How to Safeguard Air Compressor from Excessive Vibrations

Vibrations beyond the permissible limit will be a major reason for the breakdown of any machine, especially an air compressor.

It is important to protect your compressor from excessive vibrations developed due to the operation or any other reasons.

Unfortunately, many plants are not using the safety switch on their compressor.

Read: How a Small Switch Prevents Fatal Breakdown of Air Compressor

If you are using or interested to install the Excessive Vibrations switch, this post will help you to increase your engineering knowledge.

Many different Vibration Switches are available in the market but in old days a very accurate switch “Robertshaw” made in the USA make VIBRASWITCH is adopted by various plants.

You will find all the details about this vibration switch here.

how to protect compressor from vibrations
  • So, here are the details about Vibrations Switch

The switch is to protect the crankcase/crankshaft against any damage from malfunctions that can be detected as an increase in vibrations.

This is mounted on the crankcase of a compressor. It is sensitive to vibration in the direction perpendicular to its mounting base.

It contains a vibrations detecting mechanism, which also functions as a “Mechanical Amplifier” to activate a snap-action switch when the selected level of vibrations is exceeded, and the detecting mechanism “Trips”.

The mechanism may be reset manually, by depressing the reset button to make the armature away from the latching magnet until it is held against the stop pin.

Adjustment of the operating set point. The operating set point for the “Vibra-switch” varies with the type of Air Compressor & its location on the machine.

The set point adjustment suggested here is for a machine that is working in good or normal condition.

The switch is adjusted by a three-step procedure, for making the adjustment; the cover must be removed to gain access to the set point adjustment screw.

So, How to Set Vibrations Switch

  • Zero Vibrations Level Measurement

When the compressor on which the Vibra switch is mounted, not operating, back off the set point adjustment screw counterclockwise two turns & press the reset button.

Then turn the set point adjustment screw slowly clockwise until actuation occurs. This is the zero vibration point or actuating point when the compressor is not in running condition.

A mark should be made to permanently record this “Zero Vibration point”. Subsequent measurements are made relative to this point.

  • Normal G-Level measurement

When the compressor is in operating condition, back from the set point adjustment screw one turn counterclockwise and reset. If it will not reset, back off slowly until reset.

Again turn the set point adjustment screw slowly clockwise until actuation occurs, and mark the position.

The difference between the two actuating points in step 01 & step 02 is the normal G-level of the Air Compressor, in scale divisions. One scale division is 0.1g & one full revolution is 1.0g

  • Fine Set Point Adjustment

Rotate the set point adjustment screw one full turn counterclockwise from the point where actuation occurred in above step 02.

NOTE: -Use the Ohm meter to observe the actuation of the Vibra switch visually in noisy surroundings.

Besides this information, you are suggested to read something more from below engineering books

So, Here you find the Best Engineering Resources for further details

To get the more details about the topic, I further recommended reading

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