21
AIRMOUNT
®
VIBRATION ISOLATION
SELECTION AND ISOLATION FORMULA
Refer to the selection guide on page 33 for Airmount load and
isolation capabilities. Follow this procedure:
1. LOAD CAPACITY
Select one or two Airmounts that can support the load at each
mounting point. It is normally best to design for pressures in
the 60 to 80 psig range. Consider only the 1M1A-0 and the
single and double convoluted types at first. Please notice that
in the range of 210 to 63,890 pounds you will, in most cases,
find both a single and double convoluted style part which will
support the load.
2. DETERMINE ISOLATION EFFECTIVENESS
Select the disturbing frequency that is closest to the actual
forced frequency (400, 800, or 1500 cpm). Then check the per-
centage of isolation for the parts that were selected in 1 above.
3. DETERMINE DESIGN HEIGHT
THE AIR SPRING SHOULD BE USED AT THE DESIGN
HEIGHT GIVEN. The double convoluted part is used at a
design height somewhat higher than its single convolution
equivalent. Make sure that the design height falls within the
height restrictions. Also, the double convoluted part will show a
higher percentage of isolation (less transmitted vibration) than
the single convoluted air spring. The reason for this is that the
double convoluted part has a greater internal volume of air
than the single convoluted version of the same size. At disturb-
ing frequencies in the 400 to 800 cpm range, the double
convoluted part is a significantly better vibration isolator than
the single convoluted part. At disturbing frequencies of 800 to
1500 cpm, the gap closes considerably. At frequencies of
1500 cpm and above, the difference is negligible.
4. DETERMINE EXACT INTERNAL PRESSURE
AND ISOLATION EFFECTIVENESS
The chances are that your specific vibration problem does not
fall neatly into the load and disturbing frequency criteria as pre-
sented in the selection guide.
Therefore, once a preliminary part selection has been made,
turn to the individual data page for that part in order to deter-
mine the specific internal pressure required and the
percentage of isolation attainable.
CONSIDER THIS EXAMPLE:
Isolate a vibrating screen which weighs a total of 16,400
pounds, preferably with
one isolator at each corner. The vibrat-
ing mechanism is rotating at a speed of 850 rpm (cpm) with a
total stroke of
5
/
16
inch.
a. Determine the load at each mounting point:
Scan down the 80 psig load column in the selection guide. It
appears that either a #19 or a #22 will support the load at a
pressure between 60 and 80 psig.
b. Determine Isolation Effectiveness.
Read the % of Isolation at 800 cpm for the #19 and #22
(since 800 is closest to our machine speed of 850 cpm). A #19
is at 96.0% and a #22 is at 98.2%. Looking at isolation effec-
tiveness in terms of % TRANSMISSION, the #19 will transmit
100 – 96.0, or 4.0% of the vibrations. A #22 will transmit
100 – 98.2, or 1.8% of the vibrations. So, even though there
does not seem to be much difference between 96.0% and
98.2% isolation, the #22 is in fact a better isolator by approxi-
mately a factor of two when comparing transmitted vibration.
c. Determine Design Height.
Let’s say we have chosen the #22 because 96.0% isolation for
a #19 is considered to be too low. A #22 should be used at 9.5
inches as shown in the second column on page 33.
d. Determine Exact Internal Pressure and Isolation Percentage.
Turn to page 61 for detailed information on the #22.
a) What exact pressure will be required to support the load
of 4,100 Ibs? Refer to the information in the block entitled
“Dynamic Characteristics at 9.5 in Design Height.”
Divide the actual load by the effective area:
4
= 4,100 lbs.
4,280 lbs.
80 lbs/in
2
53.5 in
2
effective area @ 9.5 inches
@ 80 psig
=
=
4,100 lbs.
53.5 in
2
76.6 psig required to support
4,100 lbs. at 9.5 inches
=
16,400
