Adjustable shock absorbing travel caster and agv dolly

Abstract

The utility model relates to an adjustable shock absorbing stroke universal wheel and AGV dolly, adjustable shock absorbing stroke universal wheel includes: base assembly, base assembly includes fixed base, wheel assembly, wheel assembly includes pivot and wheel rotatably arranged in pivot, two groups of connecting assembly, connecting assembly includes hinged seat and connecting arm, one end of connecting arm rotatably connects in pivot, the other end rotatably connects in fixed base, hinged seat rotatably connects in pivot, and two groups of adjusting assembly, adjusting assembly includes elastic part, adjusting screw rod and nut assembly, and elastic part sets up between fixed base and hinged seat, through adjusting nut assembly, changes the distance between hinged seat and fixed base, changes the precompression of elastic part, can realize the adjustment of shock absorbing stroke, makes universal wheel can nimblely adapt to different load size or road roughness degree, solves the problem of single shock absorbing stroke of traditional universal wheel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) technology, and in particular to an adjustable shock-absorbing universal wheel and an AGV. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of automation technology, more and more production lines in industrial manufacturing are using AGVs for transportation. To ensure the smooth operation of AGVs, the use of shock-absorbing casters is essential. Currently, the shock-absorbing stroke of existing casters is usually fixed and cannot be adjusted according to actual usage scenarios or load requirements. This limited stroke restricts the adaptability of casters under different working conditions, making it difficult to achieve optimal shock absorption. Because the shock-absorbing stroke is not adjustable, in some heavy-duty transportation scenarios requiring a larger shock-absorbing stroke, casters with fixed strokes may not provide sufficient cushioning. Conversely, in the transportation of precision materials requiring a smaller shock-absorbing stroke, excessive stroke may lead to insufficient equipment stability. Utility Model Content

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel and AGV trolley to address the problem that the shock-absorbing stroke of existing shock-absorbing casters cannot be adjusted.

[0004] On one hand, this application provides an adjustable shock-absorbing omnidirectional wheel, comprising: a base assembly, the base assembly including a fixed base; a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly including a rotating shaft and a wheel rotatably disposed on the rotating shaft; two sets of connecting assemblies, the connecting assemblies including a hinge seat and a connecting arm, one end of the connecting arm being rotatably connected to the rotating shaft and the other end being rotatably connected to the fixed base, the hinge seat being rotatably connected to the rotating shaft; and two sets of adjusting assemblies, the adjusting assemblies including an elastic element, an adjusting screw and a nut assembly, one end of the adjusting screw being fixedly disposed in one of the hinge seat or the fixed base, the other of the hinge seat or the fixed base having an adjusting hole, the other end of the adjusting screw being slidably inserted into the adjusting hole, the nut assembly being screwed to the other end of the adjusting screw, and the elastic element being disposed between the fixed base and the hinge seat.

[0005] In one embodiment, the adjustment hole is an oblong hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

[0006] In one embodiment, the adjusting screw includes a fixed section, one end of which is provided with a threaded portion, and the outer surface of the fixed section is provided with an external hexagonal thread. The hinge seat or the fixed base is provided with a fixed threaded hole, and the threaded portion is fixed in the fixed threaded hole.

[0007] In one embodiment, a through pin hole is provided on the side of the fixed threaded hole, and the adjusting assembly also includes a pin, which is inserted into the pin hole.

[0008] In one embodiment, the adjusting screw further includes a limiting part connected to the fixed section and an adjusting section connected to the limiting part. The size of the limiting part is larger than the diameter of the adjusting section. The outer surface of the adjusting section is provided with external threads, and the adjusting section is inserted into the adjusting hole.

[0009] In one embodiment, the hinge seat includes a hinge portion and an abutment portion extending outward from the side of the hinge portion. The elastic element is a compression spring, which is sleeved on the adjusting screw, and both ends of the compression spring abut against the abutment portion and the fixed base, respectively.

