Abstract:
A float sled comprising a body with a substantially flat upper surface, a lift plate operationally associated with the body and adapted to move from a first position in proximity to the upper surface of the body to a second position above the first position and above the body, a set of pneumatic air bag lifts associated with the lift plate to raise and lower the lift plate to various horizontal orientations with differing degrees of tilt, and an air bearing adapted to raise the body above the ground.
Abstract:
Apparatus (200) for use in transporting a load comprises a body means provided with gas bearing means for selectively providing a gaseous support for the body means. The body means is additionally provided with brake means (60) adapted for selectively engaging with elongate rail means (54) for braking and releasably securing the apparatus (200) to such rail means. The brake means (60) may be supplemented by holding means (202) releasably interengageable with apertures (204) provided therefor in the rail means (54). The apparatus is particularly suitable for use in releasably securing a load to a sea-going vessel and moving the load onto and off of such a vessel.
Abstract:
Apparatus (10) for use in transporting a load comprises support means for supporting the load, gas bearing means (16) for selectively providing a gaseous support for the support means and duct means extending between opposite ends of said support means for use in supplying gas to said gas bearing means. The duct means are connectable by means of pipe connections (70) at each of said opposite ends with duct means of respective like apparatus. The apparatus (10) is particularly suitable for transporting loads onto and off sea-going vessels.
Abstract:
An equipment handling system (1) comprising a pallet (2) provided with air casters (3), a shipping container (4) with a floor (5) arranged to support the air casters (3), and a support structure (6) with a surface (7) arranged to support the air casters (3), the support structure (6) being configured to be received at an entrance of the shipping container (4) such that the support structure surface (7) and the shipping container floor (5) meet to form a continuous air caster supporting surface.
Abstract:
A transport system for improved transport of stage panels. The stage panel assembly transport system includes a transport sled (22) and a modified stage panel assembly support base (130) adapted for detachable engagement with the transport sled (22). The transport sled (22) uses an air cushion support (32) to lift a substantial portion of the weight of the stage panel assembly (132), with the remaining portion of the stage panel assembly's weight being stably supported by a castor wheel arrangement (34).
Abstract:
Air chamber-type air pallets (10) incorporate side-to-side linked air pressurized tubes or chambers (46-64) in two integrated rows, having common members (14, 16) for adjacent chambers under air pressurization rendered rigid over a certain extent to rigidify the air chambers thereof which form load backing chambers in place of rigid backing members conventionally employed in air pallets maintaning the load (P) footprint borne by the air pressurized backing chambers matched by that of the developed air bearing or air film (A) by passage of compressed air through the pattern of perforations (26). Preferably, linked tubes (44-54) of one row are laterally offset but integrated physically to those (56-64) of a second row to both limit lateral shrinkage of linked tubes (44-64) extending completely across the pin hole perforations (26) within the thin, flexible bottom sheet (18) partially forming such air pallets. A single row of linked tubes (306) formed of two thin, flexible sheets (302, 304), acting as plenum chambers and having perforations (316) within the thin, flexible bottom sheet (304) functions adequately to support the patient (P) directly on the top thin, flexible sheeet (302) with the bottom tangential surfaces of the individual tubes (306) flattening.
Abstract:
A float sled comprising a body with a substantially flat upper surface, a lift plate operationally associated with the body and adapted to move from a first position in proximity to the upper surface of the body to a second position above the first position and above the body, a set of pneumatic air bag lifts associated with the lift plate to raise and lower the lift plate to various horizontal orientations with differing degrees of tilt, and an air bearing adapted to raise the body above the ground.
Abstract:
In the loader in question, the lifting unit (5) carrying the fork-lift rack (17) is connected to a platform (11) on an air cushion (12) and to the tractor unit (1) which is provided with a compressed air source (9). The lifting unit (5) is mounted rigidly on the platform (11) and connected to the tractor unit (1) so as to be vertically displaceable by a distance equal to the elevation of the platform (11) on the air cushion (12).
Abstract:
A ship or other large and heavy load may be supported on a fluid cushion comprising a two dimensional array of airbags constrained within elastic mesh compartments (81) and inflated by individual valve assemblies (188, 189, 231...) which are connected by a grid of airlines and distributed over a flexible web (60) separating respective horizontal layers of the assembly. The ship rests on an upper layer while the compartments of a lower layer are inflated and deflated in sequence to generate a travelling contraction which moves through the fluid cushion to translate its base surface over the ground in any desired direction of travel, with the load gradually moving by fluid pressure in the same direction. The deflated cushion assembly can be stored and deployed on a spool (see fig 1-3) rotated by a hydraulic motor. Independent claims are included to the cushion assembly including an elastic or other tension force generating means, the compartmentalised structure, the layered structure, the deployment spool, the distributed valve assemblies, and corresponding methods of operation.