Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/293,873, entitled “Dolly Wheel Steering System Employing Speed Related Dampening,” filed May 25, 2001; U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/293,848, entitled “Dual Mode Steering System For a Vehicle,” filed May 25, 2001; and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/317,008, entitled “Personal Mobility Vehicle,” filed Sep. 4, 2001. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to dolly wheels for use with a vehicle to provide zero turn capabilities. More specifically, the present invention relates to dolly wheels that can operate in various terrain and at high speeds and thus can be utilized in a variety of all terrain and high speed applications.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Dolly wheels are commonly used on vehicles or other devices which operate at low speeds (0-10 m.p.h.). However, when the speed of the vehicle increases, such as to 15 m.p.h. or greater, current dolly wheels can become unstable and oscillate or shimmy. The oscillation or shimmying is a phenomenon characterized by the vibration or rotation of the dolly wheel about its axis. The oscillation or shimmying is caused in part by offset load impacts on the wheels, such as can occur when the side of the dolly wheel surface that engages the road contacts resistance, stones or bumps, which cause the wheel to rotate and then recenter when the trailing dolly effect again becomes the controlling directional force on the wheel. In rapidly recentering, the wheel typically goes past center and then must recenter back again. The rapid effect that this phenomenon sets up is an ongoing shimmy or oscillation which is disruptive to the smooth operation of the vehicle.  
           [0004]    As the speed of the vehicle increases, the need for rapid response of the dolly wheels and full rotation of the dolly wheels is lessened. At higher speeds, as discussed, however, road impacts to the dolly wheels can excite oscillation and instability of the dolly wheel axles. It would therefore be desirable to provide a dolly wheel system which resists the dynamic excitation caused by use of the dolly wheels at high speed.  
           [0005]    As is known, with dolly wheel steering systems the front wheels follow the vehicle&#39;s motion direction as the vehicle rotation is normally provided by the drive axle. Dolly wheel in concert with drive axle steering utilizes free rotating dolly wheels that are configured to swivel 360 degrees with the trailing wheel center allowing for automatic alignment. In addition to instability at high speeds, this zero turn capability about the driven axis can cause instability when the free rotating dolly wheels encounter rough terrain which can result on loss of directional control. For example, because the dolly wheels respond to the unequal speeds of the drive wheels, undesired vehicle rotation and hence turning can result, such as when one drive wheel experiences slippage due to lack of traction or when the vehicle is driving along a side hill where the tires see unequal weight and thus unequal traction, or a side hill where the vehicle weight over the dolly wheel wants to pull that end downhill, whereas a steered tire would hold the desired vehicle path. At slower speeds and in normal conditions, however, the dolly wheels are required to have complete freedom to follow the drive wheel turn requirements.  
           [0006]    It would therefore be desirable to have a dampening and/or locking system that can operate upon receipt of signals indicating the presence of conditions that are detrimental to dolly wheel stability or to undesired vehicle turning.  
           [0007]    Presently, various methods and designs have been developed to reduce these problem of shimmying and oscillating. Some of these designs have used hydraulic braking devices and friction devices in order to restrain movement of the dolly wheels regardless of the speed of the vehicle. Moreover, some of these hydraulic dampers operate only at certain positions of the dolly wheels and others operate for the entire 360 degrees of rotation of the dolly wheel axle. They are thus constrained by when they can be deployed.  
           [0008]    In one particular example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,365, a system for providing a braking force for a dolly wheel is provided. The disclosed system provides a dolly wheel assembly including a support for attaching the dolly wheel to a vehicle, a dolly wheel mounting member rotatably mounted on the support, a rotating brake member mounted so as to rotate with the dolly wheel axle, and a stationary brake member fixed relative to the vehicle. The dolly wheel axle is defined by the dolly wheel kingpin and is free to rotate throughout the 360 degree path of travel of the dolly wheel. The assembly also includes a controller for operating the brake so as permit braking of the dolly wheel axle at any position.  
