air vibrators

How to Protect Your Vibrator Investment

By Mike Stratis

Nov 24

The Cleveland Vibrator Company has been manufacturing pneumatic piston vibrator units since 1923. Over the past 90+ years, we have learned a few things about how to protect your investment in an air piston vibrator. There are a few main procedures and components we strongly suggest and will review:

Air Supply
Exhaust Ports
Gaskets

The air supply should be dried and filtered, then regulated and once between 0-80 PSI, the air should be lubricated. We have Watts Filter-Regulator-Lubricators available ranging in size for 1/4″ to 1-1/”4 NPT. Glycerin filled regulator gauges help to read the PSI setting easily. Lightweight 10W/NR oil should be dropped into the airline prior to reaching the vibrator. We have pints of Vibra-Lube available to help save the search for this type of oil.

These TLC steps can double or triple the air piston vibrator’s life expectancy. Our dual-diameter piston design allows for start-up in any mounting position (e.g. at 30° on a vibratory feeder or 60° angle on a hopper or 90° on a vibratory table) and eliminates the need for a spring. The springless unit keeps replacement parts and internal components to a minimum. So, with a proper air supply plumbed to the vibrator and a low number of wearable parts, these units can last a long time and return the money on your investment. Read More…

Mike Stratis

Mike joined The Cleveland Vibrator Company team in 2013 with prior experience in manufacturing sales with a Cleveland company in the tool and die industry. Now, he’s the Director of Sales and specializes in “making stuff that shakes stuff”.

When he’s not immersed in the world of industrial vibration, as rare as that might be, Mike keeps busy *not finishing in last place* in Fantasy Football and enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids. It’s always golf season for Mike, and he’s been known to 3 putt his way around any course and can roll tee balls in rain or shine. You can find him tailgating in the Muni Lot before Browns games or supporting local breweries.

As an avid provider of #VibrationEducation, he offers this free bit of advice, “Not all vibration is the same. Force and frequency do matter!” However, there is a 2% upcharge for all Michigan and Steeler’s fans.

Share this blog post:

Vibration Force: Is Faster Actually Better?

Vibration Force: Is Faster Actually Better?

By CVC Team

Nov 09

I have attached some photographs of a couple vibrators returned to Cleveland Vibrator for evaluation over the past year. It’s pretty clear that these units were not operated as per our operation manuals would instruct. Human nature causes us to try and make something work better or faster, we are the products of an an instant gratification way of life. We believe that products can work up to our lofty expectations even though we know it will work best to follow instructions in a user’s manual and to operate the product as instructed. As we used to hear at the beginning of the Six Million Dollar Man TV show many years past,”We have the technology to make it bigger, faster and stronger.” This hold true in many cases, especially relating to air piston vibrators, we shorten the life of the vibrator by believing we can use such technologies to override suggested operating specs. Read More…

Share this blog post:

No Lube? No Problem.

By Mike Stratis

Jul 27

Here at the Cleveland Vibrator Company, we are constantly looking to help solve a customer’s problem. That problem could range from breaking up bridging material in a hopper, deblinding a screen deck, compacting dry bulk products or anything in between. Regardless of the processing line hurdle, we have the experience to assist.

Since 1923, the flagship product line for our company has been the pneumatic piston vibrator. In the 90+ years of manufacturing here in Cleveland, Ohio, a few new kids have entered the block…the vibratory material flow aids block, that is. As with any industry, applications change over time. In our world, a few that come to mind are the food and pharmaceutical projects. As our country has progressed with health standards and regulations, manufacturing facilities have had to adapt products to meet the needs for the evolving problems. The change we are going to focus on here is the elimination of lubricant, oil or grease in the air lines at processing plants. Read More…

Mike Stratis

Mike joined The Cleveland Vibrator Company team in 2013 with prior experience in manufacturing sales with a Cleveland company in the tool and die industry. Now, he’s the Director of Sales and specializes in “making stuff that shakes stuff”.

