JP2001514146A - Lifting cushion - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A lifting cushion includes an inflatable envelope (64), a first layer (4) and a second layer (6). The envelope (64) includes two rectangular sheets (66 and 68) connected by a plurality of cell structures (72). The sheets (66 and 68) and the cell structure (72) are made of polyaramid cord. Each of the cell structures (72) consists of two opposing half-cell members (74 and 76) that generally exhibit a U-shape. The two half cell members (74 and 76) of each cell structure pass through adjacent slits (78) in the sheets (66 and 68) and the arms (80 and 82) of the two half cell members extend in the direction of each other. Forming a narrow gap (84) therebetween. The first layer (4) wraps the outer package (64), and the second layer (6), which is shifted by 90 degrees with respect to the direction of the first layer (4), is the first layer (4). Wrap. In making the lifting cushion, the envelope (64) and the first and second layers (4 and 6) are heated, compressed and thermally vulcanized so that these components are fixed to one another.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lifting cushion for holding, lifting, or moving an object.

[0002] The lifting cushion of the present invention is used, for example, to rescue a person who has become an underlay on a collapsed wall, girder, concrete slab, or heavy road vehicle.

[0003] These lifting cushions are also used to move iron poles, remove windshields, and pry open doors. Industrial applications include lifting heavy machinery, railway locomotives, pipelines, etc., maintaining pressure applied within mines, and crushing slabs in quarries. It is also used as an element for compression or expansion.

[0004] In operation, a lifting cushion lifts an object by placing it flat under the object to be lifted and then expanding. If one wishes to lift the object higher, the object can be lifted to the desired height by inserting one or more additional lifting cushions, stacking the lifting cushions, and then inflating.

[0005] To maximize the lifting force, the lifting cushion is generally rectangular. The conventional known lifting cushion has a problem that when inflated, the shape of the cushion changes from a flat rectangular shape when not expanded to a shape having a substantially elliptical vertical cross section. Such a change in the shape of the cushion significantly reduces the contact area between the cushion and the object to be lifted, and accordingly, the force of the cushion to lift the object. There is also a significant danger because it is difficult to calculate the force needed to remove the object overlying the underlying person or to remove the object and provide a gap to insert the cribbage. Exists. It will be appreciated that it is extremely difficult to obtain a sufficiently stable force when a plurality of cushions are stacked on a certain cushion due to such a change in the shape of the cushion.

It is an object of the present invention to mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages, and according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable envelope for a lifting cushion. The outer package includes two opposing main members and a plurality of cell structures. The cell structure extends between and through the two main members such that when the envelope expands, the two main members are held in a predetermined state relative to each other. Each cell structure is composed of a generally U-shaped half-cell member. The ends of the half cell member are in contact with the outer surface of the main member so as to face each other.

When the outer package is completely expanded, the length of the central portion of the half-cell member determines a predetermined relative positional relationship between the two main members of the outer package and the distance between the main members.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the central portion of the half cell member is 100 mm
However, the present invention is not limited to a particular size cell structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two main members and the half cell member may be made of a polyaramid material such as a polyaramid cord. Also, both sides of this member may be coated with untreated neoprene.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a lifting cushion comprises the inflatable envelope described above and a first layer covering the envelope.

The first layer extends in a first direction and folds around the envelope to form a fold.

[0012] The invention includes a second layer extending in a second direction. This second layer comprises the first layer
Folded around the layer to form a folded portion. The folded portion of the second layer is on the side opposite to the folded portion of the first layer across the lifting cushion. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second directions are at an angle shifted from each other by 90 degrees.

In structures where the envelope is rectangular, the first and second directions of the layers may extend parallel to the first and second sides of the rectangular envelope.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the first layer comprises two sheets placed on each of the corresponding main members of the envelope, along the side of the envelope. Collapsed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described using preferred examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the drawings, the conventionally proposed lifting cushion comprises an inflatable outer package 2, a first layer 4 and a second layer 6. Lifting cushions are produced by pressing using thermal vulcanization, and the material of the components of the cushion is not vulcanized before it is thermally vulcanized.

On the other hand, the lifting cushion may be manually assembled before heat vulcanization.

