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.
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.