Double-Wheel Caster With Dry Bearings for Impact and Heat Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional double-wheel casters suffer from mechanical instability, maintenance requirements, lack of impact and heat resistance, and bulkiness, making them unsuitable for environments with high impact or temperature, and difficult to miniaturize.
Innovation Solution
A caster design featuring ring-shaped wheels and holders with ring-shaped dry bearings, eliminating the need for rolling bearings, providing high mechanical stability, durability, and resistance to impact and heat, while being maintenance-free and compact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rolling bearings (ball bearings or roller bearings) are used in double-wheel casters, then the wheels can rotate smoothly, but the mechanical stability decreases, maintenance is required, and impact/heat resistance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rolling bearings (mechanical system requiring maintenance) with a dry bearing structure consisting of a bearing ring and sliding surfaces. This substitution eliminates the need for rolling elements, cages, and lubrication systems, thereby improving mechanical stability and eliminating maintenance requirements while maintaining rotational functionality.
2Reliability
If rolling bearings are used in double-wheel casters, then the wheels can rotate, but the casters lack impact resistance and heat resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dry bearing components made from composite materials or heat-treated metals that exhibit superior impact resistance and heat resistance compared to conventional rolling bearing materials. The bearing ring and sliding surfaces are designed to withstand high temperatures and impact loads without deforming or failing, thereby improving durability under harsh conditions.
3Reliability
If rolling bearings are used in double-wheel casters, then the wheels can rotate smoothly, but the casters become large in volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex internal structure of rolling bearings (rolling elements, cages, retainers) and replaces it with a simplified dry bearing structure consisting of a bearing ring and sliding surfaces. This extraction of unnecessary components significantly reduces the volume of the bearing assembly while maintaining rotational smoothness through the dry sliding mechanism.
4Strength
If a thick wheel axis and bigger ball bearings are used to support large loads, then the load-bearing capacity increases, but the exposed amount of components increases and appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the wheel axis and bearing components into a more integrated structure where the dry bearing is embedded within the wheel assembly. The bearing ring is positioned such that it does not protrude from the wheel surface, and the sliding surfaces are contained within the wheel structure. This merging eliminates the need for exposed ball bearings and thick axes, maintaining load-bearing capacity while improving appearance.
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 caster achieves enhanced mechanical stability, durability, and resistance to impact and heat without maintenance, allowing for reduced size and weight, and improved aesthetics by eliminating exposed components.
Implementation Method 1
A first dry bearing is provided between an outer circumferential face of a ring-shaped flange provided on each of the both side end parts of the main body and the first sliding face. A second dry bearing is provided between an outer circumferential face of a ring-shaped flange provided on an outer end part of each of the holders and the second sliding face.
Data Source
AI summary
A caster has a ring-shaped main body, two ring-shaped wheels provided on both side end parts of the main body and two ring-shaped holders by which the two ring-shaped wheels are rotatably fitted on the main body. Each of the wheels has a first sliding face on an inner side of an inner circumferential part and a second sliding face on an outer side thereof. A first dry bearing is provided between an outer circumferential face of a ring-shaped flange provided on each of the both side end parts of the main body and the first sliding face, a second dry bearing is provided between an outer circumferential face of a ring-shaped flange provided on an outer end part of each of the holders and the second sliding face. The caster provides a high mechanical stability, durability, impact resistance and heat resistance.