Wire mesh heat shield isolator

1. A substrate having two sides and a bore extending between the two sides, and a unitary compressed wire mesh isolator extending through the bore, said isolator comprising a neck portion which is located within the bore and two flanges, one flange being on each of the two sides of the substrate, each flange having a diameter larger than the diameter of the substrate's bore on the corresponding side wherein:

(i) the substrate comprises a formed sheet of metal;

(ii) the isolator includes a bore that receives a mounting screw or bolt during use of the substrate;

(iii) prior to the insertion of the mounting screw or bolt into the isolator's bore, the flanges attach the isolator to the substrate; and

(iv) the neck portion and the two flanges:

(a) each comprises compressed wire mesh; and

(b) together constitute a single piece.

2. The substrate of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a heat shield.

3. The substrate of claim 1 , wherein the isolator includes a spacer in the isolator's bore.

4. The substrate of claim 1 , wherein the isolator includes a grommet in the isolator's bore.

5. A method for making a unitary wire mesh isolator in a bore of a substrate which comprises a formed sheet of metal, comprising the steps of:

positioning an uncompressed or partially compressed wire mesh sleeve on a mandrel within the bore, a portion of the wire mesh sleeve extending from each side of the bore;

providing an outer sleeve on each side of the bore abutting the substrate to provide a mold cavity; providing a tamp within each sleeve; advancing the tamps towards each other to compress the wire mesh sleeve into an isolator comprising a neck portion located within the bore and a flange larger than the bore on each side of the substrate;

wherein:

(i) the mandrel is maintained within the wire mesh sleeve during compression so that the isolator includes a bore that receives a mounting screw or bolt during use of the substrate, (ii) prior to the insertion of the mounting screw or bolt into the isolator's bore, the flanges attach the isolator to the substrate, and (iii) the neck portion located within the bore and the flange larger than the bore on each side of the substrate:

(a) each comprises compressed wire mesh; and

(b) together constitute a single piece.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the wire mesh sleeve is provided with a spacer disposed within the sleeve.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the wire mesh sleeve is provided with a grommet having a tubular portion disposed within the sleeve.

8. An apparatus for making a wire mesh isolator in a bore in a substrate which comprises a formed sheet of metal, said isolator comprising a neck portion which is located within the substrate's bore and two flanges on opposite sides of the substrate, the neck portion and the two flanges each comprising compressed wire mesh and together constituting a single piece, said apparatus comprising: means for supporting the substrate in a desired orientation; opposing upper and lower outer sleeves moveable coaxially towards and away from the bore along the axis of the bore, said upper and lower outer sleeves having leading portions for abutting opposite sides of the substrate; an upper tamp slidable within the upper sleeve along the same axis for forming one of the flanges; a lower tamp slidable within the lower sleeve along the same axis for forming the other flange, said lower tamp having a central bore along the same axis; and a mandrel slidable within the central bore of the lower tamp along the same axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein one of the tamps has an end including a wedge-shaped portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the mandrel includes a distal portion of a predetermined diameter connected by a shoulder to a portion having a larger diameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the shoulder is beveled.

12. A press, comprising: a plurality of the apparatus of claim 8 , each said apparatus disposed in a separate housing; a platform; and at least one foot attached to each housing, and each foot releasably secured to the platform.

13. The press of claim 12 , wherein each apparatus includes pneumatic cylinders for the sleeves, tamps, and mandrel.

14. The press of claim 13 , further comprising a micro-processor for controlling the cycling of the apparatus, and wherein each housing further comprises a control cable for connecting to the micro-processor.

15. The press of claim 12 , wherein the housings are positionable on the platform.