Understanding how your valve parts function and what they do is a means of learning what makes your compressor work at its optimum potential. The damping and cushion plates are essential components of your machines technology, which is why you need to be aware of how they operate. They work similarly by damping and cushioning the vibrations and friction impact of the compressor valve to keep it functioning as quiet as possible by controlling the vibrations.
If you’re familiar with the operations of your vehicle, you may have heard of damping springs and cushion springs as they are used similarly in the clutch and suspension to control vibration and overheating.
What Is a Damping Plate?
A damping plate is a plate constructed of metallic material that fits inside the valve to control the noise vibrations and friction that can be produced when operating your machinery. Without a damping plate in your valve, the machine would not operate smoothly and would lead to damage to the entire valve. It is essential to use high grade materials when sourcing your damping plate, as the consequence of buying a poorly made or poor quality damping plate will decrease the performance of your machine. By using 410 or 420 stainless steel you can guarantee the durability of the component within your valve.
What is a Cushion Plate?
A cushion plate – as the name suggests – is a plate that is positioned between the spring plate and the guard to cushion these two components and prevent damage. This damage would have typically occurred as a result of not having a cushion plate within your valve and both metals rubbing together causing deterioration or failure. The cushion plates can be produced of either metallic or thermoplastic material. In regards to quality, the cushion plates should be sourced from the highest-grade materials to prevent the reduction of durability and function.
How Will I Know If the Damping and Cushion Plates Need Changing?
Once the deterioration takes place within your valve, you will immediately be aware, as a failure is likely to occur. If you have kept your machine clean and maintained it properly, you will see if the plates look as though they are entering the deterioration stage.
There are also other signs that will occur to alert you so that you can determine whether your damping and cushion plates need changing:
- Your machine will become extremely noisy and will be heard from a distance
- The plates may crack due to the added pressure being imposed on them to perform as they are deteriorating
- The plates may become unaligned, which will cause them to crack and failure will occur
- The effectiveness of the machine you are operating will become slow or work intermittently
- The valve in your machine may leak, being caused by faulty or broken plates
By changing the damping and cushion plates you are extending the lifetime and performance of your machine.
What Can Cause Your Plates to Fail?
- Using poor quality products to replace the plates within the valve, will reduce the time your machine will work at its optimum capacity
- By not properly maintaining your machine and the valve components
- Consistently applying the incorrect method in which to operate your machine, will cause a much quicker deterioration of the components within the machines valve
- Wrongly fitting the plates within the valve will have an adverse impact on your valve and will cause the plates to crack or overheat
- Excess dirt and grease getting in between the plates causing them to grate against each other
- Using the wrong chemicals suitable for the make and model of your machine
- An excessive amount of heat being used by overworking the machine when it requires maintenance
- Valve seals being broken may lead to water, dirt and grease seeping into the plates and causing deterioration
Strength of Damping and Cushion Plates
Damping and cushion plates are produced with the intention of withstanding the harshest of conditions and an excessive amount of heat. Making certain you source products with the highest standard of durability is necessary to keep your valve within your machine functioning effortlessly. Quality damping and cushion plates will have the following strengths:
- Be able to withstand high temperatures
- Be able to withstand the corrosiveness of chemicals that might cause the machine to fail if they are not up to the standards required for the machine you intend to use
- Withstand harsh temperatures, for example temperatures considerably below freezing
- Perform at the highest level without failing and leading to the damage of the plates
Performance of Damping and Cushion Plates
A plate valve normally comprises of damping plates, cushion plates, spring plates, valve plates, wafer plates and smaller parts like poppets, springs. When the valve is operated and the momentum of the plates increase, the cushion plate prevents damage and breakage of the valve structure. The damping plate absorbs the noise and vibrations of the valve to ensure the consistent running of the machine. Both plates play a significant role in the structure of the valve.
Using Metallic or Thermoplastic Plates
Choosing whether to use metallic or thermoplastic plates depends on what machine you are operating and what job it is intended to carry out. Metallic plates are more hard wearing for a machine that is using pressure to obtain results. But if you want a flexible plate that will leave a strong seal, then the thermoplastic plates would be your best option. Metallic plates are constructed using precision laser cutting machinery. Made to the accurate measurement you request for your machine. This produces a strong and durable plate with precision and accuracy. While the thermoplastic plates are prepared with injection moulding machines, the quality of the plate is superior, but more flexible in its characteristics.
The roles of the damping and cushion plates are integral to the running of the compressor valve. Since these components were added the reliability of the valve has increased tenfold.