Vibrator mounting arrangement

A vibrator mounting arrangement for attaching a vibrator to an object having one of a plurality of different mounting surface configurations. The mounting arrangement includes a mounting base adapted to receive the vibrator. The mounting base includes first and second downwardly extending curved lips. A first leg having a first foot member and a first curved flange is attached to the first lip. The first flange includes a plurality of slots which allow the first leg to be pivotally rotated to position the first foot member at various different angles as desired. A second leg is attached to the second lip of the mounting base. The second leg includes a second foot member and a curved flange which includes a plurality of slots. The slots of the second flange permit the second foot member to be pivotally rotated to position the second foot member at various different angles as desired. Each foot member may include an adhesive material to adhesively secure the vibrator mounting arrangement to the mounting surface of the object to be vibrated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a vibrator mounting arrangement which 
is adapted to attach a vibrator to an object to be vibrated and, in 
particular, to a vibrator mounting arrangement which is adapted to be 
attached to an object having one of a plurality of different surface 
configurations. 
Vibrators are typically attached to silos, hoppers, chutes, pipes, 
machinery and other objects and structures to facilitate the flow of 
material therethrough. The surface to which a vibrator is mounted may have 
various different configurations such as a planar surface, a circularly or 
cylindrically curved surface, or a conically curved surface. Not only does 
the mounting surface configuration to which a vibrator is attached vary, 
between the planar, cylindrical and conical surfaces, but the cylindrical 
and conical mounting surfaces also may vary in configuration due to 
differences in the diameter or radius of the curve which forms the 
mounting surface and differences in the slopes of the conical mounting 
surfaces. 
In addition, the mounting surface of an object may be made of various 
different materials such as steel, stainless steel or non-metallic 
materials such as plastic or fiberglass. It is often impractical or 
impossible to drill holes through the mounting surface to permit the 
attachment of a vibrator to a mounting surface with fasteners. While a 
mounting arrangement can be welded to a steel mounting surface, there are 
situations wherein the arc from the welding process may pose a potential 
hazard making welding infeasible. In addition, welding to stainless steel 
is difficult and is not feasible with non-metallic materials. There is 
also often a need to temporarily mount a vibrator to an object until it is 
feasible to permanently mount the vibrator at a later time. The present 
invention provides a universal vibrator mounting arrangement for quickly 
and easily attaching a vibrator to the surface of an object which may be 
configured in various different shapes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A vibrator mounting arrangement is provided for attaching a vibrator to the 
surface of an object which may be configured in various different manners 
including planar surfaces and various types of curved surfaces. The 
mounting arrangement include s a mounting base adapted to receive the 
vibrator for attachment thereto. The mounting base includes a first curved 
lip and a second curved lip. The first and second curved lips may extend 
generally parallel to one another or may be set at an angle to one another 
in the gen erally V-shaped arrangement. A first leg is adjustably attached 
to the first lip and a second leg is adjustably attached to the second 
lip. The first leg includes a first foot member which is adapted to be 
attached to the mounting surface of the object and a first curved flange 
having a plurality of elongate slots. The first curved flange is attached 
to the first lip by fasteners which extend through the slots. The slots of 
the first curved flange provide selective pivotal movement of the first 
foot member with respect to the mounting base. 
A second leg is attached to the second lip of the mounting base. The second 
leg includes a second foot member which is adapted to be attached to the 
mounting surface and a second curved flange including a plurality of 
elongate slots. The second flange is attached to the second lip by 
fasteners which extend through the slots. The slots of the second curved 
flange provide selective pivotal movement of the second foot member with 
respect to the mounting base. The first and second foot members may be 
pivoted from a position wherein the foot members are generally co-planar 
to various different angular orientations relative to one another such 
that the feet may be attached to objects having planar mounting surfaces 
or curved mounting surfaces having curvatures of various different radii. 
An adhesive material is attached to the first foot member and also to the 
second foot member such that the vibrator mounting arrangement may be 
adhesively attached to the mounting surface of the object to be vibrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A vibrator mounting arrangement 10 of the present invention is shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2 mounting a vibrator 12 to a structure or object 14 to be 
vibrated having a generally circularly or cylindrically curved mounting 
surface 16. The object 14 includes a central longitudinal axis 18. The 
mounting surface 16 is curved in a circular or cylindrical shape having a 
radius R extending from the longitudinal axis 18 to the mounting surface 
16. The vibrator 12 may be one of various different well known types of 
vibrators, such as nonimpacting vibrators, and may be electrically or 
pneumatically operated. One the of vibrator 12 that may be advantageously 
used with the mounting arrangement 10 is a Findeva FP vibrator distributed 
by Martin Engineering Company, applicant herein. The object 14 may be a 
silo, tank, hopper, pipe or any other structure. 
