MEASUREMENT OF VELOCITY (SPEE.

D)' ==
(b)TACHOSCOPE DESCRIPTION
15.7
•
•
The main parts ofthis device are as follows:
- a revolution counter
- a button timer
-'
A c~unter and timer are provided together in order to take care of difficulty in
- the contact shaft
startmg a counter and timer at the same time.
ROTATING SHAFT
WHOSE SPEED IS TO BE MEASURED ·
··
OPERATION
COUNTER
TIMER
0
·o
figure 15.4: Tach<?scope
• The contaGt point ofthe instrument is pressed against the rotating shaft whose speed is to be
measured.
• The instrwnent runs until the contact point is diseng~g~d from the rotating shaft.
• Therotationalspeedof1heshaftiscalculatedwithth~helpofthereadingsofthe counter and timer.
(c) HAND SPEED INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION
• The mainparts ofthis arrangement are as fol.lows:
- A stopwatch and a counter with -automatic disconnect arrangement. -Aspindle(shaft)andstart-rest-
windbuttontoengageanautomaticclutch. -Anautomaticclutch.

-
15.8
MEASUREMENTS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
OPERATION
••
•
•
The instrument's spindle is made to contact the input shaft whose angular velocity (speed) is to be
·_measured. Now the spindle starts to rotate.
But it is to be noted that the counter will not fimction till the start button is pressed.
When the start button is pressed, it makes the watch to start and also engages the automatic clutch.
After a fixed time interval (5 to IO seconds), the counter automatically gets disengaged.
The instrument indicates average speed. The dial is designed and calibrated to indicate rotE.tional
speed directly in rpm.
The instrument has an accuracy of I% ofits full scale and is available in ranges between 20,000 to
30,000 rpm.
SHAFT WHOSE ANGULAR SPEED
IS TO BE MEASURED
Figure 15.5: Hand speed _indicator
(d) SLIPPING CLUTCH TACHOMEJ:ER DESCRIPTION
• Theinstrumentconsistsofaslippingclutchandanindicatorshaft.
• A spring in connected between the slipping clutch and the indicator shaft.
• The other end ofthe indicator shaft carries a pointer, which can moves on a speed- calibrated scale.
OPERATIONS
)
• The slipping clutch (friction material end) is brought in contact with the input shaft whose angular
speed is to be measured.

Depending on the spted ofthe input shaft, a torque is developed in the spring.
• The spring rotates the indicator shaft to the amount it is (the spring) twisted. This makes the
pointer to sweep over a speed calibrated dial indicating the measured speed.
(e) CENTRIFUGAL FORCE TACHOMETER DESCRIPTION
• Itconsistsofacentral,spindlewithacompression spring.
• Two fly balls (small weights) are arranged about the central spindle.
• To the free end o f the spring is attached a grooved sleeve, which can slide on the spindle.
• A link - sector - pinion arrangement along with a pointer and scale has been provided.

OPERATION
•••
•
The instrument's central spindle is made to contact the input shaft whose angular velocity (speed) is
to measured. ·
Now the spindle starts to rotate. Due to the centrifugal force, the two fly balls tend to move out. Due
to this, the sleeve is pulled causing the spring to compress.
Proportional to the extent to which the sleeve moves, the link also moves making the sector to
rotate the pinion.
This makes the pointer to sweep over a speed calibrated scale indicating the speed ofthe input shaft.
• These instruments are used to mea·sure speed up to 40,000 rpm. They give an accuracy of± 1%.
(f) VIBRATING REED TACHOMETER NOTE: Speed and vibration ofa body are related.

Description
This arrangement mainly consists ofa set ofvertical reeds, each having its own natural frequency
ofvibration. ,
These reeds are arranged in the order oftheir natural frequency and are attached firmly to a base
plate at one end. The other end ofthe reed is free to vibrate.

