Cart retriever vehicle

A vehicle for moving at least one wheeled cart, the vehicle comprising:

• a chassis supported by at least two wheels;
• electric drive means supported by the chassis, the drive means coupled to the at least two wheels;
• means for generating a drive signal, the drive signal comprising at least one target speed;
• a controller coupled to the electric drive means, the controller operative to energize the electric drive means to move the vehicle in response to the drive signal, the controller comprising means for controlling the vehicle speed at the target speed including:
• a disk coupled to the electric drive means;
• the disk including a plurality of apertures along a circumference of a concentric area of the disk;
• means for counting the plurality of apertures as the disk rotates;
• and
• means for coupling the at least one wheeled cart to the vehicle;
• a front plate mounted on the chassis;
• two arcuate jaws protruding from the front plate, the arcuate jaws operative to engage corresponding vertical rear frame members of the at least one wheeled cart;
• and
• locking means for locking the at least one wheeled cart, wherein the locking means includes a moveable pin positionable across an open portion of one of the two arcuate jaws.

A vehicle for moving at least one wheeled cart, the vehicle comprising:

• a chassis supported by at least two wheels;
• electric drive means supported by the chassis, the drive means coupled to the at least two wheels;
• means for generating a drive signal, the drive signal comprising at least one target speed;
• a controller coupled to the electric drive means, the controller operative to energize the electric drive means to move the vehicle in response to the drive signal, the controller comprising means for controlling the vehicle speed at the target speed and means for braking the vehicle, the means for braking including:
• a motor drive shaft coupled to at least one of the two wheels;
• a brake disk on the motor drive shaft;
• a moveable rocker arm adjacent to the brake disk;
• means for positioning the rocker arm in a first position in friction contact with the brake disk and a second position wherein the friction contact is released;
• and
• means for coupling at least one wheeled cart to the vehicle, the means for coupling including:
• a front plate mounted on the chassis;
• two arcuate jaws protruding from the front plate, the arcuate jaws operative to engage corresponding vertical rear frame members of the at least one wheeled cart;
• and
• locking means for locking the at least one wheeled cart, wherein said locking means includes a moveable pin positionable across an open portion of one of the two arcuate jaws.