An example wheel restraint includes a track to be positioned adjacent a vehicle approach path of a loading dock. A shuttle is pivotally coupled to the track via a track follower and pivots between a home position and a deployed position about a shuttle axis substantially parallel to and offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the track. A barrier is pivotally coupled to the shuttle and pivots between a non-blocking position and a blocking position about a pivot axis substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the track such that the shuttle rotates in a first direction about the shuttle axis when the shuttle moves from the home position to the deployed position and bather rotates in a second direction about the pivot axis when the barrier moves from the non-blocking position to the blocking position, where the first direction being different than the second direction.

A ball ejection system for a roulette game is provided. The system includes a roulette wheel including a plurality of slots, at least one sensor, at least one ejector element, and a first driving mechanism. Each slot is defined by side walls and a bottom surface. Each bottom surface further includes an opening. The at least one sensor is position within each of the plurality of slots and are configured to emit a signal when detecting a ball within the slot. The ejector element is positioned below the roulette and includes at least one air blower. The air blower is configured to blow air circumferentially around the roulette wheel due to the detection of a ball on one of the sensors. Finally, the first driving mechanism is in communication with the at least one ejector element and configured to cause the initiation of the at least one air blower.

If the wheel/rail adhesion for a railway vehicle is insufficient then the wheels may slip when braking. If slipping is detected, a control system may reduce the brake pressure to permit a controlled level of slip and so to optimize the braking force for the available adhesion. By determining the pressure supplied to the brake cylinder, a signal may be obtained which indicates the value of the adhesion. Alternatively the adhesion may be monitored by detecting any discrepancy between the braking deceleration demanded by the driver and the observed deceleration. The adhesion signal may activate a warning. It may also be used to adjust the rate at which sand is supplied by a sander to the wheel/rail interface. The rate at which sand is supplied may also be adjusted in accordance with other parameters such as the train speed.

A method of chip-removal machining a tooth gap of a work piece includes executing a first substantially linear plunging movement of the cutting tool along a first plunge vector and machining a region of the work piece near a tooth head of a first tooth flank of the tooth. A substantially transverse movement of the tool along a transverse vector is then executed to machine a region of the work piece near a tooth head of the second tooth flank of the tooth. A second plunging movement of the cutting tool along a vector path is then executed, to an end point of the second plunging movement that lies at a position of the work piece corresponding to the slot depth of the tooth gap to be fabricated. The cutting tool is rotated about an axis of rotation thereof during execution of these steps.

The invention relates to a method for producing a bevel gear wheel, in particular for rudder propellers, the teeth of which have a macro geometry specific to the gear wheels, the teeth of which can be described by flank and profile lines, the flanks of which have a tooth flank micro topography and the bearing surface of which represents the contact region of the inter-meshing teeth. The crown of a tooth flank corresponds to the elevation of the tooth flank center with respect to the tooth flank edge, wherein the course of the height and width crowns of the flank surface is substantially shaped like a circular arc. By means of precise material removal, the micro topography of the tooth flank and thus the bearing surface is optimized firstly in that the material removal is carried out such that the end relief on the tooth flank surface is reduced toward the tooth heel side and the tooth toe side, an area having a greater length and width comes into engagement on the flank and thus an enlarged bearing surface is present, and secondly in that the course of the crown the crown of a tooth flank follows an approximately logarithmic, elliptical and/or an exponential curve shape, which runs through the point of contact, when the ease-off is viewed with no load, in a longitudinal section in the flank sectional surface and/or in a profile section in the profile sectional surface.

A translocation-simulating loading apparatus for the gear grinding machine with the shaped grinding wheel is provided. The apparatus includes a load-receiving test piece disposed on the gear grinding machine with the shaped grinding wheel and a load-exerting component for use in loading simulation. The gear grinding machine enables linear movements along the X, Y, and Z axes, a rotary movement around the Y axis, a rotary movement C around the Z axis, and a rotary movement A around the X axis. An angle α is formed between the axis L of a ball seat of the load-exerting component and the X axis direction of a Y axis component and an angle formed between the normal line of a load receiving face a and the X direction of the coordinate system of the machine tool is α. A detection method for static stiffness distribution is provided.

