A one-piece castor

Abstract

The application provides an integrally formed caster, which comprises a wheel hub body integrally formed by die stretching of a metal plate. A hollow groove is formed in the middle of the wheel hub body. The wheel hub body is in the shape of a circular wheel body after forming. The groove wall of the hollow groove is in the shape of an arc surface matching the contour of the wheel body. A protruding column is integrally formed in the center of the hollow groove. A bearing is assembled in the protruding column. A connecting sleeve is mounted in the inner ring of the bearing. The wheel hub body has a panel integrally formed with the hollow groove and the protruding column. The panel seals one side of the hollow groove and the wheel hub body. The integrally formed caster wheel hub structure eliminates the stress concentration points of the spliced casters in the prior art, and enhances the load capacity. Meanwhile, the integrally formed structure greatly improves the production efficiency and saves the production cost. The half wheel body and the splicing process are not needed, the assembly efficiency and difficulty are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of caster technology, specifically to a one-piece molded caster. Background Technology

[0002] Casters are commonly used components in handling equipment, furniture, and machinery. The structural design and manufacturing process of their hubs directly determine the load-bearing capacity, assembly efficiency, usage cost, and overall reliability of the casters.

[0003] In existing technologies, the mainstream production method for caster hubs is a split-assembly structure, typically using two independent half-wheels, which are joined and fixed together by riveting or welding to form a hollow hub body. This split-manufacturing method limits the strength and load-bearing capacity of the hub structure. Because multiple corresponding positions of the two half-wheels need to be riveted or welded, stress concentration points easily form at the joints. After long-term loads or repeated rolling impacts, loosening, deformation, or even breakage are highly likely, making it difficult to meet the needs of medium and heavy-duty equipment. Secondly, production and assembly efficiency is low, and the overall cost is high. Not only do the two half-wheels need to be processed separately, but additional riveting or welding processes are also required, making the production process cumbersome. When assembling bearings, connecting sleeves, and other components, the split structure requires specially designed mounting positions at both ends, demanding high structural design precision. Multiple fasteners such as rivets and screws are needed for securing these components, leading to cumbersome assembly steps, increased difficulty, and longer time consumption, further increasing the overall cost of labor and materials.

[0004] Therefore, overcoming the aforementioned shortcomings has become an important issue that urgently needs to be addressed by those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention overcomes the shortcomings of the above-mentioned technology and provides a one-piece molded caster.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A one-piece caster includes a hub body integrally formed by stretching a metal sheet through a mold. A hollow groove is recessed in the center of the hub body, and the hub body is circular after forming. The groove wall is an arc-shaped curved surface adapted to the contour of the wheel body. A protrusion is integrally formed in the center of the hollow groove, and a bearing is installed inside the protrusion. A connecting sleeve is installed in the inner ring of the bearing. The hub body has a panel integrally formed with the hollow groove and the protrusion, and the panel seals one side of the hollow groove to the hub body.

[0007] Preferably, the metal sheet is a steel plate.

[0008] Preferably, reinforcing ribs are distributed between the inner wall of the hollow groove and the outer wall of the protruding column.

[0009] Preferably, the reinforcing ribs are evenly distributed circumferentially around the periphery of the protruding column.

[0010] Preferably, the center of the protrusion is provided with a shaft hole for mounting bearings and connecting sleeves.

[0011] Preferably, the caster further includes an auxiliary cover plate, which is fixedly connected to one side of the wheel hub body with a hollow groove, so that the wheel hub body forms a structure with two flat sides and a hollow cavity in the middle.

[0012] Preferably, the outer surface of the wheel hub body is provided with an electroplated layer.

[0013] Preferably, the outer periphery of the wheel hub body is covered with a rim.

[0014] Preferably, the wheel hub body includes a rim integrally formed with the wheel hub body.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: The one-piece molded caster hub structure in this case eliminates the stress concentration points at the joints of existing spliced ​​casters, enhancing load-bearing capacity. Simultaneously, the one-piece molded structure significantly improves production efficiency and saves production costs, eliminating the need for separate processing of half-wheels and splicing processes, thus improving assembly efficiency and reducing complexity. In other words, the assembly of bearings and connecting sleeves becomes simpler, reducing the number of parts and processing steps, and lowering labor and material costs. This one-piece molded structure of the caster in this case allows for effective overall electroplating, replacing traditional painting processes and being more environmentally friendly. The hollow groove design enhances heat dissipation during use, providing excellent heat dissipation, effectively extending the caster's lifespan and avoiding the potential risk of burns. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is one embodiment of the one-piece molded caster in this case.

[0017] Figure 2 This is the second embodiment of the one-piece molded caster in this case.

