Trolley wheel assembly

Abstract

An improved trolley for use in a smokehouse. The improved trolley is of a sandwich construction, having a wear-resistant outer tire and non-metal spindles to facilitate rotation of the trolley wheel on an axle. The tire is designed to avoid damaging a track along which the trolley rides, and to reduce the abrasion of the track which can cause contamination to meat carried by the trolley. The non-metallic spindles not only do not require lubrication, but are also substantially less prone to freezing when subjected to brine chill or similar cleaning procedures. The spindles are designed to withstand temperatures of 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit in excess of six hours, and are designed to support loads in excess of one thousand pounds.

1 . An improved trolley wheel assembly comprising: 
 (a) a wheel having an interior race defining a first opening and an exterior race;    (b) a hub provided at least partially within said opening, said hub having an interior race and an exterior race;    (c) a plurality of spindles provided at least partially within said opening between said interior race of said wheel and said exterior race of said hub around said exterior race of said hub;    (d) an axle provided at least partially within said second opening defined by said interior race of said hub;    (e) a first retainer provided on a first side of said exterior race of said wheel; and    (f) a second retainer provided on a second side of said exterior race of said wheel.    
   
   
       2 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior race of said wheel is provided with a grooved perimeter.  
   
   
       3 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first retainer is a first circular plate secured over said wheel and wherein said second retainer is a second circular plate secured over said wheel.  
   
   
       4 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said wheel comprises an inner ring constructed of a first abrasion resistant material, an outer ring constructed of a second abrasion resistant material, and wherein said second abrasion resistant material is more brittle than said first abrasion resistant material.  
   
   
       5 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 1  wherein said wheel comprises an inner metal ring and an outer non-metal ring.  
   
   
       6 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of spindles are non-metallic.  
   
   
       7 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said hub is metallic.  
   
   
       8 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said first retainer is a first metallic plate secured over said wheel and wherein said second retainer is a second metallic plate secured over said wheel.  
   
   
       9 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising an axle provided at least partially through said hub.  
   
   
       10 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an axle provided at least partially through said hub.  
   
   
       11 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising means coupled to said axle for supporting at least one hundred kilograms.  
   
   
       12 . The improved trolley wheel assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising means coupled to said axle for supporting at least four hundred kilograms.  
   
   
       13 . An improved trolley comprising: 
 (a) a non-metal outer wheel defining a first interior;    (b) a metallic inner wheel provided at least partially within said first interior, said metallic inner wheel defining a second interior;    (c) a plurality of non-metallic bearings provided at least partially within said second interior, said plurality of non-metallic bearings defining a third interior; and    (d) a metallic hub provided at least partially within said third interior.    
   
   
       14 . The improved trolley of  claim 13 , wherein said metallic hub defines a fourth interior.  
   
   
       15 . The improved trolley of  claim 14 , further comprising an axle provided at least partially within said fourth interior.  
   
   
       16 . The improved trolley of  claim 13 , wherein said non-metallic outer wheel is provided with a grooved perimeter.  
   
   
       17 . The improved trolley of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of non-metallic bearings are provided with a length greater than their diameter.  
   
   
       18 . The improved trolley of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of non-metallic bearings comprise a plurality of spindles.  
   
   
       19 . An improved trolley system comprising; 
 (a) a track;    (b) an outer wheel having a grooved perimeter provided on said track, said outer wheel defining a first interior;    (c) an inner wheel provided at least partially within said first interior, said inner wheel defining a second interior;    (d) a plurality of bearings provided at least partially within said second interior, said plurality of bearings defining a third interior;    (e) a hub provided at least partially within said third interior, said hub defining a fourth interior; and    (f) an axle provided at least partially within said fourth interior.    
   
   
       20 . The improved trolley system of  claim 19 , wherein said outer wheel is non-metallic, wherein said inner wheel is metallic, wherein said plurality of bearings is non-metallic, wherein said hub wheel is metallic, and wherein said axle is metallic.