When he’s not immersed in the world of industrial vibration, as rare as that might be, Mike keeps busy *not finishing in last place* in Fantasy Football and enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids. It’s always golf season for Mike, and he’s been known to 3 putt his way around any course and can roll tee balls in rain or shine. You can find him tailgating in the Muni Lot before Browns games or supporting local breweries.

As an avid provider of #VibrationEducation, he offers this free bit of advice, “Not all vibration is the same. Force and frequency do matter!” However, there is a 2% upcharge for all Michigan and Steeler’s fans.

Share this blog post:

Unique Vibrator Installations & 5 Ways To Repair Damaged Walls

Unique Vibrator Installations & 5 Ways To Repair Damaged Walls

By CVC Team

Jun 15

Since 1923, we have been a part of many vibrator installations on hoppers and bins. One of our major markets is supplying industrial vibrators to the feed and grain industry. I have spent time talking to and visiting folks who ensure their facility operates efficiently with minimal downtime. During those visits, I’ve come across many unique techniques to mount a vibrator on a bin or hopper—specifically, the installation and types of channels and mounting brackets.

Where should you install your industrial vibrator?

Even if the installation doesn’t fit the standard mounting practices, our installation manuals are still helpful. In most cases, we suggest mounting the vibrators on the sloped section of the hopper or bin about one-third of the way up from the discharge. If using two vibrators, we recommend spacing them 180 degrees apart. If using three, we recommend 120 degrees apart. Staggering the vibrators will maximize the effect on the bin walls to assist in material flow.

Temperatures Are Rising…So Are Moisture Content Percentages

By Mike Stratis

Jun 01

Now that we are past Memorial Day weekend, and thank you to all that have served, are serving or will serve our country, the summer months are upon us. For some, and depending where you live, these are the best parts of the year, namely, because of the warmer temperatures. While we enjoy the extra hours of sunlight and are exposed to more vitamin D, Mother Nature can have a serious effect on manmade structures. This is certainly the case for Texas and Oklahoma right now as many cities in this part of the country have experienced record rain falls for the month of May. This amount of rain can often be attributed to the rise in moisture content within the atmosphere.

So, why is this important for industrial vibration? Good question. Read More…

Mike Stratis

Mike joined The Cleveland Vibrator Company team in 2013 with prior experience in manufacturing sales with a Cleveland company in the tool and die industry. Now, he’s the Director of Sales and specializes in “making stuff that shakes stuff”.

When he’s not immersed in the world of industrial vibration, as rare as that might be, Mike keeps busy *not finishing in last place* in Fantasy Football and enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids. It’s always golf season for Mike, and he’s been known to 3 putt his way around any course and can roll tee balls in rain or shine. You can find him tailgating in the Muni Lot before Browns games or supporting local breweries.

As an avid provider of #VibrationEducation, he offers this free bit of advice, “Not all vibration is the same. Force and frequency do matter!” However, there is a 2% upcharge for all Michigan and Steeler’s fans.

Share this blog post:

The Importance of Proper Installation of Industrial Vibrators

The Importance of Proper Installation of Industrial Vibrators

By Mike Stratis

Apr 13

“If you don’t have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it again?”
– John Wooden, former UCLA Men’s Basketball Coach and Presidential Medal of Freedom award winner.

We have a few frequently asked questions regarding bin vibrators, many of which revolve around how to install the unit. Here is the down and dirty:

Vibrator Testing and Data Collection – The Story Continues…

By CVC Team

Mar 10

I’m not sure but I think it was the really old Batman and Robin series with Adam West where the show would end with the dynamic duo in sort of real trouble. Some place along the line they’d pick up the story with a line something like “when last we checked in with…” well that sort of applies to my efforts to collect new data on Cleveland Vibrator’s line of pneumatic piston vibrators, both impact and air cushioned. Well…when last we check in… Cleveland Vibrator was making efforts to better document the performance of the piston vibrator line and we’d just recently purchased a CoCo-80 Dynamic Signal Analyzer as part of that effort. I’d Blogged about my efforts and initial results a while back.

