To help our clients, Caster Industries has compiled a glossary of key terms used in the creation, definition and selection of quality casters and wheels and their components and materials. For additional information or questions, please contact Caster Industries at: 714-848-4118. By fax: 714-848-6240. By Email: sales@casterindustries.com
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ABRASION RESISTANCE: |
The ability of a wheel to resist wear due to use with various floor materials. |
AXLE & NUT: |
Retains wheels in the yoke. |
BOLT HOLE SPACING: |
The distance from the center of one bolt hole to the center of the next. Where slotted bolt holes are used, two dimensions will be shown. |
BORE SIZE: |
The axle diameter required for installing a wheel. |
CASTER: |
One complete unit consisting of all basic caster components: top plate, yoke, wheel, wheel bearing, thread guards, axle nut and washer. |
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE: |
The degree to which a wheel or tread material is affected when exposed to chemicals. |
COMPLETE WHEEL: |
The wheel, wheel bearing and related parts, and thread guards. |
COMPRESSION SET: |
(Also referred to as set or flat spotting.) The effect on a wheel, under load, after given period of time. |
CONDUCTIVE WHEELS: |
Measurement of a wheel material's ability to dissipate static electricity (as in anti-static or spark proof wheels). |
CROWN: |
The Radius molded or machined on the periphery of the wheel to reduce swiveling effort. |
DUROMETER (HARDNESS): |
A system for establishing how hard or soft a wheel is. Measured as shore hardness on either the "A" scale for softer tread materials, or the "D" scale for harder tread materials. |
DUSTCAP: |
Encloses the hardcap to protect the raceway from foreign materials. |
DYNAMIC LOAD: |
The maximum load on a caster in motion under normal conditions. |
ERGONOMICS: |
A way of thinking about the design of tools and equipment, the layout of workplaces and the overall organization of work. The goal of ergonomics is the realization of production and health / safety benefits by fitting the job to the person rather than making the person fit the job. |
HARDCAP: |
The thrust bearing upper raceway. |
HUB LENGTH: |
The distance from one edge of the hub (axle opening) to the other. |
KING BOLT OR RIVET: |
Holds swivel components together. A King Bolt is threaded with a nut tightened over the lower end of the swivel. A rivet is either staked through, or orbitally connected to the swivel. |
LOAD CAPACITY: |
The recommended maximum weight to be carried by a single caster or wheel. |
MOBILITY: |
Defines the degree of freedom of movement. |
OVERALL HEIGHT: |
The vertical distance between the top of the caster mounting plate and the bottom of the wheel. When using a stem, this dimension is reduced by the thickness of the top plate. |
RESILIENCY: |
The amount of spring or bounce in a wheel and the resulting effect on rolling resistance. |
RIGID CASTER: |
A basic caster unit which does not swivel. |
ROLLING RESISTANCE: |
The amount of effort required to move a load, usually measured in pounds of force. |
SHOCK LOAD: |
The maximum load a caster can withstand under shock conditions. |
SOLID ELASTOMER: |
A breakthrough advance in wheel technology, exclusive to Darcor. Solid elastomer wheels are renowned for low rolling resistance, imperviousness to harsh chemical and perfect shape retention even after long-term exposure to temperature and load extremes. |
STATIC LOAD: |
The maximum load on a caster when movement or shock are not present. |
SWIVEL CASTER: |
A basic caster unit with the addition of a bearing that allows the caster to swivel about a vertical axis. |
SWIVEL RACEWAY: |
The part of the swivel that contains the bearings. |
SWIVEL RADIUS: |
The radius required for a caster to swivel freely. Determined by measuring from the center of the King Bolt to the outside of the wheel. |
TEMPERATURE RANGE: |
The maximum temperature range that a wheel can operate within for a period of time and still maintain its characteristics. |
THREAD GUARDS: |
(Also known as string guards.) Keep foreign materials away from axle and bearings. |
TOP PLATE OR STEM: |
Elements for attaching a caster to a piece of equipment. |
TOP PLATE SIZE: |
Determined by measuring from one outside edge to the other outside edge. |
TREAD WIDTH: |
The distance between the outermost edges of the wheel. |
WHEEL BEARINGS: |
Various types of bearings available. |
WHEEL SIZE: |
Determined by the diameter of the wheel. |
YOKE: |
Supports upper and lower raceways. A rigid yoke is either a top plate with legs welded to it or a formed, single-piece top plate / yoke combination. |
