Star wheel and transport device

Abstract

Star wheel (10) for stair climbing, with at least three star-shaped spoke arms (12), each a wheel (14) rotating with each of the spoke arms (12), and each of the spoke arms (12) has a damping device (16) arranged to dampen contact with a stair edge (1002) when climbing stairs.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a star wheel and a transport device.

[0002] Star wheels, commonly used on hand trucks and similar transport equipment, are a specialized type of wheel, typically consisting of three spoke arms arranged in a star shape, each with a wheel attached. This design allows the transport equipment to climb stairs using the star wheels, with the spoke arms rotating and the stairs, particularly the edges, engaging between the spoke arms. "Climbing stairs" here refers specifically to moving up or down stairs, such as steps or a curb. On level ground, however, the star wheel rolls due to the wheels rolling on the surface, while the spoke arms generally remain stationary.

[0003] A disadvantage of known star wheels is, for example, that when climbing stairs there is a high level of noise due to the elements hitting the steps, especially the wheels of the star wheel.

[0004] Furthermore, known star wheels have disadvantages due to a bumpy and / or jerky movement when climbing stairs.

[0005] The purpose of the invention is to create a star wheel and a transport device in which stair climbing is optimized.

[0006] The problem is solved according to the invention by a star wheel according to claim 1 and a transport device according to claim 14.

[0007] The star wheel according to the invention has at least three spoke arms arranged in a star shape. The spoke arms are preferably arranged around a central point. The central point forms, in particular, the pivot point, preferably the axis of rotation, of the star wheel. Preferably, the spoke arms are connected to each other at the central point, in particular in a rotationally fixed manner. For climbing stairs, the spoke arms are rotatable, in particular around the central point. It is preferred that the spoke arms are arranged rotationally symmetrically, preferably around the central point, in particular with an angle of rotation of 120° or 90°. Thus, it is preferred that the spoke arms have an angle of 120° or 90° to each other. The spoke arms are in particular all of the same length. A wheel is rotatably connected to each spoke arm, preferably at the end of the spoke arm. The rotatability of the wheel is implemented, for example, by a rolling bearing, in particular between the wheel and the spoke arm.Furthermore, the star wheel has a damping device between the spoke arms and / or between the wheels, in particular between all spoke arms and / or all wheels, to dampen contact with a stair edge when climbing stairs. The damping device is preferably designed to reduce noise and / or provide smooth guidance. For example, the damping device is designed to dampen the engagement of the stair edge with the star wheel, in particular between the spoke arms. Preferably, the damping device dampens forces between the star wheel and the stairs. Preferably, the spoke arms, preferably at the center, are designed to connect to a wheel axle, in particular a rotating one, or are integrally connected to the wheel axle, for example. It is preferred that the spoke arms are arranged radially to the wheel axle.

[0008] It is preferred that the damping device includes a damping band, particularly a flexible one, stretched between the arms. In particular, the damping band is connected to the arms, preferably all arms. The damping band is preferably designed and / or arranged such that, upon contact with the stair edge during stair climbing, it yields in a damping manner, in particular by indenting itself.

[0009] It is preferred that the damping band be a rubber band.

[0010] It is preferred that the damping band is stretched around wheel carriers connected to the spoke arms for the rotating arrangement of the wheels. Preferably, the damping band is stretched around the outside of the wheel carriers. The wheel carriers are particularly integral with the arms. The wheel carriers can, for example, be hubs.

[0011] It is preferred that the damping band is stretched between a running area of ​​the wheel and a wheel axle of the star wheel. The running area corresponds in particular to the area of ​​the star wheel on which the wheels come into contact with a surface while rolling. The damping band is thus arranged in particular within a radius of rotation of the spoke arms. The damping band can, for example, run congruently with the wheels.

[0012] It is preferred that the cushioning band has a distance of at least 1 cm from the running surface, with a distance of 2 cm to 3 cm being preferred. It is also possible that a distance of at least 3 cm or at least 5 cm from the running surface is provided.

[0013] It is preferred that the star wheel, for the purpose of forming the damping device, has a single damping band stretched between all arms. The damping band is thus, in particular, stretched between the multiple spoke arms.