OPERATION
•••
The base plate ofthe tachometer is placed (fixed) firmly on the frame ofthe machine whose shaft's
rotating speed is to be measured.
That reed which is tuned to resonance with the vibration ofthe machine will be seen to respond
most frequently.
Such a reed is identified and its vibration frequently is noted. This frequentry becomes a measure
ofthe speed ofthe rotating shaft.
ADVANTAGES
•
••
•
Tachometer need not be com1ected to the input shaft for measuring speed.
Can be used on small machines also .
Used to measure speed of shafts mounted insi~e the machine which makP-s it impossible_to contact
them by a_measuring instrument.
Accuracy is± 0.5% in the speed range of600 to 10,000 rpm.
15.3.2 Electrical tachometers BASIC PRINCIPLE
• In these tachometers, the output depends on electric signals generated in proportion to the
rotation~! speed ofthe shaft.
(a) DRAG CUPTACHOMETER (EDDY CURRENT TACHOMETER)
DESCRIPTION
• The main parts ofthis tachometer are as follows:
- A shaft whose one end carries a permanent magnet.
.
.
- An aluminium cup (drag cup) that is place very close to the magnet. The drag cup is connected to a
spiral spring.
- The spiral spring is in tun1 connected to a pointer which sweeps over a speed calibrated dial (scale)

Operation
The input shaft whose speed is to be measu~ed is connected to the shaft ofthe instrument.
When the instrument's shaft rotates, the magnet also rotates. As a drag cup is
mounted very close to the rotating magnet, an eddy current is induced in the drag cup.
This eddy current produces a torque that rotates the drag cup against the torque of
aspiralspring. Thedragcupturnsinthedirectionoftherotatingmagneticfielduntil
thetorquedevelopedisequaltothatofthespiralspring.
I
The extent to which the drag cup turns is proportional to the speed ofthe input shaft.
A pointer that is attached to the drag cup moves over a sJ)eed calibrated dial indicating the speed
ofthe input shaft. ·
These tachometers are used in a~tomobile speedometers and can measure speed upto 12,000rpm
(with an accuracy of±3%)
15.12
INPUT
M ~ SUREMENTS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS ..
OPERATION
?J
J
MAGNET
STEEL SPRING
~ - - - 'ALUMINIUM CUP
DIAL
Figure 15.9: Drag Cup Tachometer
(b) COMMUTATED CAPACITOR TACHOMETER
(NOTE: The operation o fthis tachometeris based on alternatively charging and discharging ofa
capacitor).
DESCRIPTION
• The main parts ofthis tachometer are as follows:
_ A head with a reversing switch. The head is operated.by a spindle which reverses twice with each
revolution.
An rpm indicating unit that has a voltage source, capacitor, milliammeter and a calibrating circuit.

OPERATION
nlNPUT LJSHAFT
TACHOMETER HEAD WITH A REVERSING SWITCH
CAPACITOR
AMMETER - BATTERY
Figure 15.10: c ommutated capacitor tachometer
• Bytherotationofthespindleduetoitincontactwiththeinputshaft,lettheswitchbe closed in one
direction . The capacitor gets charged from the battery (DC supply). Due to this, a current flows
through the ammeter.
•••
When the spindle closes the reverse switch to the opposite direction, the capacitor discharges
through the ammeter. The current flow direction is still the same.
The indications are proportional to the rate ofreversal ofcontacts. The rate of reversal ofcontacts is
proportional to the speed (angular velocity) ofthe shaft.
The scale ofthe instrument is graduated and calibrated to read in rpm instead of milliamperes.
(c) TACHOGENERATORS BASIC PRINCIPLE
• A voltage is generated in a conductor due to the relative perpendicular motion between a
magnetic field and a conductor. The magnitude ofthis voltage being ·
generatedisdirectlyproportionaltotheangularvelocity(speed)oftheconductor.

15.14
MEASUREM
oz
(i) DC-TACHOGENERATOR DESCRIPTION
• The main parts ofthis arrangement are as follows: - a permanent magnet (horse shoe type)
OPERATION ·
VOLTAGE Figure 15.11: DC -Tachogenerator
,·
•
•
When the shaft ofthe tachogenerator is connected to th~source·whose speed (angular
_ velocity) is to be measured, the shaft starts rotating. This generates a pulsating DC voltage.
This DC voltage is proportional to the speed ofthe shaft. The voltage is measured ·
withamovingcoilvoltmeter. Thescaleofthevoltmetercanbecalibratedtodirectly indicate the speed.
a shaft and - acoil
(ii)AC-TACHOGENERATOR DESCRIPTION
• _Themainpartsofthisarrangementareasfollows:
- a pennanent magnet that is installed in a shaft.
- stator coils surrounding the pennanent magnet.
SHAFT
ENTS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
 -
Operation
When the shaft -of
(angular velocity) is to be measured, the shaft starts rotating. As the magnet is installed on the shaft,
the magnet also r~tates.
Duetothis,anACvoltageisinducedinthestatorcoils. Thisvoltageisrectifiedand
thenmeasuredwiththehelpofmovingcoilinstruments. Thismeasuredvoltageis proportional to the
speed ofthe source.
These devices are used for continuous'measurement-ofspeed.
OPERATION
•
•
•
the tachogenerator is connected to the source whose speed
15.3.3 Contactless electrical tachometers
• These tachometers don't have physical contact between the instrument and the speed
source(inputshaft). Hence,noloadisappliedtothe,source.
• These tachometers produce pulses f~r the measurement ofspeed.
(a) INDUCTIVE PICK UP TACHOMETER
DESCRIPTION
• The arrangement consist ofthe following parts:
A shaft on which a toothed wheel is mounted.
_ A permanent magnet with a ~oil wound on it is placed near the toothed wheel.
A pulse shaper/amplifier
An electronic counter or frequency 111eter

