more, and the position and number of the limiting devices may correspond to the number of casters.

[0015] Preferably, the limiting member is formed in the shape of a rod, and its horizontal cross-sectional dimension gradually decreases from top to bottom, and the inner diameter of the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole gradually decreases accordingly.

[0016] Preferably, the inner walls of the first and second limiting holes are provided with elastic positioning elements, which may be elastic pins. The outer wall of the limiting element is provided with a positioning groove that mates with the elastic positioning element. When the limiting element is inserted into the position, the elastic positioning element is engaged in the positioning groove. Furthermore, the limiting element is formed into a polygonal prism shape, and the shapes of the first and second limiting holes are adapted to it.

[0017] Optionally, the limiter may be made of stainless steel or chrome-plated carbon steel.

[0018] Optionally, the surface of the limiting component is provided with a friction-reducing coating, which may be a polytetrafluoroethylene coating or a Teflon coating.

[0019] Optionally, the vehicle body is provided with a receiving groove to accommodate the limiting component.

[0020] Optionally, the vehicle body is equipped with magnetic blocks that magnetically engage with the limiting components.

[0021] Optionally, the limiting device also includes a connector, with its two ends connected to the vehicle body and the limiting device, respectively.

[0022] Optionally, the connector can be any one of metal chain, nylon rope, or spring rope.

[0023] Preferably, there are multiple first limiting holes.

[0024] Preferably, there are four first limiting holes.

[0025] Preferably, multiple first limiting holes / multiple second limiting holes are evenly arranged along the circumference of the caster wheel.

[0026] Preferably, the angle between the line connecting the centers of two adjacent first limiting holes and the steering axis of the omnidirectional wheel is 90°.

[0027] Optionally, the tooling trolley also includes a first drive unit mounted on the vehicle body, which is connected to the omnidirectional wheel to drive the omnidirectional wheel to turn to a preset angle.

[0028] Optionally, the tooling trolley also includes a second drive unit, which is connected to the limiting member to allow the limiting member to be inserted into / out of the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole.

[0029] Optionally, the tooling trolley also includes an infrared sensor mounted on the vehicle body. The infrared sensor detects the relative position of the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole and is signal-connected to the first driving device and the second driving device.

[0030] Optionally, the tooling trolley also includes a control device, which is connected to the first drive device, the second drive device, and the infrared sensor signal to control the operation of the first drive device and the second drive device.

[0031] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0032] 1. Traditional tooling trolleys have fixed wheel configurations. For example, a four-swivel wheel configuration offers flexible steering but poor straight-line stability, while a two-swivel wheel and two-fixed wheel configuration limits the steering angle. This invention equips each swivel wheel with an independent limiting device. Through the cooperation of the limiting component with different second limiting holes, any swivel wheel can be independently locked at a preset angle, such as 90°. This allows the tooling trolley to be configured with multiple different wheel configurations. When the tooling trolley needs to operate in narrow passages, it can switch to the swivel wheel mode for flexible steering; when it needs to transport materials smoothly over long distances on straight tracks, it can switch to the fixed wheel mode. This enhances the adaptability and flexibility of the trolley.

[0033] 2. The limiting component in this utility model is designed as a rod-shaped structure with a certain taper, which cooperates with the limiting hole of the corresponding taper to achieve a tight fit between the two. Secondly, in an optional solution, an elastic positioning component is provided on the inner wall of the limiting hole, which cooperates with the positioning groove on the limiting component to prevent the limiting component from accidentally dislodging. The above features work together to reduce the amount of wobbling play in the universal wheel's steering locked state.

[0034] 3. This utility model automates the switching of wheel set modes for tooling trolleys through a first driving device, a second driving device, an infrared sensor, and a control device. The infrared sensor detects the relative position of the first and second limiting holes in real time and feeds the signal back to the control device. The control device coordinates the coordinated actions of the first driving device (driving the omnidirectional wheel to a preset angle) and the second driving device (driving the insertion and removal of the limiting member) to ensure that the limiting member is inserted only when the holes are fully aligned, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of wheel set mode switching. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the limiting device in this utility model;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a top view of the present invention.

[0039] List of reference numerals

[0040] 1. Vehicle body; 2. Casters; 3. Limiting device; 31. First fixing component; 32. Second fixing component; 33. Limiting component; 34. Connecting component; 35. Receiving groove. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] It should be noted that in the description of this utility model, terms such as "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," and "inner," indicating directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0043] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] As described in the background section, existing tooling trolleys are relatively simple in form and lack adaptability. Therefore, there is an urgent need in the art for a new type of tooling trolley to overcome the limitations of existing tooling trolley wheel assembly combinations and enhance the trolley's adaptability and flexibility.

