TWI735827B - Casters - Google Patents

Abstract

A caster includes: a wheel base, a moving unit, a steering unit, a braking unit, and a driving unit. The moving unit is passed through the wheel base and includes two rotatable wheels. The braking unit includes one A brake seat, and a first brake lever, the brake seat can move in a braking position and a moving position, when in the braking position compared to the active position, the brake lever is embedded in the wheel upwards, the drive unit It includes a moving part with a chute, and a driving rod with a convex part embedded in the chute and penetrating the steering unit. An operating unit can be used to drive the moving part to move so that the driving rod follows the chute Move up and down, after the drive rod moves up, the drive block will push up the brake seat to move to the braking position.

Description

Casters

The present invention relates to a caster, in particular to a caster with the function of stopping and braking.

Generally, in order to facilitate the movement, several casters are usually installed under the carrier. In order to prevent the carrier from moving on its own on uneven ground, a brake mechanism is provided on the caster. The brake wheel set disclosed in Taiwan Patent I451984 is composed of a control group, a brake group, and a wheel. The wheel has several brake grooves; the brake group mainly has a pivot, a and The brake block connected with the pivot and a catch block arranged on the brake block; the control group mainly has a fixed block, a control block arranged in the fixed block, and a control block connected with the pivot Slider. The sliding guide surface of the control block is used to drive the sliding block to move up and down, thereby driving the pivot to link the braking block, so that the catch block is embedded in the braking slot to achieve a braking effect.

Although the caster solves the problem of braking, the slider and the sliding guide surface are only driven by abutment. When the control block is released, the slider is easily stuck in the guide due to the instantaneous elastic force at the time of release. Slippery surface or the fixed block, resulting in failure to smoothly remove The slider returns to the non-brake position, and it cannot operate normally when the control block is driven to brake again.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a caster that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

Therefore, the caster of the present invention includes: a wheel base, a moving unit, a steering unit, a braking unit, and a driving unit. The wheel base defines an accommodating space, and a shaft hole with an opening upward and extending downward to the accommodating space. The moving unit includes a wheel shaft passing through the wheel base, and two rotating wheels sleeved on the left and right ends of the wheel shaft and capable of rotating. Each wheel includes an inner side facing the other wheel, at least one inner side A number of first tooth blocks arranged at intervals around its own axis are arranged on the side surface, and two adjacent first tooth blocks jointly define a first tooth groove. The steering unit includes a shaft inserted in the shaft hole.

The brake unit is arranged in the accommodating space, and includes a brake seat defining a perforation, a first brake rod inserted between the wheel seat and the perforation, and a first brake rod arranged between the brake seat and the wheel seat The first elastic member, the brake seat can move relative to the wheel seat in a braking position and a moving position. In the braking position, compared to the active position, the horizontal position of the brake seat is higher, and the brake lever is at the same time Move upward and at least one end is embedded in the corresponding first tooth groove, the first elastic member always moves the brake seat to the Activity location.

The driving unit includes a moving part located above the steering unit, a driving rod penetrating the shaft from top to bottom, and a driving block installed at the lower end of the driving rod and capable of supporting the brake seat. The moving part There is a surrounding wall, and an obliquely extending chute formed on the surrounding wall. The surrounding wall has an upper groove surface and a lower groove surface which respectively define the upper and lower groove edges of the chute and are spaced up and down. The rod has a head that penetrates the moving part, and a convex part that protrudes from the head and can be inserted into the chute. The moving part can move back and forth relative to the shaft. When moving, the convex part will be The upper groove surface and the lower groove surface limit the drive and move up and down with the chute, and then drive the drive rod to move up and down. After the drive rod moves up, the drive block will push up the brake seat and move to the braking position .

The effect of the present invention is that by the forward and backward movement of the moving part, the brake seat can be driven to move up and down relative to the wheel seat to produce the effect of braking and releasing the brake, and the convex part is inserted into the chute to lower the driving rod and When the brake is operated between the moving parts, it will not cause partial jamming.

