Snubbers, Sway Braces & Sway Struts

Snubbers and Sway Braces allow pipe movement in either a tension mode or a compression mode under normal operating conditions of our piping system. When an impulse even occurs, snubber devices act as a restraint, and when the event (such as an earthquake) dissipates, the shock control devices go back to their passive mode, and allow the piping system to move as normal. Sway braces use springs to provide a restraint force and allow movement during tension or compression in the pipeline. A stronger spring produces a stronger restraint forces and, unlike the snubber, the sway brace is always activated. Sway struts, while sometimes attached to sway braces, are intended to be a rigid support: where they do not allow for any deflection in either a tension or a compression mode.

Hydraulic Snubbers

Most hydraulic snubbers have a piston which is relatively unconstrained in motion at low displacement rates. At high displacement rates the piston "locks up", that is, the force required to move the piston increases substantially, usually as a result of the closing of a valve. View Product Information

Mechanical Snubbers

Mechanical snubbers have two modes of operation. In passive mode, i.e., motion caused by thermal loads, the resisting mechanism is disengaged and the snubber "free wheels" with very low resistance. In active mode the mechanism is engaged, and the snubber limits the acceleration to a low threshold value. There are other types of mechanical snubbers, but these are the most common ones. View Product Information

Sway Braces

A sway brace is a device used for controlling vibration, absorbing shock loadings; guiding or restraining the movement of pipe resulting from thermal expansion; bracing a pipe line against sway. View Product Information

Sway Struts

A sway strut is a device used to restrain movement of piping in one direction while providing for movement due to thermal expansion or contraction in another direction. View Product Information

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