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LOAD CELLS
BY: NORY FAITH E CAGATIN

Outline of Report

Load Cell Strain Gage Load Cell Piezoelectric Load Cell Hydraulic Load Cell Pneumatic Load Cell Applications

LOAD CELLS
It is a transducer which takes input as (force) mechanical signal and converts into an output as electrical signal. The other names of Load Cells are Load Transducer or Load Sensors. There are different types of Load Cell; most common type is Strain Gauge based Load Cell.

Working Principle

A load cell is made by bonding strain gauges to an elastic material. For accurate measurement, strain gauges are bonded to the position on the Elastic material where the impact of the stress will be the largest. The strain gauge utilizes this principle and detects a strain by changes in electrical resistance.

Types of Load Cells:

There are different types of Load Cells such as:

Strain Gauge Load Cells Hydraulic Load Cells Pneumatic Load Cells Inductive and Reluctance-Based Load Cells Magnetoelastic Load Cells Piezoelectric Load Cells Fibre-optic Load Cells Resonant Wire Load Cells

Strain Gage Load Cell

This is the most common type of load cell. Such a load cell is used for measuring compressive forces. The length of the load sensing element is made short so that it does not buckle under the maximum allowable load.

theory

diagram

Different Shapes of Strain Gage

Capacities of different shapes of strain gage

Strain Gauge Resistance

Strain Gauge; R = ( l/A)

Strain Gauge under tension.Resistance

goes

up.

Strain Gauge under

compression.Resistance goes down.

How Does It Work?

The gauge is attached to the object by a suitable adhesive. As the object is deformed, the foil is deformed, causing its electrical resistance to change. The resistance change is commonly measured using a Wheatstone bridge.

Wheatstone Bridge

A Wheatstone Bridge is an electrical circuit.

Used in a load cell to measure an overall change in resistance. Increases sensitivity and reduces the affects of temperature.

How Does It Work?

Piezoelectric Load Cell

A pre-tensioned bolt, which allows the measurement of forces in both tension and compression, is used. Mounting of a load washer in this way is illustrated in the fig. below. The preloading ensures an optimum linearity and facilitates calibration after mounting. The force that acts upon the stack is transmitted to each of the three discs with the same magnitude and direction. These discs were cut along the specified axes. Each produces a charge proportional to the force component specific to it. The charge is collected via electrodes inserted into the stack.

Diagram

Hydraulic Load Cell

Hydraulic load cells are force-balance devices, measuring weight as a change in pressure of the internal filling fluid. The liquid (usually oil) has a preload pressure. Application of the force to the loading member increases the fluid pressure which is measured by a pressure transducer or displayed on a pressure gauge dial via Bourdon tube.

Diagram

Pneumatic Load Cell

Pneumatic load cells also operate on forcebalance principle. The force is applied to one side of a diaphragm of flexible material and balanced by pneumatic pressure on the other side. The counteracting pressure is proportional to the force and is displayed on a pressure dial.

Diagram

Applications
There are different applications of Load Cells. Some are shown in next slides.

Dual Tank Level Controller

Application 1

Bag Filling Machine

Application 2

Tank / Silo / Hopper

Application 3

Food Packaging
Application 4

End of Report
presented by: Nory Faith Cagatin