A dispensing mechanism is adapted to eject a test sensor from a cartridge opening formed in a cartridge containing test sensors. The dispensing mechanism comprises a gear rack, a gear, and a wheel. The gear rack includes a first portion and a second portion located generally parallel to one another. The second portion of the gear rack includes a first plurality of teeth. The gear includes a second plurality of teeth that are adapted to be engaged by the first plurality of teeth upon movement of the gear rack. The wheel is operatively engaged by the gear and is adapted to dispense the test sensor from the cartridge opening and to seal the cartridge opening. The movement of the gear rack in a first direction causes the gear to rotate causing the wheel to rotate. The rotation of the wheel dispenses the test sensor through the cartridge opening.

A double shoot coulter assembly for an agricultural implement includes a packer wheel. The packer wheel is disposed behind a soil engaging blade. The packer wheel is configured to press soil displaced by the soil engaging blade into trenches formed by the soil engaging blade and a disc blade. A centerline of the packer wheel extends adjacent to a soil displacing side of the soil engaging blade.

A planter row unit is disclosed having an active downforce control system for the closing wheels. This separate control of the downforce pressure for the closing wheels is provided from the row unit downforce control. A single operator input is used to set a desired downforce for all row units. The control system then operates to produce the desired downforce. Alternatively, the control system may display a downforce load to the operator who then manually makes adjustments as desired.

A tongue pulled spreader and grader system having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls and cross beams to define a frame portion, a plurality of moveable or fixed blades extending between the sidewalls, each blade positionable along the length of each sidewall and fixed in position at a predetermined angle; a tongue for mounting the frame to the rear of a vehicle; a pair of wheels positioned on an axle on either side of the sidewalls; means for manually or hydraulically extending the wheels to a down position to make contact with a surface in order to transport the spreader and grader and for retracting the wheels to an up position so that the spreader and grader can undertake the grading process. The spreader and grader can attach to and be operated by ATVs, SUVs, light trucks, lawn tractors, sub compact tractors, side by side ATVs and fork trucks.

A scraper assembly for removing mud and moist soil from the gauge wheels of an agricultural planter includes a support rod attached to a hub of a gauge wheel arm, a clamp structure attached to an end portion of the support rod, and a scraper blade attached to the clamp structure. An axis of the end portion of the support rod is approximately perpendicular to and intersects with an axis of rotation of the gauge wheel. The scraper blade is mounted approximately perpendicular to the outer surface of the gauge wheel and is angled approximately 45 degrees from the sides of the gauge wheel. The scraper blade has a curved profile along its length that substantially matches an outer profile of the outer surface of the gauge wheel when the scraper blade is properly adjusted.

A four-wheel independent suspension system for an electric wheelchair includes a chassis, two front wheels each fixed to a front rod respectively, and two rear wheels each fixed to a rear rod respectively. The chassis includes a rail extending in a width direction of the chassis, each of the front and rear rods has one end connected to a square first connecting sleeve, in the first connecting sleeve is disposed a first shock absorber which includes a rectangular outer pipe, and a rectangular inner pipe disposed in and rotated degrees with respect to the outer pipe, the edges of the inner pipe are abutted against the inner surface of the outer pipe, between each of the edges of the inner pipe and the inner space of the outer pipe is disposed an elastic rubber, the inner pipe of each of the first shock absorbers is sleeved on the rail.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a nursing wheelchair, comprising a seat member which deploys on a frame body to form a seat. The nursing wheelchair readily allows transfer of a person receiving care, and is lightweight and easy to operate. A nursing wheelchair (1) comprises seat members (7a, 7b) which deploy on seat support frames (14a, 14b) constituting part of a frame body (2) in order to form a seat.

Aspirator for an airbag deploying into a vehicle passenger compartment in order to protect a driver of the vehicle during an accident, includes a housing having an innermost and an outermost wall and defining an outlet at a distal end leading to an airbag and coaxial flow passages between the innermost and outermost walls into which air from a passenger compartment flows to inflate the airbag. An aspiration system is coupled to the housing and configured to direct gas into the flow passages to mix with the air from the passenger compartment in the flow passages. The aspiration system includes openings on an inner side of the outermost wall and on an outer side of the innermost wall. These openings are configured such that the gas is directed therefrom into the flow passages in a direction substantially parallel to a flow direction of air into the flow passages.

