GB2093540A - Brake assemblies for castors and castors incorporating brakes - Google Patents

Brake assemblies for castors and castors incorporating brakes Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2093540A
GB2093540A GB8138788A GB8138788A GB2093540A GB 2093540 A GB2093540 A GB 2093540A GB 8138788 A GB8138788 A GB 8138788A GB 8138788 A GB8138788 A GB 8138788A GB 2093540 A GB2093540 A GB 2093540A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
castor
arm
castor wheel
wheel
catch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB8138788A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GEEST IND GROUP Ltd
Original Assignee
GEEST IND GROUP Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GEEST IND GROUP Ltd filed Critical GEEST IND GROUP Ltd
Priority to GB8138788A priority Critical patent/GB2093540A/en
Publication of GB2093540A publication Critical patent/GB2093540A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60BVEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B33/00Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
    • B60B33/02Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors with disengageable swivel action, i.e. comprising a swivel locking mechanism
    • B60B33/021Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors with disengageable swivel action, i.e. comprising a swivel locking mechanism combined with braking of castor wheel

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Braking Arrangements (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to the braking of castors. A plate 20 supports a shaft on which turns a castor wheel with a hub 14 and with a swivel mounting 4. A lever 26 is pivoted on the support plate 20 and has the first arm 30 arranged to the side of the castor wheel for engaging when desired with the castor wheel hub 14 to hold it against rotation. The lever 26 has a second arm 28 for operation by an actuator member 40 arranged axially with respect to the swivel axis of the castor. In a preferred arrangement the arm 30 operates a spring-biased plunger 32 to engage in a hole 16 in the hub 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Brake assemblies for castors and castors incorporating brakes The invention relates to a brake for a castor. The brake may be provided as a separate assembly for fitting onto a commercially available castor, or it may be provided as an integral part of a castor.
Brakes for swivel castors have to cope with the fact that castor wheels have both a transverse axis for turning of the wheel and an upright swivel axis for swivelling of the wheel.
One method of braking (See British Patent Specifications 1,378,495 and 1,484,013) has been to provide a coaxial plunger for the swivel mounting which plunger, when lowered, presses against the castor wheel rim whatever the swivel position. This arrangement may not fulfill all operative requirements as braking depends essentially on friction with the wheel rim.
It is a first object of the invention to brake castors in such a way that a control member movable along the swivel axis can operate the brake without depending on friction with the wheel rim.
It is a second object of the invention to brake castors in such a way that mechanical interlock can be used to provide positive castor wheel arrest.
The invention firstly provides a brake assembly for a castor including a support having an aperture for receiving the transverse castor wheel turning shaft and having a face for locating against the castor swivel mounting, and a lever pivotable on the support having a first arm for arranging sideways of the castor wheel for causing the castor wheel to be held against, or to be released for turning and a second arm for arranging across the castor wheel for engagement by a brake actuator member extending along the swivel axis. The brake assembly may be applied to a fixed or swivel castor, although it is primarily adapted to meet the difficulties of braking arising in the use of swivel castors.
Such an assembly can be fitted compactly next to the castor wheel. A central web of the castor wheel can be engaged from the side using a vertical actuator member at the swivel axis which will be effective at all swivel positions. The assembly is compact.
Preferably the first arm is associated with a catch for engaging in a recess in the central web. Suitably then the catch is a spring loaded plunger for engaging in a hole in the central web and the lever is arranged to counter-act the spring bias to release the castor wheel for turning. The web may have one or, preferably, more than one hole.
A strong and positive brake effect can thus be obtained. The brakes may be arranged to be applied as soon as the castor supported transporting device is released.
The invention secondly provides a swivel castor having a castor swivel mounting which mounts a transverse castor wheel turning shaft including a brake mechanism having a lever pivotable with respect to the swivel mounting with a first arm sideways of the castor wheel for causing the castor wheel hub to be held against orto release for turning and a second arm across the castor wheel and an actuating member extending through the swivel axis for the second arm.
