[SML] Extremely low profile air caster?

[jdunfee12 at yahoo.com]

I actually found a comparable product to what I am trying to do.  But, it is no longer on the market.  It is a mechanics creeper.  Rather than wheels, it uses air to glide across the floor.  I have found a few videos of it, but all have music playing while it is in operation.  So, I wonder if they are covering up rude noises?

The Hover Creeperhttps://newatlas.com/go/5933/
here is a video, that gives you a brief glimpse of the underside at 2:10, 2:40 and 3:18.https://youtu.be/U4CSH6vo5mA
It definitely uses the inflatable membrane approach, and uses two of them. Normal commercial air casters always say you must use at least 3 air casters.   I think this is because otherwise you are in a situation like you are trying to balance on top of a ball.   A hovercraft vehicle may be able to get away with the single membrane, because it is not a single edge along the ground. Rather, it has some thickness around the perimeter.  So, the inflated membrane is applying pressure along the perimeter. The air escaping underneath it keeps it from making contact.  An uneven load above does not cause additional loading on the ground, because the air maintains the same pressure all around.

They used two circular membranes.  The square commercial air casters also use a circular membrane, even though it is being mounted to a square plate.  Yet, vehicles do not use a circular membrane. Rather, they use a slot-shape.  I don't know why this is the case.

-Joe


  
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