Steven D Tracy

US Patent:

44614551, Jul 24, 1984

Filed:

Sep 30, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/307177

Inventors:

Charles J. Mills - Bellevue WA
Steven E. Tracy - Seattle WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA
Aero-Go, Inc.

International Classification:

B60P 104

US Classification:

254 3R

Abstract:

A lifting and positioning apparatus particularly suited for use in the installation of wing-mounted airplane engines includes superposed upper and lower load-bearing support platforms that are connected to one another by means of a jack mechanism operable to raise and lower the upper platform while supported by the lower platform. The lower platform includes and is movably supportable on fluid cushion bearings. The upper platform supports a plurality of resilient elastomeric elevator bellows that are positioned and adapted to receive and support a heavy object, such as an aircraft engine, while cushioned against application of excessive lifting force. The bellows are independently inflatable and deflatable to effect raising and lowering of selected portions of the aircraft engine and thereby rotate the engine to desired angular orientations. Alternatively, the bellows may be actuated conjointly to effect uniform vertical raising or lowering of the aircraft engine. In operation, the combination of the fluid cushion bearings supporting the lower platform and the elevator bellows on the upper platform enables rotation of the aircraft engine with three degrees of freedom so as to obtain any desired angular orientation for installation.