Flexible film air pallet for material movement
US4399885A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 21, 1981 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60V3/025
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A flexible film sheet underlying a backing member bearing a load and directly overlying a planar, fixed support surface and partially defining a plenum chamber, and having perforations within the flexible film sheet facing the support surface, extends laterally beyond the load to form an extension of the air plenum chamber. Air inlet means opens to the plenum chamber extension portion to effectively jack the load from the air inlet means laterally and automatically balance the load on the air pallet during jacking, while reducing the possibility of rupture of the flexible film sheet in the vicinity of the air inlet. An elongated perforated tube is sinuously disposed on the bottom of a rigid planar load or backing member to form the air pallet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.