Caster Bearing Structure for Smooth 180° Reverse Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing casters face issues with complex interconnection structures, difficult assembly, ineffective weight support, and damage due to prolonged use when reversing 180°, particularly in heavy loads, and vibrations are not adequately managed.
Innovation Solution
A caster design featuring a central portion, connecting part, and lower body part with six thrust ball bearings to facilitate smooth rotation and support weight, including a rotating part to ensure collinearity of central axes, minimizing overload and vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If four units (first panel, second panel, caster panel, and caster body) are provided to form the overall structure, then the caster can support weight and provide stability, but the interconnection structure becomes complicated and the assembly method becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first panel, second panel, caster panel, and caster body into a single integrated caster body structure. This eliminates the complex interconnection between four separate units while maintaining the weight support capability through the unified structure designed with optimized load distribution paths.
2Ease of operation
If ball bearings are equipped in the second bearing and fourth bearing to help rotate laterally, then the caster can rotate smoothly at angles, but the weight applied from above is not effectively supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotating part as an intermediary component between the connecting part and the central portion. This rotating part, equipped with thrust ball bearings, acts as a mediator that simultaneously handles both lateral rotation and vertical weight support, resolving the conflict between rotation smoothness and weight support effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite bearing system combining different types of ball bearings (second bearing, fourth bearing, and thrust ball bearings in the rotating part) to achieve both lateral rotation capability and vertical weight support capability within the same structure.
3Device complexity
If the central axes between the upper pillar part, lower pillar part, thrust ball bearings, and wheel are collinear, then the structure is simple, but the rotation is not performed properly and the caster is overloaded when reversing 180°
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by adding the rotating part with its own central axis that is not collinear with the upper and lower pillar parts. This asymmetric configuration allows the caster to properly execute 180° reverse rotation by creating a non-linear rotation path, preventing overload while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the caster reversely rotates 180° with heavy loads, then the caster can move heavy products in reverse direction, but the caster breaks when used for a long time due to overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic design by incorporating the rotating part that can adaptively adjust the rotation mechanics during 180° reverse rotation. The thrust ball bearings in the rotating part dynamically distribute the heavy load during reverse rotation, preventing static overload conditions that lead to caster failure over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating part is pre-configured with thrust ball bearings to handle vertical loads before the reverse rotation occurs. This preliminary preparation of the load path through the rotating part prevents sudden overload shocks during reverse rotation, extending the caster's operational lifetime under heavy load conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The caster achieves smooth 180° rotation with reduced vibrations, enhanced durability, and improved weight support, ensuring precise movement and extended product lifetime.
Implementation Method 1
six thrust ball bearings are mounted between the support plate, the central portion, the connecting part, the rotating part, and the lower body part so that the caster may rotate smoothly
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a caster, and particularly, to a caster which more smoothly rotates when reversely rotating 180° and effectively supports a weight of an object disposed on the caster to smoothly rotate in reverse without any shaking. In order to achieve such objectives, the present invention provides a caster having a structure in which a central portion, a connecting part, and a lower body part are sequentially provided under a support plate formed in an upper end portion of the caster, and in particular, a rotating part is mounted between the connecting part and the central portion. In particular, six thrust ball bearings are mounted between the support plate, the central portion, the connecting part, the rotating part, and the lower body part so that the caster may rotate smoothly when the caster linearly moves and then changes a direction to rotate at a certain angle, or in particular, when reversely rotating 180° and then moving in a reverse direction. A rotating part is additionally added between the connecting part and the central portion, and six thrust ball bearings are mounted so that the caster can rotate more smoothly when reversely rotating 180°. As described above, when the caster changes a direction to rotate or reversely rotates 180°, in a case in which central axes between an upper pillar part and a lower pillar part, the thrust ball bearings, and a wheel are collinear with each other, the rotation is not performed properly, and the caster is overloaded. The present invention is directed to solving such problems. The rotating part is added between the connecting part and the central portion, the thrust ball bearing is additionally mounted between the connecting part and the rotating part, and the thrust ball bearing is additionally mounted between the rotating part and the central portion. As described above, the rotating part is additionally installed so that a state in which the central axes between the upper pillar part and the lower pillar part formed in the central portion, the thrust ball bearings, and the wheel, which are collinear with each other, can be easily changed, and thus, when the caster changes a direction or reversely rotates 180°, an overload is prevented. In addition, six thrust ball bearings are mounted in the caster to dispersedly support a weight from above the caster, and thus the durability of the thrust ball bearings can be improved.