[0010] In one embodiment, the fixed base includes a base body and a fixed arm extending downwardly from the base body, one end of the connecting arm being rotatably connected to the fixed arm.

[0011] In one embodiment, the wheel assembly includes two wheels arranged side by side with a gap between them.

[0012] In one embodiment, the base assembly includes a double-rotating mechanism and a rotating base, the double-rotating mechanism being rotatably connected to the rotating base and the fixed base, respectively.

[0013] On the other hand, this application provides an AGV trolley, including: a vehicle body; a drive wheel, the drive wheel being mounted on the front side of the vehicle body; and an adjustable shock-absorbing universal wheel as described above, the adjustable shock-absorbing universal wheel being mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body.

[0014] In summary, the adjustable shock-absorbing stroke swivel wheel of this application can adjust the shock-absorbing stroke by adjusting the distance between the hinge seat and the fixed base and changing the pre-compression of the elastic element through the adjustment nut assembly. This allows the swivel wheel to flexibly adapt to different load sizes or road surface roughness, solving the problem of the single shock-absorbing stroke of traditional swivel wheels. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the adjustable shock-absorbing stroke omnidirectional wheel provided in Embodiment 1 of this application;

[0016] Figure 2 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to the above-described embodiment 1 of this application is shown;

[0017] Figure 3A schematic diagram of the base assembly of the adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to the above-described embodiment 1 of this application is shown;

[0018] Figure 4 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the adjusting screw of the adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to the above-described embodiment 1 of this application is shown;

[0019] Figure 5 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the hinge seat of the adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to the above-described embodiment 1 of this application is shown;

[0020] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the adjustable shock-absorbing stroke omnidirectional wheel provided in Embodiment 2 of this application;

[0021] Figure 7 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to the above-described embodiment 2 of this application is shown.

[0022] Reference numerals: 10, base assembly; 11, fixed base; 111, base body; 112, fixed arm; 12, double-rotation mechanism; 13, rotating base; 20, wheel assembly; 21, rotating shaft; 22, wheel; 30, connecting assembly; 31, hinge seat; 311, hinge part; 312, abutment part; 32, connecting arm; 40, adjusting assembly; 41, elastic element; 42, adjusting screw; 421, fixed section; 422, screwed part; 423, limiting part; 424, adjusting section; 43, nut assembly; 431, first nut; 432, second nut; 44, adjusting hole; 45, fixed threaded hole; 46, pin hole. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0024] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0025] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0026] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0027] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0028] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0029] Addressing the issue that the damping stroke of existing shock-absorbing casters cannot be adjusted, this application provides an adjustable damping stroke caster and an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) trolley. This adjustable damping stroke caster allows for adjustment of the damping stroke, enabling it to meet various application scenarios.

[0030] On the one hand, please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 This application provides an adjustable shock-absorbing stroke omnidirectional wheel, which may include a base assembly 10, a wheel assembly 20, two sets of connecting assemblies 30, and two sets of adjusting assemblies 40. The base assembly 10 includes a fixed base 11, and the wheel assembly 20 includes a rotating shaft 21 and a wheel 22, with the wheel 22 rotatably mounted on the rotating shaft 21. The connecting assembly 30 includes a hinge seat 31 and a connecting arm 32, with one end of the connecting arm 32 rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 21 and the other end rotatably connected to the fixed base 11. The hinge seat 31 is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 21. The adjusting assembly 40 includes an elastic element 41, an adjusting screw 42, and a nut assembly 43. One end of the adjusting screw 42 is fixed to one of the hinge seat 31 or the fixed base 11. The other hinge seat 31 or the fixed base 11 has an adjusting hole 44. The other end of the adjusting screw 42 is slidably inserted into the adjusting hole 44. The nut assembly 43 is screwed to the other end of the adjusting screw 42. The nut assembly 43 cooperates with the adjusting screw 42 to adjust the distance between the hinge seat 31 and the fixed base 11. The elastic element 41 is disposed between the fixed base 11 and the hinge seat 31 and is clamped by the fixed base 11 and the hinge seat 31 to generate an elastic force.

