GB2580507A

GB2580507A - A roller assembly and a roller carriage for the same

Info

Publication number: GB2580507A
Application number: GB1916686.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jaber Hani; Jaber Simon; Li Weidong
Original assignee: CiiLock Engineering Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CiiLock Engineering Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-30
Filing date: 2019-11-15
Publication date: 2020-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-15
Also published as: GB2580507B; CN110924779A; GB201916686D0; AU2019264544B2; CN110924779B; AU2019264544A1

Abstract

A roller assembly having a roller 102 supported by two bearings 104, 106 on both sides of the roller. The diameter of the roller may be similar to the bearings for better durability and load capacity. The roller may be polymer. A metal sleeve (Fig 7, 215) may be inserted into the bore 112 of the roller to ensure interference fit with the axle 120. Second aspect is a roller carriage 130 for supporting the roller assembly. The carriage body may be one-piece 132, or two-piece (Fig 5A, 174, 176). The roller carriage may be used to support a sliding building panel, where the carriage may be received in a cavity within the frame of the sliding panel.

Description

A roller assembly and a roller carriage for the same

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a roller assembly that may be used within a roller carriage suitable for supporting a slidable panel, such as a slidable door or window. The present invention also relates to a roller carriage for said roller assembly.

Background of the invention

Slidable doors and windows typically include one or more roller carriages located within a cavity in an underside of the door or panel. Typically, a plurality of roller carriages are located within a housing to form a roller carriage assembly, and said roller carriage assembly is located within said cavity. The one or more roller carriages include one or more roller assemblies that are configured to slidably support the slidable door or window along a track.

A common design of a roller assembly comprises a roller configured to contact the track, a bearing centrally located within the roller, and an axle extending through the bearing. An example of such a roller assembly is shown in Figure 1. The bearing is configured to reduce friction between the axle and an inner peripheral surface in the roller, thereby reducing the force required to move the roller along the track (and consequently, the force required to slidably move the slidable door or window).

There are at least two factors that affect the durabilty and the load carrying capacity of a roller assembly: the size of the roller and the size of the bearing. A larger roller provides a relative increase in the durability and the load carrying capacity of the roller assembly. With a larger bearing however, there is a commensurate reduction in the size of the roller due to the constrained height of the roller carriage (which is located in the cavity in the underside of the slidable door or panel). Accordingly, whilst a larger bearing may provide for an increase in the load carrying capacity of the roller assembly, a balance must be struck between the size of the bearing and the size of the roller to ensure a strong and durable roller assembly.

The present invention is directed to providing an alternative roller assembly design that may overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more problems associated with known roller assemblies.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a roller assembly for use in a roller carriage configured to support a slidable panel, the roller assembly comprising: a roller rotatably supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, the first bearing being on a first side of said roller and the second bearing being on a second side of said roller, the second side being opposite to the first side.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a roller carriage configured to support a slidable panel, the roller carriage comprising: a carriage body configured to at least partially receive a roller assembly, said roller assembly comprising a roller rotatably supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, the first bearing being on a first side of said roller and the second bearing being on a second side of said roller, the second side being opposite to the first side.

Advantageously, by arranging the first and second bearings on opposing sides of the roller, the size of the bearings and the size of the roller may be maximised, thereby providing a roller assembly (and roller carriage) of relatively increased durability and load carrying capacity when compared to roller assemblies and roller carriages of the prior art.

Additionally, this arrangement avoids the trade off that was previously made by skilled persons in this art in trying to maximise both the size of the bearing(s) and the size of the roller, but being constrained by the limited height of the roller carriage (which is to be located in a cavity in an underside of the slidable panel). In the present invention, the size of the bearings and the size of the roller may be substantially equal, unlike the prior art roller assembly shown in Figure 1, in which the bearing is located within an opening in the roller.

In either of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the roller assembly preferably further comprises an axle. In one embodiment, the axle is integral to the roller.