[0014] It is preferred that the star wheel has four spoke arms, each with a wheel. The four wheels are arranged in a square. Preferably, the center of the square forms the axis of rotation of the star wheel. The spoke arms are at an angle of 90° to each other. Preferably, the spoke arms form an equilateral cross, with all spoke arms having the same angle to each other and the same length.

[0015] It is preferred that wheels arranged side by side have a distance, in particular a center distance of 10 cm to 40 cm, preferably of 25 cm to 35 cm, from each other.

[0016] It is preferred that the spoke arms have a length of 10 cm to 30 cm, preferably 15 cm to 25 cm.

[0017] It is preferred that the wheels have a diameter of 5 cm to 20 cm, preferably 5 cm to 10 cm, and most preferably 7 cm to 9 cm.

[0018] It is preferred that the wheels be made of rubber. The use of rubber wheels particularly enhances the damping effect, for example, to further reduce noise.

[0019] The transport device according to the invention is, in particular, a transport device for persons and / or objects. The transport device has at least one star wheel according to the invention for enabling the transport device to move. "Moving" here refers in particular to stair climbing and rolling mobility. For rolling movement of the star wheel, the wheels are, in particular, rotatably connected to the spoke arms. For stair climbing, the star wheel is, in particular, rotatably designed about a center point of the star wheel. The star wheel is, in particular, rotatably connected to a base frame of the transport device.

[0020] It is preferred that the transport device has at least one front wheel, preferably two front wheels. The at least one front wheel is rotatable about a single physical or virtual axis of rotation, preferably a front axle. It is particularly possible that the front wheels are steering wheels. Furthermore, the transport device has, in particular, two of the star wheels according to the invention as rear wheels. The star wheels are preferably stationary wheels and thus, in particular, not steering wheels. Preferably, the star wheels are rotatable about a single physical or virtual axis of rotation, in particular a rear axle. It is possible, for example, that the star wheels are rotatable with or about the physical axis of rotation.

[0021] It is preferred that the transport device be a stroller, a patient transport chair, a shopping trolley, or a hand truck.

[0022] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0023] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of an embodiment of a star wheel according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic lateral movement representation of the star wheel made of Fig. 1 in two movement situations, Fig. 3 a schematic side view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention with the star wheel made of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a star wheel according to the invention.

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a star wheel 10 according to the invention.

[0025] The star wheel 10 has four spoke arms 12 which are connected to each other at a center 22, in particular integrally and / or in a rotationally fixed manner, and extend radially outwards from there in a star shape. The spoke arms 12 are all of the same length, and adjacent spoke arms 12 are arranged at an angle of 90° to each other.

[0026] The ends of the spoke arms 12 are connected, in particular integrally, to wheel carriers 20 for connecting one wheel 14 to each of the spoke arms 12. The wheel carriers 20 enable the wheels 14 to rotate, in particular in both directions (indicated by arrow 24). To implement the rotatability, a rolling bearing (not shown) can, for example, be arranged between the wheel carrier 20 and the wheel 14.

[0027] The star wheel 10 has damping devices 16 arranged between the spoke arms 12 for damping contact of the star wheel 10 with a step edge 1002 (cf. Fig. 2) when climbing stairs. The damping devices 16 are represented by a, preferably single, damping band 18, in particular a rubber band, which is stretched between the spoke arms 12. In particular, the damping band 18 is stretched around the outside of the wheel carriers 20. The damping band 18 is stretched over the area 19 between the spoke arms 12, so that a stair edge 1002 engaging in this area 19 (cf. Fig. 2) impacts the flexible damping band 18, thus damping the contact force between the stair edge 1002 and the star wheel 10. This results in a particularly advantageous reduction in noise when climbing stairs with the star wheel 10 and / or a more uniform movement of the star wheel 10 when climbing stairs (see Figure 1). Fig. 2).

[0028] The star wheel 10 is rotatable around the center 22 (shown by arrow 26). For example, the star wheel 10 can be connected at the center 22 to a wheel axle 103 of a transport device 100, such as a stroller (see figure). Fig. 3) and thus, especially when climbing stairs, turn around the center 22.

[0029] Fig. Figure 2 shows, for example, movements with the star wheel 10. Fig. 1.

