GB2132169A

GB2132169A - Adjusting height machine mounts

Info

Publication number: GB2132169A
Application number: GB08236433A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Graham Gibson
Original assignee: SILVAFLAME CO Ltd
Current assignee: SILVAFLAME CO Ltd
Priority date: 1982-12-22
Filing date: 1982-12-22
Publication date: 1984-07-04
Also published as: GB2132169B

Abstract

A mounting member for a machine or other apparatus comprising a base element (10) having a metal cap (12) incorporating a blind socket (15) and a bearer element (16) in the form of a plate (17), supported by a screw-threaded post (19) co-operating with an internally threaded sleeve (18) of the bearer element, the height of the bearer element above the base element is indicated by an indicator pin (20) bearing an analogue height marking (23) slidable frictionally in a bore (22) of the base element. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable height machine mounting members This invention relates to adjustable height machine mounting members (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) intended for use primarily with machines but capable of use with other apparatus where similar or analogous requirements arise, each such mounting member being intended for interposition between the underside of the apparatus to be supported and a floor surface, and each such mounting member comprising a base element, including a pad of resilient material, a bearer element for engaging the underside of the apparatus, and itself supported on a screw-threaded post seated on the base element and co-operating with nut means associated with the bearer element, relative rotation between the nut means and the post serving to elevate or lower the bearing element relative to the base element.

Mounting members of the kind specified are commonly employed in situations where the floor surface is not accurately horizontal.

Whereas the machine or other apparatus requires for its proper operation to be horizontal (as regards some reference surface on the appratus) or possibly have some other predetermined relation to the horizontal.

Whilst adjustment of each of the mounting members may be carried out with reference to a spirit level or some similar device applied to the reference surface of the apparatus, it can sometimes happen the desired result is not achieved in the first stage of adjustment although capable of being eventually achieved in further stages, because one or more of the mounting members is brought to its limit of adjustment in one direction or the other before the desired result is attained. This can occur when the starting position of each mounting member so far as its range of adjustment is concerned, is inappropriate.

A refinement of this problem is that in some cases the reference surface of the apparatus may be required to be adjusted to a particular height rather than simply into a parallel relationship or other predetermined angular relationship with the floor surface.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mounting member of the kind specified which is better adapted to avoid or reduce these problems than those hitherto proposed or available.

According to the invention, a mounting member of the kind specified is provided with a height indicating element associated operatively with at least one of the base and bearer elements and arranged to provide at least an approximate indication of the vertical spacing between them.

The height indicating element may comprise an indicator pin, carried by the bearer element and extending into the base element, the pin having a marking indicating the spacing between these elements.

While it would be within the scope of the invention for the height indicating element to present a height indication in the digital form, it will be found that in most cases height indication in analogue form will provide a satisfactory guide to the user as to whether each mounting member is in an appropriate starting position at the beginning of the first stage of adjustment.

In one specially advantageous form of the invention, the base element may include a blind socket of hard material in which the lower end portion of the post is received as a free or easy sliding fit, and the indicator pin may have a slidable frictional engagement with the base element, to enable it to act as a retainer for preventing inadvertent dropping off the base element. Thus, should the apparatus in question be moved by means of a crane or hoist from one position to another after the mounting menibers have been installed on such apparatus, the rick of loss of a base element is thereby avoided.

The indicator pin would conveniently be mounted at a position where it is readily visible and a preferred position is adjacent to the periphery of the bearer element.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a view in vertical cross-section through one embodiment of a mounting member of the kind specified in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary end view on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 1.

The base element 10 of the mounting member comprises a pad 11 of resilient material such as rubber, surmounted by a cap or plate 1 2 fitting closely over the upper end portion of the pad and having the function of transmitting the downward load from the apparatus on which the mounting member is used to the pad widely over the upper surface of the pad.

The plate 1 2 includes a socket 1 3 having a bottom plate 14 rendering it blind at its lower end, the outer surface of the socket 1 3 preferably incorporating grooves 1 5 of saw-tooth shape in cross-section with their steeper flanks presented upwardly to assist in retaining the pad 11 in assembled relation with the plate 12.

For supporting the apparatus, the bearer element 1 6 comprises a plate 1 7 from which protrudes an internally screw-threaded sleeve 1 8 fixed in a central hole in the plate 1 7.

A screw-threaded post in the form of a stud 1 9 has a screw-threaded engagement with the internal thread of the sleeve 1 8 and is pro vided at its upper end with a nut formation, such as a hexagonal formation, to enable it to be rotated thereby raising or lowering the plate 1 7. The plate 1 7 is provided with a height indicator pin 20 which is fixed to the plate adjacent to its periphery and projects downwardly with clearance through an opening 21 in the plate 12 and then into a bore 22 in the pad 11 in which it is a frictional sliding fit.

It would of course be possible to provide alternative forms of indicator element. For example, an outer sleeve may be provided fitting closely over the sleeve 1 8 and marked appropriately to indicate height adjustment, for example by provision of a distinctively coloured triangular formation with the apex uppermost to indicate minimum height, and base lowermost to indicate maximum height with or without mid point and porter point horizontal lines intersecting the triangle.

Insofar however as the base or lower part of the apparatus will lie above and on top of the plate 17, visibility in this region is relatively restricted and the positioning of the pin 20 at the periphery of the plate 1 7 is preferred as being more readily visible.

The stud 1 9 would ordinarily extend through an opening in a base element of the apparatus, such as a foot, and may be secured by provision of a washer and retaining nut (not shown) on the upper part of the stud.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mounting member of the kind specified wherein there is provided a height indicating element associated operatively with at least one of the base and bearer elements and arranged to provide at least an approximate indication of the vertical spacing between them.

2. A mounting member according to Claim 1 wherein the height indicating element comprises an indicator pin, carried by the bearer element and extending into the base element, the pin having a marking indicating the spacing between these elements.

3. A mounting member according to Claim 2 wherein the marking provides an analogue indication of the separation.

4. A mounting member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base element includes a blind socket of hard material in which the lower end portion of the post is received as a free or easy sliding fit and the indicator pin has a slidable frictional engagement with the base element, to enable it to act as a retainer for preventing inadvertent dropping off of the base element.

5. A mounting member according to Claim 4 wherein the indicator pin is mounted adjacent to the periphery of the bearer ele ment.

6. A mounting member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.