Heavy item manipulating equipment on work table - has lifting plate over diaphragm of liquid-filled chamber and discharge openings around base-plate

摘要

The equipment manipulates a heavy item on a work table, being particularly for use with pieces of marble or granite. A chamber filled with fluid under pressure has a rigid base-plate resting on the table and a flexible lifting diaphragm acting against the item. The base-plate has discharge openings for the fluid at intervals. An upper plate (14) extends over the entire upper surface of the diaphragm (7) so that it alone can lift the item, and studs (17) are provided round its periphery to restrict the distance through which it can be raised. Each fluid discharge opening can have a transverse passage leading to an expanding chamber formed in the side of the base-plate (6) nearest to the table.