Abstract:
A support stand for supporting raised heavy machinery is disclosed. The support frame may include a top support frame including concave sidewalls. Box frames may be stackable intermediate the top support frame and a base. The box frames may be of varying height profiles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to support apparatus, and more particularly, to a heavy machinery support stand. 
         [0002]    Some heavy machinery, for example, aircraft, undergoes periodic maintenance or disassembly requiring that the machinery be raised off the ground. One conventional manner of elevating machinery includes stacking railroad ties so that the machinery can be raised and placed onto the stacks of ties. The railroad ties are stacked manually, typically taking a crew of five or more a week to complete, causing expense and wasted time, as well as an environmental impact when the ties are disposed. Additionally, railroad ties are generally uniform in thickness and generally convex or flat on their top surface potentially causing instability in carrying a machine with rounded bottom surfaces and inflexibility in adjusting the height of the stack. 
         [0003]    As can be seen, there is a need for a support stand that provides quick assembly, stability, and height flexibility in supporting heavy machinery. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, a support stand comprises a base; a plurality of rigid, projecting frame members attached to the base; a support frame disposed over the projecting frame members; and a pair of concave sidewalls disposed on opposite sides of the support frame. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the present invention, a support stand comprises a base; a top support frame disposed over the base, the support frame including two or more concave sidewalls; and one or more stackable box frames disposed intermediate the base and the top support frame. 
         [0006]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a plurality of support stands in use according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a support stand according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the support stand of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary foot support usable by the support stand of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the support stand of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a broken enlarged cross-sectional view of a peg and hole joint taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the plurality of support stands according to the exemplary use shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0015]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a support stand for heavy machinery. In one exemplary application, aspects of the following disclosure may be used to support an idle aircraft. However, it will be understood that aspects of the following disclosure may also be useful to support other heavy machines that need to be propped up for maintenance or disassembly. It may be appreciated that aspects of the following disclosure may provide a sturdy support and a structure that is accommodating to rounded bodies. The present invention may also provide quick assembly and interchangeability between elements that may further provide adjustable height of the support machine above the ground. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , a load  12 , for example, an aircraft is shown supported by a plurality of support stands  10  over a ground surface  14 . The support stands  10  may be positioned under various points of the load  12  to provide stable, balanced distribution of the load  12  over the surface  14 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-3  and  5 , an exemplary embodiment of the support stand  10  is shown. The support stand  10  may include a top support frame  28  one or more box frames  15 , and a base  42 . The top support frame  28  may include one or more concave sidewalls  50 . The top support frame  28  and the box frames  15  may be configured to vertically project from the base  42 . The top support frame  28  and the box frames  15  may be configured for stackability upon each other with the top support frame  28  being atop all of the box frames  15  and the box frames  15  intermediate the top support frame  28  and the base  42 . It will be understood that whichever of the box frames  50  that is the lowest may be considered the base  42 . 
         [0018]    The top support frame  28  may be adapted to cradle a surface of the load  12 . The top support frame  28  may include front and back walls  45  and sidewalls  50 . The sidewalls  50  may include a generally downward curved surface  50   a  extending between the front and back walls  45 . The front and back walls  45  may define a slot  47  included within respective walls. One or more support beams  29  may be disposed to extend between the two slots  47 . 
         [0019]    In one aspect, the support stand  10  may be configured to provide an adjustable height and adjustable weight support while providing relatively lightweight assembly/disassembly of the stand. For example, the box frames  15  may be configured of varying profiles and support structures. The following box frames  15  will be described for sake of illustration as box frames  16 ,  22 , and  26  with respect to varying features shown. However, it will be understood that other configurations of box frames  15  may be contemplated within the scope of the ensuing disclosure. In general, the box frames  16 ,  22 , and  26  may include support beams  29  disposed horizontally along a bottom of respective box frames. 
         [0020]    The box frame  16  may be configured for general purpose stacking to provide the primary height needs to support a load off the ground. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two box frames  16  are stacked upon each other to create a primary height of the support stand  10 . The box frame  16  may include sidewalls  17  defining generally rectangular framing  41 . A truss structure  18 , for example, one or more diagonal beams may be attached within the framing  41  of the sidewalls  17 . In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of diagonal beams  18  may be configured to extend in a V-shape between two corners of the sidewall  17  framing  41 . 
         [0021]    The box frame  22  may be configured with a lower profile than the box frame  16  to provide flexibility in the overall height of the support stand  10 . The box frame  22  may include sidewalls  19  that define a rectangular framing  43 . 
         [0022]    The box frame  26  may be configured with a lower profile than the box frame  22  to provide fine tuning in adjusting the overall height of the support stand  10 . The box frame  26  may include sidewalls  21  that may define an open-bottom framing  49 . The lack of a bottom edge of the frame  49  may provide a decreased profile while the support beams  29  may continue to provide support. 
         [0023]    In one aspect, referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the box frames  15  may be configured for interchangeable stackability. A peg and hole system  35  may be employed on corners of respective box frames  15  and the top support frame  28 . A peg  20  may be attached to a top surface of the box frames  15 . A female mating hole  32  adapted to receive the peg  20  may be formed on a bottom surface of respective box frames  15  and the top support frame  28 . A base peg  38  attached to the top surface  36  of a rectangular foot  34  may be configured to attach to the female mating hole  32  of each corner of the lowest box frame  15 . 
         [0024]    Referring back to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary assembly of the support stand  10  is shown with the tallest box frames  16  stacked on the bottom, and box frames  22  and  26  stacked in order of decreasing height. However, it will be understood that in some embodiments, the box frames  15  may be stacked without regard to height. Additionally, some embodiments may omit use of any of the box frames  15  depending on the application. When assembled, the pair of curved surfaces  50   a  on the top support frame  28  provide a cradle for loads with rounded surfaces, for example, aircraft. However, it will be understood that other exemplary embodiments may employ flat top edges instead of the curved surfaces  50   a  to support loads with flat surfaces. 
         [0025]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.