Castor assembly

• US 6,223,388 B1
• Filed: 06/28/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Revvo Castor Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Revvo Castor Company Limited
• Inventors: Sey, James Dey Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Mah, Chuck Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/284,323
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 16/46, 16/45, 16/20, 16/48, 16/30, 16/40, 16/43, 16/42 R, 16/18 CG
• US Class Current: 16/46
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0002 assembling to the object, e.g. furniture
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0007 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0018 in the form of a flat mounting plate
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0028 Construction of wheels; methods of assembling on axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0039 Single wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0044 Roller type wheels, i.e. extra wide wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0049 the rolling axle being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0057 the rolling axle being offset from swivel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0068 the swivel axis being vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0073 the swivel axis being symmetrical to wheel or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/10 Switching arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 39/025 having spherical roller elements

Abstract

A castor assembly suitable for use in decks or dollies for moving freight or other heavy items includes a wheel, a carriage on which the wheel bracket is mounted for rotation about a first axis and a bearing enabling the carriage to rotate about a second axis at an angle different than the first axis, the first axis being offset from the second axis. The bearing includes an inner bearing ring and an outer bearing ring movable relative to one another. The inner bearing ring is secured for rotation with the carriage about the second axis. The inner bearing ring is disposed generally concentrically within the outer bearing ring and the carriage is disposed generally concentrically within the inner bearing ring. The inner and outer bearing rings and the carriage together form a substantially planar assembly.

Claims

1. A castor assembly comprising:

a wheel having a load-contacting portion;

a carriage, on which said wheel is mounted for rotation about a first axis; and

a bearing operable to enable said carriage to rotate about a second axis inclined with respect to said first axis, said first axis being spaced from said second axis;

said bearing comprising inner and outer bearing rings movable relative to one another, said inner bearing ring being secured to said carriage for rotation with said carriage about the second axis, and being disposed generally concentrically with and within said outer bearing ring so that said inner and outer bearing rings are substantially co-planar;

said carriage being disposed generally concentrically within said inner bearing ring so that said inner bearing ring and said carriage are substantially co-planar, and said inner and outer bearing rings and said carriage, in combination, forming a substantially planar assembly;

the first axis about which said wheel rotates being located below a plane defined by said inner and outer bearing rings so that only the load-contacting portion of said wheel projects outwardly from the planar assembly;

a depth of said castor assembly excluding said wheel, measured in a direction parallel to the plane of the wheel, being less than the diameter of said wheel.

2. The castor assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage comprises a wheel-plate on which said wheel is mounted for rotation about the first axis, said wheel-plate being releasably secured to said bearing so that, in the event of damage to said wheel, said wheel-plate and said wheel mounted thereon are capable of removal from said bearing for replacement with another undamaged wheel.

3. The castor assembly forth in claim 2, wherein said wheel-plate is releasably secured to said bearing by threaded screws or bolts.

4. The castor assembly set forth in claim 3, comprising a seal extending around a periphery of said wheel-plate so that, when said wheel-plate is secured to said bearing, said seal is positioned so as to oppose penetration of dirt into said bearing.

5. The castor assembly set forth in claim 2, comprising a seal extending around a periphery of said wheel-plate so that, when said wheel-plate is secured to said bearing, said seal is positioned so as to oppose penetration of dirt into said bearing.

6. The castor assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer bearing rings at least partially define a ball race therebetween.

7. A castor assembly comprising:

a wheel;

a carriage, on which said wheel is mounted for rotation about a first axis; and

a bearing operable to enable said carriage to rotate about a second axis, said first axis being offset from said second axis;

said bearing comprising inner and outer bearing rings movable relative to one another, said inner bearing ring being secured for rotation with said carriage about the second axis and being disposed generally concentrically within said outer bearing ring, and said carriage being disposed generally concentrically within said inner bearing ring so that said inner and outer bearing rings and said carriage together form a substantially planar assembly;

the first axis about which said wheel rotates being spaced below the planar assembly defined by said inner and outer bearing rings and said carriage so that a load-contacting portion of said wheel projects outwardly from the planar assembly;

a depth of said castor assembly excluding the wheel, measured in a direction parallel to the plane of said wheel, being less than the diameter of said wheel.

8. The castor assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein said carriage comprises a wheel-plate on which the wheel is mounted for rotation about the first axis, said wheel-plate being releasably secured to said bearing so that, in the event of damage to said wheel, said wheel-plate and said wheel mounted thereon are capable of removal from said bearing and replacement with another undamaged wheel.

9. The castor assembly set forth in claim 8, wherein said wheel-plate is releasably secured to said bearing by threaded screws or bolts.

10. The castor assembly set forth in claim 9, comprising a seal extending around a periphery of the wheel-plate so that, when said wheel-plate is secured to said bearing, said seal is positioned so as to oppose penetration of dirt into said bearing.

11. The castor assembly set forth in claim 8, comprising a seal extending around a periphery of the wheel-plate so that, when said wheel-plate is secured to said bearing, said seal is positioned so as to oppose penetration of dirt into said bearing.

12. The castor assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein said inner and outer bearing rings at least partially define a ball race therebetween.

