Measurement of Speed

Experiment No. 5

OBJECTIVES
To calibrate a speed-measuring device.

DISCUSSIONS
Most instrument for measuring angular or rotational speed are fitted with
means for obtaining surface speeds. The simplest speed-measuring device is the
revolution counter (or speed counter), which requires a separate time- measuring
piece. The hand counter is provided with a friction drive and used in connection
with a time piece. Use of the stroke counter is limited to engines whose speed is
slow to permit reading the counter at definite time.

The difficulty of simultaneously operating both the timer and revolution

has led to the development of units in which a single motion serves to start or
stop both mechanisms. A tachoscope combines a stop watch and a revolution
counter. The watch and the revolution counter are started simultaneously by
operation of a trigger after the shaft has assumed the speed to be indicated. Both
counter and watch are stopped simultaneously by a second operation of the
trigger.

In a hand indicator, the speed is averaged over a short interval of time. The
device is operated by bringing the spindle into contact with the shaft. The
operation serves to wind the watch and simultaneously engage the revolution
counter with the starting of the watch.

A tachometer is a device which gives directly a continuous indication and

recording of speed. Although many different methods have been used to provide
direct reading of angular velocity, the ones commonly used today are those in
which the actuating mechanism is a centrifugal device, an electric device and a
resonant vibrating reed.
APPARATUS
Tachometer

SKETCH
Draw the actual set-up of the experiment neatly and label each apparatus.
 P
ROCEDURE
1. Obtain a shaft of variable speed.
2. Start the first speed of the shaft.
3. Bring the spindle of the tachometer into contact with the shaft. Press the
operating button and then release it.
4. After the shaft has assumed the indicated speed, the counter stops. Disengage the
tachometer and record the speed.
5. Make trials by repeating steps 3 and 4.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 using another speed of the shaft.
7. Repeat the procedures using another type of device.

8. Compute the average speed.

9. Compute the percent difference between the average speed and the indicated
speed.
( Indicated Speed −Average Speed )
% Difference= ×100
Indicated Speed

10. Plot an error curve showing the average speed against the percent difference.

TABULATED DATA
Indicated Tachometer Reading (rpm) %
Speed
Differen
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
(rpm) ce
3600 3422 3562 3582 3522 2.167 %
3600 3588 3584 3586 3586 0.389 %
 3600 3582 3582 3580 3581.33 0.519%
3600 3586 3586 3587 3586.33 0.380%
3600 3584 3581 3585 3583.33 0.463%

COMPUTATIONS:
Observation and Reactions:

From the data’s acquired and presented using the table above, I observed
that first row of rpm reading starts lesser reading than the following readings. The first rpm
reading in trial 1 has the lowest reading, while it has the highest rpm reading in average
column. The 3 average rpm reading reads with decimals.
Problems:
1. A 36 mm solid shaft is to be used to transmit 50 kW. If the shaft design is not to
exceed 30 MPa, determine the angular speed of the solid shaft in rpm and rad/s.

2. A motor drives 50 hp to a shafting 1 1/2 in. diameter and 3 ft. long. If the
maximum shearing stress produced by torsion is 39,628 psi and the total angle of
twist in the shaft is 9.080, calculate the torque (based on angle of twist and
shearing) and angular speed in rpm. G = 12 x 106 psi.

3. The shaft of a heavy-duty tractor transmits 120 kW at 600 rpm, and at the same
time supports a load just like a cantilever carrying 5.5 KN load located 610 mm
from the support. If the allowable shear stress is 138 MPa, calculate the minimum
diameter required. Neglect axial load