US Patent 7784585 Wire mesh heat shield isolator

A substrate such as a heat shield for a vehicle is provided with a unitary compressed wire mesh bushing or isolator formed in place though a bore in the substrate. The bushing is formed by supporting an uncompressed or partially compressed wire mesh sleeve, optionally including a grommet or spacer, on a mandrel positioned within the bore; the mandrel is surrounded on either side of the bore by outer sleeves forming a molding cavity on each side of the substrate, and a slidable tamp is disposed in each outer sleeve and moved towards each other to compress the mesh within the bore and provide the unitary bushing.