[0018] Figure 3 This is the third embodiment of the one-piece molded caster in this case. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following examples provide a more detailed description of the features and other related characteristics of this utility model, to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art: Reference Figures 1-3As shown, this invention provides a one-piece molded caster. The core of this design lies in achieving a unified wheel hub structure through a molded, one-piece stretching process, effectively solving the technical problems of insufficient structural strength and low production efficiency inherent in existing split casters. Specifically, the one-piece molded caster includes a wheel hub body 100, formed by one-piece stretching of a metal sheet using a mold. After forming, the wheel hub body 100 is a complete circular wheel shape, perfectly suited to the force transmission requirements under rolling conditions, avoiding stress concentration problems at the joints of split structures. In practice, the wheel hub body 100 is formed by one-piece stretching using a hydraulic press and a mold. A hollow groove 1 is recessed in the center of the wheel hub body 100. The groove wall 11 of the hollow groove 1 is an arc-shaped curved surface that conforms to the wheel's contour. This structure not only unifies the appearance and function of the wheel hub body 100 but also disperses the radial load during rolling through the curved surface transition, reducing local stress concentration, while providing ample space for the assembly of internal components. A protruding post 2 is integrally formed at the center of the hollow groove 1, meaning that the protruding post 2 is formed synchronously with the hub body 100 and the hollow groove 1, without any splicing gaps. A shaft hole 21 is provided through the center of the protruding post 2 to install the bearing 3 and the connecting sleeve 4. In specific implementation, the outer ring of the bearing 3 mates with the inner wall of the shaft hole 21 to achieve radial fixation, the inner ring of the bearing 3 mates with the connecting sleeve 4, and the end face of the bearing 3 away from the connecting sleeve 4 is fixed to the panel 5 by welding or riveting, forming a double limiting structure of axial positioning and radial fixation, ensuring that the bearing 3 will not shift or loosen under high-speed rotation or heavy load conditions. The two ends of the connecting sleeve 4 extend out of the hub body 100 for fixing to the external caster connecting bracket, realizing a reliable connection between the caster and the caster bracket, and realizing the rotation function of the caster. The connecting sleeve 4 provided in this case, in conjunction with the bearing 3, eliminates the cumbersome structure of connecting both ends to the caster bracket, simplifying assembly and improving production assembly efficiency. Specifically, the wheel hub body 100 also includes a panel 5 integrally formed with the hollow groove 1 and the protrusion 2. The panel 5 completely seals one side of the hollow groove 1, forming a single-sided closed cavity structure, which can protect the internal bearing 3, connecting sleeve 4 and other components from external dust and impurities, and also improve the overall rigidity of the wheel hub body 100, effectively preventing warping deformation under stress.

[0020] As a preferred embodiment of this case, the metal sheet selected is steel plate, specifically Q235 steel plate. Q235 steel plate possesses excellent ductility, tensile strength, and formability, perfectly adapting to the integrated die-stretching process. During stretching, it is less prone to forming defects such as cracks and wrinkles. After forming, the wheel hub body exhibits uniform structural strength (100%), meeting the load-bearing requirements of medium to heavy-duty equipment (such as logistics handling vehicles and industrial machinery). Furthermore, compared to existing technologies using iron materials for wheel hubs, it offers better strength, hardness, toughness, and rust resistance, while also being more cost-effective.

[0021] To further enhance the structural strength of the wheel hub body 100 and cope with load impacts under complex working conditions, such as Figure 2 As shown, reinforcing ribs 6 are distributed between the inner wall of the hollow groove 1 and the outer wall of the protruding post 2. The distribution of the reinforcing ribs 6 can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual use scenario, including but not limited to longitudinal distribution, transverse distribution, and uniform distribution along the circumferential periphery of the protruding post 2. The location of the reinforcing ribs 6 can be selected at the bottom of the hollow groove 1 (i.e., the inner side of the panel 5) or on the inner wall of the hollow groove 1. In this embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 6 are preferably evenly distributed along the circumferential periphery of the protruding post 2 at the bottom of the hollow groove 1, and preferably four ribs are provided, so that the stress between the protruding post 2 and the hollow groove 1 is evenly transferred to the panel 5 and the rim 8 of the hub body 100, forming a three-dimensional force support system, effectively preventing the protruding post 2 from bending and deforming due to axial load, and at the same time improving the impact resistance of the groove wall 11 of the hollow groove 1.

[0022] Reference Figure 3 As shown, for applications requiring higher structural sealing and symmetry, an auxiliary cover plate 7 can be added to the caster in this embodiment. The auxiliary cover plate 7 is made of the same metal sheet as the hub body 100 and is fixedly connected to the side of the hub body 100 with the hollow groove 1 by riveting or welding. After connection, the hub body 100 forms a symmetrical structure with flat sides and a hollow cavity in the middle. This structure not only further isolates external impurities from entering the hollow groove 1, extending the service life of components such as the bearing 3, but also improves the overall aesthetics of the caster. Simultaneously, it makes the load on the hub body 100 more balanced, less prone to deformation, and further enhances its load-bearing capacity. This makes it suitable for fields such as medical equipment and precision instruments where the stability and cleanliness of the casters are critical.

[0023] Preferably, an electroplating layer is provided on the outer surface of the wheel hub body 100. Compared with the defects of existing split wheel hubs, which cannot be evenly electroplated due to splicing gaps and can only be painted, and the fact that most wheel hubs in the prior art are made of iron, which is prone to rust, so a layer of paint is often needed to cover the iron core rail to prevent rusting, the wheel hub body 100 of this invention is a one-piece molded structure with no gaps or splicing marks on the surface, and can be directly electroplated. Secondly, the wheel hub body 100 of this invention is preferably made of steel, which has obvious advantages over iron materials, which are not easy to electroplat, have poor adhesion, and are prone to cracking. The electroplating layer can not only significantly improve the corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the wheel hub body 100, avoiding problems such as rust and wear during long-term use, but also replace the traditional painting process, completely eliminating the generation of volatile organic pollutants during the painting process, making it more environmentally friendly. The electroplating layer mentioned in this case refers to the metal coating layer formed by electroplating on the surface of the integrally formed Q235 steel plate wheel hub body, preferably a zinc plating layer (with color zinc passivation treatment), which uses electrolysis to uniformly deposit zinc ions on the surface of the wheel hub to form a dense and firm protective layer.

[0024] In this embodiment, the outer periphery of the wheel hub body 100 is wrapped with a rim 8. Specifically, the rim 8 is preferably made of rubber and integrally molded and wrapped around the outer periphery of the wheel hub body 100 using a glue-filling process. The function of this rim 8 is similar to the tire part of bicycle, motorcycle, and automobile wheels. Rubber material has good elasticity and cushioning properties, which can absorb vibrations generated during caster rolling, reduce noise during equipment operation, and increase friction with the ground, improving walking stability. The glue-filling process ensures a tight fit between the rubber rim 8 and the wheel hub body 100, without adhesive gaps, effectively avoiding the problem of easy delamination of the rim 8 in existing split caster designs.

[0025] In another embodiment, the wheel hub body 100 of this invention includes a rim 8 integrally formed with itself. The rim 8 and the wheel hub body 100 are formed simultaneously by a mold, eliminating the need for additional glue filling, welding, or painting processes during production. This further simplifies the production process, shortens the production cycle, reduces production costs, and improves production efficiency. This structure, where the rim 8 and the wheel hub body 100 are integrally formed, not only retains the advantages of high strength and high wear resistance of metal materials, making it suitable for industrial scenarios with high requirements for wheel hardness and load-bearing capacity, but also fundamentally solves the industry pain points of traditional rubber coating processes, such as weak adhesion between the rim and the wheel hub, easy delamination, or delamination during long-term use. It completely eliminates the risk of delamination, while further simplifying the production process, shortening the production cycle, improving production efficiency, and reducing production costs.

[0026] Furthermore, existing caster designs suffer from poor heat dissipation. Heat generated by the bearings and the wheel itself during rotation tends to accumulate inside the caster, leading to internal temperatures reaching 70-80°C and external temperatures reaching 40-50°C. This high temperature can easily cause the rubber rim 8 to detach. In contrast, the cavity structure formed by the hollow groove 1 and the panel 5 in this design, combined with the hollow chamber formed by the auxiliary cover 7 in another embodiment, creates a multi-path heat dissipation channel. This significantly reduces the risk of the rubber rim 8 detaching and the risk of accidental burns to the user, improving safety and stability during use.

[0027] As stated above, this case protects a one-piece molded caster, and all technical solutions that are the same as or similar to this case should be considered to fall within the scope of protection of this case.

Claims

1. A one-piece molded caster, characterized in that: The wheel hub body (100) is integrally formed by stretching metal sheet through a mold. A hollow groove (1) is recessed in the middle of the wheel hub body (100). After the wheel hub body (100) is formed, it is in the shape of a circular wheel. The groove wall (11) of the hollow groove (1) is an arc-shaped curved surface that matches the contour of the wheel body. A protrusion (2) is integrally formed in the center of the hollow groove (1). A bearing (3) is installed in the protrusion (2). A connecting sleeve (4) is installed in the inner ring of the bearing (3). The wheel hub body (100) has a panel (5) integrally formed with the hollow groove (1) and the protrusion (2). The panel (5) seals one side of the hollow groove (1) with the wheel hub body (100).

2. The one-piece molded caster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal sheet is a steel plate.

3. The one-piece molded caster according to claim 1, characterized in that: Reinforcing ribs (6) are distributed between the inner wall of the hollow groove (1) and the outer wall of the protruding column (2).

4. The one-piece molded caster according to claim 3, characterized in that: The reinforcing ribs (6) are evenly distributed around the periphery of the protruding column (2).

5. The one-piece molded caster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The center of the protrusion (2) is provided with a shaft hole (21) for installing the bearing (3) and the connecting sleeve (4).

6. The one-piece molded caster according to claim 3, characterized in that: The caster also includes an auxiliary cover plate (7), which is fixedly connected to one side of the hub body (100) with a hollow groove (1) so that the hub body (100) forms a structure with two flat sides and a hollow cavity in the middle.

7. The one-piece molded caster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surface of the wheel hub body (100) is provided with an electroplated layer.

8. The one-piece molded caster according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer periphery of the hub body (100) is covered with a rim (8).

9. The one-piece molded caster according to claim 3, characterized in that: The hub body (100) includes a rim (8) integrally formed with the hub body (100).

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