JPS63203401A - Free mobile wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the traveling direction of a wheel frame alterable without pivotally supporting it free of horizontal rotation, by receiving the central part of a wheel on an axle through a spherical bearing, and forming each recess to be narrowed in a cone toward a spherical bearing part, at both sides of the wheel. CONSTITUTION:A wheel 1 is made up by sticking an outer layer material 3 consisting of an elastic material to the circumference of a circular core 2. And, both sides 2a of the circuit core 2 are formed on parallel perpendiculars, and a surface 2a of the outer layer material 3 is formed on a spherical surface of a radius (r) from the center of the circular core 2, respectively. In addition, at both sides of the circular core 2, there is provided with a conical recess 4 being narrowed toward the central part in a point symmetrical manner, while a spherical hole 5 is installed in the central part of the circular core 2. And, this spherical hole 5 is fitted in the sphere 7 tightly attached to the axle, whereby the wheel 1 is received on the axle 6 through a spherical bearing. With this constitution, the wheel 1 is supported free of rotation to the axle 6 and simultaneously it is supported on the central part free of rocking motion.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention is applicable to various portable objects such as bags such as travel bags, furniture such as chairs and desks, office automation equipment, and electrical appliances such as electric washing machines. This invention relates to swivel wheels used as casters, etc.

"Prior Art" Conventional casters generally have a structure in which a wheel is supported by a horizontal axle on a horizontally rotatable car frame, and the direction is changed by the horizontal rotation of the car frame.

``Problem to be solved by the invention'' For this reason, the casters themselves do not change their running direction smoothly, and it may be necessary to forcibly change the direction of the portable object supported by them. Moreover, since a bearing for supporting the vehicle frame is required in addition to a bearing for supporting the wheel, there are problems such as increased manufacturing cost and the height of the caster itself.

The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to smoothly change the running direction without having to pivot the vehicle frame, and without forcibly changing the direction of the supported transportable object, to reduce the size of the vehicle, and to reduce manufacturing costs. Our aim is to provide flexible cars.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In order to achieve such an object, the swivel vehicle of the present invention has a circular wheel with a spherical outer circumferential surface, and has a spherical bearing on the axle at the center of the wheel. A concave portion is formed on both sides of the bearing, which tapers into a conical shape toward the spherical bearing portion.

"Function" According to this structure, the wheels are rotatable relative to the axle and swingable at the center, so the running direction can be changed without horizontally rotatably supporting the vehicle frame.

"Example" Examples of the present invention will be described below.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the wheel l has a covering material 3 made of an elastic material such as rubber attached to the outer periphery of a circular core 2 made of metal or hard synthetic resin.
a is a parallel vertical surface, and the surface 3a of the covering material 3 is a spherical surface with a radius r from the center of the circular core 2. On both side surfaces 2a of the circular core 2, conical recesses 4 that narrow toward the center of the circular core 2 are provided point-symmetrically, and a spherical hole 5 is provided at the center of the circular core 2. It is being By fitting this spherical hole 5 with a sphere 7 fixed to the axle 6, the wheel 1 is spherically supported on the axle 6 and is rotatable and swingable in all directions.

Therefore, when traveling in a straight line with the axle 5 horizontal,
The wheels 1 move vertically, and when making a gentle left or right turn, the wheels 1 swing left or right while remaining perpendicular to the axle 5, forcing the direction of the supported transportable object. You can smoothly change direction without having to change direction. Also, when making a sharp curve or U-turn, the fourth wheel is
As shown in the figure, it swings to the left or right, so this is also done smoothly. However, since the swinging is limited within the range of the recesses 4 on both sides, the wheels 1 will not turn inadvertently and the direction of travel will not be determined.

Figures 5.6.7 each show other examples of the present invention;
In the example shown in the figure, in order to provide directivity in the running direction, the thickness of the facing material 3 is increased, and both sides 3b of the covering material 3 are used as both sides 2 of the circular core 1.
This is a vertical plane that is flush with a. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the sphere 7 is enlarged so that it can support a heavy portable object. In the example shown in FIG. 7, a pair of auxiliary spheres 8 are fixed to the axle 6 in order to smoothly slide between the recess 4 and the axle 5.

Figures 8, 9, and 10 show the structure of a spherical bearing.
A small sphere 9 is interposed between it and the sphere 7.

In FIG. 10, circular holes 11 are continuously provided on both sides of the spherical hole 5 of the circular core l, and auxiliary spheres 12 are fixed to the axle 6 on both sides of the sphere 7, and these circular holes U and the auxiliary spheres 12 are connected to each other. The engagement limits the rocking of the wheel l.

"Effects of the Invention" As is clear from the above description, the swivel vehicle of the present invention has wheels that are rotatable relative to the axle and swingable at the center, and the vehicle frame is pivotably supported for horizontal rotation. Kotona (
Since the running direction can be changed, the following effects can be achieved.

■ Change of direction is smooth.

■ The direction of the supported transportable object can be easily changed without forcibly changing the direction of the object.

■ You can drive on uneven surfaces with less resistance and vibration prevention.

■ Since there is no need to rotatably support the vehicle frame, the overall height can be reduced compared to conventional models.

■ Since the structure is simple, it is easy to manufacture and can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 being a sectional view, Figure 2 being a front view, Figure 3 being a side view, and Figure 4 being a state in which the wheels are oscillating relative to the axle. It is a front view. Figures 5 to 7 are sectional views of other examples of the present invention, and Figures 8 to 10 are sectional views of essential parts of spherical bearings showing other examples of the structure. l...wheel, 4...recess, 5...
... Spherical hole, 6 ... Axle, 7 ... Spherical body. 5 figure off figure off figure 0 figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The wheel is circular and has a spherical outer circumferential surface, and the central part of the wheel is spherically bearing on the axle, and on both sides of the wheel, concave portions are formed that taper into a conical shape toward the spherical bearing. An adjustable car.