1: Wheel seat

11: accommodating space

12: Shaft hole

2: mobile unit

21: Axle

22: Runner

221: inside

222: first tooth block

223: first cogging

3: Steering unit

31: Mounting plate

32: Axle

33: Bearing

34: Gear

341: second tooth block

342: second cogging

35: The third elastic part

4: Braking unit

41: brake seat

411: piercing

42: The first brake lever

43: The first elastic part

44: second brake lever

45: second elastic part

5: Drive unit

51: moving parts

511: Wall

512: chute

513: upper groove surface

514: lower groove surface

52: drive rod

521: head

522: Convex

53: drive block

A: Operating unit

Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the caster of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the embodiment; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a brake seat in an active position; Figure 4 is a sectional front view illustrating the brake seat in the active position; Figure 5 It is a diagram similar to Figure 3, illustrating the brake seat in a braking position; Figure 6 is a diagram similar to Figure 4, illustrating the brake seat in the braking position; and Figure 7 is a diagram similar to Figure 3, It illustrates that when the brake seat is in the braking position, a first brake lever and a second brake lever are not embedded in the corresponding first and second tooth grooves.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the caster of the present invention includes a wheel base 1, a moving unit 2, a steering unit 3, a braking unit 4, and a driving unit 5.

The wheel base 1 defines an accommodating space 11 and a shaft hole 12 whose opening faces upward and extends downward to the accommodating space 11.

The moving unit 2 includes a wheel shaft 21 passing through the wheel base 1, and two rotating wheels 22 sleeved on the left and right ends of the wheel shaft 21 and capable of rotating. Each wheel 22 includes one wheel 22 facing the other wheel 22 At least one inner side surface 221 is provided with a plurality of first tooth blocks 222 arranged at intervals around its own axis, and two adjacent first tooth blocks 222 jointly define a first tooth groove 223.

The steering unit 3 includes a mounting plate 31 located above the wheel base 1, a shaft 32 inserted in the shaft hole 12, a bearing 33 sleeved on the shaft 32, and a bearing 33 sleeved on the shaft 32. 32 and a gear 34 located under the bearing 33 and rotating with the shaft 32, and a third elastic member 35 sleeved on the shaft 32 and located between the gear 34 and the bearing 33. The shaft 32 is fixed to the mounting plate 31 so that the mounting plate 31 can rotate relative to the wheel base 1 with the shaft 32 as the axis. The gear 34 and the shaft 32 are non-circularly sleeved, so that the gear 34 can move up and down along the shaft 32 and can rotate with the shaft 32 around its own axis. The gear 34 has several intervals around In the second tooth blocks 341 arranged, two adjacent second tooth blocks 341 jointly define a second tooth groove 342. One end of the third elastic member 35 abuts against the gear 34 and the other end abuts against the bearing 33.

The brake unit 4 is disposed in the accommodating space 11, and includes a brake seat 41 defining a perforation 411, a first brake lever 42 inserted in the wheel seat 1 and the perforation 411, and a brake seat disposed on the brake seat. The first elastic member 43 between 41 and the wheel base 1, and a second brake lever 44 fixed on the brake base 41 and located in the shaft hole 12. The brake seat 41 can move in a braking position and a moving position relative to the wheel seat 1. When in the braking position, the brake seat 41 has a higher horizontal position than in the active position, and the first brake lever 42 is at the same time Moving upward and at least one end is embedded in the corresponding first tooth groove 223, the second brake lever 44 will be embedded in the corresponding second tooth groove 342. The first elastic member 43 accumulates an elastic force when the brake seat 41 is in the braking position, and constantly pushes the brake seat 41 to the active position.

The driving unit 5 includes a moving part 51 located above the steering unit 3, a driving rod 52 penetrating the shaft 32 from top to bottom, and a piece of driving rod 52 installed at the lower end of the driving rod 52 and capable of supporting the brake seat 41 The drive block 53. The moving member 51 has a surrounding wall 511 and a chute 512 formed on the surrounding wall 511 and extending obliquely. The surrounding wall 511 has an upper groove surface 513 and a lower groove surface 514 that respectively define the upper and lower groove edges of the chute 512 and are spaced up and down. The driving rod 52 has a head 521 that penetrates the moving part 51, And at least one protrusion 522 protruding from the head 521 and capable of being inserted into the chute 512.

