Fluid pressure operated push beam and apparatus comprising one or more of such push beams

A fluid pressure operated push beam, comprising a plurality of similar rigid open-ended tubular sections;

• a plurality of hinge pins articulating said tubular sections to each other in head-to-tail relationship perpendicular to a longitudinal median plane of the push beam;
• a number of plates corresponding to the number of hinge pins, each connected to a respective one of the hinge pins for pivotal movement about the axis thereof, the portions of each plate which are situated on either side of the associated hinge pins being disposed in the respective tubular section which is located on the corresponding side of that hinge pin and having a width smaller than the width of said respective tubular section;
• and inflatable inner arc hose means having a length less than that of the series of tubular sections but larger than the distance between the outermost ones of said hinge pins, said inner arc hose means being disposed within the series of tubular sections in longitudinal direction in the space defined on the same side of said hinge pins and said plates connected thereto, and said inner arc hose means further having closable supply means for directing into said inner arc hose means a pressure fluid operative for inflating said inner arc hose means.