Meta Platforms, Inc.
Driven caster wheel and assembly

Abstract:

A driven caster wheel assembly may include a wheel, an axle, a drive assembly, a drive shaft, and a bevel gear. The wheel may be mounted to the axle for rotation about a drive axis and steering about a substantially vertical steering axis. The drive shaft may extend along the steering axis from a first end to a second end, with the first end being connected to the axle and the second end being connected to the drive assembly such that the drive assembly controls rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis. The bevel gear may connect the first end to the axle such that rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis controls rotation of the wheel about the drive axis to drive the driven caster wheel assembly in a substantially horizontal direction. Various other assemblies and methods are also disclosed.