Dampening for a dolly wheel within a steering system

摘要

A dolly wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a dolly wheel and a dolly wheel spindle fixedly secured to the dolly wheel such that the dolly wheel and the dolly wheel spindle rotate together as a single unit. The dolly wheel spindle is in communication with a dampening device so as to apply a resisting force to the dolly wheel spindle. Application of the resisting or braking force restricts or prevents free rotation of the dolly wheel about an axis defined by the dolly wheel spindle. The dampening device is in communication with a controller which causes the dampening device to apply the resisting or braking force or to remove application of the resisting or braking force upon demand to satisfy a variety of different conditions encountered with the vehicle operation considering functional implication of the dolly wheel assembly.