J. D. MARRAN
`Feb. 3, 1970
`3,493,201
`UNIVERSAL SUPPORT BASE FOR PUMPS COMPRESSORS OR THE LIKE
`Filed March 15, 1967
`
`
`
`
`
`/
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ZZ2
`
`$2 ,
`
`E. ESSSSSN
`s
`
`54
`- 34 FIG. 5
`
`36
`
`
`
`NVENTOR
`JOHN D. MARRAN
`
`Page 1 of 4
`
`

`

`United States Patent Office
`
`3,493,201
`Patented Feb. 3, 1970
`
`1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`1.
`
`3,493,201
`UNIVERSAL SUPPORT BASE FOR PUMPS,
`COMPRESSORS OR THE LIKE
`John D. Marran, Weston, Conn., assignor to The Nash
`Engineering Company, South Norwalk, Conn., a cor
`poration of Connecticut
`Filed Mar. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 623,358
`Int, C. F16m 5/00, F16b 39/00
`U.S. C. 248-19
`5 Claims
`
`ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
`A base member is provided having a flat supporting Sur
`face and two opposed longitudinal channel members in
`tegral with the underside thereof. At least two elongated,
`transverse channels having a plurality of elongated, bolt
`receiving slots are provided with their ends slideably dis
`posed in the inwardly facing longitudinal channels. Bolt
`retainers are adjustably located within transverse channels.
`Prior to final assembly the base is drilled in accordance
`with the mounting dimension of the article to be sup
`ported. The bolt retainers also serve to prevent rotational
`and longitudinal movement of the bolts.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`2
`pendicular to the movement of the transverse channels. At
`assembly the transverse channels are suitably positioned
`and spaced from each other in accordance with one
`mounting hole coordinate of the equipment to be sup
`ported. The bolt retainers in each transverse channel are
`then moved so that they are spaced in accordance with
`another mounting hole coordinate of the equipment. The
`mounting surface which was pre-drilled in accordance
`with the structure to be supported now has the apertures
`thereof in registry with elongated slots in the transverse
`channels and with the aperture in each bolt retainer in
`order to receive the mounting fasteners. Thus, a given
`size support plate may be used for a wide range of equip
`ment each piece of which could have different mounting
`dimensions. The structure of this invention is adapted to
`provide support at the precise location that it is needed.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`The present invention will be more clearly understood
`from the following description of a specific embodiment
`thereof together with the accompanying drawings.
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled support
`base in condition to receive the equipment.
`FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the support base
`shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bolt retaining means;
`FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken through a
`typical transverse channel and bolt retaining assembly;
`FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along line 5-5
`of FIG. 4;
`FIGS. 6 and 7 are pictorial views of alternative con
`structions.
`Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the support base
`is designated generally by the reference character 10, and
`it is seen to comprise a plate having a substantially flat
`top surface 11. The geometry of the plate is determined
`by the piece of equipment that is to be mounted thereon.
`Two opposed edges of the plate are bent downwardly such
`as at 12 and are then bent inwardly as shown at 14 in
`order to define opposed inwardly directed channel means
`16 that provide longitudinal stiffening. At each corner of
`the support base a hole 18 is formed through the top
`surface and through the flanges so that the support base
`may ultimately be mounted on an existing foundation.
`For transverse stiffening of the mounting surface 11,
`channel members 20 are provided in the form of elon
`gated U-shaped members having sidewalls 22 and a
`transverse web 24. In the assembled condition the ends
`of each channel 20 are slidably disposed in the opposed
`longitudinal channel members 16. A plurality of elon
`gated slots 25 and 25a to be discussed later are provided
`in Web 24 as shown in FIG. 5. When the equipment is
`assembled to the support base, the longitudinal channel
`members in combination with the transverse channel
`members provide regidizing means for the support sur
`face.
`A typical bolt retaining member is shown in FIG. 3.
`Each bolt retaining member 30 is seen to comprise a
`short channel having sidewalls 32 and 34 that are con
`nected by a transverse web 36 that includes an aperture
`37. A portion of wall 32 is slotted from one end of the
`channel in order to define a deformable tab 38. As shown
`particularly in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the width dimension
`W of the bolt retaining member is substantially the
`Same as the inside spacing of the transverse channel
`member sidewalls. This arrangement provides for sliding,
`frictional engagement between the aforementioned com
`ponents.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
`Prior art support bases have in the past been custom
`fabricated to suit the requirements of each unit that is
`mounted thereon. Normally extra material thickness and
`stiffeners were used to provide the desired rigidity char
`acteristics at the support points. Accordingly a different
`base was needed for each type of equipment and each dif
`ferent load. It will be appreciated then that the prior art
`presents a problem with the stock piling and inventory
`of the support bases since there is a large variety of
`equipment that requires this type of mounting.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is an object of this invention to provide a standard
`ized support base which is suitable for use with any one
`of many different size pieces of equipment that have
`different weight distribution characteristics.
`It is another object of this invention to provide a
`standardized support base having moveable stiffening
`means integral therewith.
`A different object is to provide a standardized support
`base having permanently located stiffening members ex
`tending in a first direction and moveable stiffening mem
`ber extending in a second perpendicular direction.
`50
`A further object of this invention is to provide bolt
`retaining means for use in combination with the move
`able stiffening members.
`With these objects in view, the present invention pro
`vides a support base that is universally adaptable to a wide
`range of equipment such as compressors, pumps or the
`like. A flat, relatively thin plate of a rigid metal is pro
`vided with two elongated, longitudinal channel members
`depending from the underside thereof along opposed side
`edges. The longitudinal channel members face inwardly
`and receive the opposed ends of downwardly facing trans
`verse channels. As will be brought out more fully here
`inafter, the ends of the transverse channels are moveable
`within the longitudinal channel members. Positioned with
`in the transverse channels are a plurality of apertured
`bolt retainers that are slideable along the length of the
`transverse channels and therefore move in a direction per
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Page 2 of 4
`
`