Considerable damage to rails, wheels, and trucks can result from geometric anomalies in the wheelsets, rails, and truck hardware. A solution for identifying and quantifying geometric anomalies known to influence the service life of the rolling stock or the ride comfort for the case of passenger service is described. The solution comprises an optical system, which can be configured to accurately perform measurements at mainline speeds (e.g., greater than 100 mph). The optical system includes laser line projectors and imaging cameras and can utilize structured light triangulation.

An improved seed metering wheel assembly is provided to deliver a substantially constant flow of seed to a downstream treating device or the like, without any substantial surging of seeds. The seed metering wheel assembly includes an axially rotatable metering wheel having a plurality of strategically sized and arranged seed metering openings therethrough, arranged in circular arrays of differently sized metering openings. In another embodiment, the seed metering wheel includes a central hub section and an outermost rib, with a series of ribs between the hub section and rim, which lie along respective non-diameter chords. Incoming seed is delivered from a seed hopper outlet by gravitation to the metering wheel, which preferably provides a substantially constant open area while preventing wholly unobstructed flow of seeds.

The vehicle with wheelchair positioning mechanism includes an automotive vehicle that is modified to assist a disabled person to enter, operate and exit the vehicle. The modification includes a wheelchair lift adjacent the rear of the vehicle. An internal rail system extends from the rear of the vehicle to the front of the vehicle adjacent the vehicle's driving controls. A remotely controlled platform is rotatably mounted on a carriage for movement on the rail system. The platform is adapted to support a wheelchair thereon. The platform can be rotated 360° so that the wheelchair moves forward when entering and exiting the vehicle.

A belt structure for a two-wheeled vehicle made by means of strip-like segments or elements, each including parallel cords embedded in an elastomeric layer, sequentially laid along the circumferential extension of a toroidal support so as to form a reinforcing layer having a continuous circumferential extension around a geometric rotation axis of the toroidal support, wherein each strip-like element is laid in a laying trajectory defining, at each point, a laying angle; at each point of the laying trajectory a laying gap is formed between adjacent strip-like elements; the laying trajectory is formed starting from preselected laying angles on the shoulder and on the crown of the tire; the laying gap between adjacent strip-like elements varies along at least one length of said laying trajectory between crown and shoulder so as to cause variation of the laying angle and obtain the preselected angles on the shoulder and on the crown.

A mounted assembly of a wheel and a tire. The tire inflation pressure is greater than 9 bar, and a relative deflection of the tire greater than 30%. The rim comprises a drop-center functionality and is of monobloc type. A carcass reinforcement includes a circumferential alignment of carcass reinforcement elements anchored in the beads by a stack of circumferentially oriented reinforcement elements, and by an anchoring rubber mix having an elasticity modulus of less than 30 MPa at 10% deformation.

Embodiments relate to unidirectional TPMS utilizing information from a corresponding vehicle system in order to correlate with vehicle speed information to be used in a tire localization methodology. In an embodiment, the vehicle system is an anti-lock brake system (ABS), and the vehicle speed can be used in a localization scheme that reconstructs a +/−1 g ripple with waveform, amplitude, frequency and phase parameters. Because the waveform is known to be sinusoidal (due to the wheel rotation), the amplitude is known to be 2 g peak-to-peak (due to the gravitational +/−1 g), the frequency depends on vehicle speed (which can be estimated from centrifugal force measurements), and an algorithm is discussed herein for determining the phase by correlation, the +/−1 g ripple can be reconstructed and the wheels localized therefrom.

A device for changing the rotational angle position of a pneumatic tire relative to a rim, on which the pneumatic tire is fitted to the rim, includes a manipulating device with a gripper adapted to be rotated by a positionable rotary drive mechanism and having radially adjustable gripper fingers with oppositely facing lift-off devices. Via the gripper it is possible to load a wheel into a clamping fixture, and following unseating of the tire beads from the clamped rim the pneumatic tire can be rotated relative to the rim through a computed angular difference.

