US2806688A - Resilient bumper - Google Patents

Description

p 7, 1957 M. POLLOCK 2,806,688

RESILIENT BUMPER Filed Feb. 23. 1954 INVENTOR. MAX POMOCK United States harem D 2,805,688 RESILIENT BUMPER l 'ollock, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Bumpers, Inc., a corporation of Qhio Application February 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,661

7 Claims. (Cl. 267-1) A bumper of the type contemplated includes a bumper block of yieldable non-metallic material having wearing and resilient properties, and which conveniently may be made up of a plurality of layers of pieces cut from the casings of scrap pneumatic tires, belting, etc., of rubber reinforced by fabric.

The block is mounted on the structure which it is to serve, by hardware including mounting plates disposed at the ends of the block, and tie rod means extending through the block, and secured to the mounting plates.

Such a bumper is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 380,535, filed September 16, 1953, and the present invention comprises, generally, improvements thereover, pertaining particularly to the mounting plates for the block and their relation thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide a mounting plate which in itself will require the least amount of metal, employed in the best disposition thereof, and most inexpensively produced.

Another object is to provide that such plate has cooperative relation to the block, so that the latter has superior operating characteristics during service, and a longer life of service.

A practice in the art has been to employ for mounting of the block, as at each end thereof, a heavy rigid length of structural steel angle iron of rolled section, wherein one leg bears in clamping relation to its end or" the block. In such construction the end portions of the block and particularly the end layers of its pieces, under service impacts, tend to break along the rigid straight edge of the angle iron; and it consequently has been considered necessary that the leg be of such size as to bear against most of the end surface of the block and thereby leave only a minimum of such surface exposed. This has resulted in minimizing the effectiveness of the block itself, in .yieldability under impact.

In contradistinction to such practice and as will hereinafter appear, my invention contemplates employment of a sheet metal plate which may have in itself some flexibility, with minimum bearing area of the plate against the end of the block, and with maximum length to the free edge of the plate, as by a deeply scalloped formation thereofso as to avoid tendency of the block to break along such free edge, and permit a major portion of the block to extend beyond such free edge and thus more of the block be unconfined and capable of direct shock absorbing effectiveness.

The objects very briefly set forth hereinabove, together with further objects, will more fully appear from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a face view of a mounting plate shaped according to this invention, and indicating in broken lines the contour and disposition of the end face of a bumper block employable therewith;

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Fig. 2 is an end view of the parts indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken as upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 but showing the mounting plate after forming, and indicating the employment of a tie bolt;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but taken along the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a bumper assembly made up of parts such as indicated in Figs. 1 to 4; and

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 to 4 respectively, and indicating similar parts but as employed for a block of greater thickness and consequently heavier duty.

With reference now to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1 thereof, solid lines indicate a mounting plate stamping of heavy gauge metal and 2 indicates, in broken lines, the end face of a bumper block for employment therewith. The mounting plate is deeply scalloped along both longitudinal edges to provide a series of clamping projections 3 along one edge, and a series of mounting projections 4 along the other longitudinal edge, and leaving a continuous intermediate portion 5 longitudinally extending between the two sets of projections 3 and 4.

Preferably the clamping projections 3 are in staggered relation with the mounting projections 4 and the contouring is arranged so that all ofthe clamping projections 3 are whole ones whereas the end projections 4a of the mounting projections constitute halves of the others, and have end edges perpendicular to the intermediate portion 5 of the plate. Thus, there is one more clamping projection 3 than there are whole mounting projections 4.

The contouring of the scalloping on both edges is preferably similar, so that a plurality of such plates may be stamped from a strip of stock material, of width equal to the length of the plate, without any scrapping of material.

Also, it will be apparent that the openings 6 and 7 may be punched in the plate during the same operation in which it is stamped or sheared from its stock material.

Each clamping projection 3 is provided with an opening 6 and, if desired, each whole mounting projection 4 with an opening 7.