[0045] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets, as described above. Figures 1-3 It includes a vehicle body 1, casters 2, a limiting device 3, and an automatic switching mechanism (not shown). The vehicle body 1 provides the main structural support for the tooling trolley, carries the transported goods, and houses various functional components. The casters 2 enable the tooling trolley to move and turn in any direction on the horizontal plane. The limiting device 3 locks the casters 2 at a preset specific angle to switch wheel sets, adapting to different movement needs in various scenarios. The automatic switching mechanism enables rapid switching of wheel sets.

[0046] Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1 The vehicle body 1 adopts a rectangular frame structure, which is welded together from crossbeams, longitudinal beams and supporting tripods. There are mounting seats at the four corners of the bottom of the vehicle body 1, which are used to install casters 2 and limiting devices 3.

[0047] It should be explained that the number and position of the mounting base, casters 2 and limiting device 3 are not unique. For example, as an optional embodiment, the vehicle body 1 adopts a triangular frame structure, and its bottom is pre-set with three mounting bases for mounting casters 2 and limiting device 3.

[0048] Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, there are four casters 2, and the mounting bracket of each caster 2 is connected to the aforementioned mounting bases via a steering shaft.

[0049] Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1 and Figure 2The limiting device 3 includes a first fixing member 31, a second fixing member 32, and a limiting member 33. The first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32 are respectively fixed to the vehicle body 1 and the omnidirectional wheel 2, and provide an insertion anchor point for the limiting member 33. The limiting member 33 interacts with the first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32 to achieve mechanical locking between the vehicle body 1 and the steering component of the omnidirectional wheel 2, thereby switching the wheel set mode of the tooling trolley.

[0050] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the first fixing member 31 is formed as a hollow square plate structure, specifically cut from a steel plate. Each first fixing member 31 is fitted onto the corresponding leg of the vehicle body 1 and fixed to the corresponding mounting seat at the bottom of the vehicle body 1 by four bolts. Even further, four semi-circular extension plates are integrally connected to the first fixing member 31, each extension plate having a first limiting hole, and the angle between the line connecting the centers of two adjacent first limiting holes and the steering axis of the omnidirectional wheel 2 is 90°.

[0051] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the second fixing member 32 is formed into an L-shaped plate structure. Two second fixing members 32 are provided and welded to both sides of the mounting bracket of the caster wheel 2. Even further, each second fixing member 32 has a second limiting hole. When the caster wheel 2 is at the default 0° turning angle, the two second limiting holes correspond to the aforementioned two first limiting holes. When the caster wheel 2 is at a 90° turning angle, the two second limiting holes correspond to the aforementioned other two first limiting holes.

[0052] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, reference is made to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The limiting member 33 is made of chrome-plated carbon steel and is formed into a rod shape. It is detachably inserted into the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole to fix the first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32 relative to each other and lock the universal wheel 2 at a preset steering angle. For example, when the universal wheel 2 is at the default 0° steering angle, the two second limiting holes correspond to the two first limiting holes mentioned above. At this time, when the limiting member 33 is inserted into any set of corresponding first limiting holes and second limiting holes, the first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32 are fixed relative to each other and the universal wheel 2 is locked at the default 0° steering angle. At this time, the vehicle body 1 can only realize basic forward and backward functions, and its steering function is lost because the universal wheel 2 is locked by the limiting member 33. For example, when the universal wheel 2 is at a 90° turning angle, the two second limiting holes correspond to the other two first limiting holes mentioned above. At this time, when the limiting member 33 is inserted into any set of corresponding first and second limiting holes, the first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32 can be fixed relative to each other, and the universal wheel 2 can be locked at the default 90° turning angle. At this time, the vehicle body 1 can only realize the basic left and right translation function, and its steering function is lost because the universal wheel 2 is locked by the limiting member 33.

[0053] Through the interaction of the aforementioned limiting member 33, the first fixing member 31, and the second fixing member 32, the omnidirectional wheel 2 can be quickly locked at preset steering angles such as 0° and 90°. This allows the tooling trolley to flexibly switch between multiple wheel set modes, ensuring stability during straight-line movement while achieving multi-directional mobility in narrow environments.