A mounting device for mounting or dismounting a vehicle tire on a wheel rim, the wheel rim or the wheel being supported on a mounting table and a pressing-down device being provided for sliding the vehicle tire on the wheel rim. A movement of the pressing-down device is essentially parallel to the wheel axis for sliding the vehicle tire on the wheel rim or pulling off the vehicle tire from the wheel rim.

A motorcycle wheel changing tool is presented that utilizes a rolling carriage that immobilizes the front or back wheel utilizing flat steel swing arms and a tension spring that holds the wheel in place with a knockout retaining rod through the wheel. The entire unit can be rolled and/or lifted in place to work in conjunction with a motorcycle stand. There is a folding handle that expands or contracts to accommodate different size tire/wheel widths and can pull the unit. The rolling wheels can be raised or lowered for different motorcycles depending on the height of the bike in relation to the wheel stand. Additionally, four large eye hooks can be raised or lowered to secure the wheel. Two threaded rods are utilized that secure both angle ends in place to secure the unit so that it is perpendicular to the wheel and keeps the unit from flexing.

An apparatus (1) for mounting and removing a tire (2) on and from a respective rim (3) comprises: a movement element (9) for moving a bead (2a) of the tire (2) in order to insert/remove the bead (2a) into/from a respective groove in the rim (3); means (4) for supporting and moving the rim (3), designed to rotationally drive the rim about its longitudinal axis; characterized in that the means (4) for supporting and moving the rim (3) comprise a sensor (252) for measuring the mechanical strain applied to the supporting and movement means (4) as a result of the mechanical stress on the bead (2a) of the tire (2) during mounting/removal of the latter on/from the rim (3).

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

A machine for fitting and removing wheel tires for vehicles includes a bearing structure, at least an apparatus for fastening and rotating the rim of a wheel for vehicles, a tool-carrier unit associated mobile with the bearing structure and having a removal tool, at least an adjustment apparatus suitable for adjusting the position of the tool-carrier unit with respect to the bearing structure, to place the tool-carrier unit into a work configuration wherein the removal tool is arranged in proximity of the apparatus for fastening and rotating, at least a memorisation device for memorising the position of the tool-carrier unit in the work configuration and at least a positioning device for positioning the tool-carrier unit with respect to the bearing structure between the work configuration and a configuration of minimum overall dimensions, wherein the tool-carrier unit is arranged in proximity of the bearing structure.

Apparatus including a wheel balancing device and a tire changing device, comprising a spindle shaft for rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel or rim, unbalance measuring means operatively connected to the spindle shaft and having a spatial unbalance measuring area in which unbalance forces of the wheel or rim are detected, tire changer tools for assembling a tire onto a rim, spindle supporting means supporting the spindle shaft in a force acting range in which forces are created between the tire changer tools and the tire during the assembling or disassembling of the tire, tool supporting means supporting the tire changer tools within the force acting range which is arranged outside of the spatial unbalance measuring area, and drive means driving the spindle shaft with a rotational speed and torque adapted for assembling and disassembling the tire or for measuring unbalance forces of the wheel or rim.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one linear mounter sub-station that couples the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly. The apparatus also includes a transporting device that transports one of the wheel and the tire along a linear path that traverses the at least one linear mounter sub-station. The component of the at least one linear mounter sub-station resists, but does not prevent, movement of one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel along the linear path in order to spatially manipulate one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel in order to at least partially couple the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

The present invention concerns a wheel-clamping device for wheels on wheel-service-machines with only one drive unit and further a method for clamping wheels on a wheel-clamping device of wheel-service-machines with only one drive unit. The innovative wheel-clamping device for a wheel-service-machine according to the present invention comprises a frame 20 having a through-opening 22, and a spindle 30 being rotatably supported in the through-opening 22. Further, the spindle 30 has a through-hole 32 with a mounting-side end 30b and a driving-side end 30a, which is connectable to a drive means which is provided for a rotary movement for the spindle 30, wherein the spindle 30 has an external thread 34 on an external circumferential portion. Moreover, the wheel-clamping device comprises a sleeve 50 with a turntable 58 for the wheel to be clamped, wherein the sleeve 50 has an internal thread portion 52 which is in threaded engagement with the external thread-portion 34 of the spindle 30. Furthermore, a stopping or holding means 70 is able to temporarily hold the sleeve 50, and a clamping means 60 for the temporarily fixation of a fixing element 40 which is inserted through the mounting-side end 30b, to the spindle 30 is also provided in the innovative wheel-clamping device.