The outer package 2 includes two rectangular sheets 8 and 10 of a polyaramid woven fabric or a polyaramid cord superimposed on a steel tire cord. Sheets 8 and 10 are connected by a number of adjacent polyaramid filaments 12. The length of these filaments will be the maximum distance between sheets 8 and 10. In the embodiment shown, the multiple filaments are all of equal length, and when the envelope 2 is fully expanded, the sheets 8 and 10 are parallel to each other. However, if different filaments having different lengths are used, the sheets 8 and 10 will be in an inclined position when the envelope 2 is fully expanded. The filament 12 may be of any length as long as the desired condition and spacing of the sheets 8 and 10 is achieved.

The outer surfaces of the envelope sheets 8 and 10 are coated with an air-retaining rubber compound, such as neoprene, so that the envelope 2 can be separated from other components of the lifting cushion.
Is vulcanized. This coating is spread on the sheets 8 and 10 by rollers.

The air valve of the outer package 2 includes a rubber nipple 14 mounted on a nozzle 16 and a metal fitting 18 located inside the nozzle 16.

The outer surfaces of the envelope sheets 8 and 10 are coated with an air-retaining rubber compound, such as neoprene, so that the envelope 2 can be separated from other components of the lifting cushion.
Is vulcanized. This coating is spread on the sheets 8 and 10 by rollers.

The first layer 4 consists of a rectangular sheet 20 of polyamide coated on both the upper and lower surfaces with a layer of neoprene. This sheet 20 has the same width 24 as the width 25 of the outer package 2. The seat 20 is of a length covering the periphery of the outer package 2 and having seat edges 26 that overlap one another at the center of the lifting cushion. Sheet 20 is reinforced along direction 23.

The second layer 6 is made of a rectangular sheet 28 made of the same material as the first sheet 20.
Sheet 28 is coated with neoprene, similar to sheet 20. Sheet 28
The direction and size of the sheet 20 are rotated by 90 degrees. The sheet 28 has the same width 29 as the length 31 of the outer package 2. The seat 28 covers the periphery of the first layer 4 and is of a length having edges 32 overlapping each other at the center of the lifting cushion. The sheet 28 is reinforced along a direction 33 perpendicular to the reinforced direction 23 of the sheet 20.

During the manufacturing process, the first layer 4 and the second layer 6 are carefully pressed by rollers so that no air is trapped between the two layers. Any entrapment of air between the layers will cause undesired separation of the cushion components due to the movement of air when inflating and deflating the lifting cushion.

The outer package 2 is placed at the center of the first sheet 20. The two outer parts of the sheet 20 are folded on the envelope 2 so that the two sheet edges 26 overlap one another. The rubber nipple 14 of the air valve is inserted into one corner of the outer package 2. At this time, the attached nozzle 16 extends from the outer package 2.

The sheet 20, the outer package 2, and the nipple 14 are heated, compressed by a platen, and then thermally vulcanized so that these components are fixed to each other. The outer package 2 to which the sheet 20 is attached is placed at the center of the second sheet 28 in an expanded state, which is positioned so as to be shifted by 90 degrees with respect to the first sheet 20. The two outer portions of the seat 28 are folded on the first seat and the two seat edges 32 overlap at a position opposite the edge 26 of the first seat 20 with the lifting cushion therebetween. The enhanced direction 33 of the sheet 28 is perpendicular to the enhanced direction 23 of the first sheet 20.

The folded sheet 28 is heated, compressed by a platen, and then vulcanized, and the sheet 28 is fixed to the sheet 20 and the outer package 2. Sheets 20 and 28 are folded on a suitable template, preferably made from a metal plate.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show the components of the lifting cushion of one unit. The scope of the present invention includes a lifting cushion having two or more units. 5 and 6 show a two unit lifting cushion. The two unit lifting cushion includes two units 34 and 36, as previously described with reference to FIGS. This dual unit lifting cushion includes a central hinge strip 38 that extends into the gap 40 between the two units 34 and 36. The hinge strip 38 is made of a polyaramid sheet coated on both sides with neoprene and folded at the center to form a V-shaped cross section. Each arm of the V-shape is vulcanized to the seats 20 and 28 adjacent to and facing the upper cushion unit 34 and the lower cushion unit 36 that form the upper and lower surfaces of the gap 40. The two unit assembly requires only one air valve in one unit. Gap 40 between two units
A coaxial central opening is provided in the envelope sheets 20 and 28 of the first and second layers 4 and 6 adjacent to each other to allow air to enter these two units from the air valve.