Refer to Figures 3 to 6, in use, usually under a carrier (not shown) to be transported, the mounting plate 31 is fixed to the carrier, and the caster is installed on the carrier, usually Four casters are installed, the moving unit 2 is used to push the carrier in a labor-saving manner, and the steering unit 3 is used to control the change of the traveling direction. In addition, an external operating unit A is combined with the moving member 51 to drive the moving member 51 to move back and forth. The operating unit A may be a control rod with a rope extending to the user's close body for the user to operate the control rod to move the moving part for braking operation, and may also be connected to the moving parts 51 of a plurality of casters at the same time. , To achieve the purpose of driving the moving parts 51 at the same time. Since the operating unit A is not the focus of the present invention, it will not be described again.

The moving member 51 can move back and forth relative to the shaft 32. When moving, the convex portion 522 will be driven by the upper groove surface 513 and the lower groove surface 514 to move up and down along the extension direction of the chute 512. And then drive the drive rod 52 to move up and down, the drive After the rod 52 moves upward, the driving block 53 will push up the brake seat 41 to move to the braking position. When the carrier needs to be parked, the operating unit A drives the moving member 51 to move to the position shown in FIG. The driving block 53 drives the brake seat 41 to move to the braking position, the first brake lever 42 is inserted into the first tooth groove 223 so that the wheels 22 cannot rotate, and the second brake lever 44 is inserted into the second tooth The groove 342 prevents the gear 34 from rotating, thereby preventing the shaft 32 from rotating, achieving the function of stopping the brake (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). When the carrier needs to be moved again, by operating the operating unit A in the reverse direction to drive the moving member 51 to move to the position shown in FIG. Displacement downwards, and at the same time, the first elastic member 43 pushes the brake seat 41 down to the active position and at the same time restores the moving member 51 to the position shown in FIG. 3, so that the moving unit 2 and the steering unit 3, Unrestricted continued activities.

The upper groove surface 513 and the lower groove surface 514 can keep the convex portion 522 in the chute 512 at a constant volume, and ensure that the braking and releasing actions are driven by the moving member 51. And when the head 521 or the convex portion 522 and the moving member 51 are misaligned, the moving member 51 can be moved by repeated operations so that the upper groove surface 513 and the lower groove surface 514 drive the convex portion 522 to return to A position capable of moving along the chute 512.

With reference to Fig. 7, when the brake seat 41 is in the braking position, but if the first brake lever 42 abuts against the first tooth block 222, the first brake lever 42 cannot move upward into the first tooth slot 223 and compressing the second elastic member 45 results in unable to stop At this time, the user can slightly push the carrier and rotate the wheels 22 until the first tooth groove 223 is rotated to a position where the first brake lever 42 can be embedded, and the second elastic member 45 will The first brake lever 42 is pushed into the corresponding first tooth groove 223; if the second brake lever 44 is pressed against the corresponding second tooth block 341, the gear 34 will be pushed upward and squeeze the third tooth block. The elastic member 35 prevents the second brake lever 44 from entering the second tooth groove 342, so that the wheel seat 1 cannot be restricted from turning. At this time, the user can slightly rotate the carrier, and then rotate the shaft 32 until the first The second tooth groove 342 rotates to a position where the second brake lever 44 can be embedded, and the third elastic member 35 pushes the gear 34 so that the second brake lever 44 is inserted into the corresponding second tooth groove 342.

In summary, the effect of the caster of the present invention is that the upper groove surface 513 and the lower groove surface 514 of the moving member 51 drive the convex portion 522 of the driving rod 52 to move up and down along the chute 512. In turn, the brake seat 41 is moved between the braking position and the movable position. The user can connect the operating unit A to the moving part 51 to control the moving part 51, so that the operation of the caster brake is no longer limited to the caster. In addition, the relative position of the head 521 and the moving part 51 is restricted by the convex part 522 being inserted into the chute 512, so that the head 521 will not be biased against the moving part 51 due to uneven force, which affects The action of operating the brake, therefore, can indeed achieve the purpose of the present invention.

