Bearing provided with a carrier surface for moving a platform on an air cushion

Abstract

The invention relates to a bearing provided with a carrier surface along which a platform ( 6 ) with people or other loads can move on an air cushion, preferably without a motor, wherein the air cushion can be maintained without too great an effort. According to the invention, the form thereof is that of a box ( 1 ) with a perforated surface for the discharge of air. The openings in the surface are provided with automatic valves ( 5 ) which are connected to the inner area of the box ( 1 ). The cavity on one side of the moveable element of the valve ( 5 ) is connected to the opening on the upper side of the box ( 1 ). The cavity on the other side of the moveable element of the valve ( 5 ) is connected to the outer air. The openings on the side of the valve housing are connected to the inner area of the box ( 1 ).

1 . A bearing provided with a carrier surface ( 1 ) for moving a platform ( 6 ) on an air cushion, whereby the bearing has the form of a box with a perforated surface and the perforated surface has openings in the carrier surface ( 1 ) of the box for the discharge of air, which is pressed into the inner area of the box, 
 whereby the openings in the carrier surface ( 1 ) of the box are connected to the inner area of the box via automatic valves, and    whereby each of the automatic valves comprises a movable element, which is pressed against the openings in the carrier surface ( 1 ) of the box by a spring ( 9 ,  15 ), characterized in that    the movable element is a piston ( 8 ,  12 ) which moves in a valve housing ( 5 ), and    in that valve openings ( 7 ) are arranged near the openings in the carrier surface ( 1 ) in a side wall of the valve housing ( 5 ), such that the piston ( 8 ,  12 ) releases the valve openings ( 7 ) when the automatic valve is open, so that air can escape from the inner area of the box through the valve openings ( 7 ) and the openings in the carrier surface ( 1 ) of the box.    
   
   
       2 . The bearing according to patent  claim 1 , characterized in that the movable element is a differential piston.  
   
   
       3 . The bearing according to patent  claim 2  characterized in that the differential piston consists of a large piston ( 12 ) and of a small piston ( 13 ), whereby the large piston ( 12 ) is pressed against the opening in the carrier surface ( 1 ) of the box by the air in the inner area of the box and the small piston is pressed against the opening in the carrier surface ( 1 ) of the box by the spring ( 15 ) and the air in the inner area of the box.  
   
   
       4 . The bearing according to one of patent  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the box of the bearing is embodied by hollow modules, the adjoining side surfaces of which allow a free movement of the air in the inner area, whereby the valves within the modules are arranged in such a way that they are mechanically connected to the carrier surface ( 1 ) of the box, and that the lower part of the valves is mechanically connected to the bottom of the box.  
   
   
       5 . The bearing according to patent  claim 4 , characterized in that the bearing is embodied in the form of a conveying route with predetermined construction for the movement of platforms on an air cushion for transporting people and loads, whereby the box is embodied by hollow modules or in the form of a scaffolding, which is covered with a soft air-impermeable material, for example an industrial fabric or a polymer foil.  
   
   
       6 . The bearing according to patent  claim 4 , characterized in that the air nozzles ( 11 ) for the start of the platforms ( 6 ) are arranged at defined locations in the carrier surface ( 1 ).