In an alternative embodiment, the roller comprises a central opening defining a bore extending through the roller, which opening and bore are dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of the axle. A central longitudinal axis of the axle and/or the central opening in the roller preferably defines an axis of rotation of the roller. Optionally, a sleeve may be located within the bore in the roller, wherein the sleeve is dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of the axle. The sleeve is preferably circular in cross-section and tubular in overall form. The sleeve may be fixed within the bore so as to be to rotationally fixed relative to the roller. The sleeve may be fixed within the bore by an interference fit. Alternatively, the sleeve may be adhered to an inner peripheral surface of the roller, which inner peripheral surface defines the bore. Further alternatively, the roller may be overmoulded onto the sleeve so as to be fixed thereto. In one embodiment, the sleeve comprises a metal and the roller comprises a polymer. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve comprises a polymer and the roller comprises a metal. Advantageously, the sleeve is configured to reduce contact stress between the axle and the roller, which may reduce wear on these components and increase the operating life of the roller assembly.

Each of the first and second bearings also preferably comprise a central opening defining a bore extending through the bearings, which opening and bore are dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of the axle. The central openings and bores of the bearings and the roller are preferably circular in cross-section. Similarly, the axle is preferably circular in cross-section. When the roller assembly is assembled, the first and second bearings are arranged externally of the roller on respective first and second opposite sides of the roller along said axis of rotation of the roller, and respective portions of the axle are located within the central openings and bores of each of the bearings and the roller. In this arrangement, centre points of each of the central openings in the bearings and in the roller are collinear.

In either of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the first and second bearings are preferably rolling-element bearings comprising an inner race and a outer race, wherein the inner and outer races are separated by rolling elements and are configured to rotate relative to each other. The rolling elements may comprise balls or cylindrical roller elements. A person skilled in the art would appreciate however that alternative bearing forms may be utilised in the roller assembly described herein without affecting the scope of the invention.

In either of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the roller assembly may be configured such that the axle is removably received within the central openings and bores of each of the bearings and the roller. The axle may be frictionally fit within the bores of the bearings and the roller such that the axle is rotatably connected thereto. For example, the axle may be frictionally fit with respect to an inner peripheral surface of the inner race of each bearing, and may additionally be frictionally fit with respect to an inner peripheral surface of the bore in the roller. A person skilled in the art would appreciate however that alternative forms of rotatably connecting the axle to the bearings and the roller exist and may be utlised in the present invention.

In either of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the roller is preferably suited for running along a track. In one embodiment for example, the roller may include a generally circular profile that is complementary to a profile of the track.

In the second aspect of the invention, the carriage body preferably includes a support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the roller assembly. In a preferred form, the support cavity is a bearing support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the first and second bearings of the roller assembly. The first and second bearings are preferably mounted within the bearing suppport cavity. The first and second bearings may be removably mounted within the bearing support cavity. The outer races of the first and second bearings are preferably fixedly mounted within or to the bearing support cavity such that the outer races are rotationally fixed relative thereto.

In one embodiment, the outer races may be frictionally fit with respect to the bearing support cavity so as to be rotationally fixed relative thereto. A person skilled in the art would appreciate however that the outer races of the bearings may be fixed relative to the bearing support cavity in a manner other than a friction fit.

The carriage body may also include an opening or space to at least partially receive the roller. The roller is preferably arranged in the carriage body such that track contacting portions thereof extend below a lowermost surface of the carriage body so as to contact the track.

In the second aspect of the invention, the carriage body may be a single unitary 30 element, or may comprise two or more separate elements that, when assembled, form the carriage body configured to receive the roller assembly. In the case where the carriage body comprises two or more separate elements, each of the two or more 4 separate elements may comprise a bearing support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support a bearing. For example, a first body element of the carriage body may include a first bearing support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the first bearing, and a second body element of the carriage body may include a second bearing support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the second bearing.

The roller carriage is preferably locatable within a housing so as to form a roller carriage assembly, said roller carriage assembly preferably comprising two or more of the roller carriages. The roller carriage assembly is preferably locatable in a cavity in an underside of a slidable panel, such that the rollers of the roller carriage assembly may run along the track and thereby slidably support the panel.