Preferably the actuating members are operated through a common mechanism and interposed resilient means so as to enable the first arm of one castor to operate the catch of the associated wheel for engaging in the recess whilst the other arm is primed to operate its associated catch as soon as the recess is located in an appropriate position.
Figure 1 shows a side view of a castor with a brake assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an end view of the castor of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a section through the castor of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view of the brake assembly; Figure 5 shows a top view of the brake assembly of Figure 4 and Figure 6 shows diagramatically an actuating arrangement for the castors.
With reference to Figures 1 to 3 a castor comprising a top plate 2 for bolting to a transporting device, a swivel mounting 4 pivotable about axis Y on the top plate 2, bearings 6 between the plate 2 and the mounting 4 and a castor wheel 8 on a shaft 10 secured to the mounting 4. The wheel 8 may have a rim portion 12 and a hub portion 14 including a central web. The hub portion 14 has holes 16 formed through the web. Alternatively the hub may have a nylon hub part with a polyurethene tyre or be of a solid plastics material as shown in Figure 3.
With reference also to Figures 4 and 5, a brake assembly comprises a support plate 20 with an aperture 22 for receiving the shaft 10. Lugs 24 at the top pivotably support a lever 26 by a shaft 27. The lever 26 has a transverse short arm 26 by a shaft 27. The lever 26 has a transverse short arm 28 at the top extending to below a hollow bush 29, pivotably connecting the plate 2 and the mounting 4, and an upright long arm 30. The support plate 20 mounts a bush 31 with a plunger 32 and compression spring 34. The plunger 32 has a flat plate 36 at its exterior end to engage a curved bottom end 37 of the arm 30.
The plate 20 has a top edge 38 fitting against the lower face of the swivel mounting 4 so that when plate 20 is secured on the shaft 10, the support plate 20 is firmly held against rotation in either direction.
With reference particularly to Figure 3, normally an actuating rod 40, extending axially through the hollow bush 29, depresses the arm 28 passing across the top of the castor wheel 8 and shifts the plunger 32 to the position shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 3 against the bias of the spring 34. The tip 42 of the plunger 32 is hence lifted out of th hole 16 illustrated and the castor wheel 8 can turn freely.
With reference also to Figure 6, a trolley 51, has a brake operating handle 52 with a cam 54 for lowering a bar 56. The bar 56 transmits movement to the rods 40 through springs 58. During normal transport the springs 58 are compressed and the rods 40 depressed.
When braking is required handle 52 with a cam 54 is moved from the position shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 6 to that shown in solid lines. The springs 58 expand and move a cross-member 36 upwards. When a hole 16 presents itself opposite one plunger 32, that plunger 32 is moved inwards by its spring 34, lifting the rod 40 until it contacts the cross-member 36. The other spring 34 may remain primed until a hole 16 is engaged by the appropriate plunger. The rod 40 is thus lifted axially with respect to axis Y by the spring 34. The force of the spring 34 propels the plunger 32 in the direction of the arrow X. The tip 42 thus enters the first available hole 16 whilst the lever 26 is brought to the position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 3.All plungers can be released simultaneously by turning the handle 52 back, depressing the cross-member 36 and simultaneously pushing down the rods. Springs 58 and 34 are compressed and ready for renewed operation.
The cam 54 is shaped so that the handle 52 locks in position.
To engage all plungers when a plurality of castors are used, the trolley may be turned slightly after the first plunger 32 has engaged a hole 16 until the other plungers 32 are engaged. This action is much facilitated by the fact that the castor wheels remain capable of swivelling when braked. Although one hole 16 per wheel is sufficient, naturally the more holes 16 are provided, the less the trolley has to be turned to engage all brakes.
In a modified embodiment the lever 26 could engage directly with the hub 14 without using an intermediate plunger. The loads on shaft 26 would be considerable and the construction would be less strong.
By appropriately modifying the interconnection between the rod 40 and the arm 28, the lever 26 can be positively actuated in either direction. In addition the lever 26 and the plunger 32 could be intercon nected for joint movement in either direction. If any resilient bias were desired it could then be made to act on the lever 26 or the rod 40.
The brake assembly can also be applied to "fixed castors"-(non-swivelling castors) where desired. In such a case the brakes may be worked directly by cables etc.
Using the invention, a brake assembly is provided which, surprisingly, fits inside castor wheel swivel mountings. Using an axial actuating force over the castorwheel a positively acting plunger can engage directly with the wheel hub. At no times does the brake interfere with the free turning of the castor wheel about the swivel axis. The brake assembly can be added easily to a castor wheel. A small range of brake assemblies can be made to fit a wide range of castors including fixed castors.

