Abstract: A gear hinge has a bearing fitted into opposed notches which open out of the meshed gear segments for the leaves. The bearing has blocks provided with knuckles which interlock to prevent the blocks, and the leaves as well, from moving longitudinally with respect to each other.

Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly for a pinless hinge structure having two longitudinally extending hinge members which are rotatory joined to each other and a longitudinally extending clamp member. The thrust bearing assembly includes a thrust bearing member having multiple bearing support surfaces which are longitudinally joined to each other. Each bearing surface is preferably non metallic and extends laterally across adjacent longitudinal edges of the hinge members to inhibit relative longitudinal movement between the hinge members.

Abstract: A free wheel caster is provided and consists of a large ball rotatively carried within a cavity in a cup portion of a caster body which rolls against a plurality of small balls to ride freely within anti-friction material coating recesses in the cavity. The caster body can be attached to bottom of an object to move the object across a flat surface. It can also be attached to top of an object to move other objects thereacross. A ready access hole is also provided in the cup portion so that a tool can be inserted for prying and thereby removing the large ball from the cavity in the cup portion for cleaning and repair.

Abstract: A multiple piece thrust bearing assembly for a hinge structure having two hinge members and a clamp member. The hinge members are rotatably joined along their adjacent longitudinally extending edges by intermeshing gear segments which are held together by the clamp member to permit smooth and uniform movement of the hinge members. The multi-piece thrust bearing assembly of the present invention comprises a thrust bearing member and bearing inserts arranged between the thrust bearing member and each of the hinge members for improving durability of the thrust bearing assembly and, thereby, the hinge structure. The thrust bearing member of the bearing assembly is formed from a non-metallic material which extends laterally across the hinge members to inhibit their longitudinal movement relative to each other.

Abstract: An improved caster wheel assembly for a wheelchair or the like includes adjustable bearing components for variably resisting swivel motion of a caster wheel to prevent undesired wheel flutter. The caster wheel assembly includes a wheel fork unit having a rotatable caster wheel, and a housing sleeve adapted for mounting onto the frame of a wheelchair or other castered device. An upstanding swivel post on the wheel fork unit is supported within the housing sleeve by the bearing components for rotation about an upright swivel axis. The bearing components include an outer bushing mounted on the housing sleeve, and having a conical bearing surface for axially engaging a mating bearing surface of a longitudinally split inner bushing. A nut threaded onto the swivel post urges the inner bushing axially against the outer bushing with a selected adjustable axial load to resist rotation of the swivel post, and thereby resist undesired rotational flutter of the swivel post and the associated caster wheel.

Abstract: A movable support which includes a first axle, two stub axles which are in line with one another and which extend in opposing directions from the first axle at right angles thereto, and two hemispherical members which are mounted, with respective convex surfaces outermost, for independent rotation on the respective stub axles, on opposing sides of the first axle. The movable support finds particular application in supporting a cleaning head of a suction type pool cleaner.

Abstract: A castor comprises a castor body (12), a castor wheel (14), and a bearing block (20) for supporting the castor wheel relative to the castor body. The bearing block is selectively mountable in each of a first and a second orientation relative to the castor body. In the first orientation of the bearing block relative to the castor body, the castor wheel is arranged to be braked in response to the application of a load applied to the castor. In the second orientation of the bearing block relative to the castor body, the castor wheel is arranged to be braked in the absence of a load applied to the castor.

Abstract: A wheel bracket assembly includes two separate, platelike bracket parts which each have a noncircular opening therein and are disposed on opposite sides of a wheel in angular alignment. The ends of the axle for the wheel extend through the noncircular openings and the bracket parts are fixed against axial and rotational movement with respect to the axle. A method of making the wheel bracket assembly includes the steps of stamping out from at least one metal plate the two bracket parts which are substantially mirror images of each other and have the noncircular opening therethrough, placing the bracket parts in angular alignment on opposite sides of the wheel so that the ends of the axle extend through the noncircular openings, and upsetting each end of the axle to retain the bracket parts in place and so that the material of the axle flows to fill the noncircular openings in the bracket parts and thereby prevent relative rotation of the bracket parts.

Abstract: A moulded plastics article having a closed bore to receive a spindle, the bore being formed with at least one radially inwardly projecting annular rib adapted to locate in a circumferential groove in the spindle, characterized in that the or each rib is interrupted to form a gap for the passage of fluid from one side of the rib to the other when the spindle is inserted into the bore.

Abstract: A precision, low cost bearing for connecting the ends of two hinge links to one another for relative pivoting, the adjacent end portions of the links being formed with housings each having a socket. A spindle fixed rigidly within one of the sockets is telescoped into the other of the sockets and is formed with a taper which mates with a taper formed in the closed end portion of the latter socket. A bushing is telescoped over the spindle and into the socket and is formed with a tapered hole which mates with a second taper on the spindle. The two sets of mating tapers coact to enable the spindle to turn in the bushing with a close but free running fit in spite of diametrical and axial dimensional differences between the socket, the spindle and the bushing.

Abstract: A caster wherein the web of the bifurcated frame for the wheel and the carrier for the frame define a plain thrust bearing which allows the frame to swivel relative to the carrier about an axis extending at right angles to the axis of the wheel. The frame and the carrier have abutting surfaces and are held against axial movement away from each other by a ring-shaped coupling.

