Fluid-cushion supporting arrangement for horizontal conveyance

A fluid-cushion supporting arrangement for horizontal conveyance, comprising

• a supporting platform having a center and a marginal portion;
• a flexible angular sealing element arranged under said platform in the region of said marginal portion and formed as a sealing piston, said sealing piston having a substantially horizontal leg which extends toward said center and forms together with said supporting platform a fluid chamber, and a substantially vertical leg which forms together with said supporting platform a control pressure chamber and is vertically adjustably inserted in the latter;
• inlet means for supplying a fluid into said fluid chamber;
• communicating means including a passage communicating said fluid chamber with said control pressure chamber;
• a pressure-regulating element arranged in said passage;
• first sensing means arranged to contact with said substantially horizontal leg of said sealing piston and associated with said inlet means so that said inlet means supplies the fluid into said fluid chamber in dependence upon a height of said substantially horizontal leg of said sealing piston, sensed by said first sensing means;
• and
• second sensing means extending into said control pressure chamber so as to be in contact with said substantially vertical leg of said sealing piston and associated with said pressure-regulating element, so that in dependence upon a position of said second sensing means, which is determined by a pressure in said control pressure chamber and therefore by a height of said sealing piston, said communicating means is opened or closed for flowing of the fluid from said fluid chamber into said control pressure chamber or vice versa, so as to change a pressing force of said sealing piston.