air vibrators

Zach Church

How To Choose Quality And Effective DC Vibrators For Your Salt Spreader

By Zach Church

As winter approaches, taking time to ensure that salt spreader you have on your truck is optimized to its fullest potential is essential to making quick work of the snow and ice heading your way. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or perhaps a first-time user, choosing the correct DC truck vibrator can make a huge difference in the performance of your equipment. 

Here are five important things to keep in mind: 

  1. KNOW YOUR HOPPER SIZE 

Begin by checking the size of your spreader hopper. Cleveland Vibrator’s line of DC truck vibrators come in several sizes so it’s important to select the one that best fits your needs. The MG-80 and its 80 pounds of vibratory force is a perfect choice for smaller tailgate spreaders. However, if you have a larger, slide-in V-Box spreader, you would be wise to opt for a heavy-duty solution like the MG-200 which boasts 200 pounds of force. In some V-Box applications when even more vibratory force is needed, one option is to mount two vibrators – one on each side of the spreader. 

PRO TIP: Product stickers and powder coating don’t mix well with harsh winter conditions so keep a written copy of the make/model of your spreader as well as the make/model of your truck vibrator handy so you can access that information easily in case you need to reference it later. 

  1. INSTALLATION MATTERS 

Proper installation is key to ensuring that your vibrator continues to function optimally. It’s always a good idea to keep the following things in mind when purchasing and installing a truck vibrator:  

  1. Use a steel backing plate to mount your vibrator. Not only will it extend the life of your spreader, but your actual vibrator will also last much longer.  
  1. When uninstalling an older vibrator from your hopper, be sure to inspect the area around the bolt holes to make sure the plastic isn’t cracked.   
  1. Although you want to make sure your mounting bolts are tight, be careful not to overtighten (See No. 2 above). A snug fit will help prevent wear and tear on your hopper. 

Installation is a good time to check anything/everything that might be happening behind the scenes on your hopper. When left unchecked, those little things can turn into big problems down the road. For more helpful installation steps and tips, click here for our handy vibrator instruction manual.  

  1. MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR LONGEVITY 

Extend the life of your vibrator by following these maintenance best practices: 

  • Avoid carrying the vibrator by the cable. 
  • Leave slack in the cable during mounting. 
  • Be cautious when pressure washing the hopper, avoiding direct water pressure on the vibrator. 
  • Handle the spreader with care, considering the presence of the vibrator during unloading. 
  • Tighten bolts securely to ensure the vibrator can perform its job effectively. 
  • Check the duty cycle in the vibrator’s manual to prevent prolonged operation. 
  • Make sure the vibrator has proper ventilation. Overheating a vibrator can cause internal motor component failure. 
  1. REACH OUT FOR ASSISTANCE 

When it’s time to replace your DC truck vibrator, it’s easy (and tempting) to simply copy and paste your previous order. But making sure you have the right equipment is critical and it never hurts to get a second opinion. If you find yourself in doubt about your selection – or if you have general questions about your unique needs, don’t hesitate to contact a member of our sales team. They’re available from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday and can be reached by phone, email, or via a handy chat feature on our website. Simply provide your spreader model number and someone from our team will guide you toward the ideal solution for your needs. 

  1. WINTER DOESN’T LAST FOREVER 

Even though it’s hard to believe sometimes, winter won’t last forever and the good news is that Cleveland Vibrator’s line of DC truck vibrators aren’t exclusive to winter applications. If your company also handles any type of landscape work in warmer months, that same hopper is often used with grass seed, fertilizer, and other materials. And the same type of moisture issues that can wreak havoc on your ability to smoothly spread salt or ice melt can also severely limit your ability to smoothly spread those items.  

Beyond those areas, our expansive line of vibratory motors and equipment are utilized in mining, recycling, concrete and aggregates, food and pharmaceuticals, plastics, powders, foundry operations, and many others. You can explore their versatility and see photographs of them being used in real-life applications in the extensive application gallery found on our website.  The benefits of using vibration in manufacturing operations is endless – and well documented.  

In conclusion, selecting the right DC truck vibrator for your salt spreader is a straightforward yet essential task. By considering hopper size, following proper installation procedures, and adhering to good maintenance practices, you’ll ensure your equipment performs at its best when you need it the most. Choose wisely, operate carefully, and tackle the season with confidence. 

If you have any questions or need additional assistance, we’re always just a message or phone call away. 


Share this blog post:
FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Mike Stratis

Top 5 Things NOT To Do When Installing an Industrial Vibrator

By Mike Stratis

Did you know properly installing your industrial vibrator can: Ensure you get the full benefits of optimizing your material flow? Prevent unnecessary downtime and damage to your equipment? Allow you to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to your ROI?

That’s why we have multiple blogs outlining what TO do when installing your industrial vibrator. This includes my previous blog, “The Importance of Proper Installation of Industrial Vibrators” or “Vibrators Don’t Damage Equipment, Wrong Installations Do” by Craig Macklin. However, in the hopes of saving you from future headaches, we need to address a very important subject: The Top 5 Things NOT To Do When Installing an Industrial Vibrator.

Read More…
Share this blog post:
FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Katy Sabo

Which Industrial Vibrator Works Best for Cold Temperature Applications?

By Katy Sabo

Previously, I wrote a blog about industrial vibrator options for hot temperature applications like transfer chutes in forging facilities or installations on cope & drags in a foundry. But what about those applications on the other end of the temperature spectrum?  

Let’s talk about those cold environment applications like outdoor installs on a silo, chute, or load-out spout in geographic locations that face frigid temps, hopper bottom trailers delivering goods when there’s snow on the ground, or within facilities that do not have climate control.  

