Two-spoke handwheels VH521 black

VH521 is a 2-spoke handwheel in glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic with a handle that both rotates and folds into the body of the wheel. In the folded out position you crank quickly over long adjustment distances; in the folded down position the handle disappears into the profile of the wheel and leaves nothing sticking out that can catch clothes, cables or passing material.

The folding handle is the whole point of the series. A fixed handle on a rotating wheel is a classic risk on machines where the operator works close by; when the wheel follows the drive, the handle can strike anything that comes in its way. Here you fold it down after the adjustment and the wheel becomes a smooth disc. The same goes for tight spaces: a machine standing close to a wall or a cabinet does not need the extra swept space a fixed handle calls for. You fold the handle up when it is to be used and press it down again when the adjustment is done; no tools are needed for the operation.

The material is thermoplastic reinforced with glass fiber, which gives high stiffness and dimensional stability under hard hand force. The two spokes keep the weight down compared with a full rim wheel and give a free view toward the scale and the spindle. The surface is matte and easy to grip even with gloves, and it hides scratches better than glossy plastic. The fasteners are in zinc plated steel; the hub has a pilot hole with a cap in light gray thermoplastic that hides the shaft mounting and can be lifted off during service.

The series comes in four diameters: 130, 160, 200 and 350 mm. The hub height goes from 49 mm on the smallest to 80 mm on the largest, and the pilot hole lies between 22 and 34 mm depending on size. The exact dimensional drawing is in the data sheet. The hole is machined to its final fit with ordinary tools; the thermoplastic is drilled and reamed without special equipment, so you match the mounting to your shaft right in the workshop.

The diameter is chosen by the torque needed. 130 and 160 mm cover most adjusting spindles on workshop machines and fixtures, 200 mm gives a longer lever on coarser threads, and 350 mm is the size for heavy actuators where every turn takes force: gates, presses, larger valves. On the large wheel in particular the folding function does double duty, since a handle sticking out on a 350 mm diameter otherwise sweeps a fair circle around the machine.

The uses are the same as for fixed handwheels, but VH521 is typically chosen where safety or lack of space decides: format changeovers on lines where operators move close by, rigging stations in tight cells, equipment that is transported and must not have parts sticking out. Portable stage machinery and measuring rigs usually land in this type of solution as well. The combination of a rotating and folding handle covers both work steps; quick cranking when it is needed, a smooth profile when it is not. Keep in mind as well that a folded wheel is easier to keep clean, since dust and chips do not gather around a crank pin sticking out.

The handwheels are delivered 5 per pack in the 130 mm size and 2 per pack in the other sizes. The thermoplastic takes oil, grease and cleaning agents in a normal workshop environment, and the black matte surface stays presentable over time. If you need the same wheel without the folding function, VH52 is in the shop.

Do you have an application where the handle has to be out of the way when it is not in use? Get in touch, we will help you find the right size.