A saw system in one embodiment includes a base, a work support surface member supported by the base and including a work piece support surface defining a horizontal work piece support plane, and a plurality of wheels, each of the plurality of wheels engaged with at least one of the base and the work support surface member, wherein none of the plurality of wheels is attached to either the base or the work support surface member.

The motorized cutter with wheels (10) comprises a motorized cutter (20) and a carriage (30). The motorized cutter (20) is equipped with an engine (24), a blade (22) rotatably driven by the engine (24), and a light-emitting unit (50) that generates laser light (52) in the same plane as the plane of rotation of the blade (22). A roadbed (90) is then cut along a line (X) drawn on the roadbed (90) by operating the motorized cutter with wheels (10) so that the line (X) is irradiated with the laser light (52). It is possible to remove the motorized cutter (20) from the carriage (30) together with the light-emitting unit (50).

A method of dressing a wheel using a polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser, the method comprising: rotating the wheel; and contacting a working surface of the wheel with a working surface of the polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser, wherein the polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser is oriented such that a leading edge of the working surface of the polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser is formed of larger grains than a trailing edge of the working surface of the polycrystalline CVD synthetic diamond dresser.

An outer blade cutting wheel comprising an annular thin disc base of cemented carbide and a blade section of metal or alloy-bonded abrasive grains on the outer periphery of the base is provided. The abrasive grains are diamond and/or cBN grains having an average grain size of 45-310 μm and a TI of at least 150. The blade section includes overlays having a thickness tolerance (T3max−T3min) of 0.001 mm to 0.1×T2 mm. The blade section has a roundness (ODmax/2−ODmin/2) of 0.001 mm to 0.01×ODmax mm.

The invention relates to a device for dressing a grinding wheel, comprising a sleeve to hold a corundum rod laterally and to guide it along its longitudinal axis, a ram to apply constant thrust force onto the corundum rod held in place and guided in the sleeve, to bring it into contact with the grinding wheel, means of rigidly connecting the ram shaft to the end of the corundum rod, and linear guide means for the sleeve for translating the corundum rod parallel to the axis of the grinding wheel while keeping the rod pressed against the grinding wheel with a constant force. Application to a centerless grinder in which the grinding wheel is used to grind nuclear fuel pellets.

A method of producing a trailing arm of a torsion beam axle in which an integrated drive unit of a wheel-adjacent electric drive has an electric machine and a transmission. By using the method, the trailing arm is produced in the form of a casting with a box profile. The contours for producing the area that accommodates the transmission, the connection point to the vehicle body, the bore that receives the cross-member which connects the two trailing arms to one another, the U-profile of the trailing arm, the box profile and the area that accommodates the electric machine, are modeled by cores such that the contours for producing the connection point of the trailing arm to the vehicle body, the bore that receives the cross-member and the U-profile of the trailing arm are modeled by one core.

An actuator for a wheel guiding element of motor vehicle wheel suspensions, with a first, preferably electrically driven actuating drive which selectively changes the length of the wheel guiding element, in the actuator there being a compensation spring which counteracts the compressive forces acting on the wheel guiding element. According to the invention, the pretensioning force of the compensation spring can be changed by means of a second, preferably electrically driven actuating drive.

A retractable wheel assembly includes a bracing member and a wheeled arm pivotally coupled to the bracing member. The wheeled arm is sized and positioned such that the wheeled arm rotates through an aperture of the bracing member. The wheeled arm includes an arm member, a wheel, and an aperture cover shaped and positioned such that when the wheeled arm is in a retracted mode, the aperture cover covers a majority of the aperture, but not substantially all, thereby forming a wheel gap. The wheel assembly includes a deployment arm and a trap member operationally coupled to the deployment arm, including a trap flange sized and positioned to cover the wheel gap when in a closed mode and to substantially uncover the wheel gap in an open mode. The retractable wheel assembly includes a handle operationally coupled to the trap member.

