To the rescue: Dual wheel casters can solve nagging problems
The reason so many heavy-duty industrial caster configurations and designs exist is because there are hundreds of different applications and work environments, and each requires a customized solution. When designing your industrial caster configuration, our Caster Concepts engineers predict, solve and prevent the many problems that can arise in industrial applications. At Caster Concepts Inc., we understand that each scenario and application demands a different solution.
Here, I’d like to briefly discuss four situations where dual wheel casters may be the best option for your heavy-duty industrial caster application.
- Exceedingly heavy loads – A dual wheel configuration is an excellent solution when the load exceeds the load rating plus the suggested 30 percent safety factor of one wheel. Calculate this number by dividing total load by three, and then add 30 percent. So, a 30,000 pound load divided by three, plus 30 percent is 13,000. In a dual wheel caster configuration, the requirement for the caster remains 13,000 pounds, but only 6,500 pounds for the wheel. This change in wheel load can impact the bearing, the makeup of the material, and other wheel characteristics.
- Platform or cart height reduction – Spreading the load among wheels allows wheel diameter reduction, and a subsequent height reduction. Dual wheel casters generally reduce height by roughly 30 percent while carrying the same load. However, one must be careful with the change in the envelope in which the caster exists, as this configuration requires more swiveling room.
- Reduction in floor load-per-square-inch – When structural or surface concerns restrict floor load-per-square-inch, the load can be proportionally spread over a greater wheel surface. With some limitations, this is accomplished by widening a single-wheel caster, and can be done exponentially with a dual wheel caster. Such restrictions are common in aerospace applications, where delivery is serviced through a basement configuration. In these applications, millions of pounds are supported above an active process, and it’s critical to understand and design for floor loading. The Caster Concepts engineering group can test the floor load footprint for a given application and caster configuration.
- Easier swiveling on a fully-loaded cart – The greater the load-per-square-inch on a wheel, the more force it takes to swivel the caster. This is a product of load-per-square- inch and the coefficient of friction between the floor and the wheel surface. When applying force to swivel the caster, the swiveling wheel scrubs the floor. With very heavy loads and wide tires the swiveling motion often must be done with powered equipment, which can damage the cart or casters. A dual wheel configuration allows swiveling with less force because as the wheels swivel in opposite directions (counterclockwise and clockwise), they scrub very little.
These four scenarios illustrate the value of dual wheel casters in solving several problems in heavy-duty industrial caster applications. Our Caster Concepts engineers can help determine when dual wheel casters are best for your heavy-duty industrial caster application.
For further information please contact us at customercentral@casterconcepts.com or call 517-629-8838.
At Caster Concepts Inc., We Build Trust into every product we make. We will work with you to find the product that best fits your needs. Caster Concepts Inc. is an ISO 9001-2008 certified designer and manufacturer of a comprehensive line of industrial casters, ranging from a medium-duty series to a heavy-duty series for any application. CCI also manufactures caster wheels to withstand impact, corrosion, temperature extremes and chemicals found in harsh industrial environments. These multi-functional casters and wheels serve a variety of applications in the industrial, automotive, food service, aerospace, material handling and other demanding markets. Learn more about the entire family of Caster Concepts companies – Reaction Industries LLC, The Machine Center, Fabricating Concepts LLC, and Triple E Manufacturing, by visiting the most comprehensive web site in the caster industry at https://www.casterconcepts.com
