Dampers

Dampers

Dampers, which are either dissipating or absorbing the kinetic energy that could harm the object they are attached to, may be used in automobiles and motorcycles much like air shocks. Other places dampers are found in various forms include as landing gears for planes, jets and other types of aircrafts, industrial machine supports and in structural engineering in buildings and bridges for defense against earthquakes. They can be used in office machines, conveyors, door hinges, amusement parks and mechanical control centers. They are also used in doors to prevent them from slamming or from opening too quickly. Gas lifts also actually function as dampers when they lift and lower objects as smoothly and cleanly as possible, utilizing the nitrogen gas springs to fuel the force necessary to go up and down while absorbing the shock to the platform so it does not shake. With so many varied uses, dampers come in many sizes, based on the application they are meant for. They can hold anywhere from two pounds to twenty two thousand pounds of weight.

Most dampers work by oil, magnetic or air dampening. Oil dampers force a moving part in a cylinder of oil. The oil slows the movement or vibration and the damper should adjust to stop the vibrations quickly without slowing the response time. Magnetic dampers create magnetic fields that slow the movement of the weight cell, and are usually more expensive than oil dampers without necessarily being more accurate. Air dampers force air in and out of cylinders, introducing friction into the system, which can risk the output reliability. The use of friction is also common when the material of the damper may serve as an absorber. For example, stainless steel gas springs are natural absorbents of kinetic energy, which is usually what dampers are protecting the products they are attached to from. Besides functioning as dampers, stainless steel is also corrosion resistant and naturally hygienic, making it an ideal gas spring since it can be used in any sort of environment for a long time, and may be utilized by industries that require sanitary items such as food and drink processing plants and the medical field.