Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for movably supporting article

US6279716A · kind A · utility

63Cited by
3References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 25, 2000
Grant dateAug 28, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 25, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16C2326/58
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for movably supporting an article includes a plurality of raising units arranged in a row on a mount, with their outer side surfaces contacting with those of adjacent ones. Each raising unit includes a lifting member including a piston and a ball disposed on top of the piston. A casing has a cylinder bore which is formed therein to open upward and in which the lifting member is disposed to be vertically movable. A pressure chamber is formed beneath the piston. A portion of the ball can protrude through the opening when the lifting member is raised. An air path extends from one to opposite side surfaces of the casing through the pressure chamber. When compressed air is supplied to the pressure chamber of the raising unit at one end of the row, it is also supplied to the pressure chambers of the remaining raising units.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.