Reduction of Many Things
Spring-loaded caster wheels are often seen in the form of gate and door casters and they are considered a type of specialty caster because they are designed to serve a specific purpose. In particular, they are usually designed to be utilized with sliding or rotating doors and gates. The combination of structural design with the materials of the caster parts aids in the reduction of many otherwise bothersome factors.
They often help to reduce shock and vibration due to increased shock absorption over uneven ground. They can also significantly reduce noise level. They can reduce damage to delicate, fragile products and floor surfaces. Overall, they offer a certain protection and ease that can be useful in many work environments.
Design With A Purpose
These benefits are the purpose for which the casters are designed. The inclusion of the heavy-duty compression spring that is the main feature of the spring-loaded caster is to allow the caster wheel, at all times, to maintain contact with the floor. This helps to aid in keeping everything on an even plane by supporting the door or gate as it moves. As this is a vital element of the caster, it is important to consider it and many other specific design details.
Details to Consider
After you have made the decision that a spring-loaded caster is the caster that you will need, there are still many different things to take into consideration. As with most types of casters available today, there are many different kinds of springs, deflection ranges and differing weight load capacities that are available. So even after the type of caster has been chosen there are even more specific details of the caster to consider.
These may include: wheel type and bearing, wheel diameter and type of bracket. It is very important that the most correct details be chosen to match the specific conditions of the workplace environment. This is due to the fact that the spring-loaded caster is used for such a specifically designed purpose and it is vital to the caster’s ability to function properly.
Questions to Consider
To make the determination of the best option of the specific caster attributes there are some specific questions that can be asked. It is helpful to ask questions not only about what the caster will be attached to but also to the work conditions in which the caster will be used. For example: What is the size of the door or gate? What is the overall weight of the door or gate? What is the work environment that the door or gate be located in? In the area in which the door or gate will be located, what is the slope of the floor?
Don’t Forget the Most Important Question
Ironically, one of the most important questions to ask in regards to spring-loaded casters is what the slope of the floor will be. This is because the spring compression is directly related to the slope of the floor, not the weight of the door or gate. This is a vital distinction to understand to be able to make the right choice. If the slope of the floor is greater than one inch, referring to the difference in height from lowest to highest point over which the caster will travel, the caster will have difficulty remaining in contact with the floor.
Which One is Right For the Job?
To gain a more detailed understanding of some of the options it is helpful to look at some of the basic spring-loaded casters available. The start with, the LC-2 is the basic entry-level caster. It features a load capacity maximum of 75 lbs. It offers a 1″ x 3-3/8″ sized plate and a bolt spacing of 2-1/8″. The wheels have a diameter of 2”. This is a good basic option for an entry-level spring-loaded caster. However, there are, as mentioned before, other levels available.
The DC-2 spring loaded caster wheel is the next tier and although it features the same weight load capacity, is has an increased plate sized 2″ x 5-1/8″. It also has a decreased bolt spacing of 1-1/4″ x 3″. These features allow the caster to have a greater durability, and therefore, makes it a more favorable choice for specific work environments in which the caster would be exposed to more consistent movement at a faster pace.
At the next tier, the LC-3 spring loaded caster wheel is designed for heavier loads and has a weight load capacity of 100lbs. Instead of the 25-pound compression spring that is the standard option in the lower level caster models, the LC-3 caster has a 100-pound compression spring. It has plate sizing of 1″ x 3-3/8″ and bolt spacing of 2-1/8″. With a wheel diameter of 3” it makes a great option for heavy-duty industrial work environments.
At the next tier, the DC-3 spring loaded caster has similar features to the lower level caster that has the 100-pound compression spring; however it has an increased maximum weight load capacity of 125 pounds. Additionally, its other dimensions differ slightly with a larger plate size of 2″ x 5-1/8″ and a 1-1/4” x 3″ bolt spacing. Again, these slight changes allow the caster to be a better option for heavier loads in a fast-paced work environment.
No matter which spring loaded caster you may need, Douglas Equipment can help you determine which one would be the best. With over fifty years in the industry, we know casters. And we pride ourselves in being able to efficiently assist our customers in selecting the most appropriate casters, equipment and accessories that they need to keep doing their jobs. We understand that the choices in today’s ever changing market can be daunting. However we still strive to offer patient customer service, a full variety of in-stock options and tough to beat prices. We look forward to working with you and hope to hear from you soon.
Please contact us Toll-free at 1-800-451-0030, or locally at 305-888-3700. You can also reach us through the Contact Us section on our website.