The initial plan was to capture the acceleration of a heavy plate to which we bolt an impact vibrator or air cushioned piston vibrator and isolate the plate with very soft airmounts. Then using the equation F=ma, we’d calculate the force output of the vibrator, it all seemed reasonable. At the time I wrote about data collected on the VM-25, miniature piston vibrator. Read More…
Share this blog post:

It’s High Noon Partner With Our Pistol Grip Vibrator

It’s High Noon Partner With Our Pistol Grip Vibrator

By CVC Team

Dec 15

Over the course of 90+ years, we have developed several types of portable air piston vibrators. Some have long since ridden off into the sunset, and some are still used today.

The Pistol Grip Vibrator

The Pistol Grip vibrator was one of those handheld units from the late ’60s to early ’70s that was successfully developed mainly because a customer said, “I need this and if you build it we will buy it.” Cleveland Vibrator did build it, and they did buy it. However, it turned out to be one of those limited edition models with a higher price tag, and folks used other more standard units for similar applications. This model was used for a precast concrete form application, and the customers would walk around and place the vibrator against the form at selected spots to settle the concrete and remove air bubbles which would generate a better-finished product. The main feature of this unit was the ability to carry it in your hand and not have it vibrate until you squeezed the trigger. Plus, the handle had a rubber grip helping to isolate the vibration force from the operator.

Vibratory Sizing: Rocky Balboa Inspiration & Railcar Vibrators

By CVC Team

Nov 17

Railcar unloading can be a difficult task depending contributing factors such as the type of material, size, moisture content, if the material is frozen, or if it was compacted during shipment, just to name a few. Add to the fact the weather could change from transportation to delivery point, this creates an interesting sizing situation. At Cleveland Vibrator, we use our 1350 VMRR Vibrator as the “one size fits all” unit for rail car unloading. We realize that at times, our valued customers may require a vibrator or vibrators with a little more or less force and may even require a unit that operates at a lower noise level. Cleveland Vibrator understands our customer needs may have changed from what was used ten, twenty or thirty years ago. Tried and true methods of that era may need to be changed to accommodate new rail car designs.

In the past, most rail cars were steel and fitted with dove tailed female brackets either at the factory or in the field to accept the male wedge type railcar vibrators. This is still one of the preferred way to vibrate material out of rail cars even today. Read More…
Share this blog post:

Industrial Vibration Now & Then: Portable Pneumatics

By Katy Sabo

Nov 10

One of the perks about working for The Cleveland Vibrator Company when you’re a history geek like me, is digging through the archives and learning the rich history of your product development over the past century. Recently, I was able to get my hands on case histories dating back to the 1960s and came across one that highlighted our first-ever “Portable Air Piston Vibrator.” Nearly 50 years ago, Cleveland Vibrator assisted a precast concrete manufacturer when they wished to improve the consolidation and finish of their product using vibration. We specially designed a 1-1/4″ Piston Vibrator and attached it to a pistol-grip handle. The handle had been equipped with a special thumb grip trigger that activated the vibration and this piece of vibratory equipment weighed only 10 lbs. This light-weight and portable option gave the manufacturer the power to apply vibration to problem-child areas within their production, leaving the application locations completely limitless. How much did this unit cost? For the vibrator, 5′ hose and lubricator, this manufacturer paid $80. Read More…

Katy Sabo

Katy Sabo has been the Industrial Vibrator Duchess of The Cleveland Vibrator Company since 2014. The originator of #VibrationEducation, Katy has helped create CVC brand awareness across the globe and has made it her personal priority to share the importance of Industrial Vibration with anyone willing to listen! When she isn’t shaking things up in the Marketing Department, you can usually find her shopping with her favorite sidekicks (she’s the proud mom of two little ladies), going on long walks/runs with her favorite furry family members, or rooting on any Cleveland team with her diehard fan of a husband.

www.clevelandvibrator.com

Share this blog post:

Where should you install your industrial vibrator?

Solutions in Motion!

Tags