[0031] It is understood that the shock absorption of the adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel of this application is achieved by the hinge seat 31 and the fixed base 11 compressing the elastic element 41. When the wheel 22 is impacted, the shaft 21 rotates upward relative to the fixed base 11 through the connecting arm 32. At the same time, the shaft 21 drives the hinge seat 31 to compress the elastic element 41, and the elastic element 41 absorbs the impact force, forming a buffer. After the impact force disappears, the elastic element 41 releases its elastic force, causing the hinge seat 31 to drive the shaft 21 to rotate downward relative to the fixed base 11 through the connecting arm 32 to reset. Therefore, the shock absorption stroke of the adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel of this application is determined by the compressible stroke of the elastic element 41. By adjusting the nut assembly 43, the distance between the hinge seat 31 and the fixed base 11 is changed, and the pre-compression amount of the elastic element 41 is changed, which can realize the adjustment of the shock absorption stroke, so that the caster wheel can flexibly adapt to different load sizes or road surface roughness, solving the problem of the single shock absorption stroke of traditional caster wheels.

[0032] Optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the nut assembly 43 includes a first nut 431 and a second nut 432, with the threads of the first nut 431 and the second nut 432 having the same direction and both screwed onto the adjusting screw 42. The first nut 431 is used to cooperate with the adjusting screw 42 to limit the maximum distance between the hinge seat 31 and the fixed base 11, and the second nut 432 is used to lock the first nut 431, achieving double-nut self-locking through the frictional force between the first nut 431 and the second nut 432.

[0033] Optionally, such as Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the adjustment hole 44 is an oblong hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft 21. Since the adjusting screw 42 moves in the front-to-back direction when the rotating shaft 21 rotates relative to the fixed base 11 via the connecting arm 32, by setting the adjustment hole 44 as an oblong hole, the adjusting screw 42 can be allowed to slide within a wider range, thereby supporting a greater range of damping stroke adjustment.

[0034] Optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, in some embodiments, the adjusting screw 42 includes a fixed section 421, one end of which is provided with a threaded portion 422. The outer surface of the fixed section 421 is provided with an external hexagonal thread. The hinge seat 31 or the fixed base 11 has a fixed threaded hole 45, and the threaded portion 422 is fixed in the fixed threaded hole 45. In this way, one end of the adjusting screw 42 is fixed to the hinge seat 31 or the fixed base 11 by a threaded connection. The adjusting screw 42 eliminates the screw head structure, reducing the space occupied by the universal wheel structure. By providing an external hexagonal thread, it is possible to use tools such as wrenches to, on the one hand, easily rotate the fixed section 421 to screw the threaded portion 422 into or out of the fixed threaded hole 45 to install the adjusting screw 42; on the other hand, it can assist in adjusting the damping stroke. When adjusting the damping stroke, the adjusting screw 42 can be fixed to facilitate the rotation of the nut assembly 43.

[0035] Optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, a through pin hole 46 is provided on the side of the fixed threaded hole 45, and the adjusting assembly 40 also includes a pin, which is inserted into the pin hole 46. In this way, by adding the pin hole 46 and inserting the pin, the rotation of the threaded part can be blocked, preventing the threaded part 422 and the fixed threaded hole 45 from loosening due to long-term use.

[0036] Optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the adjusting screw 42 further includes a limiting part 423 and an adjusting section 424. The limiting part 423 is connected to the fixed section 421, and the adjusting section 424 is connected to the limiting part 423. The size of the limiting part 423 is larger than the diameter of the adjusting section 424. The outer surface of the adjusting section 424 is provided with external threads, and the adjusting section 424 is inserted into the adjusting hole 44. In this way, by adding the limiting part 423 and controlling the size of the limiting part 423 to be larger than the diameter of the adjusting section 424, a mechanical stop can be formed, which physically limits the maximum shock absorption stroke of the caster wheel. On the one hand, before the elastic element 41 is compressed to its limit, the limiting part 423 can abut against the hinge seat 31 or the fixed base 11 to avoid the elastic element 41 being over-compressed and causing plastic deformation or breakage. On the other hand, it avoids the fixed base 11 from directly contacting the wheel 22 due to excessive load, ensuring the safety performance of the caster wheel.

