Pneumatic lift

Abstract

A pneumatic lift including at least three jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another and arranged in air flow communication with one another. At least one of the jacking-mattresses is also arranged in air flow communication with a source of pressurized air.

1 . A pneumatic lift comprising: 
 at least three jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another wherein at least two of said jacking-mattresses are arranged in internal air flow communication with one another.    
   
   
       2 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 1  wherein each of said jacking-mattresses comprise a top panel having a peripheral edge and a bottom panel having a peripheral edge with a perimeter band sealed to and extending between said peripheral edges so as to define an internal chamber.  
   
   
       3 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 2  wherein said internal chamber houses a plurality of spaced apart transverse baffle-panels that extend between said top panel and said bottom panel.  
   
   
       4 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 2  wherein said top panel and said bottom panel are formed from a sheet of nylon scrim that is coated on at least an outer surface with a water proof coating.  
   
   
       5 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 2  wherein an inner surface of said top and bottom panels is coated with a water proof coating.  
   
   
       6 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 2  wherein said peripheral edges include cooperative means for fastening said peripheral edges together.  
   
   
       7 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 2  wherein said perimeter band defines fluid flow inlet/outlet fixtures that are sealingly positioned therethrough so as to controllably communicate with said internal chamber.  
   
   
       8 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 7  wherein said inlet/outlet fixtures comprises a valve that sealingly accepts an air supply hose from a source of flowing air.  
   
   
       9 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 3  wherein each of said baffle-panels comprise a substantially rectangular sheet that is transversely fastened to a portion of an inner surface of said top panel and an inner surface of said bottom panel.  
   
   
       10 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 9  wherein each of said baffle panels includes end edges that are arranged in spaced relation to an inner facing surface of longitudinally extending portions of said perimeter band.  
   
   
       11 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 10  including a pair of longitudinally oriented air flow channels.  
   
   
       12 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 10  wherein each of said baffle panel end edges comprises a curve.  
   
   
       13 . A pneumatic lift comprising: 
 at least four jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another wherein select ones of said jacking-mattresses are arranged in internal air flow communication with another of said jacking-mattresses; and    a source of pressurized air arranged in airflow communication with said select ones of said jacking-mattresses thereby to sequentially inflate all of said jacking-mattresses when an object is placed upon a top most one of said jacking-mattresses.    
   
   
       14 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 13  wherein each of said jacking-mattresses is fixedly fastened to an adjacent jacking-mattress.  
   
   
       15 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 14  wherein each of said jacking-mattresses comprises a top peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge that are bonded to one another so as to form an air tight interface extending around the top and bottom perimeter of said adjacent jacking-mattresses.  
   
   
       16 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 15  wherein said jacking mattresses include a top panel and a bottom panel with at least one through-hole being defined between internally positioned top panels and bottom panels, said through-holes being arranged so as to allow for free air flow communication between adjacent jacking-mattresses.  
   
   
       17 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 13  each of said jacking-mattresses is fixedly fastened to an adjacent jacking-mattress.  
   
   
       18 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 14  wherein each of said jacking-mattresses comprises a top peripheral edge and a bottom peripheral edge that are bonded to one another so as to form an air tight interface extending around the top and bottom perimeter of said adjacent jacking-mattresses.  
   
   
       19 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 15  comprising a top jacking-mattress and a bottom jacking-mattress and at least one intermediate jacking mattress positioned between said top jacking-mattress and said bottom jacking mattress wherein a bottom wall of said top jacking-mattress and a top wall of said at least one intermediate jacking-mattress are common.  
   
   
       20 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 15  comprising a top jacking-mattress and a bottom jacking-mattress and at least one intermediate jacking mattress positioned between said top jacking-mattress and said bottom jacking mattress wherein a top wall of said bottom jacking-mattress and a bottom wall of said at least one intermediate jacking-mattress are common.  
   
   
       21 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 20  comprising fittings disposed within openings that are defined through said top wall and said bottom wall of said at least one intermediate jacking-mattress so as to maintain a fully open configuration during inflation.  
   
   
       22 . A pneumatic lift comprising: 
 a plurality of jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another wherein select ones of said jacking-mattresses are arranged in internal air flow communication with one another, each of said jacking-mattresses comprising; 
 a top panel having a width, a length, a peripheral edge;  
 a bottom panel having said width, said length, and a peripheral edge;  
 a perimeter band extending between said top panel and said bottom panel such that said peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels are sealingly fastened to one another, said peripheral band defining at least one through-hole;  
   a plurality of baffle-panels each having a width and a length and being attached to an inner surface of said top panel and an inner surface of said bottom panel so as to define air flow passageways;    at least one conduit arranged in air flow communication between said at least one through-hole in adjacent jacking-mattresses; and    a source of pressurized air arranged in airflow communication with one of said at least one through-holes so as to be in airflow communication with the interior of one of said jacking-mattresses.    
   
   
       23 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 22  comprising a plurality of longitudinal baffle panels.  
   