As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mounting arrangement 10 includes a 
mounting base 26 having a first end 28 and a second end 30. The mounting 
base 26 includes a generally rectangular and planar platform 32. The 
platform 32 includes an aperture 38 which is adapted to receive a fastener 
40 for removably fastening the vibrator 12 to the platform 32. The 
platform 32 may include additional apertures in various arrangements to 
accommodate the attachment of the vibrator 12 to the platform 32. The 
platform 32 includes a first generally linear edge 34 and a spaced apart 
and generally parallel linear edge 36. The mounting base 26 also includes 
a lip 42 which extends downwardly from and along the first edge 34 of the 
platform 32 between the first end 28 and second end 30 of the mounting 
base 26. The lip 42 is curved along its length in the shape of a circular 
arc extending about a longitudinal axis 44 which extends generally 
parallel to the first edge 34 of the platform 32. If desired the lip 42 
could be generally planar. The lip 42 includes a plurality of spaced apart 
apertures 46. 
A lip 50 extends downwardly from and along the second edge 36 of the 
platform 32 between the first end 28 and the second end 30 of the mounting 
base 26. The lip 50 is curved along its length in the shape of a circular 
arc extending about a longitudinal axis 52 which extends generally 
parallel to the second edge 36 of the platform 32 and the longitudinal 
axis 44. The lip 50 includes a plurality of apertures 54 which are spaced 
along the length of the lip 50. 
A leg 60 having a first end 62 and a second end 64 is adjustably attached 
to the outside surface of the lip 42 of the mounting base 26. The leg 60 
includes a generally rectangular and planar foot member 66 which extends 
between the first end 62 and the second end 64 of the leg 60. The foot 
member 66 may include a plurality of apertures 68. The leg 60 also 
includes a curved flange 70 which is rigidly attached to the foot member 
66. The flange 70 is curved along its length in the shape of an arc of a 
circle formed about the longitudinal axis 44 such that the inner surface 
71 of the flange 70 has approximately the same radius of curvature as the 
outside surface of the lip 42 and conforms to the curvature of the lip 42. 
The flange 70 includes a plurality of spaced apart elongated slots 72. The 
slots 72 are elongated in a direction which is generally perpendicular to 
the longitudinal length of the flange 70. The slots 72 of the flange 70 
are aligned in registration with the apertures 46 in the lip 42 of the 
mounting base 26. The leg 60 is adjustably attached to the mounting base 
26 by fasteners 74, such as nuts and bolts, which extend through the slots 
72 and apertures 46. Each fastener 74 has a longitudinal axis 75 as 
illustrated in FIG. 4. When the fasteners 74 are loosened, the fasteners 
74 are slidable within the slots 72 between the opposing ends of the slots 
such that the leg 60 and foot member 66 may be pivoted or rotated about 
the longitudinal axis 44 to selectively provide various different angular 
orientations of the foot member 66 as desired. The slots 72 are slightly 
wider than the diameter of the fasteners 74 extending therethrough such 
that the foot member 66 may be rotated or pivoted a short distance about 
an axis which is substantially parallel to the axes 75 of the fasteners 
74. The flange 70 and the lip 42 are preferably made of relatively thin 
and flexible metal, such as eleven gauge stainless steel, such that any 
resulting misalignment between the curvature of the flange 70 with the lip 
42 can be accommodated by the flexing of the flange 70 and/or the lip 42. 
When the fasteners 74 are tightened, the foot member 66 is selectively 
rigidly retained in the desired orientation. 
The mounting arrangement 10 also includes a leg 80 which extends between a 
first end 82 and a second end 84 which is constructed substantially 
identically to the leg 60. The leg 80 is adjustably attached to the 
outside surface of the lip 50 of the mounting base 26. The leg 80 includes 
a generally rectangular and planar foot member 86 which extends between 
the first end 82 and the second end 84 of the leg 80. The foot member 86 
may include one or more apertures 88. The leg 80 also includes a curved 
flange 90 which is rigidly attached to the foot member 86. The flange 90 
is curved along its length in the shape of an arc of a circle formed about 
the longitudinal axis 52 such that the inner surface 91 of the flange 90 
has approximately the same radius of curvature as the outside surface of 
the lip 50. The flange 90 includes a plurality of spaced apart elongated 
slots 92. The slots 92 are elongated in a direction which is generally 
perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the flange 90. The slots 72 
are aligned in registration with the apertures 54 in the lip 50 of the 
mounting base 26. The flange 90 is adjustably attached to the lip 50 with 
fasteners 94, such as nuts and bolts, which extend through the slots 92 
and apertures 54. Each fastener 94 has a longitudinal axis 95 as shown in 
FIG. 4. When the fasteners 94 are loosened, the fasteners 94 are slidable 
within the slots 92 between the opposing ends of the slots such that the 
leg 80 and foot member 86 may be rotated or pivoted about the longitudinal 
axis 52 to selectively provide various different angular orientations of 
the foot member 86 as desired. The slots 92 are slightly wider than the 
diameter of the fasteners 94 extending therethrough such that the foot 
member 86 may be rotated or pivoted a short distance about an axis which 
is substantially parallel to the axes 95 of the fasteners 94. The flange 
90 and the lip 50 are preferably made of relatively thin and flexible 
metal, such as eleven gauge stainless steel, such that any resulting 
misalignment between the curvature of the flange 90 with the lip 50 can be 
accommodated by the flexing of the flange 90 and/or the lip 50. When the 
fasteners 94 are tightened, the foot member 86 is selectively rigidly 
retained in the desired orientation. 
