Expansible support and method of use

Claim 1

An expansible support adapted for supporting a heavy industrial machine or the like on a foundation, said support comprising a pair of base members having substantially planar bottom faces adapted for face-to-face engagement with a generally flat upwardly facing bearing surface on the foundation, a single support member spaced above the base members having a substantially planar top face adapted for face-to-face engagement with a generally flat downwardly-facing bearing surface on the machine, first and second relatively flat annular members connecting respective base members and the support member, said annular members being expansible for permitting relative movement of the support member away from the respective base members, said annular member, base members and support member combining to define first and second enclosed expansible chambers within respective annular members, and inlet port means communicating with said expansible chambers for delivery thereto of fluid under pressure, said support being adapted to be positioned between said foundation and machine bearing surfaces with the bottom faces of the base members resting on said foundation bearing surface and to have fluid then introduced under pressure via said inlet port means into said expansible chambers whereupon said annular members are adapted to expand and the support member to move upwardly relative to the base members thereby to bring the top and bottom faces of the respective members into load-bearing contact with said bearing surfaces, said annular members being adapted for permitting the top and bottom faces of the respective base and support members to move out of parallel with respect to one another for full face-to-face contact with nonparallel bearing surfaces, said support member having a slot therein for receiving an anchor bolt when the support is placed between the foundation and the machine, said base members and associated annular members being connected to the support member on opposite sides of the slot, said inlet port means comprising inlet passages in said support plate, and outlet port means comprising outlet passages for exit of air from respective first and second chambers as fluid is introduced into the chambers, said inlet passage of said second expansible chamber being in fluid communication with said outlet passage of said first expansible chamber for flow of fluid from said first chamber when it is filled to said second chamber to fill the second chamber.