Caster Brake Claw Engagement to Prevent Roller Surface Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake devices for casters may reduce braking effectiveness and risk damaging the roller's circumferential surface due to frictional contact.
Innovation Solution
A brake device with projecting parts on the roller's side-surfaces and levers with claws that engage with these projecting parts to lock the roller's rotation, utilizing a cable coupling unit with springs to facilitate easy release and prevent cable twisting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a brake shoe is brought into contact with the circumferential surface of a roller to brake it by frictional resistance, then braking effect is achieved, but the circumferential surface of the roller may be damaged and braking effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The roller surface is segmented with multiple projecting parts (ridges) instead of a smooth circumferential surface. The brake claw engages with these segmented projecting parts rather than contacting the entire circumferential surface, distributing the braking force across multiple discrete contact points and preventing damage to the roller surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking function is extracted from frictional contact with the circumferential surface and transferred to engagement with the projecting parts. The brake claw takes out the braking action from the roller's outer surface and applies it directly to the protruding structures, eliminating the harmful frictional contact with the circumferential surface.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a brake device uses a simple structure with projecting parts and claws, then durability is improved, but the claw may bite into the concave part making release difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A spring is introduced as an intermediary element between the brake claw and the cable mechanism. The spring acts as a mediator that stores energy during braking and automatically assists in releasing the claw from the concave part, reducing the force required for release and preventing the claw from becoming stuck.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-loaded to store potential energy that is automatically released when the brake needs to be released. This preliminary energy storage prepares the system in advance, so when release is needed, the spring's stored energy immediately assists in pushing the claw out of the concave part, making release easier and more reliable.
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 brake device provides reliable braking without damaging the roller, ensures high durability, and maintains a simple structure, with the tension springs aiding in easy release and reducing cable burden.
Implementation Method 1
at least one tension spring is operatively interposed between the cable and the slide body and/or the cable and the lever
Data Source
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AI summary
An object to provide a brake device for a caster that has a simple structure, provides reliable braking, has no risk of damaging the circumferential surface of a roller, and has high durability. The brake device for a caster includes: a plurality of projecting parts 19 formed concentrically at regular intervals on opposite side-surfaces of a roller 7 in a direction in parallel with the axis, and levers 16 set across the roller at both side-panels 5b of a fork 5 so as to be opposed to the projecting parts, and a claw formed at a tip of each of the levers so as to be opposed to the projecting parts, wherein the levers are operated so that the claw is engaged with a concave part 19b formed between the projecting parts, thereby locking rotation of the roller.