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WO-2026096021-A1 - HIGH DAMPED ELASTOMER HIGH ENERGY ROPE MOUNT ISOLATOR

WO2026096021A1WO 2026096021 A1WO2026096021 A1WO 2026096021A1WO-2026096021-A1

Abstract

A high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator is described. Two mounting bars are strategically positioned to interconnect the turns of a single-strand or multi-strand cable in two diametrically opposite zones. The mounting bars may include mounting holes to fasten the isolator to a load and/or a floor. The mounting bars may further have mounting holes for screws to fasten the cable in place. The cable and the mounting bars are encapsulated by a high damped elastomer compound providing an isolator with significantly higher damping characteristics than traditional rope mount isolators, while limiting negative performance effects due to temperature, flammability, and toxicity.

Inventors

  • OTT, MARK J.
  • GATES, Kathryn
  • MANTA, Timothy
  • EMMONS, Patrick D.
  • TOLSMA, Darren J.

Assignees

  • ITT ENIDINE INC

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20250724
Priority Date
20241029

Claims (17)

  1. 1. A high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator comprising: a top mounting bar; a bottom mounting bar; a cable wound between the top and bottom mounting bars, wherein the cable is passed through lateral cable holes in the top and bottom mounting bars; and an elastomer body encompassing the entire cable and at least a portion of the top and bottom mounting bars, wherein the elastomer body is arranged to enhance a friction damping characteristic of the cable with a viscoelastic damping characteristic.
  2. 2. The isolator of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars includes one or more mounting holes arranged orthogonally to the cable holes.
  3. 3. The isolator of claim 2, wherein the mounting holes of the top mounting bar are to fasten the isolator to a load, a platform, or a ceiling, and the mounting holes of the bottom mounting bar are to fasten the isolator to a wall, a platform, or a floor.
  4. 4. The isolator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars extends beyond the elastomer body on one or both sides, and an extended portion of the at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars includes at least one mounting hole.
  5. 5. The isolator of claim 1, wherein both of the top and bottom mounting bars are contained within the elastomer body.
  6. 6. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the elastomer body is manufactured using rubber, silicone, neoprene, polyurethane, urethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), thermoset, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polymer, or a combination thereof. Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1
  7. 7. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the isolator is arranged to achieve a loss factor of up to 0.8 and provide vibration and shock mitigation in a frequency range from 12 Hz to 16 Hz.
  8. 8. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom mounting bars are positioned to interconnect windings of the cable in two diametrically opposite zones.
  9. 9. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the cable is wound to form a helical structure, a spiral structure, a circular structure, or a curved structure.
  10. 10. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the cable is single-stranded or multi-stranded.
  11. 11. The isolator of claim 1, wherein one or more of a type, a size, or a loop number of the cable is selected based on a size of a load and an expected damping.
  12. 12. The isolator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars comprise two portions and are arranged to fasten the cable through clamping between the two portions.
  13. 13. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom mounting bars are arranged to fasten the cable through crimping.
  14. 14. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom mounting bars and the cable are manufactured using a metal or a metal alloy.
  15. 15. The isolator of claim 1, wherein a vibration stiffness value (Kv) and an average shock stiffness value (Ks) of the isolator is tunable by altering one or more of a cable size, a number of cable windings, or an elastomer compound property.
  16. 16. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the isolator is arranged to be mounted for one of a compression deflection, a 45-degree compression / roll deflection, a fixed shear deflection, or a fixed roll deflection. Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1
  17. 17. A method for manufacturing a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator according to any of the claims 1 through 16.

Description

Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1 HIGH DAMPED ELASTOMER HIGH ENERGY ROPE MOUNT ISOLATOR CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/713,214 filed on October 29, 2024. The disclosures of the Provisional Application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section. [0003] Standard wire rope isolators are comprised of metal stranded cable threaded through metallic retaining bars that are mounted for effective shock and vibration isolation. Non-standard wire ropes isolators may alter the cable material, the retaining bar material, and number of wire rope loops to meet specific application needs. Wire rope isolators may be used in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, pump, generator & compressor isolation, shipping cases, skids & containers, chemical processing equipment, carts, transporters & gurneys, chimneys, scrubbers & vessels, power plant piping suspension, over-the-road transport, navigation equipment, transportable shelters, electronic cabinets, and seismic isolation. SUMMARY [0004] The present disclosure generally describes a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator. [0005] According to some examples, a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator may include a top mounting bar; a bottom mounting bar; a cable wound between the top and bottom mounting bars, where the cable is passed through lateral cable holes in the top and bottom mounting bars; and an elastomer body encompassing the entire cable and at least a portion of the top and bottom mounting bars, where the elastomer body is arranged to enhance a friction damping characteristic of the cable with a viscoelastic damping characteristic. Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1 [0006] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1A through 1C illustrate various views of an example high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator; FIG. 2 illustrates example corrosion resistant, all-metal construction helical rope mount isolators without the elastomer; FIG. 3 A through 3C illustrate various views of helical rope mount isolators without the elastomer; FIG. 4A through 4C illustrate example types of high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolators; and FIG. 5 illustrates load axis definitions, deflection considerations, and typical mounting orientations for a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator, all arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0008] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1 subject matter presented herein. The aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein. [0009] This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator designed to reduce the harmful effects of shock and vibration. [0010] FIG. 1A through 1C illustrate various views of an example high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. [0011] Diagram 100A shows a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator. As mentioned herein, standard wire rope isolators include metal stranded cable threaded through metallic retaining bars that are mounted for effective shock and vibration isolation. Elastomer encompassed wire rope isolators provide environment