A steerable omni-directional platform cart is disclosed. In one embodiment the cart may include two motorized wheels which can drive the cart in translational movement. The wheels may be selectably rotated together about a vertical axis so as to provide steering control for the cart. The wheels may also be rotated in opposite clockwise directions to cause the cart to pivot about a vertical axis. In a second embodiment, a motorized wheel is disposed with it axis of rotation disposed at a non-perpendicular angle to the platform. Rotation of the motor driven wheel about the rotational axis provides translational movement for the cart in a defined direction. The rotational axis of the wheel is selectively rotatable about a second axis to thereby selectably rotate the defined direction of translational movement about the second axis to provide steering of the cart. In a third embodiment, a motorized wheel is disposed with its axis of rotation disposed at a non-perpendicular angle to the platform, with the wheel biased out of contact with the support surface but lowerable against the bias and into contact to allow the user to select whether the cart is to be motor or manually driven.
STEERABLE PLATFORM CART
2019-11-07
Patent
Electronic Resource
English