| US 7,500,642 B2 | ||
| Universal support and vibration isolator | ||
| John Cunningham, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (US); Robert E. Roemer, Bolton, Mass. (US); and Robert C. Banasik, Columbus, Ohio (US) | ||
| Assigned to Seicon Limited, Columbus, Ohio (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 21, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/348,036. | ||
| Application 10/348036 is a continuation of application No. 10/007312, filed on Nov. 10, 2001, abandoned. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/247290, filed on Nov. 10, 2000. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0025952 A1, Feb. 12, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. F16L 3/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 248—49 [248/65; 248/67.5; 248/74.1; 186/74; 186/77 R; 192/80; 192/81 R] | 20 Claims |
| 20. A method of isolating vibration in a rotating object provided with bearing means, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a support comprising a frame capable of being placed around the bearing means and on a rotating object;
a plurality of support members within the frame;
means within the frame for supporting each of the plurality of support members at a minimum of two points, each of the plurality
of support members being movable relative to said contact points along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the object
to be supported; and
means for rotating each of the plurality of support members at a first contact point with respect to a second contact point
such that the support members move between a generally linear position in which the support members are spaced at a distance
from the bearing means and a rotated position in which the support members engage the bearing means to support the rotating
object while allowing the rotating object to move in a sliding and rotating direction relative to the frame;
(b) placing the frame around the bearing means and associated portion of the rotating object; and
(c) turning the rotating means to cause the plurality of support members to engage the bearing means such that vibration occurring
in the object is isolated by the plurality of support members.
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