[0054] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the limiting member 33 is formed as a circular rod, with its horizontal cross-sectional dimensions gradually decreasing from top to bottom. Correspondingly, the inner diameters of the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole gradually decrease. Specifically, the angle between the generatrix of the limiting member 33 and its axis is 2-3°. The walls of the first and second limiting holes are also machined into inner conical surfaces with the same angle. When the limiting member 33 is inserted into the first and second limiting holes, its outer conical surface can achieve close surface contact with the inner conical surfaces of the first and second limiting holes. A uniform contact pressure is generated between the two conical surfaces in the circumferential direction, eliminating the inherent radial clearance in the cylindrical fit. This reduces the wobbling play of the caster wheel 2 in the steering locked state and improves the stability of the tooling trolley during directional movement.

[0055] As an optional embodiment, the surface of the limiting member 33 is provided with a friction-reducing coating, which may be a polytetrafluoroethylene coating or a Teflon coating. This reduces the coefficient of sliding friction between the limiting member 33 and the inner walls of the first and second limiting holes, thereby reducing surface wear caused by repeated friction and extending the service life of the limiting member 33.

[0056] As another optional embodiment, the inner walls of the first and second limiting holes are fitted with copper-based wear-resistant bushings to extend service life.

[0057] Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the automatic switching mechanism includes a first drive device (not shown), a second drive device (not shown), an infrared sensor (not shown), and a control device (not shown). The first drive device acts as a steering actuator, receiving control commands and driving the omnidirectional wheel 2 to turn to a preset angle. The second drive device acts as a locking actuator, driving the limiting member 33 to insert or remove it from the first and second limiting holes according to control signals, thus achieving automatic switching of the locking state. The infrared sensor acts as a position detection unit, detecting the relative positional relationship between the first and second limiting holes in real time and feeding back the alignment status signal to the control device. The control device receives the feedback signal from the infrared sensor, coordinates the operation sequence of the first and second drive devices according to preset logic, and thereby achieves rapid switching of the tooling trolley wheel assembly mode.

[0058] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the first drive device employs a small stepper motor, which is fixedly mounted on the lower end face of the first fixing member 31 via a flange. The output shaft of the stepper motor is connected to the steering shaft of the omnidirectional wheel 2 via a reducer. In this manner, the first drive device receives commands from the control device and is able to rotate the omnidirectional wheel 2 to a target steering angle (e.g., 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°).

[0059] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the second drive device employs a miniature electric push rod. Its housing is fixed to the upper surface of the first fixing member 31 via a bracket. The axial movement trajectory of the push rod of the second drive device is aligned with the central axes of the first and second limiting holes. The end of the push rod is detachably connected to the top of the limiting member 33 via a quick-connect coupling. The second drive device receives a command signal from the control device, drives the push rod to extend, inserting the limiting member 33 into the aligned first and second limiting holes to lock the steering of the caster wheel 2; or drives the push rod to retract, pulling the limiting member 33 out of the first and second limiting holes to release the steering freedom of the caster wheel 2.

[0060] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the infrared sensor is specifically a pair of infrared beam sensors respectively mounted on the first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32. When the first limiting hole is fully aligned with a certain second limiting hole on the second fixing member 32, the infrared beam can pass through the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole without obstruction and be received by the receiver, generating an electrical signal indicating hole alignment.

[0061] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the hardware of the control device is a programmable logic controller (PLC), which is mounted on the vehicle body 1. The control device also includes a control panel electrically connected to the PLC. The control device is connected to the first drive device, the second drive device, and the infrared sensor signal via an input / output interface. The control device internally stores preset program logic. The control device receives the wheel group mode switching command input by the user on the control panel, and then sends a command to the first drive device to drive the omnidirectional wheel 2 to turn to the target angle. During this process, it reads the signal from the infrared sensor. When a hole alignment signal is detected, the control device sends a command to the second drive device to drive the limiting member 33 to insert into the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole, thus completing the steering lock of the omnidirectional wheel 2.

[0062] The aforementioned automatic switching mechanism can optimize the manual wheel switching mode into a one-click automatic switching mode, which significantly improves switching efficiency and reduces operation difficulty and human error.

[0063] As an optional implementation, namely the traditional manual wheel switching mode, refer to... Figure 2The aforementioned limiting device 3 also includes a connector 34. One end of the connector 34 is connected to the top of the limiting member 33, and the other end is connected to the leg of the vehicle body 1 to prevent the limiting member 33 from being accidentally lost when not in use. Furthermore, the connector 34 can be any one of a metal chain, nylon rope, or spring rope. Further, the leg of the vehicle body 1 is provided with a receiving groove 35 for accommodating the limiting member 33. Optionally, the vehicle body 1 is provided with a magnetic block, which magnetically engages with the limiting member 33. Through the above methods, the loss of the limiting member 33 in manual switching mode can be avoided.

