Support for supporting a structure on a surface
AssigneeFlat Pty Ltd
InventorsAntony Lawrence Pike, Duncan B. Gilmore, Raymond L. Hope
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support for supporting a structure on a surface, comprising at least one support element, each support element comprising a piston, a cylinder in which the piston is moveable, and a brake for maintaining the piston in a position that is stable relative to the cylinder, wherein the piston and the cylinder are arranged so that a loading associated with the structure effects an adjustment of the support element, and wherein an increase in hydraulic pressure within the cylinder, effected by the loading associated with the structure, activates the brake.
Claims32
A support for supporting a structure on a surface, the support comprising at least one support element, the or each support element comprising:
- a piston,
- a cylinder in which the piston is moveable, and
- a brake which is adapted to engage the piston in a position that is stable relative to the cylinder,
- wherein the piston and the cylinder are arranged so that a loading associated with the structure effects an adjustment of the support element,
- and wherein an increase in hydraulic pressure within the cylinder, effected by the loading associated with the structure, activates the brake.
A braking system for a piston and cylinder assembly, the braking system comprising a brake adapted to be actuated by an increase in fluid pressure within the cylinder, wherein the piston has a cavity arranged so that in use fluid can penetrate from an inlet/outlet into the cylinder and into the cavity and wherein at least one side portion of the piston has at least one recess that is linked to the cavity, and wherein a brake-pad or brake-cylinder is positioned in the or each recess of the piston and arranged so that if fluid penetrates into the cavity the or each brake-pad or brake-cylinder is in use moved towards an interior wall of the cylinder.
A support for supporting a structure on a surface, the support comprising at least one support element, the or each support element comprising:
- a piston,
- a cylinder in which the piston is moveable, and
- a brake for maintaining the piston in a position that is stable relative to the cylinder,
- wherein the piston and the cylinder are arranged so that a loading associated with the structure effects an adjustment of the support element,
- and wherein the loading associated with the structure activates the brake if the moveability of a surface contact portion of the support element is reduced below a threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.