Importance

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Abstract

A resilient support (10), such as for supporting part of the exhaust system of a motor vehicle, is molded from elastomeric material such as rubber. Upper and lower end blocks (16, 18) have through bores (12, 14) for receiving fixtures connected respectively to the body of the vehicle and to the exhaust system. The blocks (16, 18) are interconnected by three integral diagonally directed arms (22, 24, 26). Vertical vibration of the exhaust system is resisted, absorbed and damped by a combination of tension in the arms (22, 24, 26) and bending at their points of interconnection with the upper and lower blocks (16, 18). The support (10) is thus relatively resilient in this direction. However, sideways movement of the exhaust system, tending to cause movement of the lower block (18) in the direction of the axis of the lower bore (14), is firmly resisted by the arms (22, 24, 26). Such sideways movement in one direction is resisted by tensile forces in the central arm (22) and a combination of compressive and bending forces in the outer arms (24, 26), and sideways movement in the opposite direction is resisted by tensile forces in the outer arms (24, 26) and a combination of compressive and bending forces in the central arm (22).

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First Claim