Pneumatic level maintaining transport
US5885047A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62B2203/20
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A transport device, or hand truck (10), having a load carrying surface (26) that is mounted to move up and down along the hand truck (10). The level of the load carrying surface (26) is changed by the amount of air within a pneumatic cylinder (40). The amount of air in the pneumatic cylinder (40) is determined by a pneumatic adjustment subsystem (42) and the load on the load carrying surface (26). Preferably, the pneumatic adjustment subsystem (42) is set so that the top item located on the load carrying surface (26) is always at waist level. The pneumatic adjustment system (42) permits the pneumatic cylinder (40) to be offset an incremental amount respective to items of identical weight and height being removed from or placed upon the load carrying surface (26). Thus, as items are removed from the load carrying surface (26), the load carrying surface indexes upward so that the top item is readily available at waist level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.