WO1987006536A1

WO1987006536A1 - Ball wheel

Info

Publication number: WO1987006536A1
Application number: PCT/IT1987/000035
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Marraccini
Original assignee: Marco Marraccini
Priority date: 1986-04-24
Filing date: 1987-04-16
Publication date: 1987-11-05
Also published as: AU7302887A; IT8621650V0; EP0281570A1

Abstract

Ball wheel that allows to move a load with linear, angular or however oriented movements and is apt, moreover, if posited upside down, to form a bearing element for a substantially flat surface sliding over it, with an orientation whatsoever as well. The ball wheel comprises a support (1), applied to the mobile means, resting onto a ball (10) by means of a plurality of small wheels (9), there being provided means apt to line up said small wheels (9) in the rolling direction of the ball (10) for any change of direction.

Description

" B_AL L_WHE E L "

The present invention discloses a ball wheel that al¬ lows to move a load with linear, angular or however oriented movements and is apt, moreover, if posited upside down, to form a bearing element (possibly to- gether with other analogue wheels), for a substantially flat surface sliding over it, with an orientation what¬ soever as well-

There are several well-known types of wheels to apply to elements that need moving in various directions, such as, to mention only a few examples among the very many available, ones, trolleys, chairs, or small elec¬ tric domestic appliances.

Generally they are wheels having a substantially hori¬ zontal axis, mounted on a fork that is hinged, on its turn, to a substantially vertical shaft, fastened to the trolley or to the object to be moved.

The two shafts are off-centre and this allows to change the direction of movement.

This system presents some inconveniences, especially when the wheels applied to the means to move are ^~ relatively numerous.

In fact, the wheels are unlikely to be all oriented exactly in the same direction, and, consequent , when it is necessary to make abrupt changes of direction, 0 some operation difficulties are met.

Moreover, in the case of heavy loads, the supports of the wheels are subjected to a remarkable effort, due to the off-centering between the bearing point of the 5 wheel and the shaft on which the fork is mounted.

In other cases, instead, the wheel is formed by a ball contained inside a seat covering it partially only, but also this solution presents several inconveniences due, in particular, to the frictions between the surfaces σf the ball and of the relevant seat and to tlve -wear caused by powders and/or foreign bodies which, get-ting in between seat and ball, may cause the gripping of th-e wheel .

In order to obviate the inconveniences mentioned above, the present invention discloses a ball wheel characte¬ rized by the particular shape and disposition -oi^* _irts parts which allows to avoid the above mentioned ±^~icxm— venienccs. In the wheel according to the invention, in fact, the ball remains co-axial with the pin by means of which the complex is applied to the mobile unit.

Moreover, -the contact surface between the ball forming the wheel and the relevant fastening means is extremely limited, thus avoiding the above mentioned inconvenien¬ ces .

The present invention will be now described in detail, with particular reference to the annexed figures where¬ in :

- Fig. 1 shows the perspective view of a device accord- ing to the invention;

- Fig. 2 shows the vertical section of the device of Fig. 1.

To a support 1, applied to the mobile means, a pin or shaft 2 is fixed, having a substantially vertical axis, on which a planetary gear 3 is connected.

Below planetary gear 3 there is a supporting element 4, hinged to pin 2, presenting ends 5 folded inwardly.

In correspondence of each end 5 a shaft 6 is hinged, on which there is connected a planet wheel 7 meshing with planetary gear 3.

The axes of shafts 6 all converge towards the same point, indicated by C, which is on the axis of pin 2.

Forks 8, supporting as many small wheels 9, are fixed, moreover, to shafts 6.

Small wheels 9 are as many bearing points for a ball 10, the sizes of which are calculated so that its centre, when it rests on small wheels 9, concides with point C.

Means of a well-known type, not shown in figures, are then present to hold ball 10 in the proximity of the other members.

For example, such means may consist of a ring or a kind

» of brace fixed, e.g. to support 4, preventing the ball from moving too away from small wheels 9. The illustrat¬ ed mechanisms allows the ball, loaded with a weight, to rotate freely in any direction remaining always perpen- dicularly alligned with the load.

Changing direction of movement, supports 8 rotate around the axes of shafts 6 allowing small wheels 9 to line up in the rotating sense of the ball, as long as eccentric with respect to said axes, thus allowing the ball to keep rolling with a minimum effort.

Planet wheel 7, fixed to shafts 6, cause small wheels 9 to remain always alligned with each other. These planet wheels, however, might be missing without predjudice of the good working of the complex, since it would be necessary a minimum supplementary effort only, at the moment of changing direction, to line up small wheels 9 With the rolling direction.

The ball wheel above described, therefore, is much more practical for the use than analogous devices presently used .

From the above description it is clear, moreover, that the illustrated device can be used in upside down position too, with support 1 located lower down, e.g. applied to a fixed plan and ball 10 resting on small wheels 9.

In this case, a plurality of ball wheels according to the invention can form a complex of bearing points for a sliding plane, e.g. for machines tools or the like, allowing to shift easily the plane, with rototranslato- ry motion, in any direction with maximum precision and without any effort.

Obviously sizes, as well as materials used, can vary according to the requirements of use.

Claims

" C LA I MS "

1) Ball wheel wherein there is provided a support, applied to the mobile means, resting onto a ball by 5 means of a plurality of small wheels, there being provided means apt to line up said small wheels in the rolling direction of the ball for any change of di¬ rection.

10 2) Ball wheel according to claim 1, wherein said sup¬ port is provided with a plurality of shafts, the axes of which pass through the centre of the sphere, to said shafts there being hinged the supports of as many small wheels, off-centered with respect to said shafts and

15 resting onto said ball. »

3) Ball wheel wherein there are provided: a) a planetary gear, fastened to a pin applied to the mobile means ;

20 b) a support, hinged to said pin, for a plurality of shafts on which as many planet wheels are connected, and on which as many small wheels are mounted, the axis of which do not meet the axes of their respective shafts and resting onto a ball, the axes of said shafts

25 passing all through the centre of said ball.