Caster Wheel Spoke Tire Structure for Faster Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel manufacturing processes for furniture and medical equipment casters are hindered by long cycle times due to slow cooling of synthetic material components, which affects thermal conductivity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wheel design and production method where the tire is injection molded first with bonded spokes that contact the wheel bearing, allowing for quicker cooling and subsequent rim injection molding, enhancing thermal conductivity and reducing cycle time through improved contact points and a method involving separate injection molding steps for tire and rim production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rim is injection molded first and the tire thereafter, then the wheel bearing is securely positioned, but the cycle time becomes excessively long due to slow cooling of both components
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is injection molded first with the wheel bearing positioned in advance during the first injection molding step. The wheel bearing is secured in the tire before the rim is molded, allowing the tire to cool quickly and enabling the rim injection to follow immediately, thus reducing overall cycle time while maintaining bearing positioning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel manufacturing process is segmented into two separate injection molding steps: first molding the tire with the wheel bearing, then molding the rim separately. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and cooled efficiently, reducing the total cycle time compared to molding both simultaneously
2Temperature
If steel fibers are mixed into the tire material to improve thermal conductivity, then heat conduction increases, but the manufacturing complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tire is made from a composite material comprising a softer synthetic material mixed with steel fibers. The steel fibers are evenly distributed throughout the tire material during injection molding, providing enhanced thermal conductivity from the wheel bearing to the running surface without requiring separate cooling channels or complex thermal management systems
3Ease of operation
If the tire is made from softer synthetic material for comfort, then rolling performance improves, but thermal conductivity to the wheel bearing decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The softer synthetic material forming the tire is combined with steel fibers that provide high thermal conductivity. This composite structure maintains the soft, comfortable rolling characteristics of the synthetic material while the steel fibers create thermal pathways that conduct heat efficiently from the wheel bearing through the tire to the running surface
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 approach significantly reduces production cycle time and improves thermal conductivity between the tire and wheel bearing, enabling faster and more efficient wheel manufacturing while maintaining thermal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
thermal conductivity between the tire and the wheel bearing is rather high since a plurality of contact points is provided between the wheel bearing and the plurality of spokes bonded to the running surface
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel for a single or double caster for furniture or hospital beds or medical equipment, the wheel comprising: a rim; a tire; and a wheel bearing centrally arranged in the rim, wherein a running surface of the tire envelops the rim, and wherein the running surface of the tire includes a plurality of bonded spokes which are at least in contact the wheel bearing. The wheel is producible in a simple manner with short cycle times while having good thermal conductivity.