The lifting cushions of three or more units are assembled in the same way by connecting all adjacent units with hinge strips, providing a coaxial central opening between adjacent units.

The lifting cushion of the present invention may be of any suitable size. Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, the following dimensions will be used:

The envelope 2 sheets 8 and 10 each have a length and a width of 510 mm each, and the filaments 12 and 10
Is 100 mm in length.

The first layer 4 has a length and a width of 610 mm each in a folded state,
In an expanded state, the length is 1220 mm and the width is 610 mm. The length of the overlapping ends is increased by 50 mm.

The second layer 6 has a length and a width of 610 mm each in a folded state,
In an expanded state, the length is 1220 mm and the width is 610 mm. The length of the overlapping ends includes an additional 50 mm length.

In one embodiment of the dual unit lifting cushion of the present invention, each unit has the dimensions described above. Said first and second layers 4 and 6
Is larger by 100 mm than the outer envelope sheets 8 and 10 in consideration of the length of the filament. When the lifting cushion expands, the filament 1
In view of the complete extension of 2, the dimensions of the faces of the first and second layers are length,
Both widths are 510 mm.

When manufacturing a lifting cushion having two or more units, each unit is separately heat vulcanized. Adjacent units and connecting hinge assemblies are then thermally vulcanized together. Alternatively, all units and their connecting hinge strips may be heat vulcanized at once.

The lifting cushion described and illustrated above has an internal operating pressure of 800K when the filament 12 is fully extended and the usable length is 100 mm.
pa. This allows for two lifting cushions
It can lift and support objects weighing 0714 kg.

In the present embodiment, the material of the filament 12 is polyaramid, but the lifting cushion included in the scope of the present invention is not limited as long as it is a suitable material, for example, a mixture of polyaramid and nylon. May have a suitable filament. The advantage of polyaramid is that it can maintain a higher operating pressure than other materials.

The density of the filaments 12 in the embodiment described and illustrated ranges from 230 to 40000 filaments per square meter.

An important feature of the filament 12 is to maintain the envelope sheets 8 and 10 in a predetermined required relative arrangement or gap. In the most common relative arrangement, the sheets 8 and 10 are parallel to each other, but it will be appreciated that the invention is not so limited.

FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate the components of one lifting cushion.
In the lifting cushion of FIGS. 1 to 4, the first layer 4 is formed of one first rectangular sheet 20, and the second layer 6 is formed of one second rectangular sheet 28. In another embodiment of the present invention, the second layer 6 is not used, and two half sheets are used instead of one sheet 20 of the first layer 4 as shown in FIG. ing.

FIG. 7 shows a lifting cushion of another unit of the present invention. This lifting cushion includes the inflatable envelope 2 shown in FIG. 1 described above. The dimension L of the envelope 2 is referred to herein as length, and the width is a dimension perpendicular to the length.

The first layer 42 of the lifting cushion comprises upper and lower half sheets 4
4 and 46. The sheets 44 and 46 are made of polyaramid, and the upper and lower surfaces are covered with neoprene. Each of these sheets 44, 46 is rectangular and identical to the envelope sheets 8 and 10. However, since the half sheets 44 and 46 are both longer and wider than the sheets 8 and 10, these sheets can cover the sides of the envelope 2. For example, if the envelope 2 is fully expanded and the envelope sheets 8 and 10 are placed 100 mm apart, the length and width of each of the upper and lower half sheets 44 and 46 will be equal to the envelope sheet 8 and It is 100 mm larger than the length and width of 10. For example, assuming that the length and width of the envelope sheets 8 and 10 are 510 mm, respectively, the length and width of the upper and lower half sheets 44 and 46 are 610 mm, respectively.

The upper and lower half sheets 44 and 46 are carefully pressed during the manufacturing process so that no air enters between the two layers.

The outer package 2 is placed at the center of the lower half sheet 46, and the outer package 2 and the half sheet 4
6 is heated, compressed by a platen, and thermally vulcanized to secure these components together. The upper half sheet 44 is then thermally vulcanized and placed in the center of the upper envelope sheet 8. The envelope 2 and the upper half-sheet 44 are then heated, compressed by a platen and thermally vulcanized to secure these components together. Strip 50 consists of a polyaramid sheet coated on both sides with neoprene. The strip 50 is folded from the center and has a V-shaped cross section. When folded, the V-shaped arms extend inward toward the envelope filament 12. The strip 50 completely covers the side of the envelope 2 and the inside of the V-shaped arm is covered with mellamex.