In either of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the roller assembly may further include one or more additional bearings on either side of the first and second bearings to further rotatably support the roller.

Any of the roller assembly, roller carriage, and roller carriage assembly described herein may include any one or more of the features described in the applicant's earlier PCT patent application, published as WO 2015/017878, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

By way of clarification and for avoidance of doubt, as used herein and except 20 where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additions, components, integers or steps.

Brief description of the drawings

Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a known roller assembly; Figure 2A is an exploded view of a roller assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2B is a side perspective view of the roller assembly of Figure 2A when in an assembled form; Figure 2C is a front cross-sectional view of the roller assembly of Figure 2B; Figure 3A is an exploded view of a roller carriage for the roller assembly of Figure 2; Figure 3B is a side perspective view of the roller carriage and roller assembly of Figure 3A when in an assembled form; Figure 3C is a front cross-sectional view of the roller carriage and roller assembly of Figure 3B; Figure 4A is a side perspective view of an alternative roller carriage for the roller assembly of Figure 2; Figure 4B is a is a front cross-sectional view of the roller carriage and roller assembly of Figure 4A; Figure 5A is an exploded view of an alternative roller carriage for the roller assembly of Figure 2; Figure 5B is a side perspective view of the roller carriage and roller assembly of Figure 5A when in an assembled form; Figure 5C is a front cross-sectional view of the roller carriage and roller assembly of Figure 5B; Figure 6 is a side perspective view of an alternative roller that may be utilised in the roller asembly of Figure 2A; and Figure 7 is a front cross-sectional view of the roller assembly that includes the alternative roller of Figure 6.

Detailed description of the embodiments

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a known roller assembly 10 suitable for use in a roller carriage (not shown in Figure 1) configured to support a slidable panel, such as a slidable door or window. Although not shown, the roller carriage may include one or more of the roller assemblies 10, and is typically installed within a cavity located in an underside of the slidable panel.

The roller assembly 10 includes a roller 12. The roller 12 is circular in side cross-section and is configured to contact and roll upon a track (not shown) such that the slidable panel is slidable along the track. The roller assembly 10 further includes a bearing 14 centrally located within the roller 12, and an axle 16 extending through the bearing. The axle 16 is configured to interface with the roller carriage (not shown). By locating the bearing 14 within the roller 12, the load carrying capacity and durability of the roller assembly 10 is relatively limited when compared to the roller assembly of the present invention.

Figure 2A is an exploded view of a roller assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As is described below, the roller assembly 100 is removably mountable within a roller carriage. One or more of the roller carriages may be installed within a cavity located in an underside of a slidable panel so as to slidably support the slidable panel along a track. Typically, a plurality of the roller carriages are located within a housing to form a roller carriage assembly, and said roller carriage assembly is removably mounted within said cavity.

The roller assembly 100 includes a roller 102. The roller 102 is circular in side cross-section and is configured to contact and roll upon a track (not shown). The roller assembly 100 further includes a first bearing 104 and a second bearing 106 that, when assembled, are located externally of the roller 102 on respective first and second sides of the roller 102 (as is shown in Figure 2B), wherein the second side is opposite to the first side. In the manner described below, the first and second bearings 104, 106 are configured to rotatably support the roller 102. Advantageously, by arranging the first and second bearings 104, 106 on opposing sides of the roller 102, the size of the bearings and the size of the roller may be maximised to substantially the same diameter as the roller 102, thereby providing a roller assembly 100 (and roller carriage) of relatively increased durability and load carrying capacity when compared to roller assemblies and roller carriages of the prior art. Additionally, this arrangement avoids the trade off that was previously made by skilled persons in this art in trying to maximise both the size of the bearing(s) and the size of the roller, but being constrained by the limited height of the roller carriage (which is to be located in the cavity in an underside of the slidable panel). In the present invention, the size of the bearings and the size of the roller may be substantially equal, unlike the prior art roller assembly shown in Figure 1, in which the bearing is located within an opening in the roller.

