GB1483916A - Transportation system employing slide bearings for transportation of heavy objects - Google Patents

Abstract

1483916 Sliding systems ASEA AB 12 Dec 1974 [13 Dec 1973] 53731/74 Heading B7L A transportation system for transporting an object 15 along a slide path 2 of varying inclination employs at least two slide bearings 4 spaced apart along the path 2 and each including a substantially planar layer of plastics material 10, Fig. 5, in sliding contact with the path 2, the object 15 being borne by the bearings 4 in such a way that each slide layer 10 can turn relative to the object 15, about a real or imagined horizontal axis perpendicular to the path direction, during transportation. Each slide bearing 4 includes an inverted U-shaped plate accommodating the slide layer 10 and is equipped with bearing means to provide the pivotal movement of the bearing relative to the object 15. Such bearing means may be on the upper surface of the U-shaped plate as at 16, Fig. 2, and as formed by interconnected fluid-filled cushions 22, Fig. 6, or may be within the U-shaped plate such as a cushion 21 of elastic material, Fig. 5. The slide bearings of Fig. 2 may be provided in pairs, the bearings 4 of each pair being spaced apart along the path 2 and connected to each end of a balance arm (17), Fig. 3 (not shown), by their bearing means 16, the arm (17) pivotally supporting an end of the object 15 by means of further bearing means (18). The pairs of bearings 4 thus form bogies which may themselves be mounted in pairs on further balance arms (19), Fig. 4 (not shown).