Patent US3603647A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3603647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure-responsive air discharge devices
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 1969-04-30
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A device for forming, in conjunction with similar devices, a layer of air on a surface to provide support for an object, comprises a casing divided by a flexible, tensioned, membrane into two compartments communicating respectively with a supply of compressed air and a discharge opening. The membrane, which lies near this opening, is normally deformed into contact therewith to close it off but will move away therefrom upon a fluid pressure being exerted on the membrane from the opening side to allow compressed air to flow through the opening via ports formed near the periphery of the membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 Shimon Arieh
- 👤 Georges Revillet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:57
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/20; F16K17/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A device for forming a layer of gaseous fluid on a surface to provide support for an object on said surface, which device comprises a casing defining a chamber, said casing having an inlet opening for connection to a source of said fluid under a given pressure and a fluid discharge opening to communicate with said surface, and a membrane stretched across said chamber between said inlet opening and said discharge opening, said membrane having edges fluidtightly mounted in said casing, said membrane being provided with fluid throughflow ports located remote from said discharge opening and fluid leakage means located opposite the discharge opening; said membrane being elastically deformable so as to come into close contact with at least the portion of the casing surrounding said discharge opening thereby to close the latter when a pressure difference occurs on opposite sides of the membrane, which is higher, by a given amount at least, than the static pressure difference, the spacing between the membrane, when in the nondeformed state, and the casing portion facing the membrane between the ports and the leakage means being such that, when the said object moves away from said discharge opening, fluid flow will occur from said ports to said discharge opening between said membrane and said casing portion, at a speed such that the dynamic depression created by said flow on the downstream side of the membrane, is at least equal to said given amount necessary for elastic deformation of said membrane into a position for closing said discharge opening, said leakage means being arranged to progressively raise the pressure on the downstream side of the membrane when an object to be supported appears opposite said discharge opening, through fluid flow through said leakage means, to return said membrane to its nondeformed state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
298 words
A device for forming a layer of gaseous fluid on a surface to provide support for an object on said surface, which device comprises a casing defining a chamber, said casing having an inlet opening for connection to a source of said fluid under a given pressure and a fluid discharge opening to communicate with said surface, and a membrane stretched across said chamber between said inlet opening and said discharge opening, said membrane having edges fluidtightly mounted in said casing, said membrane being provided with fluid throughflow ports located remote from said discharge opening and fluid leakage means located opposite the discharge opening; said membrane being elastically deformable so as to come into close contact with at least the portion of the casing surrounding said discharge opening thereby to close the latter when a pressure difference occurs on opposite sides of the membrane, which is higher, by a given amount at least, than the static pressure difference, the spacing between the membrane, when in the nondeformed state, and the casing portion facing the membrane between the ports and the leakage means being such that, when the said object moves away from said discharge opening, fluid flow will occur from said ports to said discharge opening between said membrane and said casing portion, at a speed such that the dynamic depression created by said flow on the downstream side of the membrane, is at least equal to said given amount necessary for elastic deformation of said membrane into a position for closing said discharge opening, said leakage means being arranged to progressively raise the pressure on the downstream side of the membrane when an object to be supported appears opposite said discharge opening, through fluid flow through said leakage means, to return said membrane to its nondeformed state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing portion surrounding the discharge opening and facing the membrane has a concave configuration over its entire extent, and wherein the membrane is in contacting relationship along its entire circumference with the outer edge of said concave configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing portion surrounding the discharge opening and facing the membrane is flat over its entire extent, the membrane lying in parallel relationship with said casing portion, the distance between said ports and the edges of the membrane being greater than the distance between the edges of the membrane and said casing portion and is at least sufficient for said ports to be closed through contact of the membrane with said casing portion when the membrane is deformed into the position in which said discharge opening is closed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said leakage means comprises at least one passage traversing the membrane and having a cross section substantially less than that of said ports, in the portion thereof opposite the discharge opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said leakage means comprises a porous structure in said portion of the membrane opposite the discharge opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said casing is provided with a plurality of said discharge openings terminating in said surface at a corresponding plurality of spaced-apart locations, said membrane being uniform, said ports being offset in relation to said discharge openings, at least two of said ports being associated with each discharge opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one said passage is in the membrane opposite each discharge opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, which further comprises a flexible carrier belt having a run extending a short distance from said surface, and means for driving said belt, said belt serving to transport objects placed on the side thereof remote from said surface and becoming deformed towards said surface over those portions loaded with said objects, the arrangement being such that a layer of gaseous fluid comes to be formed beneath the loaded belt portions to provide support for said portions and the loads thereon, said layer moving underneath the belt in synchronism therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said casing includes a tubular portion defining on the outside thereof said support surface and adapted to have slidably mounted thereon an annular member having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said surface, said membrane being of tubular shape and extending within said chamber, over the entire length thereof coaxially of said casing and at a short distance from the inside thereof, said membrane being fluidtightly secured to the ends of said casing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |