EP-4739267-A2 - MULTI-WHEEL CASTERS

Abstract

Multi-wheel casters designed to traverse various obstacles are described herein. The multi-wheel casters can be used in various applications to transport various loads from a first location to a second location. The multi-wheel casters can be rotatable about a king pin to provide maneuverability or can be fixed about a king pin to provide beneficial straight-line transportation. A combination of identical and different casters can be used to create different load transportation platforms.

Inventors

• BAREA, Bernardo, L.
• CAPPELLO, Dylan, R.
• SHOENHAIR, Jordan, D.
• SOLHEIM, JOHN, A.
• PASELK, Justin, A.

Assignees

• Karsten Manufacturing Corporation

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240731

Claims (20)

1. 1. A caster for attachment to a support structure, the caster comprising: a wheel set, comprising: a level arm defining opposed first and second ends, and a central region disposed between the first and second ends; a first primary wheel rotatably coupled to the central region of the level arm; a first auxiliary wheel rotatably coupled to the first end of the level arm; and a second auxiliary wheel rotatably coupled to the second end of the level arm; a fork including: a first prong having a first prong lower end coupled to the level arm; and an upper seat coupled to the first prong; and a baseplate rotatably coupled to the upper seat of the fork and configured for attachment to the support structure.
2. 2. The caster of claim 1, wherein the wheel set further comprises a second primary wheel rotatably coupled to the central region of the level arm.
3. 3. The caster of claim 2, further comprising a central axle extending through a middle bore formed in the central region of the level arm, wherein each of the first primary wheel and the second primary wheel is rotatably coupled to the central axle.
4. 4. The caster of claim 3, wherein the first auxiliary wheel and the second auxiliary wheel are rotatable coupled to the level arm via a first axle and a second axle.
5. 5. The caster of claim 4, wherein the first auxiliary wheel and the second auxiliary wheel are rotatably coupled to a second level arm via the first axle and the second axle.
6. 6. The caster of claim 5, wherein the first axle and the second axle are offset a distance D4 from the central axle, wherein D4 is greater than or equal to 0.03 inch and less than or equal to 0.12 inch.
7. 7. The caster of claim 6, further comprising bearings disposed between the upper seat and the baseplate and a fastener for attaching the upper seat to the baseplate.
8. 8. The caster of claim 7, wherein the baseplate further comprises mounting apertures.
9. 9. The caster of claim 8, wherein the primary wheel and the first auxiliary wheel define an attack angle a between 30 and 60 degrees, wherein the attack angle comprises an included angle between a first reference line and a second reference line that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis runs through a middle bore center.
10. 10. The caster of claim 9, wherein the level arm further comprises a stopping flange configured to engage the fork, thereby to prevent rotation of the level arm beyond a rotational limit.
11. 11. The caster of claim 10, wherein the stopping flange extends perpendicular from a level arm first end.
12. 12. The caster of claim 1, further comprising bearings disposed between the upper seat and the baseplate and a fastener for attaching the upper seat to the baseplate.
13. 13. The caster of claim 1, wherein the baseplate further comprises mounting apertures.
14. 14. The caster of claim 1, wherein the primary wheel and the first auxiliary wheel define an attack angle a between 30 and 60 degrees, wherein the attack angle comprises an included angle between a first reference line and a second reference line that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis runs through a middle bore center.
15. 15. The caster of claim 1, wherein the level arm further comprises a stopping flange configured to engage the fork, thereby to prevent rotation of the level arm beyond a rotational limit.
16. 16. The caster of claim 15, wherein the stopping flange extends perpendicular from a level arm first end.
17. 17. The caster of claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary wheel is located approximately two thirds of the first auxiliary wheel diameter in front of the primary wheel.
18. 18. The caster of claim 1 , wherein the second auxiliary wheel is located approximately two thirds of the second auxiliary wheel diameter behind the primary wheel.
19. 19. The caster of claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary wheel is located approximately one thirtieth of the first auxiliary wheel above the primary wheel.
20. 20. The caster of claim 1, wherein the second auxiliary wheel is located approximately one thirtieth of the second auxiliary wheel diameter above the primary wheel.