           [0009]    In this case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,365, the programmable controller is intended to sense the speed of the vehicle. When the programmable controller senses that the speed of the vehicle is below a preset level, it does not apply any braking force to the axle and allows it to freely rotate. When the programmable controller senses that the speed of the vehicle exceeds a preset speed, the controller applies a predetermined force to the brake, which is sufficient to prevent oscillation or shimmying. While this system and other similar systems have been developed, they all present problems in controlling the actual dampening force as well as its repeatability in varying environmental conditions. Moreover, their lack of sensitivity causes them to be limited as to when they can be employed or used and thus they are not readily applicable to all vehicle designs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening system that restricts the free rotation of the pivot axis under certain conditions.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening system that provides varying dampening forces for varying restriction of the free rotation of the pivot axis.  
           [0012]    It is a related object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening system that restricts the free rotation of the pivot axis in relation to speed of the vehicle employing the dolly wheel, and where limiting free rotation of the dolly wheel is advantageous to maintain directional control, through the use of a viscous fluid having characteristics of controllable varying viscosity.  
           [0013]    It is another related object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening system that restricts free rotation of the pivot axis in relation to speed and where limiting free rotation of the dolly wheel is advantageous to maintain directional control, through the use of a hydraulic device having a variable flow restricting device.  
           [0014]    It is a further related object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening system that restricts free rotation of the pivot axis in relation to speed and where limiting free rotation of the dolly wheel is advantageous to maintain directional control, through the use of an electric motor device having a circuit providing a variable resistance of rotation.  
           [0015]    It is yet another related object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening system that restricts the free rotation of the pivot axis in relation to speed and where limiting free rotation of the dolly wheel is advantageous to maintain directional control, through the use of a mechanical détente.  
           [0016]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening and/or locking system that operates in communication with system requests for stability for parking, maneuvering on a hillside or tight locations, and operating in conditions of lessened steering control due to variable drive wheel slippage.  
           [0017]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening system that can be incorporated into a mobility vehicle such as, but not limited to a personal mobility vehicle, a utility vehicle, or an automobile.  
           [0018]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a dolly wheel dampening system for a vehicle that reduces rotational oscillation and instability of the dolly wheel axles when the vehicle is operated at high speeds.  
           [0019]    In accordance with the above and the other objects of the present invention, a dolly wheel system is provided. The dolly wheel assembly includes a dolly wheel, a dolly wheel spindle in communication with the dolly wheel such that the dolly wheel and the dolly wheel spindle are fixedly secured to one another and are rotatable as a single unit. The dolly wheel spindle is in communication with a dampening device. The dampening device applies a restraining force to the dolly wheel spindle upon command to prevent the dolly wheel from rotating. The dampening device is in communication with a sensing system of the vehicle and controls related thereto such that the dampening device may be actuated to apply the restricting force to the dolly wheel or remove application of the force upon demand to accommodate for a variety of different circumstances.  
           [0020]    The dampening device is preferably comprised of an electro-viscous fluid which has a controllable changing viscosity upon application of, and in relation to, varying electrical charge. The viscous fluid is located in a chamber that surround the dolly wheel spindle. Upon application of a current, the viscosity of the fluid increases and in concert with the shape of the chamber within which the spindle rotates as well as the shape of the rotating spindle within the chamber, effectively results in the application of a braking force to the dolly wheel spindle to dampen or prevent its rotation. Similarly, upon the removal of the current, the viscosity of the fluid decreases to remove the braking or dampening force, which allows the spindle to rotate.  
           [0021]    The dampening device may also be comprised of an electric motor which has a resistance and braking force element that is electrically controllable responding in concert with the vehicle&#39;s sensing and controller signals. Similarly, upon removal of resisting forces, the motor allows essentially free rotation of the dolly wheel as desired for slow speed advantageous maneuverability.  
           [0022]    The dampening device may also be comprised of a hydraulic pump/motor which can generate a resistance and braking force element controllable by a restrictive flow orifice corresponding in concert with the vehicle&#39;s sensing and controller signals. Similarly, upon removal of flow restriction to the pump/motor flow, the motor allows essentially free rotation of the dolly wheel as desired for advantageous slow speed maneuverability.  
