GB2181512A

GB2181512A - Anti vibration mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2181512A
Application number: GB08508370A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Lloyd Pumphray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-03-30
Filing date: 1985-03-30
Publication date: 1987-04-23
Also published as: GB8508370D0

Abstract

An anti vibration mounting comprises an equipment mounting plate 1 supported by inflated toroids 9,10 positioned between an inner casing 2 attached to the plate 1 and an outer casing 5 secured to the base of the mounting. The toroids 9,10 both support the mounting plate 1 and act to isolate vibration from its surroundings. More than two toroids can be utilised (Figures 3 to 5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti-vibration base for various equipment This invention relates to a base onto which items of equipment can be attached which either need to be isolated from vibration present in its surrounding en vironment, or have its own inherent vibration isola- ted from its surrounding environment.

Many varying types of anti-vibration mounting are presently available in various forms e.g. springs, soft absorbent materials, rubber blocks, air bags or bellows, and combinations of these units and others.

A major problem involved with presently available A.V. mounts is that low frequency vibration is very difficult to isolate, while at the same time offering the high degree of movement stability often required for the equipment concerned and often at the sametime, satisfy the need to act in keeping the mounted equipment at a nearly constant height or level.

This invention relates two anti-vibration mountings, and particularly but not exclusively to anti-vibration mountings, forthe mounting of delicate and sensit ive equipment some examples being, automatic weighing machines, lasers, electronic and various other types of scientific equipment.

According to the present invention there is provided a planar member representing a detachabletop plate on top of which the relevant equipment is mounted.

The planar member ortop plate is attached by bolts orsimilarfixingsto an inner casing comprising at its top a horizontal flange or ring with a depending wall at its inner circumference. Attached to the bottom ofthe depending wall is a horizontal ring which has its outer periphery aligned to the outer surface of the depending wall, its innercircumference forming a suitable sized hole.

Two or more horizontal circular rings orflanges are attached too and protrude from the outer face of the depending wall, being suitably spaced along its length to allowthe use ofthe desired numberofin- flatable toroids. Surrounding the inner casing but distanced from it at all points is the outer casing comprising atop horizontal flangewith a holethrough which the inner casing protrudes, attached to the outer ci rcumference of the horizontal flange is a depending wall. At the bottom ofthe depending wall is attached a lower horizontal flange a hole of suitable size being at its centre.

Positioned between the inner and outer casings are two or more inflatable toroids an uppertoroid being positioned between on the one hand, the lower surface of the top flange of the outer casing andthe innerface of its depending wall and on the otherthe upperfaceofthetopmostofthe horizontal circular rings or flanges attached to the inner casing and also the outer face of the inner casings depending wall.

The lowertoroid is positioned between the inner and outer casings in a similar manner as the uppertoroids, its lower face being in contact with the upper face of the lower horizontal flange attached to the outer casing. The outer casing has a base of suitable shape and dimension formed at its lower end, which contains a gas or liquid reservoir and the necessary pressure control valves, gauges, and controls required to assure satisfactory operation. Provision is madeforthecoupling of an external pressurised gas or liquid supply. The controls and gauges can be remotely mounted as required by circumstance.

Level sensing devices can be attached at any suitable position monitoring relative movement between the outer casing and the inner casing ef fectivelyforming a height control or levelling device for equipment mounted uponthetop plate. Levelling can also be achieved by the setting of the necessary pressuresforanygiven set of conditions in the inflatable toroids.When the application requires it more than two toroids can be fitted between the inner and outer casings either acting in a similar manner to that of the firsttwo mentioned toroids or acting purely as stabalising devices acting only in the horizontal plane between the inner surface of the outer casing depending wall and the outer face of the inner casing depending wall.Aflexible gaitor can be positioned between the top plate and the outer casing forming a barrier two ingress of any possibly harmful substances.

Should it bethought necessary,the inflatabletoroids could have additional protection against attack by harmful substances or friction in the form of protective covers covering all or part ofthe toroid.

A number of embodiments of the mounting are now described, with reference to Figure 1 being a plan view ofthe mounting and Figure 2 being a cross section ofthe mounting. Figure3 being a cross sec tion through a fourtoroid mounting having two lift ing and two opposition toroids. Figure 4 being a cross section of a fourtoroid mounting having one lifting, one opposing and two stabalising toroids.

Figure 5 being a cross section of a threetoroid mounting, one lifting, one opposing, and one stabalising toroid also shown is an added weight and a chute orfunnel for material to pass down from the mounted equipment to a receptacle below or inside the mounting.

