Thread Guards That Work
One of the biggest concerns in the material handling industry is down time. With regard to casters, the most common reason for down time is lack of wheel rotation. There are numerous ways to impede the rotation of the wheel, but the one that is easiest to eliminate is debris around the wheel. The best way to eliminate this is with a Thread Guard. A Thread Guard is simply a round disc held between the leg of the caster and the wheel. Most Thread Guards are held in position with a spanner that is tightened between the two legs. As time goes on this arrangement can loosen up, causing the Thread Guard to spin. The way that a Thread Guard works is by having a rigid disc that stops threads and tape and such from lodging itself around the axle. If the Thread Guard is moving, this mechanism is compromised. E.R. Wagner Casters & Wheels holds the patent on a Thread Guard that has three tabs punched in the disc that serves a dual purpose. The tabs surround the end of the leg, which holds the Thread Guard in place and won't allow it to spin; also the tabs stop the debris from wrapping itself tight against the leg, and making it easier to remove the debris. If you are having trouble with debris stopping the rotation of the wheels on your caster application, check out the Special Thread Guard Casters on page 41 of the Casters & Wheels catalog shown at www.erwagner.com or go to the Catalog section at www.thomasnet.com.