           [0023]    The dampening device may also be comprised of a détente device that upon receipt of a signal can provide varying stages of engagement to restrict and/or lock the dolly wheel pivot.  
           [0024]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a top view of a dolly wheel dampening system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a dolly wheel dampening system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dampening device of FIGS. 2, 4, and  5  in the direction of the arrows  3 - 3 ;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a dolly wheel dampening system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a dolly wheel dampening system in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dolly wheel dampening system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 is cross-sectional view of the dampening system of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows designated  7 - 7 ;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the dampening system of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows designated  8 - 8 ;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a dolly wheel dampening system in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a dolly wheel dampening system in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of a dolly wheel dampening system in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 12 is an illustration of a mobility vehicle utilizing a dolly wheel system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0037]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate a dolly wheel assembly  10  in accordance with the present invention. The dolly wheel assembly  10  includes a dolly wheel  12 , a dolly wheel mounting member  14 , a support member  16  for the dolly wheel assembly  10 , and a dolly wheel spindle  18 . The dolly wheel  12  is preferably a free rotating wheel that is capable of rotating or swiveling 360 degrees with respect to an axis  20  defined by the dolly wheel spindle  18 . The free rotating capability allows the dolly wheel to turn quickly. Moreover, the dolly wheel  12  can be turned to a variety of different positions, as shown generally by  12 ′ and  12 ″. In the preferred application, a pair of dolly wheel assemblies  10  are mounted to a front of a vehicle or other structure, as shown illustratively in FIG. 12. By utilizing dolly wheels for this application, this allows the vehicle to have zero turn steering capability.  
         [0038]    As shown, the dolly wheel mounting member  14  includes a pair of downwardly extending flange portions  22  and may include an upper portion  24 . The dolly wheel  12  is secured to the dolly wheel mounting member  14  by a shaft  21  that passes through each of the flange portions  22  and the center of the dolly wheel  12 . The dolly wheel  12  is secured to the dolly wheel mounting member  14  by the shaft  21  such that the dolly wheel  12  can freely rotate radially in either a forward or rearward direction. While a pair of flange portions  22  are preferably utilized to secure the dolly wheel  12 , it will be understood that only a single flange portion may also be utilized with the shaft  21  rigidly projected off of it to effectuate the axle. The mounting member  14  and the flange portions  22  can take on a variety of other configurations.  
         [0039]    The dolly wheel spindle  18  is preferably secured to the upper portion  24  of the dolly wheel mounting member  14 . Thus, as the dolly wheel  12  rotates with respect to the axis  20 , the dolly wheel spindle  18  similarly rotates. The dolly wheel spindle  18  is rotationally secured through a bearing device  33  to the support member  16  at an outer end  26 , such that the dolly wheel spindle  18  and the associated dolly wheel  12  can rotate in an axial direction with respect thereto. The support member  16  has an inner end  28  that is secured to a suspension system of a vehicle or other vehicle frame structure.  
         [0040]    The dolly wheel spindle  18  while supported by the bearing device  33  is preferably in communication with a dampening device  30  to regulate the free rotation of the pivot axis. As will be understood from the discussion below, the dampening device  30  can work on demand through a controller to partially or fully dampen or clamp the dolly wheel spindle  18  for system stability as required by the system in response to a signal related to the vehicle speed or variabilities of traction or terrain. The controlled dampening can be achieved by a mechanical, hydraulic, electrohydraulic or electrically actuated détente system, a variable viscosity dampener, or a dampener device of hydraulic or electrical means that provides resistance of the dolly wheel spindle  18  to rotation about the axis  20 . Various embodiments of the dolly wheel system  10  employing a dampening device are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of the dampening device  30 . As shown, the dolly wheel spindle  18  is located within a dampener housing  32 . The outer surface  34  of the dolly wheel spindle  18  includes a plurality of radial ribs  36  formed thereon and which extend generally outwardly. While radial ribs  36  are preferably utilized, a variety of other protruding structures or surface contours may be utilized. A chamber  38  is defined between the outer surface  34  of the dolly wheel spindle  18  and an inner surface  40  of the dampening housing  32 . The inner surface  40  of the dampening housing  32  also preferably has a plurality of radial grooves  42  formed therein. While radial grooves  42  are preferably utilized, a variety of other structures or surface contours may also be utilized. The dampening device  30  is in communication with a controller  46 .  