A fast detachable side wheel device, comprising: a first wheel cover, a second wheel cover, a wheel body, and a movable component. Firstly, wheel body is fixed in first receiving groove of second wheel cover as a replaceable component. Through positioning of a dovetail groove of first wheel cover and a dovetail tenon of second wheel cover, thus vibration, collision, or detachment of wheel body due to outside force can be avoided. Then, the movable component is used to control the positioning or detaching states between first wheel cover and second wheel cover, thus achieving fast and labor saving assembly and detachment of side wheels.

The invention provides a carry-on wheeled luggage (1) for photographic equipment that has an interior compartment (80) deep enough to accommodate a large article of photographic equipment such as at least a 400 mm 2.8 f-stop aperture telephoto lens.

This invention relates generally to wheeled luggage, and particularly to wheeled luggage with one or more controlled wheels for improved tracking and steering control of the luggage case when it is in motion. The invention provides a support structure for a luggage case comprising a plurality of spaced parallel wheels and at least one biasing element that is operable up to a certain torque to releasably restrain the angular movement at least one wheel to at least one angular position with respect to the base. Conveniently, the at least one angular position corresponds to a desired direction of travel.

An apparatus and a method for determining a damage state of a wheel bearing (12), in which a wheel (15) with a tire (9) arranged on a rim (8) in such a manner that the wheel can be rotated on an axle, in a motor vehicle, in particular during maintenance work on the motor vehicle. In order to avoid the wheel bearing (12) being accessed unnecessarily, a sensor unit (1) which communicates with an evaluation unit and is removably fastened radially outside a screw circle (11) of the rim (8) is provided for the purpose of determining the damage state.

A tractive force control part of a wheel loader is configured to perform a tractive force control to reduce a maximum tractive force. The tractive force control part is further configured to reduce the maximum tractive force when determination conditions including, while a working implement is performing excavation operation, that the working implement is in a raising hydraulic stall condition and that a drive circuit pressure is greater than or equal to a predetermined hydraulic pressure threshold are satisfied during the tractive force control.

A modified delta linkage robot uses a reverse orientation arm linkage that includes an inwardly direct lower arm. This reverse arm orientation provides a number of advantages with respect to access over an extending surface such as may occur in a home, office or other environments shared with people. The delta linkage may also have application in certain factory environments, particularly when combined with an omni wheeled base. The linkage and the preferred linkage and omni wheeled base provide a stable movable platform. In addition this combination can advantageously include a number of sensors to take active steps to discourage and/or reduce the effect of sudden forces applied thereto.

A system includes a fan and a duct system. The fan is configured to be attached to the steering wheel. The duct system has a first portion and a second portion, and is configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of an armature of the steering wheel and enable air from the fan to be communicated from the fan to a surface of the steering wheel. The first portion includes a section extending along the armature of the steering wheel, and the second portion includes a plurality of nozzles extending radially from an outer surface of the first portion toward an outer surface of the steering wheel.

The subject matter discloses an apparatus for securing a mobile device to a steering wheel, comprising: a main flap connected to a rear surface of the mobile device, said main flap is made of a rigid material; a holder attached to the main flap, said holder secures the mobile device to the main flap; an elliptic unit extending from the main flap and surrounding the steering wheel. The apparatus may be part of a kit that also comprises a second holder attached to the rear surface of the mobile device, said second holder is in contact with the first holder.

A stretcher including an upper frame for mounting a lifter thereon, a front leg pivotably attached to the upper frame, a rear leg pivotably attached to the upper frame, a fixed caster attached to one end of the front leg, a swivel caster attached to one end of the rear leg, and an auxiliary swivel caster attached to the front leg, wherein the upper frame is vertically adjustable by folding the front and rear legs relative to the upper frame, and wherein the auxiliary swivel caster is positioned relative to the fixed caster such that the auxiliary swivel caster is in contact with the ground when the upper frame is fully lowered and the front leg is folded away from the rear leg, and the auxiliary swivel caster is out of contact with the ground when the upper frame is fully lowered and the front leg is folded toward the rear leg.