Pneumatic or electric, these basic tips can help ensure a long service life and dependable operation!
Vibrator Mounting
With any vibrator installation, proper mounting is key. A rigid mount ensures that vibration is transferred efficiently, and prevents undue stress on the structure. A weak mount can result in damage to the structure, and can allow the vibrator to detach from the structure if left unchecked. These costly issues can be avoided by performing periodic mounting inspections, and using proper mounting procedures:
- Inspect and tighten mounting bolts – use of Bellville washers or Loctite® can help keep bolts tight, but vibration can still loosen the bolts over time.
- Inspect all welds – repair cracks and broken welds immediately. Remember that with
vibrators, it’s best to use stitch welds rather than continuous welds. - Use safety cables whenever possible to prevent a cracked weld from turning into a serious safety issue should the vibrator become detached
For complete mounting guidelines, refer to your manual or review our General Rules for Vibrator Mounting online.
Pneumatics – air prep and optimization
With pneumatic vibrators, it’s very important to supply clean, dry air, and to keep the airline lubricated if applicable for your model. Optimizing the air pressure can also play an important role in extending the service life of your vibrators.
- Inspect your air filters periodically. Drain any moisture, and remove any buildup of “trash”. Keeping these contaminants out of your air system provides better air efficiency, and prevents internal damage and undue wear and tear on vibrators.
- If your vibrator requires lubrication, keep lubricators filled. Without lubrication, vibrators can wear out more quickly, or seize completely, requiring repair or even replacement.
- Inspect airlines and connections for leaks, and make necessary repairs. Air leaks can reduce the pressure that actually reaches your vibrators (and other pneumatic equipment), causing your compressor to work harder, and waste energy generating more compressed air than necessary.
- Whenever possible, reduce the pressure supplied to your vibrators to the lowest pressure that works. Running at higher pressure causes more wear and tear, and wastes energy.
Electrics Vibrator Maintenance
Electric Vibrators can be extremely low-maintenance when properly installed. A few periodic checks can keep them in tip-top shape.
- It is extremely important with electric vibrators to make sure that your mount is in good
condition. Please refer to the mounting tips on page one, consult your manual, or review
our General Rules for Vibrator Mounting online. An insufficient mount can cause electric
vibrators to draw too many amps, and if proper overload protection is not in place, the
vibrator can burn up. - Inspect all electrical connections, and replace any damaged connectors.
- Inspect all wiring, and repair or replace any exposed wires.
- Listen to the vibrator while running. If you hear anything out of the ordinary, such as loud
knocking, or grinding, turn the vibrator off, following all lock out/tag out procedures, and
perform a visual inspection of the vibrator and mount. Contact Houston Vibrator for
troubleshooting assistance.
Vibrator Optimization
In addition to following the basic maintenance tips we’ve shared here, you can reduce cost of vibrator operation by optimizing each vibrator for its specific job. By optimizing your industrial vibrators, you can extend their service life, reduce energy usage, and reduce wear and tear on your vibrators and the equipment they’re mounted on.
- Only run vibrators when needed. Installation of a timer can prevent vibrators from running constantly. Adjust the cycle time to the shortest running time that works in your application.
- For pneumatic vibrators – reduce the air pressure to the lowest setting that still gets the job done. If possible, install a pressure regulator for each vibrator, allowing you to effectively adjust the pressure when needed.
- For electric vibrators – reduce the force setting to the lowest effective force by adjusting the weight settings. Information on how to adjust the force is included in our SPV Manual online.
- Let your PLC do the work. If your plant has a PLC, it’s a great idea to tie the vibrators into that system. You can choose to operate vibrators for a specified time after a discharge valve is opened, or when a bin level indicator gives a certain reading, or any other parameter available to you.
- Consider momentary on/off controls rather than manual valves or switches. Operators can run the vibrator for just the necessary amount of time, then let go of the switch to turn off. Use of momentary controls eliminates the possibility of a manually operated vibrator running continuously when the operator walks away.
The Houston Vibrator team wants your industrial vibrators to be a reliable component in your overall system that adds to your efficiency and helps boost your facility’s productivity and profitability.
Contact us any time that you have questions or need assistance with maintenance, troubleshooting,or optimization!