Wheel assemblies for shuttles powered by linear synchronous motors

A system comprising:

• a shuttle frame comprising a front lateral portion, a rear lateral portion, and a central member disposed between the front lateral portion and the rear lateral portion;
• a first wheel assembly disposed at a first end of the front lateral portion, the first wheel assembly comprising a first wheel configured to engage a first sidewall of the track, and a second wheel configured to engage the track, wherein the second wheel is disposed at a positive toe angle, wherein the first wheel assembly further comprises:
• a pivot mechanism disposed on an inner side of the first end of the front lateral portion, wherein the second wheel is a vertical wheel and is coupled to the pivot mechanism, and wherein the vertical wheel is configured to pivot between −5 degrees and +5 degrees with respect to the pivot mechanism;
• a second wheel assembly disposed at a second end of the front lateral portion, the second wheel assembly comprising a third wheel configured to engage a second sidewall of the track, and a fourth wheel configured to engage the track, wherein the fourth wheel is disposed at the positive toe angle;
• a third wheel assembly disposed at a first end of the rear lateral portion, the third wheel assembly comprising a fifth wheel configured to engage the first sidewall of the track, and a sixth wheel configured to engage the track, wherein the sixth wheel is disposed at the positive toe angle;
• and
• a fourth wheel assembly disposed at a second end of the rear lateral portion, the fourth wheel assembly comprising a seventh wheel configured to engage the second sidewall of the track, and an eighth wheel configured to engage the track, wherein the eighth wheel is disposed at the positive toe angle.

A shuttle configured to move along a track, the shuttle comprising:

• a frame comprising a front lateral portion, a rear lateral portion, and a central member disposed between the front lateral portion and the rear lateral portion;
• a first wheel assembly disposed at a first end of the front lateral portion, the first wheel assembly comprising a first wheel configured to engage a first sidewall of the track, and a second wheel configured to engage the track, wherein the second wheel is disposed at a positive toe angle;
• a second wheel assembly disposed at a second end of the front lateral portion, the second wheel assembly comprising a third wheel configured to engage a second sidewall of the track, and a fourth wheel configured to engage the track, wherein the fourth wheel is disposed at the positive toe angle;
• a third wheel assembly disposed at a first end of the rear lateral portion, the third wheel assembly comprising a fifth wheel configured to engage the first sidewall of the track, and a sixth wheel configured to engage the track, wherein the sixth wheel is disposed at the positive toe angle, wherein the third wheel assembly further comprises:
• a pivot mechanism disposed on an inner side of the first end of the rear lateral portion, wherein the sixth wheel is a vertical wheel and is coupled to the pivot mechanism, and wherein the vertical wheel is configured to pivot between −5 degrees and +5 degrees with respect to the pivot mechanism;
• and
• a fourth wheel assembly disposed at a second end of the rear lateral portion, the fourth wheel assembly comprising a seventh wheel configured to engage the second sidewall of the track, and an eighth wheel configured to engage the track, wherein the eighth wheel is disposed at the positive toe angle.