Claims (9)

1. A brake assembly for a castor including a sup port having an aperture for receiving the transverse castor wheel turning shaft and having a face for locating against the castor swivel mounting, and a lever pivotable on the support having a first arm for arranging sideways of the castor wheel for causing the castor wheel to be held against, orto be released forturning and a second arm for arranging across the castor wheel for engagement by a brake actuator member extending along the swivel axis.
2. A brake assembly according to claim 1 in which the first arm is associated with a catch for engaging in a recess in a central web of the castor wheel.
3. A brake assembly according to claim 2 in which the catch is a spring loaded-plunger for engaging in a hole in the central web and the lever is arranged to counter-act the spring bias to release the castor wheel for turning.
4. A brake assembly substantially as described and shown herein with reference to the drawings.
5. A castor having a castor swivel mounting which mounts a transverse castor wheel turning shaft including a brake mechanism having a lever pivotable with respect to the swivel mounting with a first arm sideways of the castor wheel for causing the castor wheel to be held against or be released for turning and a second arm across the castorwheel and an actuating member extending through the swivel axis for the second arm.
6. A castor according to claim 5 in which the first arm is associated with a catch for engaging in a recess in a central web of the castor wheel.
7. Acastorwheel according to claim 6 in which the catch is a spring loaded-plunger for engaging in a hole in the central web and the lever is arranged to counter-actthe spring bias to release the castor wheel for turning.
8. A castor wheel substantially as described and shown herein with reference to the drawings.
9. Atrolley having at leasttwo castors according to any of claims 6 to 8 in which the actuating members are operated through a common mechanism and interposed resilient means so as to enable the first arm of one castor to operate the catch of the associated wheel for engaging in the recess whilst the other arm is primed to operate its associated catch as soon as the recess is located in an appropriate pOsition.
GB8138788A 1981-02-19 1981-12-23 Brake assemblies for castors and castors incorporating brakes Withdrawn GB2093540A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8138788A GB2093540A (en) 1981-02-19 1981-12-23 Brake assemblies for castors and castors incorporating brakes

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8105291 1981-02-19
GB8138788A GB2093540A (en) 1981-02-19 1981-12-23 Brake assemblies for castors and castors incorporating brakes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2093540A true GB2093540A (en) 1982-09-02

Family

ID=26278504

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8138788A Withdrawn GB2093540A (en) 1981-02-19 1981-12-23 Brake assemblies for castors and castors incorporating brakes

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2093540A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2160415A (en) * 1984-06-21 1985-12-24 Colson Castors Castor
GB2422881A (en) * 2005-02-08 2006-08-09 Red Lan Stroller having brake device
US7219918B2 (en) 2005-02-04 2007-05-22 Red Lan Stroller having a brake device

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2160415A (en) * 1984-06-21 1985-12-24 Colson Castors Castor
US4677706A (en) * 1984-06-21 1987-07-07 Colson Castors (Europe) Limited Castor brake
GB2160415B (en) * 1984-06-21 1989-06-01 Colson Castors Castor
US7219918B2 (en) 2005-02-04 2007-05-22 Red Lan Stroller having a brake device
GB2422881A (en) * 2005-02-08 2006-08-09 Red Lan Stroller having brake device
GB2422881B (en) * 2005-02-08 2007-04-04 Red Lan Stroller having a brake device

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Legal Events

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)