An adhesive material 98, such as a double-sided adhesive pad, may be 
adhesively secured to the bottom surface of the foot members 66 and 86. 
The adhesive material 98 may include a peelably removable cover strip (not 
shown) to prevent premature adherence of the adhesive material 98 to any 
other objects. The adhesive material 98 may be one of various different 
types of adhesives which are well known such as a double coated foam tape 
as supplied by 3M. 
In operation, the vibrator 12 is attached to the platform 32 of the 
mounting base 26. Alternatively, the vibrator 12 may be attached to the 
mounting arrangement 10 after the mounting arrangement 10 has been 
attached to the object 14. The fasteners 74 and 94 are initially loosened 
such that the leg 60 may be pivoted about the longitudinal axis 44, with 
the fasteners 74 sliding within the slots 72, and such that the leg 80 may 
be pivoted about the longitudinal axis 52, with the fasteners 94 sliding 
within the slots 92. The mounting arrangement 10 may then be placed 
adjacent to the mounting surface 16 of the object 14. The legs 60 and 80 
may then be selectively pivoted to orient the feet 66 and 86 to respective 
angular positions wherein the feet 66 and 86 have the greatest surface 
contact with the mounting surface 16, generally the positions where the 
feet 66 and 86 are substantially tangential to the mounting surface 16. 
The fasteners 74 and 94 are then tightened to retain the feet 66 and 86 in 
the desired orientation. The protective cover strips (not shown) may then 
be removed from the adhesive material 98. The mounting arrangement 10 is 
then pressed against the mounting surface 16 such that the adhesive 
material 98 secures the feet 66 and 86, and thereby the mounting 
arrangement 10, to the mounting surface 16. If desired, and where 
conditions permit, the mounting arrangement 10 may be attached to the 
mounting surface 16 with fasteners extending through the apertures 68 and 
88 which are located in the feet 66 and 86. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the feet 66 and 86 of the mounting arrangement 10 may 
be oriented generally co-planar to one another such that the mounting 
arrangement 10 may be attached to a generally planar mounting surface. As 
shown in FIG. 2, the mounting arrangement 10, through the pivoting of the 
feet 66 and 86 to various different angular orientations relative to one 
another, may be attached to a circularly or cylindrically curved mounting 
surface 16 of substantially any radius R which is generally convex. The 
mounting arrangement 10 may also be attached to concavely curved surfaces 
by increasing the length of the flanges 70 and 90 and the slots 72 and 92 
from that shown in FIG. 4. 
A modified embodiment of the vibrator mounting arrangement is shown in 
FIGS. 6-9 and is identified with the reference numeral 100. As shown in 
FIG. 6, the mounting arrangement 100 is particularly adapted to attach the 
vibrator 12 to an object 101 having curved mounting surface 102 which is 
generally conical in shape. The object 101 includes a central longitudinal 
axis 104 such that the mounting surface is located at a radius R from the 
longitudinal axis 104. The length of the radius R varies along the length 
of the longitudinal axis 104. 
As best shown in FIG. 7, the mounting arrangement 100 includes a mounting 
base 110 having a first end 112 and a second end 114. The mounting base 
110 includes a platform 116 which is generally triangular and planar. The 
platform 116 includes a first edge 118 and a second edge 120. The first 
edge 118 and the second edge 120 are oriented at an angle to one another 
in a generally V-shaped arrangement. The mounting base 110 includes a lip 
122 which extends downwardly from and along the first edge 118 of the 
platform 116. The lip 122 includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures 
124 and is concavely curved along its length in the shape of a circular 
arc formed about a longitudinal axis 126. The mounting base 110 also 
includes a lip 130 which extends downwardly from and along the second edge 
120 of the platform 116. The lip 130 includes a plurality of spaced apart 
apertures 132. The lip 130 is concavely curved along its length in the 
shape of a circular arc formed about a longitudinal axis 134. 