         [0042]    In accordance with the present invention, an electrically excited viscous fluid medium  50  is located within the chamber  38 . The viscous fluid medium is known to those skilled in the art as magnetorheological (MR) fluid technology that when excited at times and in magnitude determined by the controller  46 , by an electrical current, increases the effective viscosity of the fluid. However, it will be understood that other fluids of similar characteristics may be utilized. When current is applied to the chamber  38  through the contact  66 , to excite the fluid medium  50  as regulated by the controller  46 , such as from a current source located within the vehicle, the fluid medium  50  becomes more viscous up to and including a semi-solid state. The increased viscosity of the fluid medium  50 , together with the radial ribs  36  and the radial grooves  42  cause resistant and slower pivot response of the dolly wheel  12  about the axis  20 . Thus, the dampening device  30  restricts the dolly wheel  12  from rotating about the axis  20 , thus reducing undesired oscillation or rotation.  
         [0043]    The dampening device  30  is preferably on demand such that it can fully clamp or dampen the dolly wheel  12  as desired by an operator or as automatically controlled to respond to requirements for certain speed, traction, and terrain conditions. Each of the dolly wheels  12  of a vehicle can be clamped individually or collectively. For example, the vehicle can include an electronic speed sensor in communication with the drive system. When the sensor determines that the vehicle speed is rising above a certain level, a signal will be sent for electronic proportional actuation of the dampening device  30  to apply a restricting force to the rotation of the dolly wheel spindle  18 . In the case of a differential traction of the drive wheels of the vehicle, or in response to a signal of side slope greater than a preset level, a full clamping force could be applied. In this case, the resisting force would only be released in response to a significant steering input during this condition of operation. Moreover, feedback control is preferably provided such that the amount of viscous dampening force being applied can also be sensed by an electronic sensor.  
         [0044]    Some other examples of when the disclosed system can be utilized include for parking a vehicle on a hillside, maneuvering on a hillside, maneuvering in tight locations, or operating in conditions of lessened control or drive wheel slippage. Moreover, the dampening device  30  can be actuated directly. A principal benefit of the disclosed system is that the dampening device  30  can automatically and accurately engage in a desired relationship for vehicle travel stability. Additionally, another benefit is that the dampened steering at higher speeds reduces the likelihood of vehicle turning occurring at an unsafe rate. It will also be understood that the controller  46  could be designed to provide two or more modes of control with differing dolly wheel dampening relationships to accommodate an operator&#39;s desires related to vehicle use based on speed, terrain demands, style of driving, and traction conditions.  
         [0045]    As shown in FIG. 4, in another embodiment where the dampening device  30  is secured to the dolly wheel support member  16 . In this embodiment, the dampening device  30  is located in its dampening housing  32 . The dampening housing  32  includes a support attachment arm  58 , which is secured to the support member  16 . The dampening housing  32  has a cylindrical post  60  disposed therein which is secured to the dolly wheel spindle  18 . The dolly wheel spindle  18  is located in a spindle housing  62  and is secured to the upper portion  24 . The dolly wheel spindle  18  is supported on a bearing assembly  64  including a pair of bearings  65  that allow it to rotate.  