[0030] When moving (represented by arrow 25) on a straight section 1004 of a surface 1000, the star wheel 10 travels over the surface 1000 via a rotation (represented by arrows 24) of the wheels 14a, 14b. The straight section 1004 corresponds in particular to a running area of ​​the wheels 14.

[0031] When the star wheel 10 (represented by arrow 27) ascends the stairs, the impact of wheel 14b causes the star wheel 10 to rotate (represented by arrow 26). The flexibly yielding damping band 18, when the stair edge 1002 engages between the spoke arms 12, dampens the contact force between the stair edge 1002 and the star wheel 10. The damping band 18, in particular, bulges inward. The star wheel 10 lifts itself from the stair step 1001, for example, when the damping band 18 and / or wheel 14c make contact with the step 1001, thus enabling the star wheel 10 to ascend the stairs. Subsequently, the star wheel 10 can move along the further straight section 1006 via a rotation of wheels 14b and 14c.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a transport device 100 according to the invention with the star wheel 10 made of Fig. 1. The transport device 100 shown is a stroller.

[0033] Front wheels 108 are rotatably connected to the underframe 102 of the stroller 100. The front wheels 108 are, in particular, common front wheels of strollers. The front wheels 108 can, in particular, be designed as steering wheels.

[0034] The pram 100 has star wheels 10 as rear wheels, in particular rotatable via a wheel axle 103, connected to the underframe, wherein the star wheels 10 are each designed according to the star wheel 10. Fig. 1 are executed.

[0035] The star wheels 10 therefore make it possible to climb stairs with the stroller 100, in a particularly advantageous way with reduced noise and / or smooth movement.

[0036] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of a star wheel 10 according to the invention.

[0037] The design of the star wheel 10 made of Fig. 4 is based on the version from Fig. 1, wherein instead of four spoke arms 12 and thus four wheels 14, the star wheel 10 is made of Fig. 4 has three spoke arms 12 and thus three wheels 14. The spoke arms 12 are of equal length and adjacent spoke arms 12 have an angle of 120° to each other.

Claims

[1] Star wheel (10) for stair climbing, with at least three star-shaped spoke arms (12), each a wheel (14) rotating with each of the spoke arms (12), and each of the spoke arms (12) has a damping device (16) arranged to dampen contact with a stair edge (1002) when climbing stairs. [2] Star wheel (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the damping device (16) has a damping band (18) stretched between the spoke arms (12). [3] Star wheel (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the damping band (18) is a rubber band. [4] Star wheel (10) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the damping band (18) is stretched around wheel carriers (20) connected to the spoke arms (12) for the rotating arrangement of the wheels (14). [5] Star wheel (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by, that the damping band (18) is stretched between a running area of ​​the wheel (14) and a wheel axle (103) of the star wheel (10). [6] Star wheel (10) according to claim 5, characterized by that the damping band (18) has a distance of at least 1 cm, preferably 2 cm to 3 cm from the running area. [7] Star wheel (10) according to one of claims 1-6, characterized by , that the star wheel (10) has a single damping band (18) stretched between all spoke arms (12) to form the damping device (16). [8] Star wheel (10) according to one of claims 1-7, characterized by , that the star wheel (10) has four spoke arms (12). [9] Star wheel (10) according to one of claims 1-8, characterized by , that adjacent wheels (14) have a distance, in particular a center distance of 10 cm to 40 cm, preferably of 25 cm to 35 cm from each other. [10] Star wheel (10) according to one of claims 1-9, characterized by, that the spoke arms (12) have a length of 10 cm to 30 cm, preferably of 15 cm to 25 cm. [11] Star wheel (10) according to one of claims 1-10, characterized by that the wheels (14) have a diameter of 5 cm to 20 cm, preferably of 5 cm to 10 cm, particularly preferably of 7 cm to 9 cm. [12] Star wheel (10) according to one of claims 1-11, characterized by , that the wheels (14) are rubber rollers. [13] Transport device (100) for persons and / or objects, with at least one star wheel (10) according to one of claims 1-12 for moving the transport device (100). [14] Transport device (100) according to claim 13, characterized by , that the transport device (100) has: at least one front wheel, preferably two front wheels, and two of the star wheels (10) as rear wheels. [15] Transport device (100) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized bythat the transport device (100) is a stroller or a patient transport chair or a shopping trolley or a hand truck.

Images