Compressor mounting bracket

Claim 1

A vehicle air conditioner compressor mounting bracket for mounting a compressor within an air conditioner housing, the compressor including a vacuum tube spaced from the exterior of the compressor and extending substantially parallel thereto, wherein said bracket (i) damps the vibration of the compressor to prevent the failure of any other compressor mounts, (ii) can be utilized with existing compressors, and (iii) can be easily installed and removed, said bracket comprising: a first bracket segment, comprised of a thin metallic strip which has an arcuate portion having an included angle of approximately 90°; a second bracket segment, comprised of a thin unitary metallic strip which has an arcuate portion with an included angle of approximately 270°, so that when the ends of the second bracket segment are fastened to the ends of the first bracket segment, said segments together form an annular bracket; a resilient padding covering the radially interior surface of the bracket segments, said bracket segments being sized and shaped so that when the segments are fastened together around the sides of a compressor having a substantially cylindrical exterior configuration, the resilient padding of the bracket contacts the exterior of the compressor, said padding becoming deformed upon the vibration of the compressor so as to damp said vibration; two segment fastening flanges on each of the two said bracket segments, said segment fastening flanges protruding normal to the arcuate portions of said bracket segments and radially outward from the bracket segments, one flange being at each end of said segments, the flanges of one segment having holes which mate with holes the flanges of the other segment, so that the flanges can be bolted together to removably fasten the segments to one another, said segment fastening flanges and said second bracket segment being sized to permit said second bracket segment to be slid between the compressor exterior and the vacuum tube so as to facilitate installation of said bracket; and two housing fastening flanges on said first bracket segment, one housing fastening flange protruding normally from each of the segment fastening flanges of the first bracket segment, said housing fastening flanges having holes therein so that said first bracket segment may be removably bolted to two walls of the housing, said walls disposed relative to each other at a 90° angle.