GB2046400A

GB2046400A - Flexible mountings

Info

Publication number: GB2046400A
Application number: GB7912578A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Silentbloc Ltd
Current assignee: Silentbloc Ltd
Priority date: 1979-04-10
Filing date: 1979-04-10
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: FR2454043B1; FR2454043A1; DE3012942A1; GB2046400B; DE3012942C2

Abstract

A flexible mounting comprises two fixing members (10, 12) rolled from steel strip, and joined by a rubber section (14) bonded to the fixing members (10, 12). Each fixing member (10, 12) has the form of a nearly-closed tube, of such shape that the head of a fixing bolt can be received within the tube, to clamp the fixing member to some other component. The size of the tube is chosen to prevent rotation of a hexagon head fixing bolt. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flexible mountings This invention relates to flexible mountings which include an elastomeric section connected to at least one rigid fixing section by which the mounting can be fixed, for example, to a foundation or to a machine to be supported.

According to the present invention, a flexible mounting comprises an elastomeric section connected to at least one rigid fixing section of substantially constant cross-section, which cross-section affords a hollow interior, and a slot opening into the hollow interior, the width of the slot being less than the dimension of the hollow interior in a direction parallel to the slot width, to provide an undercut ln each side of the slot. With such a mounting, the head of a fixing bolt can be received in the hollow interior of the fixing section, with its shank emerging from the slot, or alternatively, a fixing nut can be received in the hollow interior, and a bolt screwed into the nut through the slot. The bolt head or nut then bears against the interior of the fixing section, adjacent the edges of the slot.

The hollow interior is preferably partially bounded by opposed surfaces which extend generally at right angles to the width of the slot. Such surfaces, if spaced a suitable distance apart, will prevent a hexagon-head bolt or a hexagon nut received in the hollow interior from turning.

The or each rigid fixing section may be made in a variety of ways; for example, it may be an extrusion.

In the preferred embodiment, however, the fixing section is rolled from a flat steel strip.

Normally, the elastomeric section would be bonded to the fixing section, on one side remote from the slot. In a preferred form of the invention, the fixing section affords surfaces which extend generally normal to the plane of the slot, and to which the elastomeric section is bonded. This may make it possible to obtain a larger bonding area, and hence increased strength. Preferabiy, these surfaces follow part of the section of the hollow interior.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but two specific embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a view in oblique projection of a flexible mounting embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of a second form of flexible mounting.

The mounting shown in Figure 1 includes two elongate steel members 10 and 12, which are rolled from steel strip to the illustrated profile. The two members 10 and 12 are interconnected by a rubber section 14which is bonded to both members.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the members 10 and 12 each form a nearly completely closed tube; the edges of the steel strip which forms each member are folded in towards one another, leaving between them a slot 16, on the side remote from the rubber section 14. The space within each member 10 or 12 is wider than the slot 16, so that if the head of a suitably-sized fixing bolt is introduced into one of the members 10 or 12, with the shank of the bolt extending out through the slot 16, the flexible mounting can be secured in place, with the head of the bolt bearing on the parts of the member 10 or 12 adjacent the edges of the slot 16. The width of the space within each of the members 10 and 12 would normally be chosen to be slightly greater than the across-flats dimension of a standard size of hexagon head bolt, so that the bolt is prevented from turning.

Of course, such a member would be equally suitable for receiving a standard hexagon nut of the same size.

The width of the space within each of the members 10 and 12 is considerably less than the maximum width of these members, so that those parts of each member which extend in a near-vertical plane (as seen in Figure 1) provide, on the outside of the member 10 or 12, a surface to which the rubber section 14 can be bonded. By shaping the members 10 and 12 in this way, an increased area of bonding between the steel and rubber is obtained.

The mounting could be manufactured in lengths, and cut to the length required for any particular application. Obviously, more than one fixing bolt or nut could be used if the length of the mounting so required.

The flexible mounting shown in Figure 2 is generally similar to that shown in Figure 1, but incorporates a rubber section 14' which has an oval-section passage 18 through its centre. This greatly increases the flexibility of the mounting. It will also be seen that the sides of the rubber section 14' bulge out laterally. This is mainly to provide a sufficient thickness of rubber around the central cavity 18, but it also means that the hollow spaces within the members 10 and 12 could be made wider, if so desired, without sacrificing the increased bonding area which is provided by the near-vertical parts of the exterior surfaces of these members.

1. Aflexible mounting comprising an elastomeric section connected to at least one rigid fixing section of substantially constant cross-section, which cross-section affords a hollow interior, and a slot opening into the hollow interior, the width of the slot being less than the dimension of the hollow interior in a direction parailel to the slot width, to provide an undercut on each side of the slot.

