Caster Support Structure for Step Impact Damage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy apparatuses with moving tools, such as casters, are prone to damage when encountering steps on the floor, leading to increased costs for stronger tools to mitigate this risk, which is disadvantageous for infrequent movements.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus design featuring a moving tool with a wheel and support unit, where the base includes a contact portion positioned behind the support unit to absorb impact, allowing the tool to deform elastically and reduce damage upon hitting a step, while maintaining sufficient height for forklift access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stronger moving tool is used to prevent damage when hitting steps, then the reliability of the moving tool is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning a contact portion on the base that can absorb impact forces before they reach the moving tool. When the moving tool hits a step, the contact portion makes contact with the step first or simultaneously, cushioning the blow and preventing severe damage to the moving tool. This allows the use of a standard-strength moving tool rather than requiring an overly strong (and expensive) one.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion acts as an intermediary between the step and the moving tool. Instead of the moving tool directly承受 (bearing) the full impact force, the contact portion serves as a mediator that absorbs and distributes the force, reducing the stress on the moving tool's support shaft and other components.
2Reliability
If the contact portion is positioned to absorb impact, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the contact portion with the base structure itself, rather than making it a separate, independent component. The contact portion is formed as an integrated part of the base, which simplifies the overall structure and reduces the number of parts. This integration maintains the reliability benefit while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 design effectively reduces damage to the moving tool during floor irregularity encounters, maintaining functionality and reducing costs by utilizing elastic deformation within the support shaft's range, allowing continued movement without costly upgrades.
Implementation Method 1
the support unit is bent rearward... with which the moving tool comes into contact when the support unit is bent rearward... utilizing elastic deformation within the support shaft's range
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus equipped with a moving tool includes a base and the moving tool including a wheel that rolls on a floor surface during movement of the apparatus, and a support unit that is fixed to the base at a position above an upper end of the wheel and that supports the wheel. The base includes a contact portion that is disposed at a position behind the support unit in a moving direction and above the upper end of the wheel, and with which the moving tool comes into contact when the support unit is bent rearward.