3.8.

8 Instrument for measuring vibration and noise The machine vibration, human vibration and noise of the power weeders were measured and analyzed using the portable PULSE multi-analyzer system !r"el # $%aer Type &'() *+, The transducer used for vibration measurements is the piezoelectric accelerometer -er.e and /oag, 0120 and Sharma and 3ain, 0124+, 5t e6hibits better all round characteristics and stability than any other type of vibration transducer and its response is linear through the fre7uency range of interest in human vibration measurements, The mass of the accelerometer should not e6ceed one tenth of the vibrating part /arris and *rede, 018( and !ruel and $%aer, 0129+, The view of the instrument with all accessories is depicted in Plate,&,99+, The PULSE multi-analyzer system is a versatile, tas. oriented analysis system for vibration and noise analysis, 5t provides the platform for a range of P*-based measurement solutions, Type &(') * is a portable system powered by internal batteries or an e6ternal :* supply, The base software for a PULSE system is vibration and noise analysis type 88)), ;n this base, pulse software such as data recorder type 88)0 was installed, The entire system consists of the following components, i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, Portable data ac7uisition unit- front end type 9298 <ibration and noise analysis software type 88)) :ata recorder type 88)0 /and arm transducer type 4&19 E=:E<*; 5stron accelerometer 8'0-0) >icrophone type 9((1

The details of the important components of the system are described below, i. Portable data acquisition unit The PULSE system uses a portable data ac7uisition front-end type 9298 with an input ? output conditioning module performing pre-processing and digitizing the transducer signals, Type 9298 can either be powered by two nic.el-metal hydride batteries or from a 0) - &9 < :* power supply, @n e6ternal 0)) - 94) < @* supply unit is included for powering of mains, 5n a PULSE system, type 9298 is used for powering and interconnecting an interface module and an input ? output module, The interface module handles communications with the P* while the input ? output module handles measurement inputs, The modules areA a, b, (?0 - channel input ? output module type &)&94 ( input channels and 0 output channel+ L@= interface module type 8'&&

a. 6/1 - channel input / output module type 3 3!" 5t was used for multi-channel acoustic and vibration measurements,

Each input channel has independent **L: ? direct and preamplifier input connectors allowing any combination of transducers, 5t had overload detection for out-of-band fre7uencies, ;ut of ( input channels, 4 channels were used for measuring whole body vibration and hand transmitted vibration simultaneously since whole body vibration was measured in three a6is 6, y and z+ and hand transmitted vibration in one a6is 6 or y or z+, b. #$% interface module type &'33 5t is used for interfacing portable data ac7uisition front-end to a PULSE system via L@= Local @rea =etwor.+, 5t controls and routes all communication between the P* and the input ?

output module, 5t provides sampling cloc. for the input module, synchronization interface for system with multiple front-ends and connection of remote control for sound intensity measurements, ii. (ibration and noise analysis soft)are type && 5t is the re7uired base pulse software, 5t provides Bast Bourier Transform BBT+, 0?n th octave and overall analysis with simultaneous measurement of e6ponential, linear, impulse and pea. levels as well as the definition of measurement setups, calibrating, and post-processing, displaying and documenting results, >ulti-analysis allows multiple analyses of the same input data, reduces test and reporting time and ensures consistency of data, The front-end hardware and transducers are automatically detected and data can be e6ported in a variety of formats with advanced graphical display for use with e6ternal applications, <ibration and noise analysis software includes an analysis engine, This is the part of the PULSE software that enables scalable real-time signal analysis on the P*Cs *PU, iii. *ata recorder type && 1 :ata recorder adds an optional time data recorder to the tools available in PULSE, :ata recorder was used for the recording of time data direct to P* hard dis. in real time and later recalls it for analysis using PULSE software, The data recorder can be especially useful for reanalysis of previously recorded time data ac7uired in the field and harsh environments, when time is limited and when real-time demands are e6cessive, iv. +and arm transducer type "3,! /and arm vibration set includes one miniature accelerometer, hand adapter and the integral cable, The accelerometer is mounted on the adapter which transmits the vibration from

the hand to the accelerometer directly, This avoids the problem of mounting of accelerometers on tool handles, /and adapter is mounted on the hand so that the mounting bloc. sits over the first .nuc.le of the middle finger and its base plate is positioned very close to the centre of the hand, ;n the right hand it fits between the middle and ring fingers, ;n the left hand it fits between the middle and inde6 fingers, Up to three accelerometer can be mounted on the hand adapter thus enabling tri-a6ial measurements, which refer to the same reference point of the hand, carried out by turning the adapter through 1)D on the handle, Portable four channel PULSE multi-analyzer system offers simultaneous measurement and recording facilities in all three measurement a6es for the assessment of hand transmitted vibration, v. -%*-(./ Istron accelerometer &'1-1 The E=:E<*; model 8'0-0) is a low cost lightweight piezoelectric accelerometer with integral electronics designed specifically for measuring machine vibration, The unit is hermetically sealed against environmental contamination, 5t has high output sensitivity, high signal-to-noise ratio and wide bandwidth, 5t is used either with an insulated mounting stud or with a magnet and the fre7uency response varies from 9) /z to 9) ./z, vi. 0icrophone type !66, Sound was measured using 09,'mm microphone preamplifier enabling one-third octave centre fre7uency measurements between 9) /z and (,& ./z as per the instruction manual supplied by !rel and $%aer, 5t gives precision acoustic measurements and operates over a wide range of temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions, The preamplifier has very high input impedance presenting virtually no load to the microphone, The high output voltage together with an e6tremely low inherent noise level gives a wide dynamic range,