CARRIAGES

摘要

A carriage is provided with castors, a power driven wheel at one end of t he carriage, a support element supporting the wheel and a raising and lowering mechanism for raising the support element and thus the wheel out of engageme nt with the ground and for lowering the support element and thus the wheel into engagement with the ground. The support element is angularly displaceable about a vertical axis to turn the wheel to steer the carriage when the power driven wheel is in engagement with the ground. A locking device is also provided for releasably locking a castor at the other end of the carriage in a position in which it will encourage the carriage to move in a straight ahead direction when the power driven wheel is in engagement with the ground. The carriage may be in the form of a n invalid hoist, shopping trolley or bed.