The mounting arrangement 100 also includes a leg 140 which is constructed 
substantially identical to the legs 60 and 80 of the mounting arrangement 
10. The leg 140 includes a foot member 142 having a plurality of spaced 
apart apertures 144 and a curved flange 146 having a plurality of 
elongated slots 148. The flange 146 is concavely curved along its length 
in the shape of a circular arc formed about the longitudinal axis 126. The 
flange 146 is adjustably attached to the lip 122 by fasteners 150 which 
extend through the slots 148 and apertures 124. The flange 146 and foot 
member 142 are thereby selectively rotatable or pivotal about the 
longitudinal axis 126 such that the foot member 142 may be oriented in 
various different angular positions as desired. The foot member 142 may 
also be slightly pivoted about an axis which is generally transverse to 
the axis 126. 
The mounting arrangement 100 also includes a leg 156 which is constructed 
substantially identically to the legs 60 and 80 of the mounting 
arrangement 10. The leg 156 includes a foot member 158 having a plurality 
of apertures 160. The leg 156 also includes a curved flange 162 having a 
plurality of elongate slots 164. The flange 162 is curved along its length 
in the shape of a circular arc extending about the longitudinal axis 134. 
The flange 162 is adjustably attached to the lip 130 by fasteners 166 
which extend through the slots 164 and the apertures 132. The leg 156 and 
the foot member 158 are rotatable or pivotal about the axis 134 such that 
the foot member 158 may be orientated in various angular positions as 
desired. The foot member 158 may also be slightly pivoted about an axis 
which is generally transverse to the axis 134. An adhesive material 170 
may be attached to the lower surface of the foot members 142 and 158. 
The feet 142 and 158 of the mounting arrangement 100 are pivotal about 
respective axes 126 and 134 which are disposed at an angle to one another 
in a generally V-shaped arrangement as best shown in FIG. 7. The mounting 
arrangement 100 is thereby particularly well suited for attaching a 
vibrator 12 to a curved mounting surface 102 which is generally conical. 
The shape of the platform 116 of the mounting arrangement 100 may be 
varied as desired to orient the rotational axes 126 and 134, and the feet 
142 and 158, at various different angles relative to each other as 
desired. As best shown in FIG. 8, the mounting arrangement 100 may also be 
mounted to a generally planar mounting surface. 
Another modified embodiment of the vibrator mounting arrangement is shown 
in FIG. 10 and is designated with the reference numeral 180. The mounting 
arrangement 180 includes a mounting base 182. The mounting base 182 
includes a first platform 184 and a second platform 186. The platform 184 
is pivotally attached to the platform 186 by a fastener 188, such as a 
rivet or bolt and nut. The platforms 184 and 186 are pivotal with respect 
to one another about an axis 190 which extends longitudinally through the 
fastener 188. The platform 184 includes a plurality of curved slots 192 
which are curved along an arc of a circle which extends about the axis 
190. Fasteners 194 extend through circular apertures in the second 
platform 186 and through the curved slots 192. The fasteners 194 are 
selectively slidable within the curved slots 192 between the opposite ends 
thereof. The first platform 184 may include only one curved slot 192 or 
additional curved slots 192 as desired. The second platform 186 may also 
include curved slots rather than the circular apertures through which the 
fasteners 194 extend. 
The first platform 184 includes a curved lip 196 and the second platform 
186 includes a curved lip 198. A first leg 200, which is constructed 
substantially identically to the leg 60, is adjustably attached to the 
curved lip 196 with fasteners 202. The leg 200 is selectively rotatable or 
pivotal about a longitudinal axis 204. A second leg 210, which is 
constructed substantially identically to the leg 80, is adjustably 
attached to the curved lip 198 with fasteners 212. The leg 210 is 
selectively rotatable or pivotal about a longitudinal axis 214. 
When the fasteners 194 are loosened, the first platform 184 and second 
platform 186 may be selectively pivoted about the axis 190 relative to one 
another such that the axes 204 and 214 may selectively be oriented 
generally parallel to one another, for mounting to planar or cylindrically 
curved mounting surfaces, or at various different angles relative to one 
another as desired for mounting to planar or conically curved mounting 
surfaces. Once the platforms 184 and 186 are oriented in the desired 
position, the fasteners 194 are then tightened to retain the platforms 184 
and 186 in the desired position. The legs 200 and 210 of the mounting 
arrangement 180 may be adjusted as in the mounting arrangements 10 and 
100. The platforms 184 and 186 also include apertures (not shown), which 
may be curved slots, for mounting a vibrator to the mounting base 182. 
Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and 
described in connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention, 
however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely 
illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest 
interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.