   
       24 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 22  comprising a plurality of transverse baffle panels.  
   
   
       25 . A pneumatic lift comprising: 
 a plurality of jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another, each of said jacking-mattresses comprising; 
 a top panel having a width, a length, a peripheral edge;  
 a bottom panel having said width, said length, and a peripheral edge;  
 a perimeter band extending between said top panel and said bottom panel such that said peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels are sealingly fastened to one another, said peripheral band defining at least one through-hole;  
   a plurality of baffle-panels each having a width and a length and being attached to an inner surface of said top panel and an inner surface of said bottom panel so as to define air flow passageways;    at least one valve sealingly positioned within said at least one through-hole so as to provide air flow access to said air flow passageways; and    a source of pressurized air having a conduit suitable to be sequentially received in airflow communication with each of said at least one valves so as to be in sequential airflow communication with the interior of each of said jacking-mattresses.    
   
   
       26 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 25  comprising a plurality of longitudinal baffle panels.  
   
   
       27 . A pneumatic lift according to  claim 25  comprising a plurality of transverse baffle panels.  
   
   
       28 . A pneumatic lift comprising: 
 a top jacking-mattress, a bottom jacking-mattress, and a plurality of intermediate jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another between said top jacking-mattress and said bottom jacking-mattress, wherein selected ones of said jacking-mattresses are arranged in internal air flow communication with one another, each of said jacking-mattresses includes; 
 a top panel having a width, a length, and a peripheral edge, wherein selected ones of said intermediate jacking-mattresses comprise a top panel having at least one through-hole;  
 a bottom panel having said width, said length, and a peripheral edge, wherein selected ones of said intermediate jacking-mattresses comprise a bottom panel having at least one through-hole;  
 a perimeter band extending between said top panel and said bottom panel of each of said jacking-mattresses such that said peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels are sealingly fastened to one another;  
   a plurality of baffle-panels each having a width and a length and being attached to an inner surface of said top panel and an inner surface of said bottom panel so as to be transversely oriented between said top panel and said bottom panel so as to define a pair of longitudinally extending air flow passageways disposed between an edge of said baffle-panels and an interior surface of said perimeter band; and    a source of pressurized air arranged in airflow communication with the interior of at least one of said jacking-mattresses.    
   
   
       29 . A transportable pneumatic lift comprising: 
 at least three jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another wherein at least two of said jacking-mattresses are arranged in internal air flow communication with one another; and    a sheet of Teflon releasably fastened to a bottom surface of a bottom most one of said at least three jacking mattresses.    
   
   
       30 . A transportable pneumatic lift according to  claim 29  wherein said sheet of Teflon is coextensive with said bottom most one of said at least three jacking mattresses.  
   
   
       31 . A transportable pneumatic lift comprising: 
 at least three jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another wherein at least two of said jacking-mattresses are arranged in internal air flow communication with one another; and    a transfer mattress fastened to a bottom most one of said at least three jacking mattresses.    
   
   
       32 . A transportable pneumatic lift according to  claim 31  wherein said transfer mattress comprises a top sheet and a bottom sheet, that together define a plenum chamber with said bottom sheet being perforated with pinholes over at least a central surface area, said pinholes being in open flow communication with said plenum chamber so that when said transfer mattress is continuously charged with pressurized air, said air escapes through said pinholes so as to create an air bearing of relatively small height below an outer surface of said bottom sheet.  
   
   
       33 . A transportable pneumatic lift comprising: 
 a plurality of jacking-mattresses stacked one atop another wherein selected ones of said jacking-mattresses are arranged in internal air flow communication with one another; and    a transfer mattress forming a bottom most jacking-mattress comprising; 
 a top panel having a width, a length, and a peripheral edge;  
 a bottom panel having said width, said length, and a peripheral edge and defining a plurality of pinholes in a central portion thereof;  
 an outer perimeter band extending between said top panel and said bottom panel such that said peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels are sealingly fastened to one another;  
 a plurality of baffle-panels being attached to an inner surface of said top panel and an inner surface of said bottom panel so as to be transversely oriented between said top panel and said bottom panel;  
 an inner perimeter band extending between said top panel and said bottom panel and enclosing said plurality of baffle-panels so as to define an annular air flow passageway disposed between said outer perimeter band and said inner perimeter band and said baffle-panels thereby forming individual chambers between said baffles, said annular air flow passageway being in flow communication with said chambers; and  
 a source of continuous pressurized air arranged in flow communication with said annular air flow passageway.  
   
   
   
       34 . A transportable pneumatic lift according to  claim 33  wherein said pinholes in said bottom panel only communicate with said individual chambers.  
   
   
       35 . A transportable pneumatic lift according to  claim 33  wherein said inner perimeter band is periodically perforated with through-holes so as to provide for air flow communication between said annular air flow passageway and said individual chambers.  
   
   
       36 . A transportable pneumatic lift according to  claim 33  wherein said baffle panels include through holes.