US Patent 7455165 Freewheel flow track systems

Freewheel flow track systems are adapted for transporting pallets and/or cartons in heavy-duty pallet and carton flow applications. A flow track system may include multiple track sub-assemblies, each track sub-assembly including multiple wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly comprises a wheel rotatably mounted on an axle. A lubricant coating may be fixed to and bonded with the axle. The wheel may be constructed from a polycarbonate-based resin that is impregnated with a lubricant for providing lifetime lubrication to the wheels. The wheel includes a hub, a rim concentric with the hub, a web connecting the hub to the rim, and ribs connecting the hub to the rim through the web.