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LECTURE 2

The document discusses position measurement techniques using mechanical and proximity switches in industrial applications. Mechanical switches require physical contact to operate, while proximity switches detect objects without contact, utilizing inductance or capacitance principles. It also covers specific types of sensors like Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDT) and Rotary Variable Differential Transformers (RVDT) for precise measurements of displacement and angular rotation.

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5 views

LECTURE 2

The document discusses position measurement techniques using mechanical and proximity switches in industrial applications. Mechanical switches require physical contact to operate, while proximity switches detect objects without contact, utilizing inductance or capacitance principles. It also covers specific types of sensors like Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDT) and Rotary Variable Differential Transformers (RVDT) for precise measurements of displacement and angular rotation.

Uploaded by

shayan12569
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Instrumentation & Control

Lecture 2 : Position measurement


Mechanical and proximity switches

Aisha Shoaib
Assistant Professor
aisha_moazzam@uet.edu.p
k
Department of
Mechatronics and Control
Engineering
INTRODUCTION

Industrial switches and sensors are used in many automated industries for
detecting position and motion.
Common application: equipment safety shutoff systems, materials
conveying, item counting, elevator control, packaging machinery stops,
air or hydraulic positioning, valve positioning, and rotary speed sensing.
The switches and sensors provide position information for operational
status, alarm, or interlocking systems. Switches and sensors use a
number of methods to detect the position of an object including direct
mechanical contact and noncontact devices such as inductance,
capacitance, photoelectric, and ultrasonic systems.
MECHANICAL SWITCHES
• A mechanical switch is a switch that requires physical contact with an
object to actuate a switch mechanism.
• The switch-actuating mechanism typically is spring loaded so that the
switch returns to its original position when no longer in contact with
the object. The switch-actuating mechanism can have many forms.
• Mechanical switches are also designed with a pivoting arm that
actuates the internal switch mechanism. One of the most common
arm designs uses a roller to contact the object. A roller is used where
the arm has to rub on a moving object and is actuated by a change in
the surface.
Mechanical Switch Output:
Mechanical switches come in a variety of sizes and can actuate either electrical or
pneumatic signals. Electrical signals can be either AC or DC since the switches are
direct-contact types. What is important is the electrical current that the switch can
handle. The form of the switch can be normally open (NO), normally closed (NC),
or Form C.
A Form C electrical contact is a single-pole double-throw switch that allows both
NO and NC contacts.
PROXIMITY SWITCHES:
A proximity switch uses a proximity sensor to detect the presence of an object. A
proximity sensor is a sensor that detects the presence of an object without
requiring contact with the object. Proximity switches are typically used when the
target object is light and easily damaged by physical contact, when the sensing
rate needs to be very quick, when the target object must be sensed through plastic
or glass, or when the sealed construction of proximity switches is suited to the
environmental conditions.
Electrical Proximity Sensors:

• An electrical proximity sensor is a proximity sensor that uses


inductance and capacitance properties to detect the presence of an
object. The basic principles of the inductance and capacitance
sensors are different, but the housings, sensing range principles, and
interference due to the type of mounting are very similar for both
types.
Inductance Sensors:
An inductance proximity sensor is a
proximity sensor that consists of a
sensor coil, an oscillator, a trigger
circuit, and an output switching
circuit. The oscillator generates a
radio frequency (RF) signal that is
emitted from the coil. Eddy currents
are generated in an electrically
conductive object as it enters the RF
field. These eddy currents draw
energy from the oscillator. As the
object moves closer to the coil in the
sensor, more energy is drawn from
the oscillator and the amplitude of
the oscillation is reduced. The trigger
circuit detects when the oscillation
stops and sends a signal to the output
switching circuit that changes the
state of the output.
Linear Variable Differential Transformer
(LVDT):
• Used to measure displacement directly as a sensing element in a number
of situations involving motion.
• Their high resolution, high accuracy, and good stability make them an ideal
device for applications involving short displacement measurements.
• Construction:
• LVDTs consist of one primary winding, P1, and two secondary windings, S1
and S2.
• Each is wound on a cylindrical former with rod-shaped magnetic cores
positioned centrally inside the coil assemblies. This provides a dedicated
path for the magnetic flux linking the coils.
• An oscillating excitation voltage is applied to the primary coil. The current
through the primary creates voltages in secondary windings.
• The ferromagnetic core concentrates the magnetic field. If the core is
closer to one of the secondary coils, the voltage in that coil will be higher.
• Let the output of the secondary
winding S1 be Es1 and that of S2 be
Es2.
• When the core is at its normal null
position, equal voltages are induced
in each coil. When these two outputs
are connected in phase opposition,
the magnitude of the resultant
voltage will be zero.
• This is known as the null position, and
the output Es1 will be equal to Es2.
• As the moving core is displaced, the
mutual inductance between the fixed
coils changes.
• The LVDT outputs a bipolar voltage
proportional to displacement. The
output voltage is positive and gives no
indication of the direction in which
the core has been moved.
Rotary Variable Differential Transformer (RVDT):
• The RVDT can be used wherever precision angular rotations are
measured. The RVDT uses the same principle as LVDT, except it has a
rotating magnetic core.
Capacitance Sensors:
A capacitance proximity sensor is a
proximity sensor that consists of a sensor
plate, an oscillator, a trigger circuit, and
an output switching circuit. A capacitance
sensor acts as a simple capacitor with
one plate built into the sensor and the
target object being the other plate. The
oscillator is inactive when the target
object is outside the sensing range. As
the target object nears the sensor, the
circuit detects the increasing capacitance
between the object and the sensor plate.
The circuit then starts oscillating and
increases the amplitude of the oscillation
as the object gets closer to the sensor
plate. The trigger circuit detects when
the oscillation begins and sends a signal
to the output switching circuit that
changes the state of the output.
Capacitance Transducers:
o The variation in capacitance between two separated members (electrodes) is
used for the measurement of many physical phenomenon.
o Capacitance is a function of the effective area of the conductors, the separation
between the conductors, and the dielectric strength of the material.
o A change in capacitance can be brought about by varying any one of the three
parameters. These variations are summarized here.
• Changing the distance between the two parallel electrodes.
• Changing the dielectric constant, permittivity, of dielectric medium .
• Changing the area of the electrodes, A.
• The ratio of the amount of charge stored on one of the plates to the
amount of voltage across the capacitor is the capacitance. The
capacitance is directly proportional to the area of plates and
inversely proportional to the distance between them.
CAPACITANCE CHANGE DUE TO PLATE SEPARATION:
• Transducers of this type are used for the measurement of extremely
small displacements.
• The right plate is fixed, and the left plate is movable by the
displacement which is to be measured. The capacitance is computed
as
• Capacitance Transducers Using Change in Area of Plates
• For parallel-plate capacitors, the capacitance is

• Transducers of this type are used for the measurement of relatively


large displacements
Capacitance Transducers for Angular Rotation:
• The basic principle of change in area also can be used for rotational
measurement.
Capacitance Transducers Using Variation of Dielectric Constant
• The change in capacitance caused by a change in the dielectric
constant of the separating material is another principle which can be
used in capacitance transducers.
• Two plates separated by a material of different dielectric constant.
As this material is moved, it causes a variation of dielectric constant
in the region separating the two electrodes, resulting in a change in
capacitance.

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