Conveyor system with air in floor

Claim 2

In an air cushion conveyor system, the combination of: a transporter having an air bearing, said air bearing including an upper plate and a lower diaphragm attached to said plate at the center and at the periphery defining an annular space and a central space, with at least one opening in said diaphragm providing a flow path between said spaces; track means having an upper surface for said transporter and including an air duct substantially flush with said upper surface and having a plurality of spaced openings in the upper wall thereof providing a plurality of continuously open upwardly directed flow passages along said duct for supplying air to an air bearing positioned on said track means; and interengaging means on said transporter and track means for guiding said transporter as it moves along said track means to position said bearing over said duct.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transporter includes: a plurality of said air bearings in side-by-side relation; means defining a plurality of air chambers in said transporter with an air chamber for each air bearing; and means defining another flow path between the annular space of each air bearing and a corresponding air chamber; and said track means includes a pair of said air ducts disposed parallel to each other providing separate air supplies for said side-by-side bearings.

Claim 4

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said track means is the floor of the work area and said duct is in the floor with the duct upper surface substantially flush with the floor.

Claim 5

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said track means comprises a plurality of separate track sections connected end to end, each of said track sections having a central deck and upstanding side walls defining a channel for a transporter, with said duct disposed in said deck, and an air supply unit at the junction of two track sections, said unit including an upper surface flush with the deck, a lateral conduit, a transverse opening providing an air path between said conduit and a track duct, and means for connecting an air supply to said lateral conduit.

Claim 6

A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said plurality of track sections are connected in a closed loop, and including a plurality of said transporters connected end to end to form a closed loop train, and drive means for moving said train along said track means.

Claim 7

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said track means has a start end and a finish end; and including a conveyor line positioned between said ends and having means for carrying a transporter from said finish end to said start end.

Claim 8

A system as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of said transporters connected end to end to form a train, and transporter drive meaNs mounted at said track means in driving relation with a transporter for moving said train along said track means.

Claim 9

A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said track means is a closed loop.

Claim 10

In an air cushion conveyor system, the combination of: a transporter having an air bearing, said air bearing including an upper plate and a lower diaphragm attached to said plate at the center and at the periphery defining an annular space and a central space, with at least one opening in said diaphragm providing a flow path between said spaces; track means for said transporter and including an air duct having a plurality of spaced openings in the upper wall thereof providing a plurality of upwardly directed flow passages along said duct for supplying air to an air bearing positioned on said track means, with said track means inclined along the axis of said duct for gravitational movement of a transporter; and interengaging means on said transporter and track means for guiding said transporter as it moves along said track means to position said bearing over said duct, said interengaging means including snubber means for controlling the velocity of a transporter along said track means.

Claim 11

In an air cushion conveyor system, the combination of: a transporter having an air bearing, said air bearing including an upper plate and a lower diaphragm attached to said plate at the center and at the periphery defining an annular space and a central space, with at least one opening in said diaphragm providing a flow path between said spaces; track means for said transporter and including an air duct having a plurality of spaced openings in the upper wall thereof providing a plurality of upwardly directed flow passages along said duct for supplying air to an air bearing positioned on said track means, with said track means inclined along the axis of said duct for gravitational movement of a transporter; and interengaging means on said transporter and track means for guiding said transporter as it moves along said track means to position said bearing over said duct, said interengaging means including snubber means for controlling the velocity of a transporter along said track means.