2. A mounting as claimed in Claim 1, in which the hollow interior is bounded by opposed surfaces which extend generally at right angles to the width of the slot.

3. A mounting as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the or each rigid section is an extrusion.

4. A mounting as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the or each rigid fixing section is rolled from a flat steel strip.

5. A mounting as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the elastomeric section is bonded to the fixing section, on the side remote from the slot.

6. A mounting as claimed in Claim 5 in which the fixing section affords surfaces which extend generally normal to the plane of the slot, and to which the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Flexible mountings This invention relates to flexible mountings which include an elastomeric section connected to at least one rigid fixing section by which the mounting can be fixed, for example, to a foundation or to a machine to be supported. According to the present invention, a flexible mounting comprises an elastomeric section connected to at least one rigid fixing section of substantially constant cross-section, which cross-section affords a hollow interior, and a slot opening into the hollow interior, the width of the slot being less than the dimension of the hollow interior in a direction parallel to the slot width, to provide an undercut ln each side of the slot. With such a mounting, the head of a fixing bolt can be received in the hollow interior of the fixing section, with its shank emerging from the slot, or alternatively, a fixing nut can be received in the hollow interior, and a bolt screwed into the nut through the slot. The bolt head or nut then bears against the interior of the fixing section, adjacent the edges of the slot. The hollow interior is preferably partially bounded by opposed surfaces which extend generally at right angles to the width of the slot. Such surfaces, if spaced a suitable distance apart, will prevent a hexagon-head bolt or a hexagon nut received in the hollow interior from turning. The or each rigid fixing section may be made in a variety of ways; for example, it may be an extrusion. In the preferred embodiment, however, the fixing section is rolled from a flat steel strip. Normally, the elastomeric section would be bonded to the fixing section, on one side remote from the slot. In a preferred form of the invention, the fixing section affords surfaces which extend generally normal to the plane of the slot, and to which the elastomeric section is bonded. This may make it possible to obtain a larger bonding area, and hence increased strength. Preferabiy, these surfaces follow part of the section of the hollow interior. The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but two specific embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a view in oblique projection of a flexible mounting embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of a second form of flexible mounting. The mounting shown in Figure 1 includes two elongate steel members 10 and 12, which are rolled from steel strip to the illustrated profile. The two members 10 and 12 are interconnected by a rubber section 14which is bonded to both members. As can be seen from Figure 1, the members 10 and 12 each form a nearly completely closed tube; the edges of the steel strip which forms each member are folded in towards one another, leaving between them a slot 16, on the side remote from the rubber section 14. The space within each member 10 or 12 is wider than the slot 16, so that if the head of a suitably-sized fixing bolt is introduced into one of the members 10 or 12, with the shank of the bolt extending out through the slot 16, the flexible mounting can be secured in place, with the head of the bolt bearing on the parts of the member 10 or 12 adjacent the edges of the slot 16. The width of the space within each of the members 10 and 12 would normally be chosen to be slightly greater than the across-flats dimension of a standard size of hexagon head bolt, so that the bolt is prevented from turning. Of course, such a member would be equally suitable for receiving a standard hexagon nut of the same size. The width of the space within each of the members 10 and 12 is considerably less than the maximum width of these members, so that those parts of each member which extend in a near-vertical plane (as seen in Figure 1) provide, on the outside of the member 10 or 12, a surface to which the rubber section 14 can be bonded. By shaping the members 10 and 12 in this way, an increased area of bonding between the steel and rubber is obtained. The mounting could be manufactured in lengths, and cut to the length required for any particular application. Obviously, more than one fixing bolt or nut could be used if the length of the mounting so required. The flexible mounting shown in Figure 2 is generally similar to that shown in Figure 1, but incorporates a rubber section 14' which has an oval-section passage 18 through its centre. This greatly increases the flexibility of the mounting. It will also be seen that the sides of the rubber section 14' bulge out laterally. This is mainly to provide a sufficient thickness of rubber around the central cavity 18, but it also means that the hollow spaces within the members 10 and 12 could be made wider, if so desired, without sacrificing the increased bonding area which is provided by the near-vertical parts of the exterior surfaces of these members. CLAIMS

6. A mounting as claimed in Claim 5 in which the fixing section affords surfaces which extend generally normal to the plane of the slot, and to which the elastomeric section is bonded.

7. A combination of a mounting as claimed in any of the preceding claims, with a fixing bolt whose head is received in the hollow interior ofthe fixing section.

8. A combination of a mounting as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, with a fixing nut which is received in the hollow interior of the fixing section.

9. Aflexible mounting substantially as herein described, with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.