[0064] Furthermore, in the optional embodiment of manual switching, elastic positioning elements (not shown) are provided on the inner walls of both the first and second limiting holes. These elastic positioning elements are preferably spring pins, which are made of spring steel and have inherent radial elasticity. Positioning grooves (not shown) are machined onto the outer wall of the limiting element 33. When the limiting element 33 is inserted into the first and second limiting holes, and its positioning groove moves to a position aligned with the elastic positioning element within the hole, the elastic positioning element will engage with the positioning groove under its own radial elastic restoring force.

[0065] Furthermore, in the optional embodiment of manual switching, the cross-sectional shape of the limiting member 33 is specifically a regular hexagonal prism. Correspondingly, the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole are also formed as matching regular hexagonal holes. This ensures that when the limiting member 33 is inserted into the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole, there is no relative rotation between the limiting member 33 and the first fixing member 31 and the second fixing member 32, so that the aforementioned spring pin can smoothly fall into the positioning groove.

[0066] In summary, through the mechanical cooperation of the limiting device 3 (first fixing member 31, second fixing member 32, and limiting member 33), each omnidirectional wheel 2 can be independently locked at preset angles such as 0° and 90°, enabling the trolley to quickly switch between multiple wheel set modes (such as four directional wheels laterally, two omnidirectional wheels and two directional wheels longitudinally). This allows it to meet the stability requirements of linear track movement while also adapting to the complex needs of multi-dimensional turning or turning around in narrow spaces, thus enhancing the adaptability and flexibility of the tooling trolley.

[0067] On the other hand, this invention achieves manual mode switching through a purely mechanical structure, resulting in low cost and high reliability; while the automatic switching mechanism enables automatic and rapid switching of wheel set modes, significantly improving efficiency and reducing human error. It can be flexibly adapted to different scenarios such as conventional workshop handling, intelligent warehousing, and unmanned factories.

[0068] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including both the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the present invention. Clearly, those skilled in the art can make various alterations and modifications to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Thus, if such modifications and modifications fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention also intends to include such modifications and modifications.

Claims

1. A tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets, comprising a trolley body (1) and at least three omnidirectional wheels (2) rotatably mounted on the trolley body (1), characterized in that, The tooling trolley also includes at least three limiting devices (3) for locking each of the casters (2), wherein the limiting device (3) includes: A first fixing member (31) is fixed to the vehicle body (1), and the first fixing member (31) has a first limiting hole; The second fixing member (32) is fixed to the universal wheel (2), and the second fixing member (32) has a plurality of second limiting holes; The limiting member (33) is detachably inserted into the first limiting hole and any of the second limiting holes so that the first fixing member (31) and the second fixing member (32) are relatively fixed and the caster wheel (2) is locked at a preset steering angle.

2. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting member (33) is formed in the shape of a rod, and its horizontal cross-sectional dimension gradually decreases from top to bottom. The inner diameter of the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole gradually decreases accordingly.

3. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vehicle body (1) is provided with a receiving groove (35) for accommodating the limiting member (33).

4. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to claim 3, characterized in that, The limiting device (3) also includes a connector (34), the two ends of which are connected to the vehicle body (1) and the limiting device (33), respectively.

5. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, There are multiple first limiting holes.

6. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to claim 5, characterized in that, Multiple first limiting holes / multiple second limiting holes are evenly arranged along the circumference of the universal wheel (2).

7. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The tooling trolley also includes a first drive device mounted on the vehicle body (1), the first drive device being connected to the universal wheel (2) to drive the universal wheel (2) to turn to a preset angle.

8. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to claim 7, characterized in that, The tooling trolley also includes a second driving device, which is connected to the limiting member (33) so that the limiting member (33) can be inserted into / pulled out of the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole.

9. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to claim 8, characterized in that, The tooling trolley also includes an infrared sensor mounted on the vehicle body (1). The infrared sensor detects the relative positions of the first limiting hole and the second limiting hole and is signal-connected to the first driving device and the second driving device.

10. The tooling trolley based on adjustable wheel sets according to claim 9, characterized in that, The tooling trolley also includes a control device, which is connected to the first drive device, the second drive device and the infrared sensor signal to control the operation of the first drive device and the second drive device.

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