Casters Types and Terms
Caster Types
- are positioned between the legs of the caster to enable mobility.
- Chair casters are wheel assemblies which are attached to the bottoms of chair legs to improve mobility and shock absorption.
-
have resilient tread wheels that help to minimize overall height and
maximize load capacity. The differential action of dual wheel casters
reduces the "scrubbing" effect of soft treads against the
floor, thus improving stability and swivel action.
-
are attached to a variety of furniture for industrial, business and
personal use. Furniture caster applications include beds, T.V. stands,
chairs and portable tables.
- protect floors from damage caused by movement of furniture.
- are added to the bottom of various pieces of furniture to enable mobility.
-
are used in heavy weight applications involving large or heavy loads
and significant shock. Heavy duty casters can withstand loads of more
than 300 pounds.
-
are used for the transportation of furniture and equipment in the pharmaceutical,
scientific and medical industries.
- are designed to handle light loads and low levels of shock and
are used for small racks and stands. Load capacities for light duty
casters usually range from approximately 75 to 190 pounds per caster.
- are designed to handle moderate loads and shock. Used for storage
racks, trash cans and office furniture, medium duty casters have load
capacities that usually range from approximately 200 to 290 pounds per
caster.
-
contain air that aids in the absorption of vibration and shock and provides
the caster with a smooth roll on bumpy and uneven surfaces. Pneumatic
casters are useful in the transportation of sensitive items like medical,
electronic and computer equipment.
-
do not swivel but provide only forward and backward motion. Rigid casters,
often used in conjunction with swivel caster pairs, are useful in applications
involving the transportation of items through an aisle or in a straight
path, as they facilitate vertical (up/down) movement.
- aid in protecting delicate cargo from shock, reduce noise levels
and wear on floors and extend the life expectancy of casters, wheels
and bearing.
-
are custom-made casters that fulfill a particular need, such as shock
absorption and inversion.
-
are made of stainless
steel. Stainless casters have great corrosion, rust and chemical
resistance and are easy to clean.
-
contain an extra bearing that allows the caster to rotate 360º. Swivel
casters, commonly found on office chairs, provide convenient vertical,
horizontal and diagonal movement.
Caster Terms
- Caster
mechanism that, in conjunction with the nut or bolt, connects the caster
wheel to the leg.
- The amount of space
required for caster wheel insertion.
- The rolling caster
part that provides movement to the equipment to which the caster is attached.
Caster wheels are positioned between the legs of the caster and connected
by the axle.
- The enclosure in which
the hardcap sits. The dustcap protects the raceway from foreign materials.
- Caster part, also referred
to as a "fork," "yoke" or "rig," inside
of which the caster wheel rests. The frame consists of two legs to which
the caster wheel is attached by means of an axle, nut or bolt and a top
plate; swivel casters also contain a swivel bearing between the top plate
and the caster legs.
- The upper raceway
that bears the thrust.
- The caster wheel core.
- Caster part that is connected
to the top plate. Legs are also attached to the caster wheel by the axle.
- In a swivel caster,
the rivet inserted into a hole in the center of the top plate to connect
the top plate to the rest of the swivel assembly.
- The recommended
load that an individual caster can accept during standard operation conditions.
- Distance measured
from the bottom of the unit to the rolling surface.
- Distance measured from
the center of the axle to the center of the attachment method.
- The largest load
a caster can handle under conditions of shock, such as bumps, uneven surfaces
and the dropping of items onto the caster.
- The round,
cylindrical stationary sleeve between the bracket legs, within the bearing
and over the axle, through which the axle runs.
- The largest load
that a caster can accept while stationary and under no exposure to shock.
- Mechanism on a
swivel caster that prevents the swivel from rotating but not from moving
forward and backward like a rigid caster.
- Also known
as a "swivel bearing," it is the plate of a swivel caster
located between the top plate and the legs that facilitates the swivel
movement.
- Caster accessory
that encases the wheel bearing and shields the caster wheel hub and frame
from substances and materials, like threads, that might otherwise gather
between the two caster mechanisms.
- Also referred to
as the "base plate" or "mounting plate," it a
part of the caster that connects the caster to the equipment and is located
on top of the legs or, in the case of swivel casters, the swivel bearing.
A rigid top plate contains four holes, one in each corner of the plate,
while a swivel top plate contains an additional central hole through which
the kingpin is inserted.
- A component that supports
the upper and lower raceways.