The roller 102 includes a recess 108 that extends circumferentially about the roller 102. As is shown in Figure 2C, the recess 108 is generally semi-circular in side cross-section and defines, on opposite sides thereof, track contacting portions 110 configured to contact and roll upon the track.

The roller 102 further includes a centrally located circular opening 112 defining a bore 113 that extends through the roller from a first side 114 to a second, opposite, side 116 thereof along a central longitudinal axis 118. The axis 118 defines an axis of rotation of the roller assembly 100. The opening and bore 112, 113 are dimensioned and configured to removably receive at least a portion of an axle 120 in the manner described below. When compared to the central opening in the known roller assembly 10 shown in Figure 1, the opening and bore 112, 113 are comparatively smaller, thereby providing for a relatively thicker roller 102, and consequently, a roller of relatively increased durability and load carrying capacity. The opening and bore 112, 113 are comparatively smaller as they do not need to removably receive both the bearing 14 and a portion of the axle 16, unlike the known roller 10 shown in Figure 1.

The first and second bearings 104, 106 of the roller assembly 100 are identical in form and have a reduced diameter when compared to the diameter of the roller 102. However, in an alternative non-illustrated embodiment, the diameter of the bearings could be equal to or greater than the diameter of the roller. Similar to the roller 102, the first and second bearings 104, 106 are circular in side cross-section and are rolling-element bearings comprising an inner race and an outer race, wherein the inner and outer races are separated by rolling elements in the form of balls (not shown) and are configured to rotate relative to each other. A person skilled in the art would appreciate however that alternative bearing forms may be utilised in the roller assembly 100 described herein without affecting the scope of the invention.

The first and second bearings 104, 106 include respective first and second centrally located circular openings 122, 124. The circular openings 122, 124 define respective bores 123, 125 that extend entirely through the first and second bearings 104, 106 respectively along the axis 118. The diameter of the circular openings 122, 124 in the respective first and second bearings 104, 106 is the same as the diameter of the circular opening 112 extending through the roller 102. Similar to the opening 112, the openings 122, 124 and bores 123, 125 in the respective first and second bearings 104, 106 are dimensioned and configured to removably receive at least a portion of the axle 120.

The axle 120 is circular in side cross-section and is dimensioned and configured to be removably received at least partially within the opening and bore 112, 113 defined in the roller 102 and at least partially within the openings 122, 124 and bores 123, 125 defined within the respective first and second bearings 104, 106. The diameter of the axle is similar to the diameter of the openings 112, 122, and 124, and as such, the axle 120 is frictionally fit within the respective bores 113, 123, 125 such that the axle is rotatably connected to an inner peripheral surface of the inner races of each bearing 104, 106 and an inner peripheral surface of the bore 113 in the roller 102.

When assembled, the roller assembly 100 appears in the form shown in Figures 2B and 2C. As can be seen in these figures, the axle 120 extends along the axis 118 and portions thereof are located within each of the bores 113, 123, 125 defined respectively in the roller 102, the first bearing 104, and the second bearing 106. The first bearing 104 is located adjacent the first side 114 of the roller 102, and the second bearing 106 is located adjacent the second, opposite, side 116 of the roller 102. In this arrangement, centre points of each of the openings 112, 122, and 124 are colinear. The axle 120 is dimensioned such that it does not extend or protrude laterally outwardly from outer faces of each of the first and second bearings 104, 106, as is shown in Figure 2C in particular.

Referring now to Figure 3A, there is shown a roller carriage 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. The roller carriage 130 includes a carriage body 132 that is configured to at least partially receive and support the roller assembly 100, as is shown in Figure 3B. Although the carriage body 132 is configured to receive and support a single roller assembly 100, a skilled person would appreciate an alternative embodiment whereby the carriage body 132 could be adapted to at least partially receive and support more than one of the roller assemblies 100.