The upper and lower half sheets 44 and 46 are folded on the sides of the outer package, and the side sheets 52 and 54 extend so as to cover the outer package 2. A narrow central gap 56 is formed between the inner edges of the side sheets 52 and 54 that are connected to the outer surface of the V-shaped strip 50, respectively. The rubber nipple 14 of the air valve is inserted into one corner of the outer package 2. At this time, the mounted nozzle 16 extends from the outer package 2.

The assembly is then heat vulcanized to secure the side sheets 52 and 54 to each arm of the V-shaped strip 50. Melamex coating, V-shaped strip 5
0 prevents vulcanization to permanently shielded locations. When the lifting cushion expands, the V-shaped strip 50 and the side seats 52 and 54 become
As shown in FIG. 7, it is configured substantially linearly. As the lifting cushion contracts, the V-shaped strip 50 closes inward. As a result, the side sheets 52 and 54 have a V-shape, and the apex of the V-shape extends along a substantially central plane of the outer package 2.

FIG. 7 shows components of a lifting cushion of another unit. The scope of the present invention includes a lifting cushion having two or more units as described herein and shown in FIG. Such a lifting cushion having two or more units is configured as described above and shown in FIGS.

The inflatable envelope 64 of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 includes rectangular sheets 66 and 68 of polyaramid cord 70. Sheets 66 and 68 are connected by a plurality of cell structures 72. The plurality of cell structures 72 extend from end to end of the outer package 64,
It extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. The ends of sheets 66 and 68 that are orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 8 extend approximately 60 mm from each end of cell structure 72.

Each cell structure 72 has two opposing substantially U-shaped half-cell members 7
4 and 76. Each half cell member is made of a polyaramid cord. The inner and outer surfaces of the half-cell member and the sheets 66 and 68 are coated with an air-retaining rubber compound such as neoprene.

The coating is spread by rollers over half-cell materials 74 and 76 so that half-sheet members 74 and 76 are thermally vulcanized with respect to other components of the lifting cushion.

The slit 78 extends through the sheets 66 and 68 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. These slits 78 are the same length as the half cell members 74 and 76,
It is located symmetrically in the sheets 66 and 68. Accordingly, the ends of these slits 78 are located 60 mm away from the ends of the adjacent sheets 66 and 68.

As shown in FIG. 8, the two half cell members 74 and 76 of each cell structure 72 pass through adjacent slits 78 in sheets 66 and 68. Thus, the end arms 80 and 82 of the two half-cell members extend toward each other, creating a narrow gap 84 therebetween. Untreated rubber or neoprene strips of the entire cell width are placed under sheet 66 and above sheet 68 in each cell. These strips fill the corner gaps of each cell 72. Strips made of melamine or other suitable barrier member across the width of the cell may be untreated rubber or sheet 68
Place on top of neoprene strip. With these strips, sheets 66 and 68 do not stick to each other while the assembly is heat vulcanized.

The envelope of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 can be used in place of the envelope 2 in making any of the lifting cushions described herein and shown in FIGS. it can. When the assembly is heat-vulcanized to produce a finished lifting cushion, the slits 78 are closed and the ends of the half-cell members of each cell structure 72 because the half-cell members 74 and 76 and the sheets 66 and 68 are of the same material. The gap 84 is closed because the arm portions 80 and 82 are joined.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the polyaramid cord structure of the half cell members 74 and 76 viewed from the vertical and horizontal directions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outer package of a conventional lifting cushion.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first and second layers of the cushion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a nipple of an air valve.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a metal fitting of the nipple of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the dual unit lifting cushion before folding the second layer.

