US 12,221,181 B2
Tugger cart system with automated lifting and steering
Joseph Knepp, Morton, IL (US); Ryan Merritt, Mapelton, IL (US); Ryan Smock, Morton, IL (US); Nicholas Kaiser, Morton, IL (US); and Christopher Camp, Morton, IL (US)
Assigned to J-TEC INDUSTRIES, INC., East Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by J-tec Industries, Inc., East Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/579,089.
Prior Publication US 2023/0227088 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 57/032 (2006.01); B62B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 57/032 (2013.01) [B62B 5/0036 (2013.01); B62B 5/0069 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tugger cart system comprising:
a tugger cart comprising
a tugger frame having a front member, a rear member, a transverse member connecting the front member to the rear member, and at least one bay defined by the front member and the rear member, the at least one bay being dimensioned to receive a rider cart,
at least one platform configured to secure a rider cart within the at least one bay of the tugger frame,
a plurality of wheels operatively coupled to the tugger frame,
at least one motor that pivots the plurality of wheels from side to side to steer the plurality of wheels,
at least one connector bracket coupled to the tugger frame at a pivot point such that the at least one connector bracket pivots relative to the tugger frame from side to side along a vertical axis, the at least one connector bracket configured to attach the tugger frame to an adjacent tugger cart or tugger truck, and
at least one sensor system that senses a degree that the at least one connector bracket is pivoted relative to the tugger frame and that generates an electronic signal comprising the degree of pivot; and
a controller configured to receive an electronic signal from the at least one sensor system and control the at least one motor to steer the plurality of wheels based on the electronic signal.