A wheel assembly for a wheeled apparatus

A powered drive wheel assembly for a wheeled apparatus to be wheeled along a ground surface, wherein the assembly is attachable to a chassis of the wheeled apparatus and comprises a powered wheel rotatably mounted on a wheel axle, and wherein the wheel assembly also comprises a suspension system comprising:

• a biasing member;
• and
• a swing arm that comprises a pair of connecting arms and a rotation element, each of the connecting arms being fixedly attached to and extending from the rotation element and being directly or indirectly rotatably attached to the wheel axle on opposing sides of the wheel, wherein the swing arm engages with the biasing member to bias the swing arm to rotate in a first direction to apply a downward force on the wheel axle;
• a mounting feature that is attachable to a chassis of the wheeled apparatus;
• at least one first connecting member that is rotatably attached to the mounting feature at a first connection joint;
• at least one second connecting member that is rotatably attached to the first connecting member at a second connection joint and that is fixedly attached to a respective side of the wheel axle at a third connection joint;
• wherein each of the connecting arms of the swing arm are also directly or indirectly rotatably attached to either side of the wheel axle;
• wherein the rotation element is rotatably attached to the mounting feature at a fourth connection joint;
• and wherein the first, second, third and fourth connection joints are distanced from each other.

A powered drive wheel assembly for a wheeled apparatus to be wheeled along a ground surface, wherein the assembly is attachable to a chassis of the wheeled apparatus and comprises a powered wheel rotatably mounted on a wheel axle, wherein the wheel assembly also comprises a suspension system comprising:

• a biasing member;
• and
• a suspension element that comprises a rotation element and a pair of connecting arms, each of the connecting arms being fixedly attached to and extending from the rotation element and being directly or indirectly attached to the wheel axle on opposing sides of the wheel, wherein the swing arm engages with the biasing member to bias the swing arm to rotate in a first direction to apply a downward force on the wheel axle;
• a first connecting member attachable to a chassis of the wheeled apparatus and that comprises a pair of guide walls and a channel located between the guide walls;
• at least one second connecting member that is fixedly attached to the wheel axle and that is slidably received within the channel;
• wherein each of the connecting arms of the suspension element are directly or indirectly rotatably attached to the wheel axle;
• wherein the rotation element is rotatably attached to a mounting feature;
• and
• wherein the second connecting member is slidable along the channel.

A wheel assembly for a wheeled apparatus, wherein the assembly comprises:

• a drive wheel rotatably mounted on a wheel axle;
• a suspension system comprising:
• a swing arm rotatably attached to the wheel axle at or near a distal end of the swing arm and also rotatably attached to a mounting feature at or near a proximal end of the swing arm, the mounting feature being directly or indirectly attachable to a chassis of the wheeled apparatus;
• and
• a biasing member to bias the distal end of the swing arm downwardly to apply a downward force on the wheel axle;
• a first connecting member rotatably attached to the mounting feature;
• and
• a second connecting member, wherein the second connecting member is movably attached to the first connecting member and fixedly attached to the wheel axle.

A traction enhancing suspension system for a drive wheel, the system comprising:

• a swing arm that pivotably attaches the drive wheel to a chassis of a wheeled apparatus, the swing arm comprising a rotation element and a pair of first and second connecting arms that are directly or indirectly attached to an axle of the drive wheel, each of the connecting arms being fixedly attached to and extending from the rotation element;
• a biasing member acting on the swing arm to rotate the swing arm about a rotational axis of the rotation element and apply a downward pressure on the drive wheel during use of the drive wheel;
• a first connecting member directly or indirectly attached to the chassis of the wheeled apparatus;
• and
• a second connecting member movably attached to the first connecting member and fixedly attached to the wheel axle to translate opposing torque from the drive wheel into forces, comprising a predominantly horizontal component, applied to the chassis, via the swing arm and the first and second connecting members, to maintain traction between the drive wheel and a ground surface.