Passive vibration isolation device

• US 6,311,945 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen D'Angelo
• Original Assignee: Ted Pella Inc.
• Inventors: DʼAngelo, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US09/523,907
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 248/632, 248/576, 248/581, 248/610, 248/611, 248/613, 248/638, 248/639, 248/678, 248/618, 248/619, 248/621, 248/603, 248/634, 248/671, 267/136, 267/153, 267/141, 267/293
• US Class Current: 248/632
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/04 using elastic means single elements or their attachment F16F1/00 - F16F13/00; F16F15/023, F16F15/03 take precedence

Abstract

A passive vibration isolation device includes a support frame, an instrument support platform and a plurality of vibration isolators. The support frame is adapted to rest on a support surface. The instrument support platform is adapted to support an instrument thereon. The vibration isolators are spaced apart from one another and disposed between and interconnect the support frame and the instrument support platform such that the instrument support platform is suspended by the vibration isolators in a position spaced from the support frame and above the support surface.

Claims

1. A passive vibration isolation device, comprising:

(a) a support frame adapted to rest on a support surface and including

(i) a pair of opposite end members each having a pair of opposite lower vertical portions and an upper horizontal portion extending between and rigidly connected with upper ends of said lower vertical portions so as to provide each of said opposite end members with an inverted generally U-shaped configuration, said lower vertical portions of each of said opposite end members at lower ends being adapted to rest on the support surface such that said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members are spaced above the support surface, and

(ii) a pair of opposite side members each extending between and rigidly connected at opposite ends to said lower ends of corresponding ones of said lower vertical portions of said opposite end members, said opposite side members being adapted to rest on the support surface adjacent to said lower ends of said lower vertical portions of said opposite end members;

(b) an instrument support platform adapted to support an instrument thereon; and

(c) a plurality of vibration isolators spaced apart from one another and disposed between and interconnecting said support frame and said instrument support platform such that said instrument support platform is suspended by said vibration isolators in a position spaced from said support frame and above the support surface.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said instrument support platform has a substantially flat configuration.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said instrument support platform has a pair of opposite end edges, a pair of opposite side edges and spaced upper and lower surfaces, said instrument support platform having a width extending between said opposite side edges thereof being less than a distance extending between said lower vertical portions of each of said opposite end members of said support frame and a length extending between said opposite end edges thereof being greater than a length of each of said opposite side members of said support frame and a thickness extending between said upper and lower surfaces thereof being less than a height of each of said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members of said support frame above the support surface such that said instrument support platform is of a size relative to said support frame allowing said instrument support platform to be positioned above the support surface with said opposite side edges thereof disposed adjacent to and inwardly from said opposite side members of said support frame and said opposite end edges thereof disposed between said lower vertical portions and under said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members of said support frame.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said vibration isolators number four.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said vibration isolators has an outer tubular sleeve comprised of a yieldable compressible elastomeric material and a pair of internally threaded inner inserts at opposite ends of said outer tubular sleeve adapting said vibration isolators to receive screws in said inner inserts for fastening said instrument support platform to lower ends of said vibration isolators and said vibration isolators, in turn, to said support frame which allows said instrument support platform to float freely below and in equilibrium from said support frame.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said vibration isolators are disposed between and interconnect said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members of said support frame to said instrument support platform.

7. A passive vibration isolation device, comprising:

(a) a support frame adapted to rest on a support surface and including

(i) a pair of opposite end members each having a pair of opposite lower vertical portions and an upper horizontal portion extending between and rigidly connected with upper ends of said lower vertical portions so as to provide each of said opposite end members with an inverted generally U-shaped configuration, said lower vertical portions of each of said opposite end member at lower ends being adapted to rest on the support surface such that said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members are spaced above the support surface, and

(ii) a pair of opposite side members each extending between and rigidly connected at opposite ends to said lower ends of corresponding ones of said lower vertical portions of said opposite end members, said opposite side members being adapted to rest on the support surface adjacent to said lower ends of said lower vertical portions of said opposite end members;

(b) an instrument support platform adapted to support an instrument thereon, said instrument support platform having a pair of opposite end edges, a pair of opposite side edges and spaced upper and lower surfaces, said instrument support platform also having a width extending between said opposite side edges thereof being less than a distance extending between said lower vertical portions of each of said opposite end members of said support frame and a length extending between said opposite end edges thereof being greater than a length of one said opposite side member of said support frame and a thickness extending between said upper and lower surfaces thereof being less than a height of each of said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members of said support frame above the support surface such that said instrument support platform is of a size relative to said support frame allowing said instrument support platform to be positioned above the support surface with said opposite side edges thereof disposed adjacent to and inwardly from said opposite side members of said support frame and said opposite end edges thereof disposed between said lower vertical portions and under said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members of said support frame; and

(c) a plurality of vibration isolators spaced apart from one another and disposed between and interconnecting said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members of said support frame to said opposite end edges of said instrument support platform such that said instrument support platform is suspended by said vibration isolators in a position spaced above the support surface and from said support frame with said opposite side edges of said instrument support platform disposed adjacent to and inwardly from said opposite side members of said support frame and said opposite end edges of said instrument support platform disposed under said upper horizontal portions and between said lower vertical portions of said opposite end members of said support frame.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said instrument support platform has a substantially flat configuration.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said vibration isolators number four.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein each of said vibration isolators has an outer tubular sleeve comprised of a yieldable compressible elastomeric material and a pair of internally threaded inner inserts at opposite ends of said outer tubular sleeve adapting said vibration isolators to receive screws in said inner inserts for fastening said instrument support platform to lower ends of said vibration isolators and said vibration isolators, in turn, to undersides of said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members of said support frame which allows said instrument support platform to float freely below and in equilibrium from said upper horizontal portions of said opposite end members of said support frame.