         [0046]    The dampening housing  32  has a chamber  38  located therein in which the viscous fluid medium  50  is located. The post  60  preferably has a plurality of radial ribs  36  formed thereon and the dampening housing  32  has an inner surface  40  having a plurality of radial grooves  42  formed therein. It will be understood that the dampening effect of the plurality of radial grooves  42  in concert with the plurality of radial ribs  36  and the varying viscosity fluid could be effectuated with similarly employed radial pins or other non-contact surface contours on the post  60  and the inner surface  40 . The dampening housing  32  thus takes on the same configuration as the dampening device  30  shown in FIG. 3, except that the post  60  is located within the dampening housing  32 . Moreover, the current to excite the viscous fluid medium  50  is preferably provided by a current contact  66 , which is in electrical communication with the current source as determined by the controller  46 . Thus, the dampening device  30  can be located external to the bearing assembly  64 . It will also be understood that the dampening device can be assembled internally and integral with the bearing assembly  64  between the bearings.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the dampening device  30  is used for the same purposes described above, namely to restrict movement of the dolly wheel  12  about its axis  20 . However, the dampening device  30  in this embodiment can also be used in conjunction with a dual mode steering system. In the dual mode steering system, the dampening device is utilized in conjunction with a motor  70  when the controlled steering mode of the dolly wheel assembly is utilized. The dual mode steering system is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Dolly Wheel Steering System for a Vehicle,” which is filed concurrently herewith and which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, in short, the motor  70 , which can be either hydraulic, electric, or mechanical is secured to the support arm  26 . The motor  70  is in communication with a pinion gear  72 , which drives a gear  74 , which is in communication with the cylindrical post  60 .  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 6 through 8 illustrate an embodiment of a mechanical détente system for the dolly wheel assembly  12  in accordance with the present invention. The mechanical détente system  80  is preferably in communication with a dolly wheel spindle  82  to regulate free rotation of the pivot axis. As will be understood, the mechanical détente system  80  embodiment of the dampening device  30  can work on demand to partially or fully dampen or clamp the dolly wheel spindle  82  for system stability.  
         [0049]    The mechanical détente system  80  includes a dampener housing  84  that houses the dolly wheel spindle  82  therewithin. The dolly wheel spindle  82  has a disc  86  fixedly secured to a bottom end  88  thereof such that the disc  86  rotates as the dolly wheel  12  and the dolly wheel spindle  82  rotate. The disc  86  has a notch  88  formed therein. The notch  88  is positioned such that it will receive a détente latch  90  therein when the dolly wheel  12  is oriented in a forward facing position. The notch  88  is generally “v” shaped with a pair of inwardly sloping surfaces  92  that help pull the détente latch  90  into secure engagement with the disc  86  to prevent rotation of the dolly wheel  12 .  
         [0050]    The détente latch  90  is disposed at the end of a détente arm  94 . The détente arm is rotatably secured at its upper end  96  to the dampener housing  84  at an upper pivot  98 . The détente arm  94  is in communication with an actuator  100 . The actuator  100  has a linearly reciprocating arm  102  that moves the détente arm  94  outwardly to disengage the détente latch  90  from the notch  88  and moves the détente arm  94  inwardly and into engagement with the notch  88 . The sloping surfaces  88  assist in allowing the détente latch  90  to fully rest in the notch  88 . The actuator  100  is in communication with the controller  46  to cause the arm  102  to reciprocate correspondingly with desired détente actuation relative to vehicle operation.  
         [0051]    As shown in FIG. 7, the arm  102  can be moved between a position fully locking the dolly wheel  12 , as generally represented by letter a. In this position, the détente latch  90  is in full engagement with the notch  88 . The arm  102  can also be moved to a fully retracted position, as generally represented by letter b. In this position, the détente arm  94  is pivoted about the upper pivot  98  such that the dolly wheel  12  has unrestricted movement. The arm  102  can further move the détente latch  90  to one or more intermediary positions, as generally represented by letter c. In this position, the détente arm  94  is only partially engaged with the notch  88 . This allows limited swivel of the disc  86  and the dolly wheel  12  for corrective steering at speed. The détente arm  94  is in communication with a spring  104 . The spring  104  is an override spring, which can allow override of the actuator  100  to cause the détente latch  90  to disengage the notch  88  as desired. For example, the spring  104  can allow override when there is a sudden demand for steering beyond that normal to corrective steering when at speed, such as for sudden obstacle avoidance. The housing  84  also preferably has a pair of guide flanges  106 , which are intended to locate the détente latch  90  with respect to the notch  88 .  
