[SML] Hovercraft revolve?

[Joe D]

I have been involved with a production, where we built an revolving platform, 8ft diameter. It was about a 6" step up in height.

This now has me wondering if we could have done it as a hover-craft.  I.e. 1st put down plywood the diameter of your platform, and route some channels for air passage. Then, lay down an air hose to the center.  Lay the top layer on top of that base, and connect them at the center with a pivot connection.

When air is supplied, it will act like an air-hockey puck.  The benefit is that you can make a much lower profile system. 

It may even be possible to put the air system inside the platform itself.  Perhaps by sandwiching 3-layers of 1/4 Ply.  The middle layer has the passage for air created by using a router. Then, holes drilled through to allow the air to flow to the bottom.

However, I am concerned that uneven loading may cause one part to get bogged down.  Though, I suppose as long as the air pressure is supplied to multiple points, it should work.

I think the key is to keep the pressure higher than any local loading at each particular outlet.  So, if I have a 12" grid of holes, I should make sure that my Pounds per Sq Ft of load is less than the PSI of the air.  I would of course, need to make sure my source can keep up with enough air.

One reference I found says a vacuum cleaner can provide around 2.7 PSI [= 370 PSF]. So, that would seem to be plenty.  The noise is, of course an issue, so the blower would have to be located elsewhere, and the air piped in.

Has anyone ever taken this approach to floating a platform with the entire base of the platform acting as a single air-caster?  Any other thoughts about it?

-Joe