Free Flow

Air Guage
Shubham Soni
 Contents
• Introduction
• Types
• Principal
• Working
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Applications
 Introduction
Comparators
• Comparator is a device that
detects and displays the small
differences between the unknown
dimension and the standard.
 Introduction
Pneumatic Comparators –
• In pneumatic comparators, either air flow or
air pressure is measured to give measurement
deviations from a standard.

• It works on the principle of pressure difference

generated by the air flow.
 Types
• Back pressure type Air Gauge

• Free Flow Air Gauge (Flow or Velocity Type)

 Back Pressure Type
• Figure shows a simple back pressure circuit. In this circuit,
compressed air from the pressure regulator passes through a
primary restrictor, commonly called the control orifice, before
entering the cavity upstream of the escape orifice. Due to the
presence of the primary restriction, changes in the restrictive
effect of the escape orifice will give rise to changes in pressure
in the cavity between the two orifices. Changes in the restrictive
effect of the escape orifice are made by moving the surface
toward or away from the nozzle face. Changes in pressure
inside the cavity can be measured by a pressure indicator.
 Free Flow Air Gauge
• Flow or velocity type pneumatic gauges operate by
sensing and indicating the momentary rate of air flow.
Flow could be sensed by a glass tube with tapered bore,
mounted over a graduated scale. Inside the bore a float is
lifted by the air flow.
• Velocity of air in velocity type pneumatic gauges can also
be sensed by sensing the
velocity differential i.e., differential pressure across a
venturi chamber.
 Principle
• It works on the principle that flow and pressure are
directly proportionate to clearance. By controlling the
supply of compressed air to a system, either the flow or
pressure characteristics within the system can be
interpreted to determine the dimensional relationship
between a nozzle and the surface of a work piece.
Simple-flow or pressure indicators can be used to reliably
display the dimensional relationship.
Working

d
 Working
• Filtered compressed and pressure regulated air is flowed
through the tapered glass tube having small float.

• Then it flows through the plastic tube to the gauge head

having two diametrically opposed orifice for air
escapement into atmosphere.

• The gauge is provided with the Zero adjustment and

magnification adjustment.

• The float can be zeroed by a bleed valve installed at the

top of the tube.
Flow Meter
 Working
• Size is measured by the velocity of air in the tapered
glass tube which is measured by the height of the float in
tube.

• On the gauge, knobs are also provided for adjusting float

position and calibration.

• Air gauge amplification and range are based on the

tooling and instrument standards of manufacturer.
 Advantages
•Cheaper & simpler to operate.

•No wear.

•More accurate, feasible, reliable and speedy.

•High magnification.

•Tapers can be easily detected.

•Self cleaning operation.

•Less measuring pressure.

 Disadvantages
• It requires elaborated auxiliary equipment such as accurate
pressure regulator.

• The scale is generally not uniform.

• For glass tube, high magnification is necessary

• The apparatus is not easily portable and is rather elaborate

for many industrial applications.

• Different gauging heads are required for different

dimensions.
 Applications
•To measure dimensional variation throughout the length.

•For checking multiple dimensions and conditions on a part

simultaneously in least possible time.

•It can be used to measure bore diameters, length, square

ness, parallelism, concentricity, taper, center distance
between holes and other geometric conditions.

•Air gauges are most commonly used for measuring the size
and form of inside diameters. Two-nozzle air plugs are often
used for internal measuring.
Video Showing
Working Of Free
Flow Air Gauge
 Thanks!

Any questions?