Load Wheel Brush Assembly for Static Dissipation Without Tire Conductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for addressing static charge buildup in material handling vehicles, such as forklifts, result in reduced wheel performance, increased costs, and inadequate static control, particularly in standard applications where special precautions are not typically required.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of out-disk brushes, which are mounted adjacent to or between wheels, comprising a central hub with radially extending fibers that dissipate or conduct static charge, providing a plurality of contact points with the wheel and ground, thus creating efficient discharge pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conductive materials are embedded into polyurethane tires to improve static dissipation, then static control is improved, but manufacturing quality deteriorates due to air trapping, cracking, and delamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conductive function from the tire structure itself and places it in separate out-disk brushes that are mounted adjacent to the wheels. This separates the static dissipation function from the tire, eliminating the need to embed conductive materials into the tire polyurethane, thereby avoiding air trapping, cracking, and delamination issues while maintaining static control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The out-disk brushes serve as an intermediary component between the non-conductive tire and the ground. Instead of making the tire itself conductive, the brushes contact both the wheel assembly and the ground, providing a conductive pathway for static charge dissipation without modifying the tire structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If grounding straps are used to improve static control, then static dissipation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to single point contact and susceptibility to becoming caught in debris
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding strap is segmented into multiple out-disk brushes with numerous contact points. Instead of a single continuous strap making one contact point, the brush assembly creates multiple discrete contact points with the ground and wheel, distributing the static dissipation function across many points and reducing susceptibility to failure from debris or entanglement.
Solution Approach 2:
The out-disk brushes provide localized static dissipation capability at multiple specific points around the wheel assembly. Each brush contact point provides local grounding, creating a distributed network of static control points rather than relying on a single grounding strap location, thereby improving overall system reliability.
3Ease of operation
If grounding straps are placed away from material handling areas to avoid interference, then operational safety is improved, but static control effectiveness deteriorates in regions where it is most needed
Solution Approach 1:
The out-disk brushes extend the grounding capability into the radial dimension near the wheel and tire contact area. By placing brushes adjacent to the wheel that contact the ground and extend toward the tire, static control is achieved in the immediate vicinity of material handling areas without requiring straps to be positioned away from operational zones, thus maintaining both safety and effectiveness.
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 out-disk brushes effectively manage static charge accumulation by offering improved static control without compromising wheel performance or lifetime, reducing equipment downtime, and enhancing safety in environments with sensitive electronics.
Implementation Method 1
one or more conductive brush spacer assemblies with tunable properties (conductivity/resistance, as well as mechanical properties) to adapt the brush spacer assembly
Implementation Method 2
the out-disk brushes effectively manage static charge accumulation by offering improved static control
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates generally to wheel assemblies for a material handling vehicle, such as forklifts and pallet trucks, and the components therein. In one preferred embodiment, the wheel assemblies include conductive brush spacer assembly with tunable properties (conductivity/resistance, as well as mechanical properties) to adapt the brush spacer assembly. Embodiments of the present application may be used in various wheel assemblies, as discussed herein.