(19)
(11) EP 1 764 319 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
21.03.2007 Bulletin 2007/12

(21) Application number: 06460031.5

(22) Date of filing: 12.09.2006
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B65G 51/03(2006.01)
E01B 25/10(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(30) Priority: 16.09.2005 PL 37710505

(71) Applicant: Tabaszewska, Maria
05-090 Raszyn-Rybie (PL)

(72) Inventor:
  • Tabaszewska, Maria
    05-090 Raszyn-Rybie (PL)

   


(54) Air track


(57) The subject of the invention is an air track of high load capacity comprised of a double aliminium pipe (1) placed above a long rigid support (2) and of a glider (4) fit with an element (5) of considerable mass if compared to the glider's mass. The double pipe (1) of the track is pressed down to the support (2) through the medium of springs (3).







Description

Field of technology



[0001] The subject of the invention is the air track, i.e. a device for lifting the bodies of known weights over the ground through the medium of compressed air.

[0002] The subject of the invention is intended to lift and transport the bodies of considerable weight with very low resistance to motion.

[0003] The subject of the invention may be used wherever a required information might be an observation of motion of the bodies, not interfered by friction to the ground.

Prior art



[0004] The air tracks comprised of the pipe with aeration vents exhausting jets of compressed air lifting a glider are known. The pipes have various cross-sections: round, square, triangular, or rectangular. The glider's shape fits that of the pipe.

[0005] To prevent the pipes from dipping with their own weight and the glider's weight, these are fastened to the rigid, long metallic element.

[0006] Known air tracks are inconvenient in use because due to the difference in temperarures of the air supplied to the pipe and the air surrounding the stiffening support, the whole appliance bends which causes unintended movements of the gliders hovering over the track.

[0007] In known air tracks a thickness of the air-cushion below whole surface of the glider is uniform and has to be considerable to diminish an influence of the air viscosity on slowing-down the glider's movement.

[0008] An inconvenience in use of known air tracks consists in that the weights hovering on the air-cushion are low because a significant part of the air escapes from below of the glider through wide gaps.

[0009] In known air tracks the forces accelerating the gliders (particularly in collisions of the gliders) are applied to the point above the glider's mass centre.

[0010] An inconvenience in use of known air tracks consists in that the glider accelerated with the force applied to the point above its mass tilts over and grinds against the track.

[0011] An inconvenience in use of known air tracks consists in that the gliders lifted on the air-cushion close to the longitudinal axis reel and grind against the track.

Substance of the invention



[0012] The substance of the invention which is the air track consisting of the double aliminium pipe with rectangular cross-section, long rigid support and the glider, is an application of the springs that press down the track pipe to the support, which enables the pipe to move with regard to the support.

[0013] In the solution according to the invention the height of lateral gaps formed by the glider and the track pipe and filled with compressed air is less than 0.25 of the track width, and the width of each of lateral gaps filled with compressed air and formed by the glider and the track pipe is less than 0.2 mm.

[0014] In the solution according to the invention the glider is fit with the element of considerable mass if compared to the glider's mass and placed so that the glider's mass centre is above the track's surface.

[0015] In the solution according to the invention the holes in the top surface of the pipe are placed close to the track pipe edges, and the pipe central part which is 70% of the track pipe total top surface has no holes, and the double track pipe and support are made from double aliminium pipe of rectangular cross-section which is used for measuring staff with outer width of 90.5 mm and thickness of 18 mm.

Virtues of the invention



[0016] A virtue of the solution according to the invention which is the air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, long rigid support and the glider is in that because of a possibility for the track pipe to move above the support, the track pipe reflects the support's shape and does not bend while influenced by a difference in temperatures of the air conducted from a compressor toward the track pipe and that of the air surrounding the support.

[0017] A virtue of the solution according to the invention which is the air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, long rigid support and the glider is in that the lateral gaps filled with compressed air and formed by the track pipe and the glider, because of that they have very low width, less than 0.2 mm each, they prevent the air from escaping from beneath the glider, which makes possible to burden the glider with additional weight, and slight height of lateral gaps, lesser than 0.25 of the track width, does not increase meaningfully the resistance to motion.

[0018] A virtue of the solution according to the invention which is the air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, long rigid support and the glider is in that the air which gets out of the holes situated close to the track pipe edges, far from the track longitudinal axis, lifts the glider and additionally prevents it from reeling and grinding against the track pipe.

[0019] A virtue of the solution according to the invention which is the air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, long rigid support and the glider is in advantageous application of easily accessible, precisely manufactured double aluminium pipes of rectangular shape which are used for measuring staff.

Example of accomplishment of the invention



[0020] The subject of the invention is represented in the example of accomplishment on the drawing where fig. 1 shows the lateral view of the air track, fig. 2 shows the cross-section of the air track without the glider, and fig. 3 shows the cross-section of the air track.

[0021] Following the labels on the drawing the air track consists of the double aluminium pipe (1) of rectangular cross-section, long rigid support (2) and the glider (4) fit with the element (5) of considerable mass if compared to the glider's (4) mass and placed so that the glider's (4) mass centre is above the track's (1) surface.

[0022] The springs (3) press down the track pipe (1) to the support (2). Lateral gaps filled with compressed air and formed by the glider (4) and the track pipe (1) are of height lesser than 0.25 of the track pipe (1) width, and the width of each of lateral gaps formed by the glider (4) and the track pipe (1) is less than 0.2 mm. The holes in the top surface of the pipe (1) are placed close to the edges of the track pipe (1), and central part of the pipe (1) which is 70% of the track pipe (1) total top surface has no holes.

[0023] The double track pipe (1) and the support (2) are advantageously made from double aliminium pipe of rectangular cross-section which is used for measuring staff with outer width of 90.5 mm and thickness of 18 mm.


Claims

1. The air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, the support and the glider characterised in that the track pipe (1) is pressed down through the medium of the springs (3) to the support (2) which enables it to move with regard to the support (2).
 
2. The air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, the support and the glider characterised in that the lateral gaps filled with compressed air and formed by the glider (4) and the track pipe (1) are of height lesser than 0.25 of the track pipe (1) width.
 
3. The air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, the support and the glider characterised in that the lateral gaps filled with compressed air and formed by the glider (4) and the track pipe (1) are of width lesser than 0.2 mm.
 
4. The air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, the support and the glider characterised in that the glider (4) is fit with the element (5) of considerable mass if compared to the glider's (4) mass and placed so that the glider's (4) mass centre is above the surface of the track (1).
 
5. The air track consisting of the double aluminium pipe of rectangular cross-section, the support and the glider characterised in that the orifices in the top surface of the pipe (1) are placed close to the edges of the track pipe (1) and central part of the pipe (1) which is 70% of the track pipe (1) total top surface has no orifices.
 
6. The air track characterised in that the double track pipe (1) and the support (2) are advantageously made from double aliminium pipe of rectangular cross-section which is used for measuring staff with outer width of 90.5 mm and a thickness of 18 mm.
 




Drawing










Search report