Automatic contour-conforming support pallet
AssigneeQuality Research Engineering Corporation
InventorsDario J. Fadiga, Reynaldo C. T. Soderman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pallet for providing total and positive support for an object which is being subjected to a force capable of distorting or destroying it if unsupported, the support pallet automatically conforming to the contour of the object. The pallet comprises a plurality of elongate pistons; means for supporting the pistons in parallel, spaced-apart relationship for independent axial movement relative to the support means; and means for applying an equal force to each piston to urge all of the pistons in the same direction, into contact with the object.
Claims6
An automatic contour-conforming pallet for supporting an object comprising:
- a plurality of elongate pistons;
- first and second support plates, each having a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart holes therein, one hole for each of said pistons, the respective holes in said support plates being aligned, said support plates supporting said pistons in parallel, spaced-apart relationship for independent axial movement relative thereto, the diameter of each of said holes in said support plates being slightly greater than the diameter of each of said pistons;
- a sealing member positioned between said first and second support plates, said sealing member consisting of a thin sheet of flexible sealing material having a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart holes therein, aligned with said holes in said first and second support plates, the diameter of each of said holes in said sealing member being slightly less than the diameter of each of said pistons to form a fluid-tight seal between said sealing member and said pistons;
- means defining a chamber on one side of said sealing member, first ends of said piston being movable in said chamber;
- and
- means for conducting fluid under pressure into said chamber, said fluid applying an equal force to said first ends of each of said pistons to urge all of said pistons in the same direction, into contact with said object, and to hold each of said pistons in contact with said object with the same force.
A system for supporting one side of an object which is being subjected to a force on an opposite side thereof from a testing device or other pressure applying means comprising:
- a plurality of elongate pistons;
- means for supporting said pistons in parallel, spaced-apart relationship for independent axial movement relative to said support means, said object being positionable with said one side thereof adjacent first ends of said pistons with said opposite side thereof adjacent said pressure applying means, said supporting means being movable toward said pressure applying means;
- means associated with second ends of said pistons for applying an equal force to each of said pistons to urge all of said pistons in the same direction, relative to said supporting means, until said first ends thereof contact said one side of said object, the total force applied to said pistons by said force applying means being approximately equal to the force applied to said opposite side of said object by said pressure applying means;
- means for sensing contact between said opposite side of said object and said pressure applying means;
- and
- means responsive to said contact sensing means for activating said force applying means when contact is made between said pressure applying means and said object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.