Specified Use
Heavy-duty spring-loaded gate and door casters are a type of specialty caster that is designed with a very specific purpose. These casters are specially designed for use with gates and sliding or rotating doors. The design and material of the caster aids in shock absorption for movement over uneven ground. The purpose of the heavy-duty compression spring is to help the caster wheel to maintain contact with the floor thereby helping to support the gate or door as it moves, ensuring that it is kept on an even plain.
Details to Consider
Once it is determined that you need a heavy duty spring loaded gate or door caster there are still many different things to consider. There are varying spring types, deflection ranges and differing available weight load capacities so there are other specific attributes of the caster to consider. These can include: type of bracket, wheel diameter, wheel type and bearing. Because the spring-loaded caster is used for such a specific purpose it is vital to the functionality of the caster that the correct attributes be chosen for the specific conditions of the workplace environment.
Additional Questions to Consider
In order to help determine the best option for the other details there are some specific questions that can be asked. For example: What is the size of the gate or door? What is the weight of the gate or door? What type of working environment is the gate or door located in? What is the floor slope of the area in which the gate or door is located? In the specific case of heavy-duty spring loaded casters, one of the most important of these questions is the slope of the floor because spring compression is related to the slope of the floor rather than the weight of the gate or door. It is important to know that if the slope is greater than one inch, meaning the difference in height from lowest to highest point, the ability of the caster to remain in contact with the floor is unlikely. Therefore it is very important to thoroughly know the conditions to make the correct choice.
The Tiers of Available Options
The entry-level spring loaded caster, the LC-2 caster features a 75-pound maximum load capacity. It also features a 1″ x 3-3/8″ plate size and has a 2-1/8″ bolt spacing. It has a wheel diameter of 2”. This is a basic option for a first level heavy-duty spring loaded caster. There are, however, as mentioned before, other grades available. The next level, the DC-2 spring loaded caster wheel features the same load capacity, but has an increased plate size of 2″ x 5-1/8″ and a decreased bolt spacing of 1-1/4″ x 3″. This allows the product to have a greater durability, which makes it better for work environments that have more consistent movement and move at a faster-pace. With increased conditions the LC-3 spring loaded caster wheel is the next step up, made for heavier loads in work environments and has a load capacity of 100lbs. This caster comes with a 100-pound compression spring in lieu of the 25-pound compression spring that comes standard in the lower level models. It features a plate size of 1″ x 3-3/8″ and bolt spacing of 2-1/8″, and has a wheel diameter of 3”, which makes it a great option for heavier duty industrial work conditions. The top level caster, the DC-3 spring loaded caster wheel also features the same 100-pound compression spring but has an increase the maximum load capacity of 125 pounds. It features an increased plate size of 2″ x 5-1/8″ and an increased bolt spacing of 1-1/4” x 3″. This allows the caster to better deal with heavier loads in a fast-paced work environment.
A Specialty Caster for Any Situation
In addition to the spring loaded door and gate caster there are also other specialty casters available that are also designed for very specific scenarios. Some of those include: spring loaded door casters, gravity lock ladder casters, concealed side mount casters, die-cast aluminum leveling casters, rug runner casters, high-capacity, low overall height extrathane casters and glass cutting table casters. An additional specialty option that can be chosen is the addition of carbon steel ball transfers that are made of a ball of steel or nylon that can roll Omni directionally, multiplying movement options greatly. These are some of the examples of the specialty casters, however there are also many options within the standard varieties that are available.
From Specialty to Basic, and Everything In between
The basic casters come in Light, Medium or Heavy weight load capacity options. And within each category there are many different choices that can be made in regards to the wheel material, the connector or mounting method, the wheel size and type of tread, the finish of the metal and more. Regardless of the type of work condition environment and the type of job that needs to be accomplished there is a caster that is best suited to meet the needs of the specific job.
Your Trusted Source
We at Douglas Equipment understand the importance of having the right tools, accessories and equipment for the specific job that needs to be completed. We strive to have the best products always in stock and continue to offer them at the best prices. Our customer service representatives are ready to answer your questions and also to help you to ask the right questions to determine the best product for your needs. We have been in the industry for over fifty years and plan to stay a leader in the south Florida industry for years to come by continuing to aid our customers to the best of our ability. Please contact us Toll-free at 1-800-451-0030, or locally at 305-888-3700. You can also reach us electronically through the Contact Us section on our website. We look forward to speaking with you soon and helping you to choose the best equipment and accessories for your workplace needs.
