Introducing Vibra-Feet from Gaudet Compensating Dampers

The need for isolating machine vibrations from the floor or structure has never been greater. Workplace safety awareness is calling for less noise pollution, machine designers are striving to isolate the negative effects of vibration on adjacent machines and structures, and repair technicians are struggling to keep pace with vibration induced breakdowns. Gaudet Compensating Dampers is proud to introduce the Vibra-Feet. Our Patent Pending technology lowers the energy transmitted to the floor or structure by an astounding 94%.

Present strategies include using springs or elastomeric buffers to limit peak force transmission. Let’s consider the operating characteristics of both of these options: Springs provide good low pass frequency isolation, but permit the slung load to pick up a harmonic oscillation. This leads to damaging or dangerous stresses on supporting piping and structures. Elastomeric buffers are cheap and compact but deteriorate if overworked, provide little energy conversion, and tend to transmit a substantial portion of the peak forces through to the supporting structure.

Vibra-Feet accomplish this long sought after performance by employing the superior energy conversion efficiency of the Gaudet Compensating Damper. We have mounted externally adjustable load bias springs in parallel with our Patent Pending Multi-Axis Damper.

Vibra-Feet from Gaudet Compensating Dampers can be tuned for maximum position control or maximum vibration transmission attenuation. When the load bias springs are backed off completely, the internal configuration of the GCD Multi-Axis Damper locks the machine in position. This adjustment setting offers the maximum position control. If the load bias springs are brought on a portion of the leg load, the damper will be permitted to act if a vertical or lateral machine induced transient exceeds the remaining leg load. This intermediate adjustment setting allows the user to select how little or how much attenuation is desired, while balancing the need for position control. If the load bias springs are brought on to be just below the leg load, any transient vibration will cause the damper to act, while still maintaining light position control. Lastly, if the load bias springs are brought on more than the leg load, then the Multi-Axis Damper is held in fluid suspension, and full range dampening is permitted. This mode of operation provides the highest vibration isolation while maintaining oscillation free operation due to the superior energy conversion rate of the GCD Multi-Axis Damper.

Vibra-Feet from Gaudet Compensating Dampers are used on any machine that has reciprocating motions, high vibration signatures, or transient force spikes.