OPERATION
ELECTRONIC COUNTER OR
FREQUENCY METER
Figure 15.3: Inductive pickup tachometer
• Whentheshaftofthistachometerisconnectedtothesourcewhosespeed(angular velocity) is to
be_measured, the shaft and hence the toothed wheel rotates.
As the toothed wheel rotates, the magnetic flux linking the magnet and the coil changes
(thatis,thereisachangeinthereluctanceofthemagfleticfield).
Duetothis,avoltageisinducedinthecoilwithacertainfrequency. 1bis~uency
isproportionaltothespeedoftherotatingwheelandhencethespeedofthesource.
I
The frequency ofpulses depends on the nwnber ofteeth on the wheel.
[ Speed of Shaft J- Pulses per second (revolutions I second Number of teeth on the wheel
The pulses that are generated are not unifonn and well shaped. Hence they are
shaped and amplified. ·
The output is obtained on afrequency measuring tmit.
These devices are used to measure veiy high speeds (3 million rpm).

(b) STROBOSCOPE TACHOMETER DESCRIPTION

• Following are the main parts ofthe arrangement:
- A shaft carrying a disc with a reference mark.
- A ·stroboscope with a neon gas discharge lamp.

Operation
••
•
•
The shaft is connected to the speed source. Hence the shaft and the disc start to rotate with-the
same speed as that ofthe source.
The stroboscope is mad~ to fl~h light on the rotating disc at repeated short durations. The frequency
o fthese flashes is controlled by a variable frequency electronic oscillator operating the flashing bulb.
The frequency is adjusted by a knob and the value of frequency can be read on a scale.
The flashing rate is adjusted till the reference mark on the disc appears to be stationary. This
happens when the flash frequency ofthe stroboscope lamp is equal to the frequency ofrotationof the
reference mark on the·disc.

The flashing frequency oftbe lamp ofthe stroboscope in this condition becomes a I.•
measure ofthe angular velocity (speed) ofthe disc (and hence the speed source).

PHOTOELECTRIC TACHOMETER
DESCRIPTION
The arrangement consist ofthe following parts:
- Ashaftcanyingadisc,whichhasanumberofequidistantholesonitsperiphery.
- ' A light source on one side ofthe disc and a light sensor (photocell) on the opposite side ofthe light
source.
A display device.

OPERATION
••
•
The shaft_ofthe tachometer is connected to the speed source. _The disc starts rotating. As the disc
rotates, the light passes through the hole for some time and the rest is obstructed by the opaque
disc.
Hence, only when a hole is pres~nt, the light falls on the light sensor. Thus
the .intermittentltghtfallingonthephotocellproducesvoltagepulses. Thefrequencyof this voltage pulse
is a measure ofthe spe~d ofthe disc and hence, the speed ofthe
light source. -
The output is obtained on a frequency measuring unit.

CAPACITOR TACHO~ETER DESCRIPTION

• The arrangement consists ofthe following parts: A shaft carrying a vane on one o f its ends.
Capacitor plates

A pulse shaper/amplifier
An electronic counter or frequency meter

Operation
•
••
When the shaft ofthe tachometer is connected to the source whose speed (angular velocity) is to be
measured, the shaft rotates and hence the vane rotates.
Each time when the vane rotates between the fixed capacitor plates, there will be a
changeincapacitance. Thenumberoftimesthecapacitancechangesperunittime becomes a measure
ofthe speed ofthe rotating shaft.
The pulses that are generated are not uniform and well shaped. Hence they are shaped and
amplified.
The output is obtained on a frequency measuring unit.