The Use of Vibration as a Means of Industrial Drive

Abstract

The application of vibration as a means of industrial drive has been considerably developed in the last twenty years. Starting from the obvious application of screening, it has been extended to conveying, heat interchanging, consolidation of material in packages to reduce shipping space, keeping material “fluid” in hoppers and chutes, hammering, etc. The paper discusses that part of the subject involved in the production and control of the vibration by mechanical or electrical means under all conditions of load. Formulae are developed for calculation of spring strength and for the calculation of the spring dimensions, and for the avoidance of spring fatigue. The various methods of electrical excitation are compared, and the relative advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The desirable instrument equipment is described, including the remote indication of vibration amplitude. A method is outlined by which it is claimed that vibration can be maintained constant at all loads and at any desired frequency. The testing of vibrating drives at the manufacturer's works and on site is discussed.

In an Appendix to the paper the problem of transverse vibrations in long vibrating conveyors is treated mathematically, and a formula is developed for the natural frequency of transverse vibration of a conveyor of any uniform section and of any length.

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References

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1940 Industrial and Eng. Chemistry, vol. 32, p. 765, “Vibrating Equipment”.

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1938 Proc. I.Mech.E., vol. 139, p. 431, “Practical Problems in Spring Design”.

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