`

`O
`
`5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`3,498,201
`4.
`3
`gested above, then the weld should not be larger than the
`Referring now to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the present in
`stud diameter which is reduced at that point.
`vention is shown in sectional elevation with a fragmen
`The embodiment of FIG. 7 is substantially the same
`tary portion of a piece of equipment Such as a compres
`as FIG. 6 except that stiffening member 70 is welded
`sor C mounted in place. Once the four mounting points
`to the underside of plate 72 at the same time that threaded
`of the equipment are determined surface 1 of the Sup
`studs 74 are welded to the web of the stiffening mem
`port base is appropriately drilled as indicated by refer
`ber. It will be noted that in both of the last two men
`ence character 50 (FIG. 5). The two inverted channel
`tioned embodiments the holes in the plate 72 are Sone
`members 20 are moved so that slots 25 of each individual
`what larger than the stud diameter in order to permit
`channel member are registered directly under the mount
`some adjustability of the transverse stiffening channel
`ing points of the equipment. The bolt retaining members
`with respect to the support plate for the equipment.
`30 are then moved into place such that aperture 37 in the
`It will be evident from the foregoing that the present
`transverse web 36 thereof is also in registry with the holes
`invention provides a standard base which can be utilized
`in the mounting surface and the channel members. Bolts
`to support loads of various sizes and of various Weight
`54 are set into place such that the threaded shank there
`distribution. The rigidity requirements of the supporting
`of traverses aperture 37, the registered holes 50 and
`base are provided by the transverse U-shaped channels
`slots 25 with the head of the bolt disposed between the
`that are slideably disposed beneath the support surface
`side walls of the retaining member. It will be seen that
`and which extend across the entire base as well as by the
`the bolt head 55 has opposed flats dimensioned to closely
`longitudinal channels at the side edges of the base. The
`fit between the sidewalls of the retaining member so that
`moveable channels provide means for accommodating the
`the bolt cannot turn. The tab 38 formed in one of the
`mounting points of the equipment in one coordinate di
`sidewalls of the retaining member is then inwardly de
`rection while the bolt retainers, which are moveable with
`formed in the direction of the other sidewall so that
`in the channels, provide means for acommodating the
`the bent portion occupies a position directly beneath
`mounting points in the other coordinate direction.
`the bolt head and thereby prevents the bolt from drop
`ping down.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A support member having a compressor or the like
`Referring once again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that
`secured thereto comprising; a plate member, a first elon
`two sets of four retaining bolts extend upwardly from
`gated stiffening means on said plate member being a down
`the support plate. The set of retaining bolts on the right
`wardly and inwardly turned edge portion of said plate
`hand side of the plate have shim members 56 and pads
`member, a second elongated stiffening means being an
`58 positioned thereon. This construction is used when the
`inverted U-shaped channel having a pair of spaced legs
`load to be supported on the base requires a critical height
`interconnected by a bight portion, said bight portion en
`control. It is to be noted that the shims can be dimen
`gaging and supporting the underside of said plate mem
`sioned to very close tolerances so that the precise height
`ber, said second stiffening means being positioned sub
`of the equipment can accurately be determined.
`stantially transverse to said first stiffening means, fastener
`It should be understood that the invention is not
`means extending through said bight portion of the Second
`limited to the size and pattern of slot distribution shown
`stiffening means and said plate member, and fastener re
`in the transverse channels of FIG. 5. For example all of
`taining means in the form of a U-shaped member with
`the slots could be square as indicated by reference char
`one leg thereof being slotted and bent inwardly at an
`acter 25a or they could all be elongated as shown at
`angle to said opposed leg, said fastener retaining means
`25. The particular hole pattern shown in FIG. 5 is for
