Types of wheel supports and their differences. Specificity of mobile equipment

Specificity of mobile equipment

Trolleys are an indispensable attribute of household services. They are usually not noticed in everyday bustle, but without such devices, moving cargo would turn into a big problem. For this reason, the condition of their nodes must be carefully monitored. One of the most important elements included in the design of the trolley is the swivel wheel support. It is thanks to her that a single loader easily manipulates large scales. In the manufacture of the wheel bearing, manufacturers use various materials:

  • polyurethane;
  • rubber;
  • cast iron;
  • phenol;
  • polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
  • nylon and more.

There are various types of wheel supports, they are used in different fields. There are household, "general use" (for installation on garbage containers, supermarket carts, office furniture, etc.), industrial, for servicing production processes. Carts are indispensable in warehouses, food industry enterprises, metallurgical plants. You can choose and buy wheels for carts by clicking on the link: https://www.fregat.com.ua/roliki-podvilochnye-i-kolesa-dlya-gidravlicheskoy-telezhki 

The advantage of supports made of different materials

Each raw material for the manufacture of equipment is characterized by certain properties. This affects the performance of casters and bogies, as well as their price. From an economic point of view, it is most advantageous to use wheels with tires made of gray or black rubber. They are inexpensive, but quite powerful. Among the shortcomings, one can single out a clear trace that carts leave on the surface. These types are widely used in industrial plants.

Polyurethane wheel supports are more durable. Due to their high resistance to wear, they are used not only indoors, but also outdoors. One of the most acceptable options for wide application. Steel wheels are distinguished by high strength and reliability. However, their disadvantages include dents that remain when moving the cart on wooden surfaces.

A distinctive feature of PVC supports is elasticity. Therefore, such wheels are effective where you have to transport cargo by wire. Nylon supports do not differ in durability, but they have a low price. If the trolley is not used very intensively, this is definitely one of the best options. In this case, by purchasing nylon wheels, you will save a lot!

Technical information

As already mentioned, wheel supports are divided according to their purpose, they are used in areas from domestic to industrial. There is another classification - by the type of bracket. According to her, the wheels are fixed and swivel. The last variation is the most common, so consider it as an example. The standard caster consists of the following components:

  1. Mounting platform.
  2. Ball bearings.
  3. Swivel bracket.
  4. Brake system.
  5. Bolt nut.
  6. Rim.
  7. Shinka.

Some poles work without a bracket. Such wheels are installed on hydraulic carts as the main ones. Sometimes they are used as drive wheels, as well as components and spare parts. Brake wheels use one of two types of brakes:

  • Pedal. Sometimes it protrudes from under the cart, it is activated by pressing the foot. Operates on the principle of fixing the wheel and the swivel mechanism.
  • "Butterfly". This type of brake, like the previous example, is applied and removed with the foot. Unlike a pedal, it fixes only the wheel, and the swivel mechanism is not affected.

Wheel supports without brakes are also very common. Their principle of operation is that they rotate 360 ​​degrees relative to the trolley platform. The support fork is equipped with stiffeners, which gives additional lateral stability.

The process of choosing the right wheel

In some industries, such as warehousing or repair shops, trolleys are an important technical unit. If their condition is non-working, this circumstance will be reflected in the production processes. Of course, if it is not possible to transport the mill or crane unit directly to the place of repair, then its timely repair is in question. As a result, the launch of equipment that should perform processes and make a profit is slowed down.

Attention! The economic component, although important, is not the key reason for maintaining wheel supports in working condition. The fact is that any breakdown, along with expenses, can cause injury not only to the loader, but also to people nearby. At any enterprise, the issues of compliance with safety regulations relating to human health and life are a priority.

One of the conditions for the smooth operation of wheel supports is their correct choice. This is a responsible process consisting of three stages:

  1. Analysis of the main area where the trolley will be used. Before choosing wheel supports, the floor or road surface, environmental features are carefully studied.

  2. Calculation of indicators from which you need to build on when choosing a wheel support. These are dynamic load capacity, ultimate static load, rolling resistance and so on. The optimal diameter of the wheel and the material from which it is made are determined.

  3. Based on the previous calculations, the type of wheel support, the type of fasteners are finally selected. In this case, the dynamic load capacity is already tested in practice.

In order for the wheel supports on the carts to serve for a long time, you must follow the rules for their operation. If industrial wheels are used, it is necessary that the coating also corresponds to their characteristics. Otherwise, both the coating and the wheels quickly become unusable.

It is necessary to take into account the functional features of the trolley itself. If it is maneuverable, then it is preferable to replace the swivel wheel bearings with fixed ones. Another important factor is the speed of the carts. It should be no more than 4 or 5 km / h, this guarantees the integrity of the system. Do not exceed the maximum permissible load capacity of the wheel, as this can lead to a rupture of both the bracket and the support completely.

Tread type and wheel material. What you need to know about them and about the surface

There are differences in the type of contact layer of wheel supports, attention is paid to the material from which it is made.

To select supports, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics and condition of the floor on which the wheels will ride. This affects their durability. It is known that for ceramic tiles, which are often installed in offices and various institutions, polyurethane or rubber tires are suitable.

On asphalt, pneumatic tires will “feel” great. For this coating, elastic rubber can also be used as a wheel tire material, demonstrating better performance properties even on a surface with metal chips. She, along with a pneumatic tire, is effective on the ground. As for cement coatings, it is better to choose wheel elements made of polyurethane or rubber on them, as well as on ceramic tiles.

Carrying out the technical equipment of the equipment, do not neglect the recommendations of specialists. Indeed, during the interaction of the contact layer and the floor surface, an undesirable chemical reaction and a discharge of static electricity may occur. Tires are also adversely affected by bumps and roughness. Based on this, we can safely say that the correct choice of wheel supports is a very important point in technical support. Thanks to this set of measures, the operating life of the equipment will be extended and, possibly, material damage caused by the incompatibility of the tire and the surface on which you have to work will decrease.