Vibrating Louvers
Vibrating Louvers are normally used for open-close service or fix flow. For the fabrication of frame and blades, we use optimum quality carbon steel or stainless steel. The blade tips are clawed with stainless steel springs. This ensures tight shut off and helps achieve leakage that is even less than 1% to ensure frictionless, smooth blade movement, these are provided with High strength blade linkages and Self aligning connecting rods.
Common Types
Vibrating Fixed Louvers
A vibrating drive and tray frame contain a removable feed tray in which is fitted a number of flat blades inclined at a certain angle. Each blade acts as a vibratory feeder. When the vibrations are stopped, the overlap between the blades prevents flow of product under the action of angle of repose. The blade dimension and angle are determined empirically by lab trials. The unit can be driven by electro-mechanical or electro-magnetic drives.
This discharge aid does not transmit vibrations further into the bin/silo, therefore, it will not initiate flow above its location. The material must flow into it under the action of gravity. The unit must be sized such that its size is greater than the arching or rathole diameters.
These devices can also be used as feeders since the discharge rate can be controlled by changing the amplitude of vibrations. Given that there is no means for positive shut off, some sort of valve must be installed downstream.
Vibrating Pivotable Louvers
This concept adds to the above design by pivoting the louvers. As a result, it achieves three functions:
- Promotes and maintains reliable flow
- Acts as a flow regulating device (feeder) for downstream equipment
- Serves as a valve to shut-off flow when not in operation (similar to slide gate)
This design is more adaptable to variations in material properties since the angle and discharge opening can be dynamically changed. Additional mechanical complexity, however, increases maintenance in harsh conditions.
Vibrating dischargers tend not to perform well with products that absorb vibrations or mechanically interlock (e.g. wood shaving, ground plastic films, cellulose fibers etc.).