Caster Roller Assembly Thrust Bearing Fastener Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current caster roller assemblies for cargo handling systems are cumbersome to maintain due to the need to remove ball panels to access fasteners, increasing maintenance time and cost, and feature complex part counts and installation difficulties due to eccentric loads and misalignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A caster roller assembly with a thrust bearing assembly that includes a bearing cup, thrust rollers, and a top plate, where the thrust rollers are oriented at non-parallel angles to accommodate radial and thrust loads, eliminating the need for fasteners by integrating loads through the thrust bearing assembly, and a spring-loaded clip system for secure mounting within a housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a nut and bolt fastener is used to secure the base to the ball panel, then the caster roller assembly can be securely mounted, but the fastener must be accessed by removing the ball panel, increasing maintenance time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener components (nut and bolt) are extracted from the traditional mounting location on the ball panel and repositioned to the thrust bearing assembly structure. This allows the fasteners to be accessed and serviced without removing the ball panel, while still providing secure mounting of the base through the thrust bearing assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust bearing assembly serves as an intermediary structure that provides both the mounting function and the fastener access function. By integrating the fastener components into this intermediary structure, the patent resolves the contradiction between secure mounting and easy maintenance access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a spherical bearing is added to accommodate misalignment between the pivot axis and bolt axis, then eccentric loads are handled, but the part count and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical bearing function is merged into the thrust bearing assembly structure. Rather than adding a separate spherical bearing component, the thrust bearing assembly is designed to inherently accommodate misalignment between the pivot axis and bolt axis, reducing part count while maintaining adaptability to eccentric loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust bearing assembly performs multiple functions: it provides secure mounting, accommodates eccentric loads, allows for misalignment, and provides fastener access. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate spherical bearing components while handling all required 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
This design reduces the number of parts, simplifies installation, decreases maintenance time and costs, and enhances the ability to handle directional loads without fasteners, improving the efficiency and reliability of cargo handling systems.
Implementation Method 1
a thrust bearing assembly adjacent to an underside surface of the base. The thrust bearing assembly may include a bearing cup, a plurality of thrust rollers located in a channel defined by the bearing cup
Data Source
AI summary
A caster roller assembly may comprise a base, a roller rotationally coupled to the base, and a thrust bearing assembly adjacent to an underside surface of the base. The thrust bearing assembly may include a bearing cup, a plurality of thrust rollers located in a channel defined by the bearing cup, and a top plate located between plurality of thrust rollers and the base. An inner circumferential surface of the top plate may define an opening configured to receive a protrusion extending from the underside surface of the base.