When frigid temps are a factor, we lean towards supplying an electric vibrator option for material flow issues. Electric industrial vibrators do not require compressed airlines to operate, which is the biggest drawback when using pneumatic vibrators for these application environments. 

Between RE Rotary Electric Vibrators, CM Electromagnetic Vibrators, and DC Vibrators, plenty of voltage options, force outputs, and frequencies are available.  

Read More…
Share this blog post:
FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Craig Macklin

5 Cool Industrial Vibrator Applications in 2020

By Craig Macklin

Industrial Vibrators and Vibratory Equipment can be used for so many different purposes that we never get bored working on customer inquiries to help them.  We get to work across dozens of industries with hundreds of material types and countless unique conditions, requirements, and problems.  So, it is fun to reflect on applications and problems we’ve solved near the end of a year.  This posting is just that, a moment of reflection and sharing.  Enjoy!! 

Read More…
Share this blog post:
FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Mike Stratis

Does Industrial Vibrator Jargon Get You Down? The Vibration Experts Got You Covered!

By Mike Stratis

When it comes to terminology and lingo within the vibration industry, many times there are multiple names for the same piece of equipment. We will review what those are and explain what they mean.

Bin or hopper vibrators have many subcategories of vibrator types, just within this single product line itself. Let’s break it down.

Figure 1

Air vibrator or pneumatic vibrators can be the following:

  • Piston type
  • Ball type
  • Turbine type
Read More…
Share this blog post:
FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Jack Steinbuch

Reduce the Noise Level on Your Vibratory Equipment

By Jack Steinbuch

OSHA specifies that a hearing conservation program should be in place when “noise exposure is at or above 85 decibels averaged over 8 working hours, or an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)”. This can be an issue for some vibratory equipment. However, we have selections available that will reduce noise levels which can result in many positives for your facility (OSHA).

For example, did you know investing in noise-reducing vibration can lead to an increase in productivity and overall safety? High noise levels can lead to short- and long-term physical damage including ringing ears, temporary changes in hearing, and long-term hearing damage or loss. But, less commonly known, it can also put a strain on your pocket by reducing productivity, contributing to poor communication and concentration, and can even contribute to workplace accidents by limiting your employee’s ability to understand speech (OSHA).

Since there is a wide variety of vibratory equipment, for this blog, we will focus on “brute force” vibratory equipment.  The vibrating body is directly installed on the equipment and is driven by a vibrator or dual motors, and the supporting structure is isolated from the vibrating body. Now let us look at potential ways to reduce their noise level:

Read More…
Share this blog post:
FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Avatar

Automate the Hammer Swing by Following These 5 Steps

By Cleveland Vibrator Team

Our team is frequently asked about the proper installation of our Single Impact Air Knocker units. Since these units require two strokes of air for proper operation, the required components and installation process are slightly different than a more traditional pneumatic piston vibrator. Here, we will answer frequently asked questions and walk through the step-by-step installation process.

Step One

After properly sizing and selecting the units (which can easily be completed by utilizing our Vibrator Selection Guide!), it is time to install. First order of business, what are the components required for proper operation? There are a few items needed:

  1. The Single Impact Air Knocker (Complete with the Exhaust Port Protector and Grade 5 mounting hardware, provided with each unit)
  2. The Mounting Channel
  3. Hoses
  4. Valve
  5. Filter/Regulator/Lubricator
  6. Safety Cable
  7. Timer Box (Optional)

Read More…
Share this blog post:

FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Avatar

What You Need to Know About Clogged Industrial Pipe Issues and Vibration

By Cleveland Vibrator Team

Material flow issues are the worst. Not only are they a headache to deal with during production for the team out on the floor, but they may be costing you valuable time and money in the long run. The usual suspects for material flow hang-ups typically occur in bulk supply hoppers or industrial bins. But, what about those industrial pipes and chutes transferring materials throughout various stages of production?

Industrial vibration is not just for those usual suspects; it can be just as successful when applied to those transfer chutes and pipes! Not only does it get the job done, but it is economical and ultimately saves the integrity of your equipment and your team’s shoulders and backs.

Read More…
Share this blog post:
FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Avatar

How to Choose the Best Truck Trailer Vibrators Based on the Material You’re Hauling

By CVC Team

Are you hauling a sticky material, such as DDG or soybean meal, in a hopper bottom trailer? Maybe carrying gravel or asphalt in a dump trailer? What about fertilizer in a v-body spreader?

The reason we ask this information when working with clients is that the material characteristics play a major role in determining the best type of vibrator to help quickly and safely unload the trailer. There is a big difference between unloading sticky DDG’s from a hopper bottom trailer compared to cleaning out the hopper bottom that was carrying whole potatoes or other free-flowing materials like corn and wheat. Read More…
Share this blog post:

FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Mike Stratis

Tighten Those Bolts!

By Mike Stratis

If you happened to take the time to read Craig Macklin’s blog, about the expectations for maintenance of the pneumatic vibrators, then you’ll have a good base of knowledge on how to keep those units running efficiently. This time, we’ll take a deeper dive into the importance of tightening the mounting bolts used for installing the vibrators themselves.

On the pneumatic piston vibrators, the proper bolt torque is critical. Because of the tight tolerance held between the outside diameter of the piston and the inside diameter of the bore of the casted body, the vibrator needs to air piston vibrator, nuts and bolts on pneumatic vibratorbe rigidly bolted in place to allow for correction operation so that only the piston is moving inside the vibrator. If the bolts are loose, even slightly, the vibrator body will “rock” back and forth on the mounting channel. Once this starts happening, failures or seized pistons can happen.

Why does this happen? The reason is, the piston will still try to move in a pure linear direction but if Read More…


Share this blog post:

FacebooktwitterlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterlinkedinmail
1 2 3 5  Scroll to top