CA2029759A1 - Bearing free wheel and related improvements to pallet flow storage systems - Google Patents
Bearing free wheel and related improvements to pallet flow storage systemsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2029759A1 CA2029759A1 CA 2029759 CA2029759A CA2029759A1 CA 2029759 A1 CA2029759 A1 CA 2029759A1 CA 2029759 CA2029759 CA 2029759 CA 2029759 A CA2029759 A CA 2029759A CA 2029759 A1 CA2029759 A1 CA 2029759A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- axle
- free wheel
- bearing free
- impregnated
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improvement relating to material handling and storage equipment for warehousing applications, such improvement consisting of a bearing free wheel having appropriate friction reducing means, such bearing free wheel being suitable for replacement of bearinged wheels typically employed in such applications, and such bearing free wheel providing satisfactory rolling characteristics and improved durability and maintenance characteristics in environments where moisture is encountered.
An improvement relating to material handling and storage equipment for warehousing applications, such improvement consisting of a bearing free wheel having appropriate friction reducing means, such bearing free wheel being suitable for replacement of bearinged wheels typically employed in such applications, and such bearing free wheel providing satisfactory rolling characteristics and improved durability and maintenance characteristics in environments where moisture is encountered.
Description
20297~
Title: BEARING FREE WHEEL AND RELATED
IMPROVEMENTS TO PALLET FLOW STORAGE SYSTEMS
Inventors: Michael William Arthur Leyland and Gerard Michael Downs Assignee: FLOW-RITE INC.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention relates to material handling and storage equipment for commercial and industrial warehousing applications, and in particular relates to an improvement to gravity feed pallet flow storage systems.
Descri~tion of the Prior Art . .
Material handling and storage equipment in some form is widely used in industrial warehousing applications.
Escalating real property values and corresponding increased space rental charges have led to an increased use of ,. ., " 1, .' - ' ' ' ' . ',, ' ' . ' ' ' ' 202975~
high density material handling and storage systems to reduce space requirements. Common among these in applications where materials are conveyed on pallets, are gravity feed pallet flow storage systems. These systems typically employ a high density storage arrangement requiring significantly reduced storage area due to the reduced requirement for aisle space between adjacent rows of stored material. These systems are designed so that material can be fed in one end of the storage system and removed from the other end without the necessity for accessing the material at intermediate points. This is accomplished by provlding parallel rows of conveying means configured with little or no space therebetween.
The rows of conveying means can also be stacked vertically to provide further increase in the density of the storage system. The conveying means are typically inclined with the input end of the system being vertically disposed higher than the output end of the system, thus providing a gravity feed means of conveying said material.
A multiplicity of wheels typically provide the rolllng means and the support means for the palleted material. To date, wheels lncorporating bearings have been used to provide thls .
rolling and support means. The lncorporatlon of bearlngs lnto ::
" . ~ . : . ! ;
20297~
these wheels was thought necessary in order to reduce the inherent friction associated with the system and to thereby facilitate movement of the pallets.
The use of bearinged wheels, however, presents certain problems. In warehousing applications where a high degree of moisture is present or in applications where routine cleaning of the conveying means by pressurized water or some other appropriate method is typically employed, deterioration of these metal wheel bearings is often encountered. In addition, bearinged wheels are expensive to manufacture.
It would, therefore, be desirable to have a gravity feed high density material handling and ætorage system that utilized bearing free wheels that could be fabricated entirely without metal components, thereby eliminating the moisture related problems described, as well as, reducing the entire cost of the systems.' : , ~
SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION
.;' ..
It is an ob~ect of the present invention to provide a bearing free wheel suitable for use in replacing the bearinged wheel typicallY employed in gravity feed high density material handling and storage systems.
. ~ .
- .:
20297~9 :`
It is a further ob~ect of the present invention to provide a bearing free wheel that provides improved durability characteristics and reduced maintenance problems in applications where moisture is encountered.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a bearing free wheel that provides satisfactory rolling performance in the conveyance of palleted materials.
It is still a further ob;ect of the present invention to provide a bearing free wheel that is less expensive to manufacture than the bearinged wheel typically employed in such systems.
Thus, in accordance with the present lnvention, there is provided a wheel to be used in gravity feed high density material storage and handling systems that contains no bearings and, which contains no metal components, and which incorporates means to adequately reduce frictions between said wheel and ad~acent components.
~: ,, Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
~ .
- 5 ~ 2029759 BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, the preferred embodiment thereof will not be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an end view of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a typical end view showing configuration of pallet, track and wheel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to figure 1, there is shown an end view of the bearing free wheel 1 and the related support structure consisting of the track rail 2, axle 3, washers 4 and bottom ties 5.
