IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0699280
(2017-09-08)
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등록번호 |
US-10259263
(2019-04-16)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Hamilton Caster & Manufacturing Company
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대리인 / 주소 |
Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
A dual wheel swivel caster includes a swivel assembly, a horn, a rig hub, a solid axle, at least one ring of roller bearings, first and second wheel assemblies, and at least one ring of bearings. The first wheel assembly has a first wheel axis, and includes an annular plate element. The torque limit
A dual wheel swivel caster includes a swivel assembly, a horn, a rig hub, a solid axle, at least one ring of roller bearings, first and second wheel assemblies, and at least one ring of bearings. The first wheel assembly has a first wheel axis, and includes an annular plate element. The torque limiter is configured to rotatably couple the first and second wheel assemblies with the solid axle when the torque between the annular plate element and the torque limiter is below a preset value. The torque limiter is configured to rotatably decouple the first wheel assembly from the solid axle and the second wheel assembly when the torque exceeds the preset value. The ring of bearings is configured to allow the first wheel assembly to rotate independently of the solid axle and the second wheel assembly about the rotational axis when the torque exceeds the preset value.
대표청구항
▼
1. A dual wheel swivel caster comprising: a swivel assembly including a swivel plate configured to be mounted to a vehicle;a horn extending from the swivel assembly;a rig hub rotatably coupled with the horn, the rig hub including a cavity extending therethrough;a solid axle extending through the cav
1. A dual wheel swivel caster comprising: a swivel assembly including a swivel plate configured to be mounted to a vehicle;a horn extending from the swivel assembly;a rig hub rotatably coupled with the horn, the rig hub including a cavity extending therethrough;a solid axle extending through the cavity and including first and second end portions;at least one ring of roller bearings disposed within the cavity, the at least one ring of roller bearings configured to allow the solid axle to rotate relative to the rig hub about a rotational axis;a first wheel assembly having a first wheel axis, the first wheel assembly including an annular plate element that is parallel to and offset from the first wheel axis;a second wheel assembly rotatably coupled with the solid axle and configured to rotate about the rotational axis;a torque limiter configured to rotatably couple the first and second wheel assemblies with the solid axle when the torque between the annular plate element and the torque limiter is below a preset value, wherein the torque limiter is configured to rotatably decouple the first wheel assembly from the solid axle and the second wheel assembly when the torque exceeds the preset value; andat least one ring of bearings disposed adjacent a first end portion of the solid axle, the at least one ring of bearings configured to allow the first wheel assembly to rotate independently of the solid axle and the second wheel assembly about the rotational axis when the torque exceeds the preset value. 2. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 1, wherein the annular plate element includes first and second sides, and wherein the torque limiter further comprises: a first annular friction disc disposed adjacent to and parallel to the first side the annular plate element;a first annular pressure plate configured to support the first annular friction disc;an annular disc spring; andan annular spring retainer configured to secure the annular disc spring,wherein the preset value is at least a function of a spring force of the annular disc spring against the first annular pressure plate and a frictional force between the first annular friction disc the first side the annular plate element. 3. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 2, wherein the annular plate element is disposed closer to the first end portion of the solid axle than the annular disc spring. 4. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 2, wherein the torque limiter further comprises: a second annular friction disc disposed adjacent to and parallel to the second side of the annular plate element;a second annular pressure plate configured to support the second annular friction disc,wherein the preset value is at least a function of the spring force of the annular disc spring against the first annular pressure plate, a first frictional force between the first annular friction disc against the first side of the annular plate element, and a second frictional force between the second annular friction disc against the second side of the annular plate element. 5. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 2, wherein the first wheel assembly further comprises a first annular wheel hub rotatably coupled with the solid axle, andwherein the spring force imparted by the annular disc spring is selectively adjustable by adjusting a torque adjustability mechanism threadably coupled with the first annular wheel hub. 6. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 1, wherein the at least one ring of roller bearings further comprises: a first ring of roller bearings disposed completely within the cavity of the rig hub and adjacent the first end portion of the rig hub, wherein the first ring of roller bearings encircles the solid axle; anda second ring of roller bearings disposed completely within the cavity of the rig hub and adjacent a second end portion of the rig hub, wherein the second ring of roller bearings encircles the solid axle at a distance from the first ring of roller bearings. 7. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 1, wherein the at least one ring of bearings further comprise: inner and outer rings of tapered roller thrust bearings configured to allow the first wheel assembly to rotate independently of the solid axle and the second wheel assembly about the rotational axis when the torque exceeds the preset value,wherein the tapered roller thrust bearings of the inner and outer rings are configured to not rotate about the rotational axis when the torque between the annular plate element and the torque limiter is below the preset value. 8. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 7, wherein the first wheel assembly further comprises: an annular bracket configured to rotate around the solid axle using both the inner and outer rings of tapered roller thrust bearings when the torque between the annular plate element and the torque limiter exceeds the preset value;a first wheel rim rotatably coupled with the annular bracket; anda first wheel rotatably coupled with the first wheel rim and configured to move along a ground surface. 9. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 6, wherein the second wheel assembly further comprises: a second annular wheel hub rotatably coupled with the solid axle;a second wheel rim rotatably coupled with the second annular wheel hub; anda second wheel rotatably coupled with the second wheel rim and configured to move along a ground surface. 10. The dual wheel swivel caster of claim 1, wherein the solid axle, integrally formed as a unitary piece, extends between the first and second wheel assemblies. 11. A transport vehicle configured to move along a ground surface and including at least one dual wheel swivel caster, the at one least dual wheel swivel caster comprising: a swivel assembly including a swivel plate configured to be mounted to a vehicle;a horn extending from the swivel assembly;a rig hub rotatably coupled with the horn, the rig hub including a cavity extending therethrough;a solid axle extending through the cavity and including first and second end portions;at least one ring of roller bearings disposed within the cavity, the at least one ring of roller bearings configured to allow the solid axle to rotate relative to the rig hub about a rotational axis;a first wheel assembly having a first wheel axis, the first wheel assembly including an annular plate element that is parallel to and offset from the first wheel axis;a second wheel assembly rotatably coupled with the solid axle and configured to rotate about the rotational axis;a torque limiter configured to rotatably couple the first and second wheel assemblies with the solid axle when the torque between the annular plate element and the torque limiter is below a preset value, wherein the torque limiter is configured to rotatably decouple the first wheel assembly from the solid axle and the second wheel assembly when the torque exceeds the preset value; andat least one ring of bearings disposed adjacent a first end portion of the solid axle, the at least one ring of bearings configured to allow the first wheel assembly to rotate independently of the solid axle and the second wheel assembly about the rotational axis when the torque exceeds the preset value. 12. The transport vehicle of claim 11, wherein the annular plate element includes first and second sides, and wherein the torque limiter further comprises: a first annular friction disc disposed adjacent to and parallel to the first side the annular plate element;a first annular pressure plate configured to support the first annular friction disc;an annular disc spring; andan annular spring retainer configured to secure the annular disc spring,wherein the preset value is at least a function of a spring force of the annular disc spring against the first annular pressure plate and a frictional force between the first annular friction disc the first side the annular plate element. 13. The transport vehicle of claim 12, wherein the torque limiter further comprises: a second annular friction disc disposed adjacent to and parallel to the second side of the annular plate element;a second annular pressure plate configured to support the second annular friction disc,wherein the preset value is at least a function of the spring force of the annular disc spring against the first annular pressure plate and a first frictional force between the first annular friction disc against the first side of the annular plate element and a second frictional force between the second annular friction disc against the second side of the annular plate element. 14. The transport vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first wheel assembly further comprises a first annular wheel hub rotatably coupled with the solid axle, wherein the spring force imparted by the annular disc spring is selectively adjustable by adjusting a torque adjustability mechanism threadably coupled with the first annular wheel hub. 15. The transport vehicle of claim 11, wherein the at least one ring of bearings further comprise: inner and outer rings of tapered roller thrust bearings configured to allow the first wheel assembly to rotate independently of the solid axle and the second wheel assembly about the rotational axis when the torque exceeds the preset value,wherein the tapered roller thrust bearings of the inner and outer rings are configured to not rotate about the rotational axis when the torque between the annular plate element and the torque limiter is below the preset value. 16. The transport vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first wheel assembly further comprises: an annular bracket configured to rotate around the solid axle using both the inner and outer rings of tapered roller thrust bearings when the torque between the annular plate element and the torque limiter exceeds the preset value;a first wheel rim rotatably coupled with the annular bracket; anda first wheel rotatably coupled with the first wheel rim and configured to move along a ground surface. 17. The transport vehicle of claim 16, wherein the second wheel assembly further comprises: a second annular wheel hub rotatably coupled with the solid axle;a second wheel rim rotatably coupled with the second annular wheel hub; anda second wheel rotatably coupled with the second wheel rim and configured to move along a ground surface. 18. The transport vehicle of claim 11, wherein the solid axle, integrally formed as a unitary piece, extends between the first and second wheel assemblies. 19. A method of preventing a dual wheel swivel caster from scrubbing a ground surface, the dual wheel swivel caster including a swivel assembly including a swivel plate configured to be mounted to a vehicle, a horn extending from the swivel assembly, a rig hub rotatably coupled with the horn, the rig hub including a cavity extending therethrough, a solid axle extending through the cavity and including first and second end portions, at least one ring of roller bearings disposed within the cavity, the at least one ring of roller bearings configured to allow the solid axle to rotate relative to the rig hub about a rotational axis, a first wheel assembly having a first wheel axis, the first wheel assembly including an annular plate element that is parallel to and offset from the first wheel axis, and a second wheel assembly rotatably coupled with the solid axle and configured to rotate about the rotational axis, the method comprising: rotatably coupling the first and second wheel assemblies with the solid axle when the torque between the annular plate element and a torque limiter is below a preset value;subsequently rotatably decoupling the first wheel assembly from the solid axle and the second wheel assembly when the torque exceeds the preset value, wherein at least one ring of bearings disposed adjacent a first end portion of the solid axle allow the first wheel assembly to rotate independently of the solid axle and the second wheel assembly about the rotational axis; andsubsequently rotatably coupling the first and second wheel assemblies with the solid axle when the torque between the annular plate element and the torque limiter is below the preset value using the torque limiter.
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