Vibration and sound dampener for heavy machinery

• US 20030071187A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew James Herren, Joel Barron
• Original Assignee: Andrew James Herren, Joel Barron
• Inventors: Barron, Joel, Herren, Andrew James
• Granted Patent: US 6,648,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/638
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/0275 Control of stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/0052 Physically guiding or influencing

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus that will dampen vibration and sound created by heavy machinery, such as metal presses, metal stampers, and HVAC units, as well as limit lateral movement of the heavy machinery based upon a combination of a multiplicity of air springs and rigid cylinders. The present invention provides the simplest method of dampening vibrations and sounds created by heavy machinery. The present invention further prevents lateral movement of the machinery, while simultaneously providing a means to protect such machinery against seismic events by absorbing the seismic forces.

Claims

1. A vibration and sound dampener for heavy machinery comprising a lower plate having an upper and a lower surface, an upper plate having an upper and a lower surface and for supporting an object to be mounted on the upper surface thereof, a multiplicity of vibration and sound isolation means provided on the upper surface of said lower plate and for supporting the lower surface of said upper plate horizontally in a floating state, the improvement comprising:

a male cylinder possessing an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface fixedly attached to the upper surface of said lower platform surrounding said vibration and sound isolation means;

a female cylinder with an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface fixedly attached to the lower surface of said upper platform and slidably mounted around said male cylinder to allow vertical movement and prevent lateral movement of said upper plate;

a means to reduce friction between said inner wall of said female cylinder and said outer wall of said male cylinder which accommodates vertical movement of said upper plate and prevents lateral movement of said upper plate.

2. The vibration and sound dampener for heavy machinery as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said means to reduce friction between said inner wall of said female cylinder and said outer wall of said male cylinder comprises a continuous Teflon®

coating around the interior wall of the female cylinder.

3. The sound and vibration dampener for heavy machinery as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said means to reduce friction between said inner wall of said female cylinder and said outer wall of said male cylinder comprises a plurality of Teflon®

strips removably attached equidistant around said interior wall of said female cylinder to accommodate vertical movement of said female cylinder relative to said male cylinder.

4. The sound and vibration dampener for heavy machinery as disclosed in claim 1 wherein a means to reduce friction between said inner wall of said female cylinder and said outer wall of said male cylinder comprises a multiplicity of vertical grooves permanently sealed at the lower end placed equidistant around said outer wall of said male cylinder;

a plurality of ball bearings rotatably fixed within said vertical grooves of said outer wall of said male cylinder, and an upper seal of said vertical groove which is removable to permit replacement of said ball bearings.