Caster Brake Lever Structure That Avoids Roller Surface Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake devices for casters often reduce braking effectiveness and risk damaging the roller's circumferential surface due to frictional contact, lacking durability and simplicity in design.
Innovation Solution
A brake device featuring projecting parts on the roller's sides, levers with claws that engage with these parts to lock rotation, an inclined surface for enhanced engagement, and a cable system with a spring mechanism for reliable operation and easy release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a brake shoe contacts the circumferential surface of a roller to apply braking force, then braking effect is achieved, but the circumferential surface of the roller may be damaged and durability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the braking function from the circumferential surface of the roller and relocates it to the end face of the roller. The brake shoe is designed to contact only the end face of the roller, not the circumferential surface, thereby separating the braking action from the rolling contact surface and preventing damage to the circumferential surface while maintaining effective braking.
2Ease of operation
If a complex transfer means with cam and link rod is used to operate the brake synchronously, then braking control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the complex transfer means including cam and link rod mechanisms from the brake system. Instead, it uses a simple cable directly connected to the brake operation lever, which can be operated synchronously with the handlebar without requiring intermediate mechanical transfer components, thereby significantly simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining operational control.
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 solution provides a reliable braking mechanism that does not damage the roller's surface, enhances durability, and ensures a simple structure with firm engagement and easy operation, even when the roller rotates.
Implementation Method 1
a spring is interposed at an intermediate point of the cable and/or between the cable and the lever
Implementation Method 2
the lever is operated by a cable coupled to an operation lever, and the cable is rotatably coupled to the lever
Data Source
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 formed concentrically at regular intervals on opposite side-surfaces of a roller in a direction in parallel with the axis, and levers set across the roller at both side-panels of a fork 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 formed between the projecting parts, thereby locking rotation of the roller.