Fluid levitated caster integrating external debris scraper

Abstract

An assembly "(42)" including a fluid levitated caster and a debris scraper "(31)" device positioned external to a levitation membrane "(11)". Assembly "(42)" levitates heavy loads upon a near frictionless pressurized fluid, and also sweeps aside potentially membrane destructive debris "(25)" from a floor "(27)" in the path of movement. The external debris scraper "(31)" function does not noticeably increase movement friction, and does not require increased power air flow or consumption.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of Invention[0002] This invention applies to the industry concerned with guidance and propulsion of heavy loads from place to place about a floor in an industry where loads levitate upon a pressurized fluid caster during transport. More particularly, this invention integrates a fluid levitated caster with an external debris scraper.[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art[0004] In the fluid caster industry of my invention, a load levitates near frictionless upon multiple fluid casters attached beneath the load. It often takes surprisingly low forces to move the levitated load. On flat floors, relatively smaller loads move by an operator pushing or pulling the load by hand. The low force required to move the levitated load is a major advantage for utilizing fluid caster methodology to move heavy loads.[0005] Fluid caster movement upon floors covered with debris such as nails, sand, screws, nuts, metal chips can be problematic. While inflated, the fluid caster levitation mem...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] A cited unpatented fluid levitated caster product is marketed which includes an internal debris scraper ring. The product utilizes the scraper ring both as a debris sweeper and as the levitation membrane. The scraper ring sweeps aside debris objects well, but is not very effective as a levitation membrane. For effective and practical levitation, the levitation membrane should be very compliant to conform to floor imperfections such as pits, cracks, flatness undulations etc. Lack of compliance of the levitation membrane results in poor air sealing with the local floor surface. Poor air sealing can lose the advantage of near frictionless movement force. It's use is like moving levitated loads across the floor with "brakes on"! Even more importantly, the poor air sealing between the floor and the scraper ring necessitates larger air flows and consumption in order that the load stay levitated. With identical air supply flow rates and levitated loads, this fluid caster with internal scraper ring as compared to typical fluid casters without a scraper ring requires a near perfect floor to perform similarly. With real life floor conditions and imperfections, fluid casters without scraper ring can move loads with far less friction, and with far less air consumption.

[0008] My invention has the advantage over the above cited fluid caster with internal scraper ring in that it retains the near-frictionless fluid caster advantage, and requires far less air consumption and flow rate.

[0012] My invention is not appreciably larger in physical size, in weight, nor in cost than that of prior art fluid casters alone. Therefore cost advantages can be realized considering minimizing or eliminating operator floor sweeping and floor inspection labor costs.

Problems solved by technology

It often takes surprisingly low forces to move the levitated load.

Fluid caster movement upon floors covered with debris such as nails, sand, screws, nuts, metal chips can be problematic.

Additionally, if the debris particle is large and sharp, it can cut through the levitation membrane rendering it useless.

Numerous inventors have patented various configurations of fluid levitated casters from about the 1960's and on However, none of these patents mention the inclusion of a scraper ring which sweeps aside potentially caster damaging floor surface debris.

Such floor debris as sharp metal chips can cut through levitation membranes rendering them useless.

The scraper ring sweeps aside debris objects well, but is not very effective as a levitation membrane.

Lack of compliance of the levitation membrane results in poor air sealing with the local floor surface.

Poor air sealing can lose the advantage of near frictionless movement force.

Even more importantly, the poor air sealing between the floor and the scraper ring necessitates larger air flows and consumption in order that the load stay levitated.

Images