Chassis for transportable mounting of vibrating equipment

A chassis for the transportable mounting of vibrating equipment includes a main frame for supporting the vibrating machinery, a ground engaging wheel assembly at one end of the main frame, a ground engaging support bracket member positioned at the opposed end of the main frame, and a point coupling member for connecting the bracket member to the main frame. The coupling member includes an elastomeric, generally disk-shaped damping member interposed between the main frame and the support bracket at the intersection of the support bracket with the center line of the main frame. A threaded bolt and nut assembly is received through the damping member for adjustable compression of the damping member. The support bracket is received through notches in downwardly depending side flanges of the main frame, limiting the range of relative motion between the main frame and the support bracket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to devices for mounting vibrating machinery. 
More specifically, the present invention relates to a chassis especially 
adapted for the mounting of self-powered pieces of equipment, such as a 
leaf or chip shredder, on to an easily transportable frame. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART 
Equipment powered by rotating prime movers is commonplace in both 
industrial and domestic settings. While such prime movers provide 
efficient sources of operating power, they have the drawback of imparting 
unwanted vibration to the equipment and supporting frames to which they 
are attached. The unwanted vibration can lead to metal fatigue and 
reduction of the life span of the machine. Moreover, the vibrations often 
result in unwanted movement of the equipment over the ground, floor or 
other support surface while the equipment is being operated. While 
movement of the equipment or machinery can be prevented by securing the 
support assembly that the equipment is mounted on to the ground, floor or 
other operating surface, the need to secure and unsecure portable 
equipment to its operating surface before and after it is operated 
detracts from the very portability for which the equipment is designed. 
Shredding equipment used for grinding bushes, branches, or other organic 
matter into small pieces is an example of a self-powered, vibrating piece 
of equipment. Representative designs of such shredding equipment are 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,240,247, 3,861,603, 3,907,216, 4,773,601, 
and 5,018,672. As will be appreciated, shredding equipment must be 
portable so as to be transportable from job site to job site where 
shredding is to be accomplished. The source of operating power for such 
shredding machines is generally an internal combustion engine. The 
vibration imparted to the shredder by the operation of the engine, as well 
as the vibration caused by the shredding assembly of the machine, can 
cause unwanted and dangerous movement of the shredder along the ground as 
it is operated. 
A mounting assembly for mounting vibrating machinery to a portable frame 
that would enable the machinery to operate without vibration-induced 
movement over the ground, floor or other operating surface would provide 
decided advantages. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The problems outlined above are in large measure solved by the chassis for 
transportable mounting of vibrating equipment in accordance with the 
present invention. The chassis is especially designed to dampen the 
transmission of vibration produced by the mounted equipment to the main 
frame supporting the equipment such that vibration-induced movement of the 
equipment over the ground, floor, or other operating surface is 
negligible. 
The chassis hereof comprises a main frame for supporting the vibrating 
machinery, a ground engaging wheel assembly at one end of the main frame, 
a ground engaging support bracket member positioned at the opposed end of 
the main frame, and a point coupling member for connecting the bracket 
member to the main frame. The coupling member includes an elastomeric, 
generally disk-shaped damping member interposed between the main frame and 
the support bracket at the intersection of the support bracket with the 
center line of the main frame. A threaded bolt and nut assembly is 
received through the damping member for adjustable compression of the 
damping member. The support bracket is received through notches in 
downwardly depending side flanges of the main frame, limiting the range of 
relative motion between the main frame and the support bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like 
elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the components 
comprising the apparatus of the present invention. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a portable chassis 10 used for transporting and 
mounting vibrating equipment is depicted with a wood chip shredder 12 
mounted thereon. Wood chip shredder 12 broadly includes output chute 14, 
input bin 16, internal grinding apparatus (not shown), a gasoline powered 
prime mover 18, and impeller housing 20. 
The portable chassis 10 in accordance with the present invention broadly 
comprises a main frame 22, a wheel assembly 24, a support bracket member 
26, a towing bar hitch 28, a coupling member 30, and a handle 32. 
Main frame 22 is generally planar and rectangular in shape, although the 
shape can be varied to adapt to the type of equipment which will be 
supported thereon. Main frame 22 has a first end 34 and a second end 36. 
Opposed, generally parallel main frame side margins 38,40 extend between 
first and second main frame ends 34, 36. The main frame presents a lower 
surface 42 and an upper surface 43. Main frame center line C extends 
between first end 34 and second end 36 of main frame 22. 
Opposed side flanges 44, 45 depend downwardly from side margins 38, 40 of 
main frame 22. Side flanges 44, 45 include opposed, support bracket member 
receiving notches 46, 47 adjacent the first end 34 of main frame 22. 
Notches 46, 47 each present fore and aft abutment margins 48, 49, and 
upper abutment margin 50. Handle 32 is attached to side margins 44, 45 
near first end 34 of main frame 22. 
Wheel assembly 24 comprises a pair of opposed wheels 51, 51a which are 
rotatably mounted on a common axle 52. Common axle 52 has a first end 
attached to the left wheel 51 and a second end attached to the right wheel 
51a. Common axle 52 is supported by and extends through side flanges 44, 
45. Supporting gussets 54, 56 extend from the first end and the second end 
of common axle 52 to side flanges 44, 45. 
Support bracket member 26 comprises a lowermost ground engaging channel 58, 
an upper main frame attachment channel 60, and side channels 62, 63. Side 
channels 62, 63 slope downwardly and outwardly from main frame attachment 
channel 60 toward ground engaging channel 58. Ground engaging channel 58 
extends transversely and normal to the center line of main frame 22 and 
outwardly beyond side margins 44, 45. As best depicted in FIG. 3, the 
support bracket member presents a trapezoidal profile. Support flanges 64, 
66 extend between side channels 62, 63 and ground engaging side 58. 
Support bracket member side channels 62, 63 are received within notches 
46, 47 on side margins 44, 45. Abutment margins 48, 49, 50 are spaced 
apart from the support bracket member side channels 62, 63. Support 
bracket member 26 is securely attached to main frame 22 by coupling member 
30 along the center line of main frame 22. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, coupling member 30 comprises vibration damper 
element 68, hinge plate extension 70, and threaded connector bolt 72. 
Threaded connector bolt 72 is received through vibration damper element 
68, with the vibration damper element 68 positioned between the main frame 
lower surface 42 and main frame attachment channel 60 of support bracket 
member 26. The connector bolt 72 may be permanently carried by the maine 
frame 22, or may be received through an aperture (not shown) in the main 
frame 22. Connector bolt 72 extends through hinged plate extension 70, 
main frame attachment channel 60, and vibration damper element 68 at the 
intersection of the center line of main frame 22 and support bracket 
member 26. Washer 71 and tightening nut 73 are carried by threaded 
connector bolt 72. 
Vibration damper element 68 is formed from a resilient, elastomeric 
material, such as an industrial type rubber. The element 68 presents a 
disk shaped appearance having an upper annular rim 74 defining a central 
recess 76, generally planar lower surface 78, and centered, connector bolt 
receiving channel 80. 
Towing bar hitch 28 is positioned along the center line of lower surface 42 
of main frame 22. Towing hitch 28 is a two piece member comprised of hitch 
member 84 and axle member 86, which overlap and are securely coupled 
together by bolts 88. Axle member 86 is attached to common axle 52 at one 
end and to hitch member 84 at a second end by bolts 88. The two piece 
design of towing hitch 28 provides for the attachment of various sized 
hitch members 84 to adjust the length of hitch 28, as well as to provide 
for detachment of the hitch member 84 for shipping purposes. 
In operation, a piece of vibrating equipment, such as wood chip shredder 
12, is secured to upper surface 43 of main frame 22. The equipment then 
becomes easily transportable by raising support bracket member 26 off of 
the ground by lifting up handle 32 and pulling chassis 10 to the desired 
location or position on wheels 51, 51a. Alternatively, portable chassis 10 
can be hooked to a tractor or other vehicle using towing hitch 28 so that 
the support bracket member 26 is raised off of the ground or operating 
surface and moved to the location or position desired. Towing bar hitch 28 
transmits the towing forces from hitch member 84 to main frame 22 through 
axle member 86. 
The mounting system of the present invention can be adjusted to compensate 
for different levels of vibration by adjusting the amount of compression 
exerted on vibration damper element 68. More particularly, nut 73 can be 
tightened against washer 71 and hinge plate extension 70, thereby 
compressing the element 68 and effectively altering the hardness of the 
damper element 68. Alternatively, nut 73 can be loosened, thereby easing 
the compression of element 68 such that vibration damper element 68 will 
absorb more of the vibration produced by the machinery. It will be 
apparent from viewing the drawings that the damper element 68 can be 
easily replaced by removing the nut 73 from the bolt 72, and disassembling 
the element 68 from the bolt 72. 
Notches 46, 47 in side margins 44, 45 of main frame 22 limit the range of 
motion of main frame 22 relative to the bracket member 26. Referring to 
FIG. 4, if the main frame 22 is vibrating in a fore and aft motion, 
abutment margins 48, 49 will come into contact with the side channels of 
bracket member 26. Side to side motion of the main frame 22 relative to 
the bracket member 26 would also be limited by engagement of abutment 
margins 50 with the side channels of bracket member 26. Motion limitation 
of chassis 10 is important, since support bracket member 26 is connected 
to main frame 22 only through vibration damper 68. If the motion of 
chassis 10 is not limited, vibration damper 68 could be sheared, and 
connector 72 could be bent, thereby damaging the connection of support 
bracket member 26 to main frame 22. 
The mounting system of the present invention can be used for a wide variety 
of equipment and products, such as wood chip shredders, pumps, grinder 
tillers, pressure washers, and the like. Numerous characteristics and 
advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth 
in the foregoing description. It will be understood, however, that this 
disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes may be made in 
details, particularly in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts 
without exceeding the scope of the invention. The invention's scope is, of 
course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are 
expressed.