It being understood that the bumper block 2 is provided with through openings aligned with the openings 6 of the clamping projections 3, it will be observed from Fig. 1 that the total bearing area of the mounting plate on the end face of the block is very substantially less than half the area of the block face. This also appears in Fig. 2, which indicates employment of the plate in fiat condition, in connection with the bumper block 2 here indicated as of laminated formation, as disclosed in my copending application. In such employment the mounting plate is disposed wholly in a plane parallel to the end face of the block.

However, according to this invention the mounting plate may be formed with curvature along its intermediate portion 5 so that its mounting projections 4 extend therefrom in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the clamping projections 3.

As indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, for such purpose, the plate is formed to provide a substantial radius preferably extending transversely of the intermediate portion 5 substantially from the bases of the mounting projections 4 to those of the clamping projections 3. Thus, when so employed, with its curved intermediate portion 5 disposed along and adjacent the block corner which lies at the junction of one of the end faces with the back face of the block, the plate will have no actual bearing against the block face immediately thereadjacent, and both plate and block may have some resilience at such arranged to provide alaminated structure of. thickness the width of the layers, and having front'andback faces '8 and 9 respectivelyin whichthe layersrunedg'ewise, and end faces 10 faced by the layers. Preferably-also -eachsuch layer is made up of a plurality of'pieces, in-

eluding single and double units arranged in staggered 10 'ing application.

As appears in Fig. 5, the block is confined between clamping portions of two mounting plates by tie rod relation between layers, as set forth in my saidcopendcans such as through bolts 11, extending through the openings 6 of the clamping projections Send the corresponding through openings in the block, the bolts thus acting as tie rods, each single unit receiving one, and 'each'doucle unit two, of suchrods.

The openings in the block which receive the tie rods are preferably slightly larger than the rods, both for ease inassernbly and replacement and to permit some relative motion in service.- Preferably the tie rod openings 6 also are slightly-oversize for the same purposes.

As shown in Fig. 5, the near mounting plate is formed 20 so that its mounting projections extend from the block generally in the plane of its back face 9, whereas the far Such would be the We "plate arrangement'were.thebnmper to.beiemployedat a be apparent'thfl the Clamping 7130111 Openings corner, but depending upon the employment, either flat mounting plate is employed flat.

or formed plates might be used at both ends instead. If the mounting of the bumper be to wood or masonryconstruction, bolts may be employed in the openings 7 of the mounting projections 4, whereas if the mounting be Q to metal construction, welding may be employed along the contours of the mounting projections 4, itfbeing noted that the scalloped contours provide ample length for ample securement by such welding.

It will be apparent that the size and proportioning of A the bumper block may be varied according to the service intended. 7

Thus, with reference to Fig. 5, by employment of more layers or otherwise extending the length of the bumper block, with corresponding increase in length of the tie rod means 11, the block may be greatly larger {15 in the direction of the tie rods. Similarly, as by employing bumper plates of increased length as by having more clamping projections 3 and mounting projections 4, the

in such respect from that indicated in Figs. -1 to 4 in- {elusive Here the contouring of the mounting plate is :as before except that the plate is of greater width and its additional width is employed for greater bearing of its clamping portion upon the end faces of the block. The

openings 16 of the clamping projections l3 are spaced farther from the mounting projections 4 than before,

which latter may have the same outlines as previously described and thus be cut from the same dies. 7

Also, preferably the'openings 16 are located adjacent the bases of their clamping projections 13 so that the latter may have slightly more flexibility in bearing against the bumper block. 7 As before, the total of such bearing is no more than half the area of the block end face where the plate is employed flat, asindicated in Figs. 6

and 7, and still less Where the plate is formed as shown in Figs; Sand 9.