FIG. 6 shows a 90 ° offset from the cushion of FIG. 5 when the second layer is folded;
It is a side view of the lifting cushion of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view of another conventionally proposed lifting cushion.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an outer package for a lifting cushion according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram partially showing FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram partially showing FIG. 8;

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] February 29, 2000 (2000.2.29)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0005] To maximize the lifting force, the lifting cushion is generally rectangular. The conventional known lifting cushion has a problem that when inflated, the shape of the cushion changes from a flat rectangular shape when not expanded to a shape having a substantially elliptical vertical cross section. Such a change in the shape of the cushion significantly reduces the contact area between the cushion and the object to be lifted, and accordingly, the force of the cushion to lift the object. There is also a significant danger because it is difficult to calculate the force needed to remove the object overlying the underlying person or to remove the object and provide a gap to insert the cribbage. Exists. It will be appreciated that it is extremely difficult to obtain a sufficiently stable force when a plurality of cushions are stacked on a certain cushion due to such a change in the shape of the cushion. WO94 / 26649 (D1) discloses a Rifutin grayed cushion with envelope comprising two rectangular sheets which are connected by a plurality of cell structures extending over the entire length of the outer cover material. These sheets consist of a polyaramid woven fabric or a polyaramid cord superimposed on the cord of a steel tire. Cross-section of each cell structure has become a rectangle, that is made of polyaramide or polyester sheet material. The ends of the cell sheet material overlap at the top of each cell. An important feature of this structure is the cell structure, a fully Osama be placed so that in the gap formed by the envelope material sheet. DE8506736 (D2) comprises a plurality of individual chambers erected set seen to form a lifting cushion. Each chamber has an upper and a lower consisting of coated thread fabric is made of void is rectangular and is connected by Supeshi ring thread. Each chamber is closed me by the four side strip, it will have a high air-tightness. Individual chambers are continued respectively air contact. In D2, the panel of the top and bottom are connected only by between spacing thread 2. Therefore, the lifting cushions of D1 and D2 have the above-mentioned disadvantages. That is, when the cushion is inflated, the unexpanded when Kino rectangle changes shape cross section is substantially elliptical. Further, the D1 lifting cushion can be operated at the required standard high pressure .

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP , KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZW

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An inflatable outer package for a lifting cushion comprising two opposed main members and a plurality of cell structures, wherein the two main members of the outer package are in a predetermined state when the outer package is inflated. State (atti
In the outer package, wherein the plurality of cell structures extend between and through the two main members so that the cell structures are maintained in a tude), each of the cell structures has two opposing substantially An outer package for a lifting cushion, comprising a U-shaped half-cell member, wherein opposite ends of the two half-cell members are connected to an outer surface of the main member. 2. The inflatable envelope of claim 1, wherein a central portion of the half cell member comprises:
An inflatable envelope characterized by being all approximately the same length. 3. The inflatable envelope of claim 2, wherein said central portion is about 100 mm long. 4. The inflatable outer package according to claim 1, wherein said two main members are made of a polyaramid material. 5. The inflatable outer package according to claim 4, wherein the polyaramid material is a polyaramid cord. 6. The inflatable outer package according to claim 1, wherein the half cell member is made of the polyaramid material. 7. The inflatable outer package according to claim 6, wherein the polyaramid material is the polyaramid cord. 8. The inflatable outer package according to claim 1, wherein both sides of the half cell member are coated with untreated neoprene. 9. The inflatable outer package according to claim 1, wherein both sides of the main member are coated with the untreated neoprene. 10. The lifting cushion according to claim 1, wherein the first layer extends around the outer package. 11. The lifting cushion according to claim 10, wherein the first layer extends in a first direction and is folded around the envelope to have a folded portion. Lifting cushion. 12. The lifting cushion according to claim 10, further comprising a second layer extending around the first layer. 13. The lifting cushion according to claim 12, wherein the second layer extends in a second direction and is folded around the first layer to have a folded portion. Lifting cushion which is the feature. 14. The lifting cushion according to claim 13, wherein the folded portion of the second layer is on the opposite side of the folded portion of the first layer across the lifting cushion. . 15. The lifting cushion according to claim 13, wherein the first and second directions are offset from each other by approximately 90 degrees. 16. The lifting cushion according to claim 15, wherein the outer package is rectangular.
The first and second directions of the two layers are the first and second directions of the envelope.
A lifting cushion characterized by being parallel to a side surface of the lifting cushion. 17. The lifting cushion of claim 10, wherein the first layer comprises two halves each mounted on a corresponding one of the main members of the outer package, and the first layer is folded on a side surface of the outer package. A lifting cushion characterized by being lifted. 18. A lifting cushion substantially as described herein and shown in the drawings.