The anti-vibration mounting shown in Figure 2 comprised top plate 1 onto which equipment is to be mounted this is attached to the inner casing 2 by means of screws or bolts 3 attaching to flange 4. An outercasing 5 has a horizontal flange 6 at its upper end. Either springs 7 or rubber blocks 8 are positioned to supportthetop plate when the toroids are deflated and the top plate at its lowest position. The uppertoroid 9 and lowertoroid 10 are connected to their own individual pressure control valves 11 and 12 and in turn to a resevoir 13. The resevoir is pressurised via connection Figure 1. 14.

Pressure gauges Figure 1:15 and control valves Figure 1:16 enable monitoring of mounting.

After attachment of mounted equipment to top plate Figure 21 with thetoroids Figure 2 9 and 10 deflated. Pressurised gas or liquid is used to pres surisethetoroid Figure 2: 9via control valve Figure 1 17 and Figure 2:11 to a predetermined pressure as shown on pressure gauge Figure 1:18. Control valve Figure 1:19 is opened allowing pressurised gas or liquid intotoroid Figure 2: lOas pressure increases the inner casing Figure 2 : 2 is raised and distanced from the outer casing Figure 2: 5 supporting the mounted equipment on effectively an air cushion.

Level monitoring devices Figure 2 : 20 and 21 maintain the required pressure in toroid Figure 2 9 to maintain thetop plate Figure 2:1 attherequired level.

The initially selected pressure in toroid Figure 2 : 9 decided the required pressure required in toroid Figure2 lotto liftthetop plate Figure 2:1 to the desired level.

Thevarioustoroidarrangements indicated can be controlled in many different combinations of interconnection and control modes. Afurther variation of toroid arrangements are shown in Figures 3 to 5.

In Figure 3 toroid 1 and toroid 2 acttogetherto lift and supportthe mounted equipment, toroid 3 and toroid 4 act together in opposing toroids 1 and 2. In Figure 4toroid 5 acts to lift and support the mounted equipment, toroid 6 acts in opposing toroid 5. Toroids 7 and 8 act to stabalise the mounting.

In Figures. toroid 8 acts to lift and support mounted equipmenttoroid 9 acts in opposing toroid 8.

Toroid 10 acts to sta bal ise the mou nting .

Also in Figure 5 either permanently fixed or detachable weights 11. can be used to add mass to the supported orsprung partofthe mountduetothe relative positions ofthe mounted equipment. Figure 5. a funnel or chute 12 fitted through the centre ofthe mounting facilitates the passage of materials from the mounted equipment into a receptacle below or within the amounting.

Also indicated in Figure 5 is a screw conveyor or belt 13, orwhich could pass through the centre ofthe mounting, being fixed to the outer casing and having a ciearance fit th rough the inner casing with a flexible sleeve or gaitor, between it and the inner casing, allowing materials to passthrough the centre top ofthe mount, via the flexible gaitorinto the conveyor.

Afurther embodiment ofthe mounting would have the inflatable toroid partially filled with a flexible substance or liquid or consisting of a cellular material being partly, solid, liquid or gas.

Claims

1. An anti-vibration mounting comprising a housing having a horizontal equipment mounting plate supported on a depending innerwall with one or more flanged rings between which one or more inflatabletoroids are positioned. An outer casing surrounds the toroids and is also part of the base plate.

One or moreflanged rings act against the inflatable toroids to either raise or lower the equipment mounting plate. Gases ora combination of gases and liquids atvarious pressures are contained within the one ormoretoroids. The pressure oftheapplied gases can be changed to alterthe anti-vibration char acteristics of the mounting. Thetoroids and arrange- ment offlanges attached to both the inner and outer casing give different combinations of support and opposition.

2. An anti-vibration mounting as described in claim 1 with the addition of control valves or levelling valves built into the unitto control pressure of toroids and heightofequipmentsupportplate.

3. An anti-vibration mounting as described in claim 1 orin 2 oranysubstantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figures 1,2,3,4,5. ofthe accompanying drawings.

4. An anti-vibration mounting as described in claim 1 and in 2with the addition of one or moretoroidsacting solelyto stabilisethe mounting plate.

5. An anti-vibration mounting as described in claims 1,2,4, whereby all or part ofthe inner part of each toroid is wholly or partly filled with a combination of gas, liquid or material our a cellular material.