Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Wheel mechanism for autonomous mobile device
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Application No.: US16216578Application Date: 2018-12-11
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Publication No.: US11338616B1Publication Date: 2022-05-24
- Inventor: Christopher Wells Fitzhugh , Shelley Tyler Villano , Lisa Dlima
- Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- Applicant Address: US WA Seattle
- Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- Current Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- Current Assignee Address: US WA Seattle
- Agency: Lindauer Law, PLLC
- Main IPC: B60B33/00
- IPC: B60B33/00 ; B25J11/00 ; B25J5/00 ; B60B7/00

Abstract:
An autonomous mobile device may use a pair of main wheels and a caster assembly to provide mobility. The main wheels are driven by motors, providing steering and movement. Each main wheel may include a cover that conceals and protects a hub of the main wheel from the external environment. The covers may be held in place by elastomeric posts, allowing easy changeout. The caster assembly has a minimal overall height and a field replaceable caster wheel. The caster wheel may include a target that is detectable by a non-contact sensor to detect caster wheel rotation. The caster wheel may comprise an axle, caster wheel hub, and a pair of caster wheel endcaps on each end of the axle. A set of features on the caster wheel hub and each of the caster wheel endcaps provide a labyrinthian path that prevents debris from fouling around the axle.
Information query