I In-operation it will be apparent that the invention provides formore flexibility throughout the bumper than has been the usual practice heretofore in the art, par- 'ticularlyieitective adjacent the ends of the bumper block.

asoases Under various impacts the plate itself may yield,

particularly along its curved intermediate zone so that there may be relative motion between the clamping projections, both in assembly and in service, and the mounting projections. In clamping there may be some flexibility between the several clamping projections as to accommodate irregularity in theblock, and similarly there may be some flexibility between the mounting projections to accommodate unevenness in'the surface against which the bumper is mounted. Under impact the block expand somewhat into the clearancespace'provided for it along the curved intermediate portion of the plate.

The scalloped edge of the clamping portionprovides a longer line anda better distribution of the bearing area against the end of the bumper block,so that the bumper block under impact adjacent its ends does not tend to break along such line, as has. been the case where the clamping means is rigid and its free edge terminates in a straight line. Particularly in the form of Figs. 6 to 9, where the clamping projections 13 extend substantially V eyond their tie rod openings 16, there maybegive of the clamping projections under impact to 'still further protect the block ends against breaking.

It may be noted that,as indicated in Fig. l, the openings 6 forfthe clamping bolts are centered beyond the center line of their scalloped edge, whereas, as indicated in Fig. 6 the clamping bolt openings 16 are centered Within the center line of their scalloped edge, but it will might be located on the center line of their scalloped edge. e Also, it will be apparent that if preferred, the clamping bolt openings in the block could be centered in the central. plane of the block, intermediate its front and back faces, the parts being suitably proportioned for the purpose. 1

Generally however, by the provision of the scalloped free'edge of the block clamping face, as disclosed herein, the block may if desired, extend farther beyond such edge than were the edge a straight and rigid one; or, the clamping face of the mounting plate, need not bear against as great a portion of the corresponding end face of the block, as heretofore considered necessary. These advantages are particularly found Where the block is made up of clamped layers of pieces as is usual in the art.

I claim: a 1. In a bumper of the class described and including a bumper block of yieldable 'material having front and back faces, and end faces extending therebetween: mounting means for said block and including a metal mounting plate having an intermediate portion'disposed along and adjacent the block corner at one of said end faces and said back face, a clamping portion disposed along said end face, and having a scalloped edge substantially short of said front face and providing clamping projections extending away from said intermediate portion, andfa base portion extending from said corner and having a similarly scalloped edge providing mounting projections, the arrangement of said edges being such that said clamping projections are in staggered relation to said mounting projections, said plate arid said block having through openings, one for each said clamping projection, and

through tie rod means disposed in said openings. 7 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim-1 wherein the bearing; area between said clamping portion and said end faceis less than half the area of said end face. 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the end mounting projections constitute halves of the other projections.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping and base portions are disposed'in angularly related planes, and said'intermediate portion-includes a.

substantial curvature in transverse section.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion is substantially curved in transverse section, with curvature extending substantially to the bases of said projections.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping projections are located entirely beyond their said openings.

7. In a bumper of the class described and including a plurality of layers of yieldable material arranged to provide a laminated bumper block of thickness the Width of said layers, and having front and back faces in which said layers run edgewise and end faces faced by said layers: mounting means for said block and including a metal mounting plate having a continuous intermediate portion disposed along and adjacent the block corner at one of said end faces and said back face, a clamping portion having a scalloped edge providing clamping projections, disposed along said end face and extending thereover substantially short of said front face, a base portion extending from said corner, said plate having perforations one at each of said projections and said layers being correspondingly perforated and tie rod means disposed in said perforations, each of said layers including a plurality of pieces, said pieces including single and double units, each double unit having a pair of openings receiving a pair of said tie rod means, and each single unit being half the length of said double units and being located at an end of its layer with an end abutting an end of a double unit having an opening receiving one of said tie rod means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,490,296 Swanson Apr. 15, 1924 2,649,295 Schuyler Aug. 18, 1953 2,664,257 McNally Dec. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,427 Great Britain of 1891 723,068 France Jan. 9, 1932

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