Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A pneumatic support system for supporting and/or moving a heavy load, as for example a ship hull or the like, in the ambient comprising: a series of support unit means dispersed between the heavy load and the ground for supporting at least part of said heavy load and for equalizing forces occuring in the static supporting, positioning and horizontal moving of said heavy load; each of said support unit means comprising a hard, rigid upper load-bearing member upon which said load is, at least indirectly, partially carried, said upper member having a lower, downwardly-directed facing surface having a multiple number of facing areas thereon; a hard, rigid, lower, load-bearing member, resting at least indirectly upon the ground, said lower member having an upper, upwardly-directed facing surface having a multiple number of facing areas thereon which are located opposite the corresponding facing areas of said upper member, said upper and said lower load-bearing members being two opposed, flat plates disposed in at least a generally parallel relationship; a multiple number of ''''soft'''', pneumatic support elements dispersed between and fixedly attached to said upper and lower load-bearing members at and between their opposing facing areas, said support elements serving to transmit the load from said upper to said lower load-bearing member, said ''''soft'''', pneumatic support elements comprising pneumatic air bag means for variably and continuously equalizing any variations in the applied load between said support unit means and for changing the relative positioning of the upper and lower load-bearing members, said pneumatic air bags being generally cylindrical in configuration and completely open at both ends, said loadbearing members being flat at said facing areas and closing off the ends of said air bags to create a closed, inner, air-tight system with said air bags.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A pneumatic support system for supporting and/or moving a heavy load, as for example a ship hull or the like, in the ambient comprising: a series of support unit means dispersed between the heavy load and the ground for supporting at least part of said heavy load and for equalizing forces occuring in the static supporting, positioning and horizontal moving of said heavy load; each of said support unit means comprising a hard, rigid upper load-bearing member upon which said load is, at least indirectly, partially carried, said upper member having a lower, downwardly-directed facing surface having a multiple number of facing areas thereon; a hard, rigid, lower, load-bearing member, resting at least indirectly upon the ground, said lower member having an upper, upwardly-directed facing surface having a multiple number of facing areas thereon which are located opposite the corresponding facing areas of said upper member, said upper and said lower load-bearing members being two opposed, flat plates disposed in at least a generally parallel relationship; a multiple number of ''''soft'''', pneumatic support elements dispersed between and fixedly attached to said upper and lower load-bearing members at and between their opposing facing areas, said support elements serving to transmit the load from said upper to said lower load-bearing member, said ''''soft'''', pneumatic support elements comprising pneumatic air bag means for variably and continuously equalizing any variations in the applied load between said support unit means and for changing the relative positioning of the upper and lower load-bearing members, said pneumatic air bags being generally cylindrical in configuration and completely open at both ends, said loadbearing members being flat at said facing areas and closing off the ends of said air bags to create a closed, inner, air-tight system with said air bags.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The support system of claim 1 wherein said air bags are fixedly attached to said upper and lower load-bearing members by means of a series of rim bolts placed about and through the facing periphery of said air bag and bolted securely into said upper and lower load-bearing members, whereby a defective air bag can be readily and easily removed and replaced while that support unit is still supporting the heavy load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The support system of claim 1 wherein said flat plates each have disposed thereon opposing bumper plates for limiting the amount of minimum spacing between the plates to protect the air bags fixed therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The support system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plates includes integrally within it an air supply line feeding into said closed, inner, air-tight system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The support system of claim 1 wherein there is further included dynamic fluid means attached to said air bags for independently and individually varying the load-carrying characteristics of said series of support units, said dynamic fluid means comprising a pneumatic pressure control system.