The bearing free wheel 1 has an appropriately dimensioned opening at its geometric centre to permit the axle 3 to be inserted. The axle 3 is then inserted into openings on the parallel track rails 2. The holes in the track rails 2 are positioned so that the axle 3 and wheel 1 together project a specified distance above the upper surface of the track rail 2.
Bottom ties 5 are inserted and mechanically secured to each track rail 2 so as to ensure that a consistent relative distance between the track rails 2 is maintained. The number and position of these .. :: .. . . . - ... . . . . , .~i . . - . .. . . . .
20297~9 bottoms ties 5 is variable and dependent on the specific storage application.
In the described embodiment of the present invention the wheel 1 is fabricated from a suitable non-metallic material such as polypropylene. During fabrication, a suitable lubricant such as silicone is impregnated into the substrate used to form the wheels, and in operation this lubricant migrates to the axle 3, thereby and providing lubrication between the axle 3 and the wheel 1.
Additional or alternative means of reducing system friction would include adding a suitable material to the axle 2, by means of a coating or impregnation process. Such sultable material could be teflon or other suitable material that would provide reduced friction between the axle 3 and the wheel 1.
Reduced friction between these components could also be achieved by inserting a sleeve fabricated from a suitable low friction material into the wheel 1 thereby reducing the friction between the axle 3 and the wheel 1. Suitable material for this application would be nylon impregnated molybendeum.
Referring to figure 1 and figure 2 a possible physical configuration of the wheels and support structure can be seen.
- 20297~
This configuration involves a staggered wheel pattern consisting of three inch diameter wheels supported on axles which are spaced having their centres two inches apart.
Figure 2 shows three parallel tracks configured underneath a typical pallet. The number of tracks employed and the relative positions thereof is variable and dependent on the characteristics of the palleted material, including the overall dimension of the pallet, the overall weight of pallet and conveyed materials etc.
The shape and dimensions of the wheel 1 for any particular application is also variable. Figure 1 shows a wheel 1 having a slightly crowned rolling surface. An alternative embodiment of the present invention would include a bearing free wheel 1 with a flatter rolling surface providing additional surface area in applications requiring increased weight bearing ability.
Title: BEARING FREE WHEEL AND RELATED
IMPROVEMENTS TO PALLET FLOW STORAGE SYSTEMS
Inventors: Michael William Arthur Leyland and Gerard Michael Downs Assignee: FLOW-RITE INC.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention relates to material handling and storage equipment for commercial and industrial warehousing applications, and in particular relates to an improvement to gravity feed pallet flow storage systems.
Descri~tion of the Prior Art . .
Material handling and storage equipment in some form is widely used in industrial warehousing applications.
Escalating real property values and corresponding increased space rental charges have led to an increased use of ,. ., " 1, .' - ' ' ' ' . ',, ' ' . ' ' ' ' 202975~
high density material handling and storage systems to reduce space requirements. Common among these in applications where materials are conveyed on pallets, are gravity feed pallet flow storage systems. These systems typically employ a high density storage arrangement requiring significantly reduced storage area due to the reduced requirement for aisle space between adjacent rows of stored material. These systems are designed so that material can be fed in one end of the storage system and removed from the other end without the necessity for accessing the material at intermediate points. This is accomplished by provlding parallel rows of conveying means configured with little or no space therebetween.
The rows of conveying means can also be stacked vertically to provide further increase in the density of the storage system. The conveying means are typically inclined with the input end of the system being vertically disposed higher than the output end of the system, thus providing a gravity feed means of conveying said material.
A multiplicity of wheels typically provide the rolllng means and the support means for the palleted material. To date, wheels lncorporating bearings have been used to provide thls .
rolling and support means. The lncorporatlon of bearlngs lnto ::
" . ~ . : . ! ;
20297~
these wheels was thought necessary in order to reduce the inherent friction associated with the system and to thereby facilitate movement of the pallets.
The use of bearinged wheels, however, presents certain problems. In warehousing applications where a high degree of moisture is present or in applications where routine cleaning of the conveying means by pressurized water or some other appropriate method is typically employed, deterioration of these metal wheel bearings is often encountered. In addition, bearinged wheels are expensive to manufacture.
It would, therefore, be desirable to have a gravity feed high density material handling and ætorage system that utilized bearing free wheels that could be fabricated entirely without metal components, thereby eliminating the moisture related problems described, as well as, reducing the entire cost of the systems.' : , ~
SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION
.;' ..
It is an ob~ect of the present invention to provide a bearing free wheel suitable for use in replacing the bearinged wheel typicallY employed in gravity feed high density material handling and storage systems.
. ~ .
- .:
20297~9 :`
It is a further ob~ect of the present invention to provide a bearing free wheel that provides improved durability characteristics and reduced maintenance problems in applications where moisture is encountered.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a bearing free wheel that provides satisfactory rolling performance in the conveyance of palleted materials.
It is still a further ob;ect of the present invention to provide a bearing free wheel that is less expensive to manufacture than the bearinged wheel typically employed in such systems.
Thus, in accordance with the present lnvention, there is provided a wheel to be used in gravity feed high density material storage and handling systems that contains no bearings and, which contains no metal components, and which incorporates means to adequately reduce frictions between said wheel and ad~acent components.
~: ,, Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
~ .
- 5 ~ 2029759 BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, the preferred embodiment thereof will not be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an end view of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a typical end view showing configuration of pallet, track and wheel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to figure 1, there is shown an end view of the bearing free wheel 1 and the related support structure consisting of the track rail 2, axle 3, washers 4 and bottom ties 5.
The bearing free wheel 1 has an appropriately dimensioned opening at its geometric centre to permit the axle 3 to be inserted. The axle 3 is then inserted into openings on the parallel track rails 2. The holes in the track rails 2 are positioned so that the axle 3 and wheel 1 together project a specified distance above the upper surface of the track rail 2.
Bottom ties 5 are inserted and mechanically secured to each track rail 2 so as to ensure that a consistent relative distance between the track rails 2 is maintained. The number and position of these .. :: .. . . . - ... . . . . , .~i . . - . .. . . . .
20297~9 bottoms ties 5 is variable and dependent on the specific storage application.
In the described embodiment of the present invention the wheel 1 is fabricated from a suitable non-metallic material such as polypropylene. During fabrication, a suitable lubricant such as silicone is impregnated into the substrate used to form the wheels, and in operation this lubricant migrates to the axle 3, thereby and providing lubrication between the axle 3 and the wheel 1.
Additional or alternative means of reducing system friction would include adding a suitable material to the axle 2, by means of a coating or impregnation process. Such sultable material could be teflon or other suitable material that would provide reduced friction between the axle 3 and the wheel 1.
Reduced friction between these components could also be achieved by inserting a sleeve fabricated from a suitable low friction material into the wheel 1 thereby reducing the friction between the axle 3 and the wheel 1. Suitable material for this application would be nylon impregnated molybendeum.
Referring to figure 1 and figure 2 a possible physical configuration of the wheels and support structure can be seen.
- 20297~
This configuration involves a staggered wheel pattern consisting of three inch diameter wheels supported on axles which are spaced having their centres two inches apart.
Figure 2 shows three parallel tracks configured underneath a typical pallet. The number of tracks employed and the relative positions thereof is variable and dependent on the characteristics of the palleted material, including the overall dimension of the pallet, the overall weight of pallet and conveyed materials etc.
The shape and dimensions of the wheel 1 for any particular application is also variable. Figure 1 shows a wheel 1 having a slightly crowned rolling surface. An alternative embodiment of the present invention would include a bearing free wheel 1 with a flatter rolling surface providing additional surface area in applications requiring increased weight bearing ability.
Claims (9)
1. A bearing free wheel for use in gravity feed high density material handling and storage applications consisting of a generally cylindrical one piece molded wheel incorporating a suitable means for reducing rolling friction between said wheel and any adjacent components.
2. A wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheel is fabricated from a suitable non-metallic material.
3. A wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheel is fabricated from polypropylene.
4. A wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material employed in the fabrication of the said wheel is impregnated with a lubricant.
5. A wheel as claimed in claim 4, wherein said wheel is impregnated with silicone.
6. A wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a suitable low friction material is applied or affixed to the inner surface of the hole located in the geometric centre of said wheel.
7. A wheel as claimed in claim 6, wherein a nylon impregnated molybendeum sleeve is inserted into the centre of the wheel.
8. An axle used in high density material storage and conveying systems which axle is coated with a low friction material to reduce rolling friction between said axle and adjacent components.
9. The axle of claim 8 wherein said axle is coated with teflon.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2029759 CA2029759A1 (en) | 1990-11-13 | 1990-11-13 | Bearing free wheel and related improvements to pallet flow storage systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2029759 CA2029759A1 (en) | 1990-11-13 | 1990-11-13 | Bearing free wheel and related improvements to pallet flow storage systems |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2029759A1 true CA2029759A1 (en) | 1992-05-14 |
Family
ID=4146402
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2029759 Abandoned CA2029759A1 (en) | 1990-11-13 | 1990-11-13 | Bearing free wheel and related improvements to pallet flow storage systems |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2029759A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7455165B2 (en) | 2000-09-22 | 2008-11-25 | Jolex Enterprises, Inc. | Freewheel flow track systems |
-
1990
- 1990-11-13 CA CA 2029759 patent/CA2029759A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7455165B2 (en) | 2000-09-22 | 2008-11-25 | Jolex Enterprises, Inc. | Freewheel flow track systems |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |