Abstract:
A compact shock and vibration isolation system wherein a plurality of shock mounts are cantileverly and symmetrically positioned between an outer member and an inner member which is centrally positioned with respect to the outer member to enable the equipment located thereon to assist in attention of shock and vibration.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to shock and vibration isolation systems and more specifically to a compact symmetrical shock and vibration isolation system that provides three axis isolation for shock and vibration. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The concept of shock isolation systems is known in the art. Typically, shock mounts support a cabinet or workstation through a set of shock mounts that enable an external shock to the system to be attenuated by the shock mounts before it damages equipment mounted in the cabinet or the workstation. 
   The present invention comprises an improved shock and vibration isolation system wherein a plurality of shock mounts arranged in symmetrical condition provide for three axis shock and vibration protection while at the same time providing a compact system wherein the system can utilize the interaction between adjacent components to assist in attenuation of shocks and vibrations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention comprises a compact shock and vibration isolation system whereby a plurality of shock mounts are cantileverly and symmetrically positioned between an outer member and an inner member which is centrally positioned with respect to the outer member to enable the equipment located thereon to assist in attention of shock and vibration. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side section view of a compact shock and vibration system having a radially extending platform; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the compact shock and vibration system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is top view of a compact shock and vibration system having cabinets peripherally positioned about a center support; 
       FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the compact shock and vibrations system of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is top view of a compact shock and vibration system having a rectangular platform cantileverly supported by a center member; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a cylindrical compact shock and vibration system with a shock and vibration isolation compartment located centrally within an outer cylindrical support; and 
       FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of the compact shock and vibration system of FIG.  6 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of a compact shock and vibration system  10  having a radially extending platform  12 . A rigid mounted center pole  13  extends vertically upward through a central opening  11  in platform  12 . Shock and vibrations, which are received by center pole  13 , are isolated from the platform  12  by the symmetrical positioning of radially extending shock mounts  18 ,  19 ,  20  and  21  (see FIG.  2 ). Opening  11  provides sufficient radially spacing between center pole  13  and platform  12  so that a shock or vibration to the center pole  13  does not produce platform displacement sufficient to produce direct contact between the center pole  13  and platform  13 .  FIG. 1  shows that cantileverly extending outward from center pole  13  are elastomeric shock mounts  18  and  19  that each have one end fixedly secured to pole  13  and the other end fixedly secured to platform  12 . A first workstation  27  and a second workstation  28  are shown mounted on platform  12 . 
     FIG. 2  is a top view of the compact shock and vibration system of  FIG. 1  showing four elastomeric shock mounts  18 ,  19 ,  20  and  21  radially and symmetrically positioned about center pole  13 , much like the spokes on a wheel. Each of elastomeric shock mounts  20  and  21  have one end fixedly secured to pole  13  and the other end fixedly secured to platform  12 . Platform  12 , which extends radially outward from the center pole  13 , includes a first workstation  25 , a second workstation  26 , a third workstation  27  and a fourth workstation  28 . Each of the workstations are symmetrically positioned around the periphery of platform  12  as are the elastomeric shock mounts  18 ,  19 ,  20  and  21 . 
   In order to provide compactness to the system the workstations can be partially or fully mounted in the radial sector spaces extending between adjacent radially extending elastomers shock mounts.  FIG. 2  illustrates that workstation  27  is partially mounted within the radial sector space  12   a , which is located between radially extending elastomer shock mounts  19  and  20 . Similarly, workstation  26  is partially mounted within the radial sector space  12   b  which is located between elastomeric shock mounts  20  and  21 , workstation  25  is partially mounted within the radial sector space  12   c , which is located between elastomeric shock mounts  21  and  18 , and workstation  28  is partially mounted within the radial sector space  12   d , which is located between elastomeric shock mounts  18  and  19 . 
   By placing the workstations partially or completely within the radial sector spaces one can increase the compactness of the shock and vibrations isolation system. System  10  allows the inertia of the multiple workstation to provide greater stability in the platform  12  by the static coupling of the workstations about a common axis through center pole  13 . In addition, the symmetrical positioning of both the elastomeric shock mounts and the workstation ensures that there is equivalent shock and vibration attenuation from any direction normal to the longitudinal axis of center pole  13 . A further feature of system  10  is that each of the workstation are readily accessible for maintenance since the workstations are mounted on top of the platform  12 . 
     FIG. 3  is top view of an alternate embodiment of a compact shock and vibration system  30  having a peripheral cabinet  31  positioned about a center support  32 . Peripheral cabinet  30  is shown partially supported by a first set of upper elastomeric shock mounts  40  comprising elastomeric shock mounts  32 ,  33 ,  34  and  35 . The first elastomer shock mount  33  has a first end secured to outer peripheral cabinet  31  and a second end secured to center post  32  to provide partial cantilever support to peripheral cabinet  31 . Similarly, second elastomer shock mount  34  has a first end secured to outer peripheral cabinet  31  and a second end secured to center post  32  to provide partial cantilever support to peripheral cabinet  31 , third elastomer shock mount  35  has a first end secured to outer peripheral cabinet  31  and a second end secured to center post  32  to provide partial cantilever support to peripheral cabinet  31  and fourth elastomer shock mount  34  has a first end secured to outer peripheral cabinet  31  and a second end secured to center post  32  to provide partial cantilever support to peripheral cabinet  31  with the four symmetrical positioned elastomeric shock mounts coacting to normally maintain the peripheral cabinet  31  in a concentric position with respect to center mounting post  32 . 
     FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the compact shock and vibrations system of  FIG. 3  illustrating that the peripheral cabinets  31  extend vertically along the center post  32  to provide for vertical storage space within the cabinets. In the embodiments shown the peripheral cabinet  31  includes a second set of elastomer shock mounts  40   a  which are identical to the first set of elastomer shock mounts  40 . The purpose of the second set of shock mounts is to provide for spaced elastomeric support along an axis  32   a  through post  32 , thus enabling the support of an elongated peripheral cabinet  31  therearound. 
   In the embodiment shown in FIG.  3  and  FIG. 4  the elongated peripheral cabinet  31  is located radially exterior of the elastomer shock mounts with the elastomeric shock mounts cantileverly mounted and symmetrical spaced with the elastomeric shock mounts positioned at an approximate 45 degree angle so as to provide shock and vibration isolation in all three mutually coordinate axis. 
     FIG. 5  is top view of a compact shock and vibration system  50  having a horizontal extending rectangular platform  51  positioned normally outward of and cantileverly supported by a center member  52 . Member  52  comprises an elongated wall with a first elastomeric mount  53  having a first end connected to platform  51  and second end connected to member  52 . A second elastomer member  54  has a first end connected to platform  51  and as second end connected to center member  52 . On the opposite side of system  50  a third elastomeric mount  55  having a first end connected to platform  51   a  and second end connected to member  52 . A second elastomer member  54  has a first end connected to platform  51  and as second end connected to center member  52 . System  50  provides for symmetrical positioning of elastomeric shock mounts on each side of wall  52  so that the platform  51   a , which connects to platform  51  thorough supports  51   c  and  51   d  moves as a unit to thereby cause the inertia of objects on the platform to aid in shock and vibration attenuation. 
     FIG. 6  is a top view of compact cylindrical shock and vibration system  60  with a shock and vibration isolation compartment  61  located centrally within an outer cylindrical support member  62 , which may be a silo or the like. In the embodiment shown a plurality of elastomeric shock mounts  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65 ,  66  and  67  each extend radially outward from a central cabinet  61  to outer support member  61  to provide central support to cabinet  61 . Each of the elastomeric shock mounts are symmetrical positioned to provide symmetrical shock and vibration attenuation to the payload in the cabinet  61  and each of the shock mounts have one end affixed to member  62  and the opposite end affixed to cabinet  61 . 
     FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of the compact shock and vibration system  60  of  FIG. 6  with the central cabinet  61  positioned along a vertical axis  69 . In this embodiment the protected payload, which is located within central cabinet  61 , receives symmetrical peripheral support from each of the elastomeric shock mounts as they coact to attenuate shock and vibrations to the cabinet  61  from radial directions as well as along the vertical axis  69 . In system  60  the elongated elastomeric shock mounts are positioned to extend longitudinally between the central cabinet  61  and the outer member  62  which can be rigidly mounted. Access to central cabinet can be obtained through the sector spaces  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73  or  74  which are located between each of the adjacent radially extending elastomeric shock mounts. 
   Thus the present invention comprises a shock and vibration system for symmetrical isolation of shocks. The system includes a first member having an interior space, a second member, with the second member positioned interiorly with respect to the first member and a plurality of elastomeric shock mounts, each of the plurality of elastomeric shock mounts having a first end connected to the first member and a second end connected to the second member with each of the elastomeric shock mounts symmetrical positioned in the interior space to thereby provide either shock or vibration isolation or both between the first member and the second member. The present invention also provides a method of shock and vibration attenuation between a first member and a second member by placing a second member interior to a first member; and symmetrically positioning and mounting a plurality of elastomeric shock mounts between the second member and the first member with each of the elastomeric shock mounts cantileverly extending between the second member and the first member to provide cantilevered support thereto.