The carriage body 132 may be of any suitable form such that it is installable within the cavity located in the underside of the slidable panel (not shown), or installable within a larger roller carriage assembly (not shown) preferably comprising a plurality of the roller carriages 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the carriage body 132 is elongate in overall form and is substantially trapezoidal in side cross-section. The carriage body 132 includes sloping cavities 134 arranged generally vertically at opposite longitudinal ends thereof, which cavities 134 are configured to interface with an adjacent carriage body 132 or a separating member (not shown). The separating member may be configured to separate adjacent carriage bodies 132, and may be of the form described in the applicant's earlier PCT patent application, published as WO 2015/017878, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The carriage body 132 described herein may include any one or more of the features of the carriage bodies described in the applicant's In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3A, the carriage body 132 includes a support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the roller assembly 100. The support cavity is in the form first circular opening and bore 136 extending through a first longitudinal side 138 of the carriage body 132, and a second circular opening and bore 140 extending through a second longitudinal side 142 of the carriage body 132. The first and second openings 136, 140 define respective first and second bearing support cavities 144, 146 configured to at least partially receive and support the respective first and second bearings 104, 106. As is shown in Figures 3B and 3C in particular, when assembled, the first bearing 104 is at least partially located within the first bearing support cavity 144, and the second bearing 106 is at least partially located within the second bearing support cavity 146.

The roller carriage 130 is assembled in the manner described below. Firstly, with reference to Figure 3A in particular, the first bearing 104 is inserted through the first circular opening 136 through the first side 138 of the carriage body 132 such that the first bearing 104 is located within the first bearing support cavity 144. Secondly, the second bearing 106 is inserted through the second circular opening 140 through the second side 142 of the carriage body 132 such that the second bearing 106 is located within the second bearing support cavity 146. The first and second bearings 104, 106 are respectively inserted into the first and second bearing support cavities 144, 146 in a direction generally parallel to a central axis 119 extending through the bearing support cavities 144, 146. Thirdly, the roller 102 is inserted through an underside of the carriage body 132 in the direction of the illustrated arrow into a space 150 defined in the body 132 between the first and second bearing support cavities 144, 146. The direction of the arrow is generally perpendicular to the axis 119. Fourthly, the axle 120 is inserted through the second side 142 of the carriage body 132 into the coincident circular openings 112, 122, and 124 defined respectively in the roller 102, the first bearing 104, and the second bearing 106. The axle 120 is then riveted at one end so as to be fixedly located within the circular bores 113, 123, 125. As can be seen in Figure 3, when assembled, the first bearing 104 is located on the first side 114 of the roller 102, and the second bearing is located on the second, opposite, side 116 of the roller 102. Additionally, the roller 102 is located within an opening or space in the carriage body 132 such that the track contacting portions 110 extend below a lower surface of the carriage 132 to contact the track.

Additionally, when assembled, the axis of rotation 118 of the roller assembly 100 is coincident with the central axis 119 extending through the bearing support cavities 144, 146.

In the roller carriage 130, outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second bearings 104, 106 are frictionally fit with respect to inner surfaces of the respective first and second bearing support cavitites 144, 146 such that the outer race of each bearing is rotationally fixed relative to the carriage body 132. Additionally, as is mentioned above, the axle 120 is rotationally connected to the roller 102 and to inner peripheral surfaces of the inner races of bearings 104, 106 defined in the respective bores 123, 125 by a friction-fit. In this manner, the inner race of each bearing 104, 106 is configured to rotate relative to the outer race of each bearing 104, 106 as the roller 102 rolls along the track.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate alternative embodiments of the roller carriage 130 that receive and support the roller assembly 100. In these figures, the illustrated roller carriages 160 and 170 are similar to the roller carriage 130 and include like components, unless otherwise indicated.

In the roller carriage 160 shown in Figure 4A, the carriage body 162 does not include openings in the longitudinal sides thereof to receive the first and second bearings 104, 106. Nonetheless, the roller carriage 160 is assembled by firstly assembling the roller assembly 100 by placing the first and second bearings 104, 106 on the respective first and second sides 114, 116 of the roller 102, and then inserting the axle 120 through the openings 112, 122, and 124 defined respectively in the roller 102 and the first and second bearings 104, 106. The roller assembly 100 is then inserted into the roller carriage 160 from an underside thereof such that the first and second bearings 104, 106 are respectively at least partially received in first and second bearing support cavitites 144, 146.