However, the above are only examples of the present invention. When the scope of implementation of the present invention cannot be limited by this, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application of the present invention and the content of the patent specification still belong to The scope of the invention patent Inside.

1: Wheel seat

11: accommodating space

12: Shaft hole

2: mobile unit

21: Axle

22: Runner

221: inside

222: first tooth block

35: The third elastic part

4: Braking unit

41: brake seat

411: piercing

42: The first brake lever

43: The first elastic part

44: second brake lever

45: second elastic part

223: first cogging

3: Steering unit

31: Mounting plate

32: Axle

33: Bearing

34: Gear

341: second tooth block

342: second cogging

5: Drive unit

51: moving parts

511: Wall

512: chute

513: upper groove surface

514: lower groove surface

52: drive rod

521: head

522: Convex

53: drive block

Claims (4)

A caster includes: a wheel seat, defining an accommodating space, and a shaft hole with an opening upward and extending downward to the accommodating space; a moving unit, including a wheel shaft passing through the wheel seat, and two Runners sleeved on the left and right ends of the axle and capable of rotating, each runner includes an inner side facing the other runner, at least one inner side is provided with a plurality of first tooth blocks arranged at intervals around its own axis, Two adjacent first tooth blocks jointly define a first tooth slot; a steering unit, including a shaft inserted in the shaft hole; a braking unit, arranged in the accommodating space, and including a Defining a perforated brake seat, a first brake rod inserted between the wheel seat and the perforation, and a first elastic member arranged between the brake seat and the wheel seat, the brake seat can be opposed to the wheel The seat moves in a braking position and a moving position. In the braking position, the brake seat has a higher horizontal position than in the active position. The brake lever moves upward at the same time and at least one end is embedded in the corresponding first tooth groove , The first elastic member constantly moves the brake seat to the active position; and a drive unit, including a moving member located above the steering unit, a drive rod that penetrates the shaft from top to bottom, and a piece of mounting At the lower end of the driving rod, a driving block capable of supporting the brake seat, the moving part has a surrounding wall, and an obliquely extending chute formed on the surrounding wall, and the surrounding wall has respectively defining the upper part of the chute , An upper groove surface and a lower groove surface with a lower groove edge and spaced up and down from each other, the driving rod has a head that penetrates the moving part, and A convex part protruding from the head and capable of being inserted into the chute. The moving part can move back and forth relative to the shaft. When moving, the convex part will be driven by the upper groove surface and the lower groove surface. The chute moves up and down, and then drives the drive rod to move up and down. After the drive rod moves up, the drive block will push up the brake seat to move to the braking position. The caster according to claim 1, wherein the steering unit further includes a bearing sleeved on the shaft, and a gear sleeved on the shaft and located under the bearing and rotating with the shaft, the gear It is non-circularly sleeved with the shaft, so that the gear can move up and down along the shaft, and can rotate with the shaft around its own axis. The gear has a number of second tooth blocks arranged around the shaft at intervals. Two adjacent second tooth blocks jointly define a second tooth slot. The brake unit also has a second brake rod fixed on the brake seat and located in the shaft hole. When the brake seat is in the braking position, the first The two brake levers are embedded in the corresponding second tooth groove. The caster according to claim 2, wherein the steering unit further includes a third elastic member sleeved on the shaft and located between the gear and the bearing, one end of the third elastic member abuts against the gear , The other end abuts against the bearing, and when the brake seat is at the braking position, if the second brake lever abuts against the corresponding second tooth block, the gear will be pushed upward and squeeze the third elastic Member, rotate the shaft until the second tooth slot is turned to a position where the second brake lever can be embedded, and the third elastic member pushes the gear so that the second brake lever is inserted into the corresponding second tooth slot. The caster according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the braking unit further includes a second elastic member disposed in the perforation, and the second elastic member One end abuts against the brake seat, and the other end abuts against the first brake lever. When the brake seat is in the braking position, if the first brake lever abuts against the first tooth block, the first brake The rod cannot move upwards and compresses the second elastic member, and rotates the wheels until the first tooth groove is turned to a position where the first brake lever can be embedded, and the second elastic member pushes the first brake rod into Corresponding to the first tooth slot.

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