Abstract: A bushing assembly is disclosed for effecting a pivotal connection of associated first and second members. Notably, the assembly is of an integrally sealed configuration, and includes concentrically arranged first outer and second inner bushings which are sealed by a pair of annular end caps. An arrangement is provided for conveniently lubricating the interface thus formed between the inner and outer bushings, with the sealed nature of the construction significantly reducing the required maintenance. Notably, final assembly of the pivotal connection provided is effected with a suitable adhesive, thus permitting manual or hand-fitting of the various components for final assembly.

Abstract: A hinge has a pair of leaves, one of which has a spaced pair of knuckles and the other has a central knuckle disposed therebetween. Disposed in the single knuckle are a pair of tubular bushing inserts received in opposite ends of its passage and having radial flanges disposed between the adjacent knuckles. The two knuckle hinge leaf is engaged with a pair of hinge pin elements extending inwardly from the opposite end of the leaf so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween, while the hinge pin elements extend into and are freely rotatable in the inserts. In the method of assembly, the bearing inserts are placed in the single knuckle leaf, and the two knuckle leaf is then aligned therewith and the hinge pin elements are inserted and engaged with the two knuckle leaf to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

Abstract: A heavy-duty caster assembly for a corrosive environment having a U-shaped metallic wheel supporting horn with a metal swivel plate rotatably mounted on the horn by a kingpin wherein both the swivel plate and the horn are coated with a permanently bonded fluorocarbon coating. The facing surfaces of the swivel plate and the horn have semi-torroidal recesses that receive a pure torroidal self-lubricating plastic bearing.

Abstract: Each shoe 3, 4 of the slide 1 is a moulded element which is fitted in a notch 8 in a base plate 2 of the slide by a movement of rotation which is prevented in the opposite direction when the slide is mounted on a guide rail 5 therefor. In this way, there is achieved an assembly which is strong, precise and cheap.

Abstract: There is disclosed a truck assembly which is movable along a track and adapted to support a door panel, or the like, for corresponding movement. The truck assembly comprises wheel members mounted to a pair of axles. The axle are in turn supported by a carriage assembly which includes bearing arrangements for each wheel. The carriage assembly further includes holding means for maintaining the bearing assemblies in supportive position. A hanger member for the door panel is also provided, and is mounted to the carriage.

Abstract: A swivel caster structure having a base arranged for swivel mounting to a mounting portion of a device to be carried thereby. The base rotatively carries a caster wheel. A force transfer element is carried by the base for transmitting an overlying load vertically downwardly directly toward the caster wheel mounting axis. In one form, the force transfer element is a roller having an axis of rotation inclined to the horizontal and defining a peripheral frustoconical surface extending at the same angle to the axis of the roller so as to have rolling line contact with the superjacent housing wall in transferring the load downwardly to the roller. In another form, the force transfer element is a fixed bearing mounted in a suitable recess in the caster base and having a segmentally cylindrical surface having a sliding line contact with the superjacent housing wall. The swivel caster structure is preferably formed of molded synthetic resin having low surface friction for improved swiveling caster operation.

Abstract: A caster which includes a neck at its top portion and a support at its lower portion to which a wheel is rotatably connected. About the neck are a ball bearing retaining plate and a top plate above and releasably secured to the ball bearing retaining plate. Within the plates and about the neck is a completely enclosed raceway which encapsulates thrust ball bearings. The top plate can readily be removed from the ball bearing plate to permit inspection, cleaning, modification, repair and replacement of components of the casters.

Abstract: In a door handle assembly (1), by which a door handle (2) is journalled through a ball bearing (5) with respect to a mounting plate (8) secured on a door (10), the inner race (6) of the ball bearing being secured in the inner end of the door handle (2), the door handle (2) is directly connected to the inner race (6) by means of a threaded connection (3, 4), a bayonet coupling or the like, and is secured against rotation with respect to the inner race (6) by means of the door handle pin (14), which is passed through a mating hole (13) in a plate or a locking ring (11) which is secured to the inner race (6).

Abstract: A caster includes a support plate and a yoke adapted to support the support plate, the yoke being pivotably joined to the support plate for rotation about a generally vertical axis. An axle is support by the legs of the yoke and at least one wheel is rotatably supported on the axle. A first ball bearing assembly is provided including a bearing race surrounding the axis of rotation of the yoke and a plurality of balls housed in the race. A second ball bearing assembly is spaced from the first ball bearing assembly and is positioned above the axle, the second ball bearing assembly being adapted to transfer a substantial majority of the weight applied on the support plate to the caster wheel.

Abstract: The end of the gripping finger member of a respot cell is provided with a tightly fitted elastomeric wheel-like protective bearing member.

Abstract: An effective, relatively inexpensive, improved caster support structure can be manufactured by molding an appropriate polymer, preferably polypropylene, around a retainer forming a part of a conventional bearing into the shape of a housing. The housing is preferably shaped so as to include an elongated first cylinder which is coaxial with a second cylinder of greater diameter than the first. The bearing is located within a cavity at the end of a second cylinder remote from the first cylinder and is held in place because the portion of the retainer adjacent to the end of the second cylinder remote from the first is of smaller diameter than at least another portion of the retainer. The retainer is held against movement in such a way that it cannot be displaced by the shape of the retainer and housing and by a compressive type force resulting from a polymer orientation.