In the roller carriage 170 shown in Figure 5A, the carriage body 172 comprises a first body element 174 and a second, separate, body element 176. The first body element includes a first bearing support cavity 178 defined in an inner face thereof, and the second body element 176 includes a second bearing support cavity 180 defined in an inner face thereof. The roller carriage 170 is assembled by firstly assembling the roller assembly 100 in the manner described above in relation to Figure 4, i.e. by placing the first and second bearings 104, 106 on the respective first and second sides 114, 116 of the roller 102, and then inserting the axle 120 through the openings 112, 122, and 124 such that the axle 120 extends through the aligned bores 123, 113, and 125. The first and second body elements 174, 176 are then closed about the roller assembly 100 such that the first bearing 104 is at least partially received in the first bearing support cavity 178 in the first body element 174, and such that the second bearing 106 is at least partially received in the second bearing support cavity 180 in the second body element 176. The first and second body elements 174, 176 are then fastened together by respective bolts 182 and corresponding nuts 184 received through corresponding apertures in each of the body elements 174, 176 to form the roller carriage 170 illustrated in Figures 5B and 5C.

Advantageously, the illustrated roller carriages 130, 160, and 170 have a relatively increased load carrying capacity and durability when compared to a roller carriage configured to support the roller assembly 10 shown in Figure 1. This result is achieved by utilising two bearings (the first and second bearings 104, 106) and locating these bearings on on either side of the roller 102, which itself is of increased thickness compared to the roller 12 shown in Figure 1. This unique design avoids the trade off that was previously made between trying to maximise both the size of the bearing and the size or thickness of the roller, but being constrained by the height of the roller carriage.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative roller 202 that may form part of the roller assembly 100 described above On lieu of the roller 102). The roller 202 is essentially the same as the roller 102. For example, the roller 202 is circular in side cross-section and includes a centrally located circular opening 212 defining a bore 213 that extends through the roller 202 from a first side 214 to a second, opposite, side 216 thereof along a central longitudinal axis. The roller 202 further includes a generally semi-circular recess 208 that extends circumferentially about the roller 202, which recess 208 defines, on opposite sides thereof, track contacting portions 210 configured to contact and roll upon a track (not shown).

The roller 202 is dissimilar to the roller 102 however in that it includes a sleeve 215 located within the bore 213. As is shown in Figures 6 and 7, the sleeve 215 is circular in cross-section and tubular in overall form. The sleeve 215 defines a bore 217 that is dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of the axle 120 (Figure 7). The sleeve 215 is preferably fixed within the bore 213 of the roller 202 by any suitable means known in the art such that the sleeve 215 is rotationally fixed relative to the roller 202. For example, the sleeve 215 may be fixed within the bore 213 by an interference fit, or may be adhered to an inner peripheral surface of the roller 202, which inner peripheral surface defines the bore 213. Alternatively, the roller 202 may be overmoulded onto the sleeve 215 so as to be fixed thereto. In this embodiment, the sleeve 215 comprises a metal and the roller 202 comprises a polymer. Advantageously, the sleeve 215 is configured to reduce contact stress between the axle 120 and the roller 202, which may reduce wear on these components and increase the operating life of the roller assembly 100.

As is shown in Figure 7, the alternative roller 202 forms part of the roller assembly 100 of the roller carriage 130, which, as described above, includes the first and second bearings 104, 106 on opposite sides of the roller 202, and the axle 120. In this embodiment, the axle 120 extends through the aligned bores 217, 123, and 125 of the sleeve 215 and the first and second bearings 104, 106 respectively. The axle 120 is frictionally fit within the bores 217, 123, and 125 so as to be rotatably fixed relative thereto. The axle 120 is dimensioned such that it genereally does not extend or protrude laterally outwardly from the outer faces of each of the first and second bearings 104, 106. The axle 120 includes a flanged end 121 that assists with maintaining the axle 120 in its position within the roller assembly 120.

