Importance

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Abstract

This disclosure relates to vibration damping supports and in particular to a suspension unit for a stretcher. The stretcher support unit comprises a rectangular base frame (10) on which is supported, by means of a resilient support mechanism, a stretcher frame or carrier (11). The support mechanism comprises a pair of cantilever arms (20) inclined upwards in opposite directions and each pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base frame (10). The movements of the cantilever arms (20) are controlled by respective gas-liquid suspension units (30), which are mounted between the base frame (10) and an extension arm (28) of each cantilever arm (20). The suspension units comprise, in one embodiment, a gas reservoir (70), a sealed liquid reservoir (71), a flexible diaphragm (72) forming one end of the liquid reservoir and an actuator piston (73). This construction serves to damp the movements of the cantilever arms (20) and hence the stretcher mounted on the carrier (11), and also enable the height of the carrier to be varied between a loading position and a position in which the stretcher rides.

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First Claim