`being located between the legs of said U-shaped channel
`purposes of illustration only. The important consideration
`thereby preventing the fastener means from falling out
`is that there be sufficient apertures in the transverse chan
`of said channel.
`nel members so that regardless of the placement of the
`2. A support member as claimed in claim 1, wherein
`holes in the mounting surface they, the mounting plate
`said one leg is slotted in a direction parallel to the length
`holes, will always register with two apertures of each.
`of said fastener retaining means.
`transverse channel.
`3. A support member as claimed in claim 1, wherein
`Several other methods of assembly are possible with
`said fastener retaining means interfits in said U-shaped
`the structure of this invention. Once the mounting points
`channel with sliding frictional engagement with the inner
`for the structure to be supported are known the properly
`surfaces of the legs of said U-shaped channel whereby
`positioned transverse channels, together with the mount
`said fastener retaining means may be slidable along the
`ing plate could be drilled together, as a unit. Alternative
`length of said channel and selectively located therein.
`ly, preslotted transverse channels, such as described in
`4. A support member having a compressor or the like
`connection with the first embodiment could be properly
`secured thereto comprising; a plate member, a first elon
`positioned in accordance with the required mounting co
`gated stiffening means on said plate member being a
`ordinate and then the load supporting surface drilled for
`downwardly and inwardly turned edge position of said
`both mounting coordinates.
`plate member, a second elongated stiffening means being
`In some instances, secondary holes other than those
`an inverted U-shaped channel having a pair of spaced
`required to secure the equipment would be formed in the
`legs interconnected by a bight portion, said bight portion
`top surface of the support base. The secondary holes
`engaging and supporting the underside of said plate mem
`would be utilized when the load is to be located near the
`ber, said second stiffening means being positioned sub
`center of the base and some distance away from the
`stantially transverse to said first stiffening means, fastener
`longitudinal channels. Secondary bolts would pass
`means extending though said bight portion of the second
`through the top surface of the support base and secure
`stiffening means and said plate member, said fastener
`the ends of the transverse channels to the longitudinal
`means being a stud rigidly connected to the bight portion
`channels.
`of said second stiffening means, said stud being reduced
`FIGS. 6 and 7 pictorially illustrate two additional em
`in diameter in the part thereof adjacent to the point of
`bodiments of this invention. The construction shown in
`connection between said stud and the bight portion of
`particular in FIG. 6 includes a transversely disposed
`said stiffening means, the opening in said plate member
`stiffening member in the form of a U-shaped, inverted
`for said fastener means having a predetermined clear
`channel 60. A plurality of upwardly extending, threaded
`ance between the former and the latter, a weld bead in
`studs 62 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the
`the space formed by said clearance integrally joining said
`web 60a of the channel member and each stud is pro
`plate member and second stiffening means whereby said
`vided with an undercut 64 at the junction of the stud
`weld bead does not protrude above the plane of the top
`and the changel, If the studs are, in fact, welded as Sug
`surface of said plate member,
`
`75
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`Page 3 of 4
`
`

`

`3,493,201
`5
`6
`5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein
`1,350,970
`8/1920 Hutchinson et al. --- 248-346
`said bight of the second stiffening member is welded to
`2,678,592 5/1954 Wiedman -------- 248-19 XR
`the underside of said plate member.
`2,916,233 12/1959 Ecker --------------- 248-19
`3,021,100 2/1962 Verhota ------------- 248-23
`References Cited
`ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`3/1936 Hussman ------------ 248-21
`J. FRANKLIN FOSS, Assistant Examiner
`2,032,659
`2,140,628 12/1938 Hoff----------- 151-41.76 X
`3,022,028
`2/1962 Reinhard ------------ 248-23
`U.S. C. X.R.
`236,661
`1/1881 Allen ----------- 248-19 XR 10 248-346; 151-41.76; 108-51
`1,202,046 10/1916 Freeze ---------- 108--51 XR
`
`Page 4 of 4
`
`