[0037] Optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 5As shown, in some embodiments, the elastic element 41 is a compression spring, and the hinge seat 31 includes a hinge portion 311 and an abutment portion 312 extending outward from the side of the hinge portion 311. The compression spring is sleeved on the adjusting screw 42, and both ends of the compression spring abut against the abutment portion 312 and the fixed base 11, respectively. In this way, the two flat surfaces of the compression spring can contact the abutment portion 312 and the fixed base 11, making the force on the compression spring more uniform and forming a stable axial compression structure.

[0038] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the fixed base 11 includes a base body 111 and a fixed arm 112. The fixed arm 112 extends downwardly from the base body 111, and one end of the connecting arm 32 is rotatably connected to the fixed arm 112. In this way, by utilizing the cooperation of the fixed wall and the connecting arm 32, the pivot point of the rotating shaft 21 is offset downward relative to the fixed base 11, making the layout of the caster wheels more reasonable and avoiding interference between the wheels 22 and the base body 111.

[0039] Optionally, such as Figure 2 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the wheel assembly 20 includes two wheels 22 arranged side-by-side with a gap between them. This side-by-side design increases the contact area between the wheels 22 and the ground, distributing the load across them and allowing the swivel wheel to withstand heavier loads. Furthermore, the two wheels form a wider support surface, reducing the likelihood of tipping over when turning or on inclined surfaces, thus improving the safety of the swivel wheel during operation.

[0040] In particular, the wheel 22 of the adjustable shock-absorbing caster in this application is a standard part, which facilitates replacement and maintenance.

[0041] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the base assembly 10 includes a dual-rotation mechanism 12 and a rotating base 13, with the dual-rotation mechanism 12 rotatably connected to both the rotating base 13 and the fixed base 11. The dual-rotation mechanism 12 has two degrees of rotational freedom, enabling omnidirectional movement of 360° between the rotating base 13 and the fixed base 11, allowing the caster wheels to quickly switch to any direction. Compared to traditional single-rotation caster wheels, the dual-rotation mechanism 12 eliminates steering dead zones, making it suitable for operations in confined spaces.

[0042] For example, this application provides specific examples of adjustable shock-absorbing casters.

[0043] Example 1

[0044] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, the adjustable shock-absorbing caster includes a base assembly 10, a wheel assembly 20, two sets of connecting assemblies 30, and two sets of adjusting assemblies 40. The base assembly 10 includes a fixed base 11, and the wheel assembly 20 includes a pivot 21 and a wheel 22, with the wheel 22 rotatably mounted on the pivot 21. The connecting assembly 30 includes a hinge seat 31 and a connecting arm 32, with one end of the connecting arm 32 rotatably connected to the pivot 21 and the other end rotatably connected to the fixed base 11. The hinge seat 31 is rotatably connected to the pivot 21. The adjustment assembly 40 includes an elastic element 41, an adjustment screw 42, a first nut 431, and a second nut 432. One end of the adjustment screw 42 is fixed to the hinge seat 31. The fixed base 11 has an adjustment hole 44. The other end of the adjustment screw 42 is slidably inserted into the adjustment hole 44. The first nut 431 and the second nut 432 are screwed to the other end of the adjustment screw 42. The elastic element 41 is disposed between the fixed base 11 and the hinge seat 31.

