Supports – Props and braces – Vacuum hold-down
Patent
1993-08-09
1995-10-10
Chotkowski, Karen J.
Supports
Props and braces
Vacuum hold-down
248638, 248561, F16M 1300
Patent
active
054564387
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a machine tool support particularly suited to machines which are sensitive to the vibration generated by their operation or their environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known that, in workshops, machine tools are fixed to the floor by suitable means such as bolts, clamps or otherwise. These arrangements, although satisfactory from the point of view of the fixing in itself, have the major disadvantage of having no effect in reducing the vibration inherent in the operation of the machines. This vibration is transmitted to the surrounding range of machine tools. This causes maladjustment of the other machines and their components.
Moreover, such fixings by bolts or clamps prove unsuitable when the need arises to replace a machine in the minimum of time, in particular because of the inaccessibility of one or more of these fixing elements. In addition, in the case of machines whose weight is relatively great, it is often difficult to position each of the bolts rapidly in the corresponding holes in the support.
According to the device described in published French patent application 2 361 599 and shown in FIG. 1, the bearing parts 1 of the machine to be fixed are placed on a bearing face 2. The bearing face 2 has a plurality of recesses 3 connected to a suction device and provided with an airtight covering 4. The bearing parts of the machine are placed on the bearing face 2 through airtight seals 5 placed around the recesses. The seals 5 are partially embedded in the housings so that the airtight bearing always takes place on these seals. These seals can, by way of example, consist of an elastomer material. These seals, in addition to providing the vacuum-tight function, absorb the vibration due to the operation of the machine 7. As is well known in the art, the characteristics of the seals are adapted according to the weight of the machine. Such a device, although satisfactory from the point of view of the fixing to the floor under the effect of the negative pressure applied in the recesses, has a certain number of disadvantages: difficult and expensive to produce; the surfaces defined by the airtight seals, which, for relatively light machines, may prove insufficient; particularly in the case of heavy machines, it is often necessary, in order to position the machine precisely, to slide it over the bearing face. There is a risk that such a movement may damage or displace the seals; particular the dimensional characteristics, are calculated according to the load resulting from the weight of the machine, the manufacturers of the elastomer materials making up the seals in fact providing graphs making it possible to calculate accurately, for a given thickness of elastomer material, the area of material required for absorbing the vibration to the greatest possible extent. According to the device described in the patent, the carrying surface is formed by the surface of all the seals distributed over the bearing face 2. Such an arrangement makes it difficult to adapt the carrying surface according to the weight of the machine, particularly when the machine is changed for another one whose weight is not necessarily identical. This involves in particular the replacement of at least some of the seals, and the gain in carrying surface may be limited by the space existing between adjacent seals on the bearing face.
Published British patent specification No. 1 081 915 describes a combustion engine support comprising a bearing structure positioned on a frame and on which is located a combustion engine, means located between the bearing structure and the frame being provided for absorbing the vibration generated by the operation of the engine. Nowhere in this specification is it suggested to use means for facilitating the positioning of the engine on the bearing structure as well as its holding.
Published French patent application No. 2 207 845 describes a process and a device for moving an apparatus on a fixed frame. No means are disclosed for absorbing the vibratio
REFERENCES:
patent: 977330 (1910-11-01), Von Rugen
patent: 3158381 (1964-11-01), Yamamura
patent: 5149045 (1992-09-01), Szarka
Chotkowski Karen J.
Eastman Kodak Company
Snee, III Charles E.
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