13. A device comprising:

a plate having an upper surface over which objects are moved, said plate having formed therein at least one aperture; and

a castor assembly mounted in said aperture, said castor assembly comprising;

a wheel mounted on a carriage for rotation about a first axis generally parallel to the upper surface of said plate; and

a bearing for enabling the carriage to rotate about a second axis inclined with respect to the first axis and the upper surface of said plate;

said bearing and said carriage being disposed below the upper surface of said plate so that only a portion of said wheel projects above the upper surface of said plate, and

wherein a depth of said castor assembly, excluding said wheel, measured in a direction parallel to a plane of the wheel, is less than the diameter of said wheel.

14. A device comprising:

a plate having an upper surface over which objects are moved, said plate having formed therein at least one aperture; and

a castor assembly mounted in said aperture, said castor assembly comprising;

a wheel mounted on a carriage for rotation about a first axis generally parallel to the upper surface of said plate; and

a bearing for enabling the carriage to rotate about a second axis inclined with respect to the first axis and the upper surface of said plate;

said bearing and said carriage being disposed below the upper surface of said plate so that only a portion of said wheel projects above the upper surface of said plate,

wherein said carriage includes a slot in which said wheel is received, the edges of said slot fitting closely around said wheel so that said bearing, said carriage and said wheel together substantially completely fill said aperture in which said castor assembly is mounted, and

wherein a depth of said castor assembly, excluding said wheel, measured in a direction parallel to a plane of the wheel, is less than the diameter of said wheel.

15. A device comprising:

a plate having an upper surface over which objects are moved, said plate having formed therein at least one aperture; and

a castor assembly mounted in said aperture, said castor assembly comprising;

a wheel mounted on a carriage for rotation about a first axis generally parallel to the upper surface of said plate; and

a bearing for enabling the carriage to rotate about a second axis inclined with respect to the first axis and the upper surface of said plate;

said bearing and said carriage being disposed below the upper surface of said plate so that only a portion of said wheel projects above the upper surface of said plate,

wherein inner and outer bearing rings at least partially define a ball race therebetween and at least one of said inner and outer bearing rings are profiled such that interengagement of said inner and outer bearing rings at at least one side of said ball race defines a path between said rings from said ball race to an exterior of said bearing including at least one turn through an angle of 90 degrees or less.

16. A device comprising:

a plate having an upper surface over which objects are moved, said plate having formed therein at least one aperture; and

a castor assembly mounted in said aperture, said castor assembly comprising;

a wheel having a load-contacting portion;

a carriage, on which said wheel is mounted for rotation about a first axis; and

a bearing operable to enable said carriage to rotate about a second axis inclined with respect to said first axis, said first axis being spaced from said second axis;

said bearing comprising inner and outer bearing rings movable relative to one another, said inner bearing ring being secured to said carriage for rotation with said carriage about the second axis, and being disposed generally concentrically with and within said outer bearing ring so that said inner and outer bearing rings are substantially co-planar;

said carriage being disposed generally concentrically within said inner bearing ring so that said inner bearing ring and said carriage are substantially co-planar, and said inner and outer bearing rings and said carriage, in combination, form a substantially planar assembly;

the first axis about which said wheel rotates being located below a plane defined by said inner and outer bearing rings so that only the load-contacting portion of said wheel projects outwardly from the planar assembly;

a depth for said castor assembly excluding said wheel, measured in a direction parallel to the plane of the wheel, being less than the diameter of said wheel.

17. The device set forth in claim 16, wherein said carriage includes a slot in which said wheel is received, the edges of said slot fitting closely around said wheel so that said bearing, said carriage and said wheel together substantially completely fill said aperture in which said castor assembly is mounted.

18. The device set forth in claim 16, wherein inner and outer bearing rings at least partially define a ball race therebetween.

19. The device set forth in claim 16, wherein said castor assembly is releasably secured to said plate by threaded screws or bolts.

20. A device according to claim 16, wherein said carriage comprises a wheel-plate, and said castor assembly is releasably secured to said plate so that, in the event of damage to said wheel, said wheel-plate and said wheel are capable of removal from said bearing and replacement with another undamaged wheel or wheel-plate.

21. A device comprising:

a plate having an upper surface over which objects are moved, said plate having formed therein at least one aperture; and

a castor assembly mounted in said aperture, said castor assembly comprising;

a wheel;

a carriage, on which said wheel is mounted for rotation about a first axis; and

a bearing operable to enable said carriage to rotate about a second axis, said first axis being offset from said second axis;

said bearing comprising inner and outer bearing rings movable relative to one another, said inner bearing ring being secured for rotation with said carriage about the second axis and being disposed generally concentrically within said outer bearing ring, and said carriage being disposed generally concentrically within said inner bearing ring so that said inner and outer bearing rings and said carriage together form a substantially planar assembly;

the first axis about which said wheel rotates being spaced below the planar assembly defined by said inner and outer bearing rings and said carriage so that a load-contacting portion of said wheel projects outwardly from the planar assembly;

a depth of said castor assembly excluding the wheel, measured in a direction parallel to the plane of said wheel, being less than the diameter of said wheel.