Advantageously, the roller assembly 100 including the alternative roller 202 may be utilised in any one of the roller carriages 130, 160, and 170 described herein (in lieu of the roller 102).

As is described above, the roller assembly and roller carriage of the present invention are both relatively stronger and durable, and have a greater load carrying capacity, than the roller assemblies and roller carriages of the prior art.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A roller assembly for use in a roller carriage configured to support a slidable panel, the roller assembly comprising: a roller rotatably supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, the first bearing being on a first side of said roller and the second bearing being on a second side of said roller, the second side being opposite to the first side.
2. The roller assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second bearings and the roller are each substantially circular in cross-section, and wherein a diameter of the roller is similar to a diameter of each of the first and second bearings.
3. The roller assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the roller includes a bore extending therethrough from the first side to the second side thereof, and wherein the bore defines an axis of rotation of the roller.
4. The roller assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second bearings include respective bores extending therethrough.
5. The roller assembly of claim 4, wherein the first and second bearings are arranged externally of the roller on the respective first and second sides of the roller along said axis of rotation of the roller, and wherein the bores in the bearings are aligned with the bore in the roller.
6. The roller assembly of claim 5, further comprising an axle received at least partially within the aligned bores of the first and second bearings and the roller, wherein the axle is rotatably connected to respective inner surfaces of each of the first and second bearings and the roller.
7. The roller assembly of claim 5, further comprising a sleeve located within the bore in the roller and rotationally fixed relative thereto, and wherein the sleeve defines a bore dimensioned to receive an axle.
8. The roller assembly of claim 7, wherein the sleeve comprises a first material and the roller comprises a second material, and wherein the first material is different to the second material.
9. The roller assembly of claim 8, wherein the first material is a metal and the second material is a polymer.
10. The roller assembly of any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising an axle received at least partially within the aligned bores of the first and second bearings and the sleeve, wherein the axle is rotatablly connected to respective inner surfaecs of each of the first and second bearings and the sleeve.
11. The roller assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second bearings comprise an inner race and an outer race, and wherein the inner and outer races are configured to rotate relative to each other.
12. A roller carriage configured to support a slidable panel, the roller carriage comprising: a carriage body configured to at least partially receive a roller assembly, said roller assembly comprising a roller rotatably supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, the first bearing being on a first side of said roller and the second bearing being on a second side of said roller, the second side being opposite to the first side.
13. The roller carriage of claim 12, further comprising a support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the roller assembly.
14. The roller carriage of claim 13, wherein the support cavity is a bearing support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the first and second bearings of the roller assembly.
15. The roller assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second bearings are mounted within the bearing support cavity.
16. The roller assembly of claim 14 or 15, wherein the first and second bearings are inserted into the bearing support cavity in a direction generally parallel to a central axis of the bearing support cavity.
17. The roller assembly of claim 16, wherein the cental axis of the bearing support cavity is coincident with an axis of rotation of the roller.
18. The roller assembly of any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein each of the first and second bearings comprise an inner race and an outer race, wherein the inner and outer races are configured to rotate relative to each other, and wherein the outer races of the first and second bearings are fixedly mounted within or to the bearing support cavity such that the outer races are rotationally fixed relative to the bearing support cavity.
19. The roller carraige of any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the carriage body comprises two separate elements that, when assembled, form the carriage body configured to receive the roller assembly.
20. The roller carriage of claim 19, wherein the carriage body comprises a first body element and a second body element, wherein the first body element includes a first bearing support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the first bearing, and wherein the second body element includes a second bearing support cavity configured to at least partially receive and support the second bearing.
21. The roller carriage of any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the roller assembly is a roller asssembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
22. A slidable panel comprising: a frame; and a cavity within the frame; wherein the cavity is dimensioned to receive a roller carriage according to any one of claims 12 to 21.