| As fair weather spreads across of the continental | | | | shape required so that when the mount is subjected |
| US, construction professionals and boating enthusiasts | | | | to force from the engine, it contains and deflects it. |
| both inspect their machinery for the season ahead. | | | | Think of dropping a rubber ball. It bounces back |
| What to pleasure boats and earth movers have in | | | | because of the opposed force generated by its |
| common? According to professionals at AV Products, | | | | impact. If you were to tie the ball to your palm |
| Inc. they have one issue in common with several | | | | instead and slap the ground with the same force, |
| other classes of vehicles, including cars, trucks and | | | | you wouldn’t feel the ground, but you would feel |
| RVs: vibration. Vibration isolation mounts are an | | | | the ball pushing back, deflecting the force of the |
| integral part of these machines. Large boats need | | | | impact. |
| marine engine mounts to keep in working order, and | | | | Rubber anti-vibration mounts are far more |
| construction machinery needs engine vibration | | | | sophisticated than this, however, because they are |
| mounts to function safely. | | | | calibrated for the specific amplitude or intensity of |
| How do they work? Anti-vibration mount technology | | | | the attached machine. The physics of vibration are |
| is based on the principle of planned isolation: using | | | | well understood, so vibration isolators can be built for |
| systems to prevent a mechanical system’s | | | | specific engines and other machines with a high |
| vibrations from spreading to the surrounding | | | | degree of precision. Vibration isolation mounts are |
| structures. Without planned isolation, the powerful | | | | made of materials that match the necessary |
| engines used in forklifts, larger boats and industrial | | | | specifications. For example, rubber is a common |
| machinery would be impossible. Built up vibrations | | | | material because of its elastic strength, but a mount |
| would eventually damage the surrounding structures | | | | will actually be made of a type of rubber designed to |
| and tear the engine apart. A static mount such as a | | | | meet a specific vibration capacity. If the rubber is too |
| metal frame is ineffective because it will either | | | | soft, it won’t provide opposing force. If it’s |
| transmit the vibrations into other structures anyway, | | | | too hard, too much of that force will deflect back, |
| or bounce them back to the machine, tearing it apart. | | | | damaging the engine. |
| That’s why machines need mounts that will not | | | | Unfortunately all systems wear out in time, so |
| only suspend the engine away from other structures, | | | | whether your machines are used for business or |
| but provide a way to dissipate vibrations. The engine | | | | recreation, checking your anti-vibration mounts for |
| “floats” on its mounts, which absorb | | | | wear and tear, and paying attention to unusual noises |
| vibrations without significantly transmitting them to | | | | and vibrations should be one of the fundamentals of |
| the rest of the structure. Vibration isolators do this | | | | spring maintenance. Your anti-vibration mounts are |
| by providing an opposed force; the net result of the | | | | essential. If they don’t work, the engine |
| two reduces the final vibration to a negligible level. | | | | doesn’t work. Order the right replacements as |
| The secret lies in using the exact materials, size and | | | | soon as possible. |