Patent ID: 6241214
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B66F,E01D

Abstract:
A structure supporting apparatus which comprises a first pressure-bearing member having a first sliding surface of a slant surface, a second pressure-bearing member laid on the first pressure-bearing member and having a second sliding surface of a slant surface slidably engaged with the first sliding surface, and a driving means for moving at least one of the first pressure-bearing member and the second pressure-bearing member and is so structured that the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface can be slid over each other by drive of said driving means, while the first pressure-bearing member and the second pressure-bearing member are moved relative to each other, whereby the thickness of the first pressure-bearing member and the second pressure-bearing member in an overlaying direction thereof can be varied, characterized in:that said driving means includes an input shaft to which power from a power source is input, an output shaft mounted on said at least one of the first pressure-bearing member and the second pressure-bearing member, said input shaft and said output shaft being aligned on the same axis, and a gear transmission mechanism that receives the power input from said input shaft to transmit it to said output shaft at a predetermined rotational ratio;that said gear transmission mechanism includes an input-side gear provided on said input shaft, an output-side gear provided on said output shaft, and intermediate gear elements including intermediate gears engageable with at least said input-side gear and said output-side gear; andthat said intermediate gear elements are provided between said input-side gear and said output-side gear and arranged in parallel around the axis on which said input shaft and said output shaft are aligned, and said intermediate gear elements are each composed of a first intermediate gear engageable with said input-side gear and a second intermediate gear engageable with said output-side gear, and said first intermediate gear and said second intermediate gear are aligned on the same axis in such a manner as to be non-rotatable thereto.