Patent ID: 6702350
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
A wheel and axle assembly for a material handling cart comprising:a wheel having an inner hole extending therethrough defined by an inner wheel surface; a first bearing positioned within said inner hole, said first bearing having an outer race and an inner race which rotates with respect to said outer race, said outer race engaging said inner wheel surface; a snap ring positioned within said inner hole to lock said first bearing in position within said inner hole; an axle having a bearing engagement surface, a shoulder adjacent said bearing engagement surface and having an axial radius greater than that of said bearing engagement surface, and a load-bearing surface, said inner race engaging said bearing engagement surface of said axle, said axle extending at least partially through said inner race of said bearing; said axle having a bolt cavity, said bolt cavity having female cavity threads within it and an inside tapered portion at one end of said female cavity threads; a bolt having male bolt threads, a head, a tapered portion at least partially positioned on said head, and a locking material within at least a portion of said male bolt threads, said head having a head diameter that is greater than the inside diameter of said inner race; said male bolt threads sized to engage said female cavity threads within said bolt cavity until said bolt is positioned within said bolt cavity so that said tapered portion of said bolt engages said inside tapered portion of said bolt cavity, at which position said head of said bolt engages said inner race to axially lock said first bearing against said shoulder of said axle; and said locking material securing said male bolt threads in position with respect to said female cavity threads within said bolt cavity to maintain said outside tapered portion of said bolt in engagement with said inside tapered portion of said bolt cavity.