Product category:
Engineering Industry Developments and Awards
News Release from: NESTA
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 14 February 2003
Funding for novel vibration reduction
technique
NESTA is helping develop a new technique for using pneumatic tools that reduces the risk of injury caused by vibration.
NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts), the organisation which invests in UK creativity and innovation, is helping to develop a new technique for using pneumatic tools that reduces the risk of injury caused by vibration, which can affect an estimated 1 million people in the UK and costs the economy GBP 150 million a year Engineer Giovanni Bisutti has received an invention and innovation award of GBP 75,000 to develop the NEWmatic variable mass system, trials of which suggest that the technique can reduce the vibration experienced by operators by about 60%
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Cambridge-based Bisutti has a wealth of expertise through managing civil and mechanical engineering projects since graduating with a first in engineering in Padua, Italy, 1986.
In 1996 he formed NEWmatic specifically to develop a new concept in low vibrating tools.
He is joined by Anthony Barber, an expert in the pneumatics industry, Dr Hugh Hunt, a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge, and Stewart Block, a specialist in marketing and licensing, to make up the team at NEWmatic.
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Current pneumatic handheld tools, like road breakers, can weigh up to 42kg but the 25/28kg region is regarded as the limit for safe repeated lifting.
However, the heavier the tool the lower the level of vibration exposure for the operator.
In standard tools power is driven to the spike through a piston but the operator also needs to apply downward pressure to keep the tool in position and ensure that the spade is effective in breaking the contact point.
The firm grip used by the operator increases the level of vibration that is sent back through in his hands and arms.
This in turn can cause hand arm vibration syndrome (also known as vibration white finger), which can effect the circulation, sensory and motor nerves and cause musculoskeletal problems.
The variable mass system aims to reduce this through using an extra mass of water that surrounds the piston assembly in the handheld tool to supply the downward pressure instead.
To make sure that the tool is not too heavy to lift the water is contained in a reservoir separate from the appliance, but quickly (within three seconds) transferred through operating the trigger on the tool.
The system will use 15kg of water varying the weight of the tool from 25 to 40kg.
NESTA is delighted to be supporting a concept that is so simple in design but so effective in practice.
With prospective legislation about to be drawn up from the EEC's Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive (June 2002), which places a duty on employers to protect staff who could be exposed to injury through vibration, this innovative design could allow pneumatic tool operator's to safely operate the equipment for longer periods throughout the working day.
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