ACE Shock Absorbers Isolate Noise In Hydraulic Test Stand.

When testing high-performance machine parts, something as simple as choosing the right methods of eliminating noise and vibration can make all the difference. And one way to achieve the most accurate testing possible is with vibration dampening machine components.

For a new test stand that measures the performance of its hydraulic pumps for excavators, Kawasaki Precision Machinery found that installing rubber-metal isolators helped reduce noise and vibration, yielding more accurate results than in the past.

ACE Controls, manufacturers of a wide range of industrial shock absorbers, gas springs and vibration control products, supplied rubber-metal isolators that are crucial to helping these test stands run. In this case study, we’ll take a look at ACE’s rubber-metal isolators and how they improve the testing quality of Kawasaki’s hydraulic pumps.

Test stands for hydraulic pumps. Kawasaki manufactures a wide range of hydraulic systems and components, including a series of pumps used for excavators. To assure they meet the company’s operating requirements, these pumps go through a series of tests before they’re shipped. This step takes place on a test stand which runs for about 10 days each month and, with the help of ACE’s rubber-metal isolators, gives off minimal noise. The stand weighs about 10,000 pounds and rests on ACE’s isolators. Kawasaki gets 25 percent more efficiency out of the new stand than with their old models. Other technical features include 350 hp, 2,000 rpm, 5,500 psi and a flow rate of 110 gallons per minute. To help engineers meet a strict set of testing criteria, Kawasaki tests these hydraulic pumps with an automated control system. First, they adjust the valving, oil routing and control signals until they reach the desired levels. After assembling and tuning the pump, they conduct a simulation that measures how the hydraulic pump reacts in different situations or environments.