[0045] Example 2

[0046] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in this embodiment, the adjustable shock-absorbing caster may include a base assembly 10, a wheel assembly 20, two sets of connecting assemblies 30, and two sets of adjusting assemblies 40. The base assembly 10 includes a fixed base 11, and the wheel assembly 20 includes a rotating shaft 21 and a wheel 22, with the wheel 22 rotatably mounted on the rotating shaft 21. The connecting assembly 30 includes a hinge seat 31 and a connecting arm 32, with one end of the connecting arm 32 rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 21 and the other end rotatably connected to the fixed base 11. The hinge seat 31 is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft 21. The adjustment assembly 40 includes an elastic element 41, an adjustment screw 42, a first nut 431, and a second nut 432. One end of the adjustment screw 42 is fixed to the fixed base 11. The hinge seat 31 has an adjustment hole 44. The other end of the adjustment screw 42 is slidably inserted into the adjustment hole 44. The first nut 431 and the second nut 432 are screwed to the other end of the adjustment screw 42. The elastic element 41 is disposed between the fixed base 11 and the hinge seat 31. The first nut 431 is used to cooperate with the adjustment screw 42 to limit the maximum distance between the hinge seat 31 and the fixed base 11. The second nut 432 is used to lock the first nut 431 to achieve double nut self-locking.

[0047] On the other hand, this application also provides an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) trolley, which may include: a vehicle body, drive wheels, and adjustable shock-absorbing casters as described above. The drive wheels are mounted on the front side of the vehicle body, and the adjustable shock-absorbing casters are mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body. In this way, by placing the drive wheels at the front and the driven wheels at the rear, when the AGV trolley encounters a pothole and suddenly sinks, the driven wheels can provide a buffer, allowing the AGV trolley to run more smoothly.

[0048] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0049] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An adjustable shock-absorbing universal caster, characterized in that, include: Base assembly, the base assembly including a fixed base; A wheel assembly, the wheel assembly including a pivot and a wheel rotatably disposed on the pivot; Two sets of connecting assemblies, each assembly including a hinge base and a connecting arm, one end of the connecting arm being rotatably connected to the rotating shaft and the other end being rotatably connected to the fixed base, the hinge base being rotatably connected to the rotating shaft; and Two sets of adjustment components, each including an elastic element, an adjustment screw, and a nut assembly. One end of the adjustment screw is fixed to one of the hinge seat or the fixed base. The other of the hinge seat or the fixed base has an adjustment hole. The other end of the adjustment screw is slidably inserted into the adjustment hole. The nut assembly is screwed to the other end of the adjustment screw. The elastic element is disposed between the fixed base and the hinge seat.

2. The adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment hole is an oblong hole extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft.

3. The adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjusting screw includes a fixed section, one end of which is provided with a threaded part. The outer surface of the fixed section is provided with an external hexagonal thread. The hinge seat or the fixed base is provided with a fixed threaded hole, and the threaded part is fixed in the fixed threaded hole.

4. The adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fixed threaded hole has a through pin hole on its side, and the adjusting component also includes a pin, which is inserted into the pin hole.

5. The adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The adjusting screw also includes a limiting part connected to the fixed section and an adjusting section connected to the limiting part. The size of the limiting part is larger than the diameter of the adjusting section. The outer surface of the adjusting section is provided with external threads. The adjusting section is inserted into the adjusting hole.

6. The adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The hinge seat includes a hinge portion and an abutment portion extending outward from the side of the hinge portion. The elastic element is a compression spring, which is sleeved on the adjusting screw, and the two ends of the compression spring abut against the abutment portion and the fixed base, respectively.

7. The adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The fixed base includes a base body and a fixed arm extending downwardly from the base body, with one end of the connecting arm rotatably connected to the fixed arm.

8. The adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The wheel assembly includes two wheels arranged side by side with a gap between them.

9. The adjustable shock-absorbing caster wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The base assembly includes a double-rotating mechanism and a rotating base, wherein the double-rotating mechanism is rotatably connected to the rotating base and the fixed base, respectively.

10. An AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) trolley, characterized in that, include: Vehicle body; Drive wheels, which are mounted on the front side of the vehicle body; as well as The adjustable shock-absorbing travel swivel wheel as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the adjustable shock-absorbing travel swivel wheel is mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body.

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