         [0052]    Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, and  11 , which each illustrate alternate embodiments of a dampening device  30  in accordance with the present invention. In each embodiment, the dampening device  30 , which differs in each embodiment as is discussed in more detail below, is located in a dampener housing  110 . The dampener housing  110  includes a support attachment arm  112 , which is secured to the support member  16 . The dampener housing  110  is preferably disposed on top of a spindle housing  120 . The spindle housing  120  has a dolly wheel spindle  118  located therein. The dolly wheel spindle  118  is secured to the upper portion  122  and is in communication with the dampener housing  110  at an upper end. The dolly wheel spindle  118  is supported on a bearing assembly  124  including a pair of bearings  126  that allow it to rotate.  
         [0053]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the dampening device  30  is used for the same purposes described above, namely to restrict movement of the dolly wheel  12  about its axis  20  upon demand as regulated by the controller  46 . The dampener housing  110  includes a support attachment arm  112 , which is secured to the support member  16 . The dampening device is preferably an electric motor  130  which is in communication with the dolly wheel spindle  118  through a planetary gear system  132  which is restrained by the housing  110 . The electric motor  130  is preferably in communication with the controller  46  by wires  134 . In an unexcited position, the dolly wheel spindle  118  can free wheel allowing full 360 degree rotation. In the excited position, the controller  46  signals the electric motor  130  to start applying a restrictive force to the dolly wheel spindle  118  through the planetary gear  134 . It will be understood that the electric motor  130  can be powered to provide a braking force to the dolly wheel spindle  118  and thus the dolly wheel  12 . The electric motor  130  can also be powered to provide rotation in a dampened manner of the dolly wheel spindle  118 .  
         [0054]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the dampening device  30  is used for the same purposes described above, namely to restrict movement of the dolly wheel  12  about its axis  20  as desired by the controller  46 . The dampener housing  110  includes a support attachment arm  112 , which is secured to the support member  16 . The dampening device is preferably an pump/motor  150  which is in communication with the dolly wheel spindle  118  to apply a resistive or braking force thereto as regulated by the controller  24 . The pump/motor  150  can be a vane pump, a piston pump, or a gear pump motor with appropriate controls to accommodate pump/motor characteristics. Obviously, other pump/motors can be utilized.  
         [0055]    The pump/motor  150  is preferably in fluid communication with a valve  152  to control flow which allows or resists rotation of the dolly wheel spindle  118 . The valve  152  is preferably electric controlled, but other valves may obviously be utilized. The valve  152  preferably has an open position, variable metered positions, and a closed position. When the valve  152  is in the open position, no force restricts the dolly wheel spindle  118  and the dolly wheel can thus rotate throughout its 360 degrees while pumping fluid freely through the open valve  152 . When the valve  152  is closed, the total restriction of flow locks up the pump/motor  150  such that the dolly wheel spindle  118  is locked. When the valve  152  is partially restricted, a greater rotating force is required to pump fluid through the valve  152 , thus providing a dampened effect on the rotation of the spindle  118 .  
         [0056]    As shown in FIG. 11, it is understood that an electroviscous fluid, such as a magnetorheological fluid, could be used in the pump/motor system in place of the variable flow control or orifice, such that rotational dampening and braking is effectuated by varying the viscosity of the electroviscous fluid. It is understood that this pump/motor  150  could be a vane pump, a gear pump, a piston pump, or other variation thereof. When the pump/motor  150  is in an unlocked state and the dolly wheel spindle  118  is free to rotate, the viscous fluid flows through a passageway  156 . However, when the pump/motor  150  is in a locked state and the dolly wheel spindle  118  is prevented from rotating, no viscous fluid flows through the passageway  156  as the fluid is in a higher viscosity or semi-solid state.  
         [0057]    The dampening system is preferably utilized in connection with dolly wheels, however it will be understood that it could be utilized for a variety of other applications. Moreover, the dampening system is preferably utilized on a pair of dolly wheels, which are incorporated into a vehicle. Preferably, the dolly wheels are utilized on a mobility vehicle  170 , as shown in FIG. 12, but they could obviously be used on any type of driven or towed vehicle. Moreover, they can be located forwardly or rearwardly of the drive axle and less than or more than two dolly wheels may be utilized.  
         [0058]    While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention, it is to be understood that variations and modifications may be employed without departing from the purview and intent of the present invention, as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the preceding description is intended to be exemplary and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined only by reference to the following claims.