Description

Inventors: Bernardo L. Barea Lopez Dylan R. Cappello Jordan D. Shoenhair John A. Solheim Justin A. Paselk MULTI-WHEEL CASTERS TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This disclosure relates generally to wheel implements and more particularly to casters. BACKGROUND [0002] Casters are generally known for facilitating transport of a load by enabling a support by rolling to carry the load. The load can range from heavy machinery, household appliances, or any type of object that needs to be transported across a surface. For example, casters can be often provided on a dolly, where an object can be placed on top of the dolly and wheeled from a first location to a second location. While casters promote mobility of loads, they can be limited when used on discontinuous or uneven surfaces, such as cracks, contraction joints, expansion joints, control joints, and bumps. When a caster traverses such uneven terrain, the impact between the wheels and the discontinuous surface may cause detrimental effects, such as impeding progress, generating noise, and imparting forces that may cause loss of control of the load, including flipping and crashing the load. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a caster that minimizes wheel interactions with noncontinuous and uneven surfaces. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-wheel caster according to one embodiment. [0004] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the caster of FIG. 1. [0005] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a fork of the caster a of FIG. 1 . [0006] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded top plan view of the caster of FIG. 1, with some components removed for clarity. [0007] FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the caster of FIG. 1. [0008] FIG. 6 illustrates a top plan view of a wheel set of the caster illustrated in FIG. 1, showing an attack angle of the caster. [0009] FIG. 7 illustrates a top plan view of a wheel set of the caster of FIG. 1, showing an attack angle of the caster approaching an obstacle at a particular approach angle. [0010] FIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of the wheel set of FIG. 7; showing the caster approaching an obstacle at a different approach angle. [0011] FIG. 9 illustrates a to plan view of the caster of FIG. 2, showing dimensions and spacing of the wheel set. [0012] FIG. 10 illustrates a side elevation view of the caster of FIG. 1, showing axle offset dimensions and spacing of the wheel set. [0013] FIG. 11 illustrates a side elevation view of the caster of FIG. 1, showing dimensions and spacing of the wheel set arranged in a first position. [0014] FIG. 12 illustrates a side elevation view of the caster of FIG. 1, showing dimensions and spacing of the wheel set arranged in a second position. [0015] FIG. 13 illustrates a side elevation view of the wheel set of FIG. 11, with the wheels removed, arranged in the first position. [0016] FIG. 14 illustrates a side elevation view of the wheel set of FIG. 12, with the wheels removed, arranged in the second position. [0017] FIG. 15 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the caster of FIG. 1, showing a fork and base plate assembly. [0018] FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-wheel caster according to another embodiment. [0019] FIG. 17 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the caster of FIG. 16. [0020] FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of the caster of FIG. 16. [0021] FIG. 19 illustrates a side view of the caster of FIG. 16. [0022] FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-wheel caster according to another embodiment. [0023] FIG. 21 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the caster of FIG. 20. [0024] FIG. 22 illustrates a top view of the caster of FIG. 20. [0025] FIG. 23 illustrates a top view of the caster of FIG. 20 depicting various angles. [0026] FIG. 24 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-wheel caster according to another embodiment. [0027] FIG. 25 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the caster of FIG. 24. [0028] FIG. 26 illustrates a top view of the caster of FIG. 20. [0029] FIG. 27 illustrates a top view of the caster of FIG. 20 depicting various angles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0030] Described herein is a multi-wheel caster configured to smoothly traverse loads over/across discontinuous surfaces, such as rough or uneven terrain. The multi-wheel caster improves arranges auxiliary wheels and primary wheels to alter an attack angle as the caster traverses discontinuous surfaces. The attack angle and an offset distance between the primary wheels and auxiliary wheels of the caster wheels combine to minimize shock associated with interactions between the wheels and obstacles or discontinuous surfaces. A plurality of identical casters, or a mix of casters, may be coupled to the support structure carrying a load. Each caster may include a wheel set, a fork to coordinate the wheel set(s), and a baseplate. The wheel set includes one or more primary wheels, one or more auxiliary wheels, and a rotatable leve