FREE FLOW AIR GAUGES

ANURAG BANSAL
MAYANK SOLANKI
MOHIT KHEMCHANDANI
PRATEEK UPADHYAY
What is Gauge
What is Comparator
Are they same
 Comparator

Mechanical Pneumatic Electrical

Back
Free Flow Solex
Pressure
Operating Principle
It works on the principle that of an air jet is in close proximity with a surface the
flow of air out of that jet are restricted. Which results in the change of pressure
in the system supplying the jet.
Simple Schematic of any Free Air Gauge
Parts of Free Air Flow Gauge

1. Compressor
2. Filter
3. Pressure Regulator-Shut off Valve
4. V-Shaped Glass Tube
5. Float
6. Scale
7. Zero Adjustment Screw and Air
Bleed
8. Rubber/Plastic Tube/Hose
9. Gauging Head
WORKING
Simple Schematic Free Air Flow Gauge
V- Shaped Glass Tube and Scale
Gauging Head
1. Air is compressed at 1.5-2 bar pressure.
2. Air is then supplied at high pressure to the air filter where the dust particles.
3. Flow of air is controlled by shut off valve.
4. The flow of air is passed through the tapered glass tube into the rubber hose.
5. At the end of the hose we have the gauging head which is in the close
eccentricity of the workpiece to be measured.
6. Due to the closeness of the workpiece and the gauging head the air pressure
is developed, which in turn is felt by the rubber hose.
7. The pressure restricts the air flow and the float in the glass tube attains a
certain equilibrium value.
8. Equilibrium values for the complete system is noted(not for a single position).
9. The gauging head is moved inside the workpiece, and as the clearance changes
the position of the float is changed.
10. These equilibrium positions are used as the datum/ reference values for
further comparison of the workpiece.
 Applications
• It is used to detect the bore of cylinder workpieces.
• The inner and outer diameters of the workpiece can
be detected.
• The straightness and flatness of the workpiece can be
detected.
• Tappers and ovality of the workpiece can be easily
analyzed.
• It is also used to check the roundness and squareness
of the workpiece.
• Based on the types of gauging head and number of the
orifice, the applications of pneumatic comparator
varies.
Advantages
• High accuracy and amplifications.
• Gauge lends itself to the gauging of several features at once, it has
become an indispensable part of production inspection in the
industry.
• Absence of metal-to-metal contact between the gauge and the
component enhances longevity because of a total absence of
wearable parts.
• Location and positioning.
• The method is self cleaning due to continuous flow of air through
the jets and this makes the method ideal to be used on shop floor
for online controls.
 Disadvantages
1.They are very sensitive to temperature and humidity
changes.
2.The accuracy may be influenced by the surface
roughness of the component being checked.
3.Different gauging heads are needed for different jobs.
4.Auxiliary equipment such as air filters, pressure gauges
and regulators are needed.
5.Non-uniformity of scale is a peculiar aspect of air
gauging as the variation of back pressure is linear, over
only a small range of the orifice size variation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4O1oiQAwPI :- Video Link