The relentless pursuit of minimizing downtime in industries such as manufacturing, mining, and materials handling is prompting a reevaluation of traditional methods used to isolate production equipment from the damaging effects of vibration. This shift is driven by the need for better isolation, increased reliability, and quieter operations.
According to Vinh Lam, Technical Product Manager at Air Springs Supply, “Where once standard metal springs were always the go-to option for dealing with Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH), now there’s a search for alternatives that offer superior performance across varied applications.”
The announcement comes as industries face increasing pressure to maintain operational efficiency while addressing Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) hazards associated with NVH. These hazards can lead to damage in vital components such as bearings, bushings, joints, welds, and mountings, and have long-term effects on workers’ health, including hearing loss and nerve damage.
Revolutionary Design and Application
Air Springs Supply, with over 50 years of experience, is at the forefront of this innovation as the national distributor for Firestone Airide products. Among their offerings are the Marsh Mellow™ rubber springs, which are engineered for strength and longevity. These springs feature a unique construction with hollow centers surrounded by a solid rubber core and fabric ply-reinforced body, delivering constant vibration isolation even with changing loads.
Their design allows for low natural spring frequencies, providing excellent isolation of forced frequencies in the range of 13-20 Hz (800-1200 cycles per minute). This performance makes them particularly suitable for vibration isolation applications in industries such as mining, quarrying, primary production, food and beverage processing, and manufacturing.
“Marsh Mellows also make ideal shock absorbers for conveyor and materials handling applications, especially in corrosive environments where their durability outperforms alternatives,” says Vinh.
Advantages and Performance
Marsh Mellow springs offer several advantages over traditional metal springs. They have no moving parts, require no maintenance or lubrication, and reduce structurally transmitted noise caused by vibration, providing significant OH&S and comfort benefits.
Their robust rubber construction eliminates issues with metal cracking, preventing potential equipment damage and costly downtime. Marsh Mellow springs also exhibit high overload characteristics. For example, the W22-358-0216 spring can handle normal loads of 30 kN (approximately 3 tons) with 16 mm of deflection, and isolated shock loads up to 200 kN (approximately 20 tons) with up to 40 mm of deflection.
“Marsh Mellows have no moving parts and require no maintenance or lubrication, so they are ideal for applications in moist, grimy, and demanding environments,” Vinh emphasizes.
Economic and Operational Benefits
Beyond reducing machinery damage and production interruptions, Marsh Mellow springs offer:
- High load carrying capacity: Their superior deflection capabilities and fabric reinforcement allow them to carry greater loads than all-rubber parts of the same size.
- Increased stability: At higher compression levels, the fabric-reinforced rubber plies expand, supporting the rubber core laterally.
- Lower cost: Their higher load capability means fewer springs are needed, reducing overall costs.
The components of Marsh Mellow springs can be combined in various ways to meet specific load and performance requirements, offering great flexibility and precision. This adaptability is crucial as different types of springs have unique performance characteristics suited to particular tasks. Vinh advises that individual applications should be discussed with experienced suppliers to ensure the best solution for NVH issues.
Looking Forward
The move towards innovative solutions like Marsh Mellow springs represents a significant shift in how industries approach vibration isolation. As companies strive to improve efficiency and reduce hazards, these advanced technologies are set to play a critical role in shaping the future of industrial operations.
Air Springs Supply Pty Ltd continues to lead the way as Australia’s premier supplier of air springs and pneumatic technology, supporting a wide range of applications from industrial actuation and isolation to air suspension for heavy vehicles.
