REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS

Low Temperature


Problem

A major frozen food supplier had problems with frozen vegetables failing to flow from the storage hopper. Instead, they would often stick to the hopper walls. The operating temperature was -28°C but, after the weekend, this was often much lower because the doors were not being opened. Personnel were not in the storage area because of the low temperature.

Solution

The answer was to use vibrating motors with low-temperature grease in the bearings. The motors themselves were standard construction, except that the standard grease was simply replaced with a low-temperature version.

Loosening Moulding Concrete Paving Blocks


Problem

Moulded concrete paving blocks were cast and placed on edge and transported on carry plates. Due to their residual moisture they were sticking to the plate, making them difficult to remove intact.

Solution

A piston vibrator was mounted vertically under the plate with the body uppermost. This protected the piston from dirt during operation. The body “tapped” the underside of the plate sufficiently to cause the slabs to release without damage. The amplitude adjustment available on the NTK made this model ideal for this application.

Stamping Hot Metal


Problem

To comply with Quality Assurance requirements, hot metal billets needed to be stamped with a batch number. The existing method was to use a hammer and handheld number stamp. This exposed the operator to high temperature and the difficulty of holding the stamp and hammer while wearing gloves.

Solution

The model PKL is a single impact model in which the piston is enclosed in the cylinder. This was modified so that the piston extended from the cylinder and could carry a stamp holder. The PKL provided consistent force so that the stamping was always even and legible, and the operator was situated away from the heat.

Alumina Production


Problem

The caustic environment in an alumina refinery was causing concerns when using aluminium-bodied 

Solution

NTS vibrators were manufactured in stainless steel to stop corrosion.

Rail Wagon Unloading


Problem

After transport, coal was difficult to unload from the bottom dump wagons – often made worse in wet weather. Jackhammers, with a sound output of around 105dB(A), were held by hand against the side of the wagon, resulting in operator discomfort and wagon damage.

Solution

A quiet, air-cushioned NTS vibrator was mounted on a vacuum fixing system and suspended from an overhead gantry with an inertia reel. The device was pushed against the wagon and held in place by vacuum. The vibrator was started, and the coal discharged. The operator simply had to work two switches and did not need to hold the device while it was operating.

Pull Switch Testing


Problem


One of the prime concerns on any mining or quarrying site is safety, especially around moving parts. Conveyor belts are good for moving large volumes of material, be it iron ore, cereals or road base, but they also need some method of stopping them quickly in case of emergency. Running alongside conveyors are cables which, when pulled, cause a switch, usually some distance away, to trip and stop the conveyor. While the switches have to be sensitive to the operation of the cable, they must also be able to withstand the vibration inherent in the conveyor system due to various factors, such as the motion of the conveyor idlers. VSS was asked to help in the design of a vibration system to allow the switches to be tested under various vibration parameters, such as frequency and force of vibration. They designed a vibrating table with a single vibrating motor and a variable frequency drive to replicate the conditions on mine site conveyors.

Solution


The use of a single motor, from VSS ‘s principals, meant that there was a slight sideways movement to the table top, as well as the usual vertical action, so as to more accurately simulate actual conditions. The VFD was supplied by the client, who is allied to a company making these units, and this can adjust the motor drive to give varying frequencies and forces of vibration. The client then visited mine sites with a vibration measuring system, to determine the vibration in their conveyors. The VibroScanner gives accurate frequency, amplitude and acceleration measurements, and these data were replicated on the client’s test table to ensure that the switches being supplied could withstand these vibrations, and did not give false tripping.

For more information about our vibration supplies, call our friendly team today on 1800 300 877.

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