TACHOMETERS

Balmaceda, Chris
Francisco, MILFren

Tachometer

Device for indicating the angular (rotary) speed of a rotating

shaft. Either by registering the total no. of revolution during the
period of contact or by indicating the number of revolution
per min.

CONSTRUCTION OF
TACHOMETER

Tachometer consist of a dial, a needle ( for

indication of reading ), high and low markings for
indicating safe and dangerous levels.

First mechanical tachometers were designed

based on measuring the centrifugal force. In the
year 1817, this device was modified to measure
speed of machines.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF

TACHOMETERS?

Tachometers can be classified

1.Non contact type
2. Contact Type

3.DC and AC tachometer

5. Analog and Digital tachometer

7. Mechanical tachometer
8. Electrical tachometer

COMPARISON
Contact Type

Non Contact Type

1) The tachometer has to be

in physical contact with
the rotating shaft.

1) The tachometer does not

need to be in physical
contact with the rotating
shaft.

2) Generally, optical
encoder / magnetic
sensor is attached to shaft
of tachometer.

2) Generally, laser is used or

an optical disk id attached
to rotating shaft and read
by a IR beam or laser.

COMPARISON
DC TACHOMETER

AC TACHOMETER

1)

This tachometer is basically a

permanent magnet
generator .

1)

This device consist of revolving

permanent-magnetic field
with a stationary winding .

2)

The output of this types of

instrument is 2 to 10 volts per
1,000 rev per min (RPM) .

2)

The voltage output and

frequency that is generated
remains in proportion rotation
speed .

COMPARISON
ANALOG TACHOMETER
1)

2)

These Tachometers are very

simple and it s easy to determine
speed
They can not store the readings
and compute details like
deviation and average speed .

DIGITAL TACHOMETER
1)

These consist of LCD or LED

readout .

2)

They also have a memory for

storage.

3)

These are used to perform

statistical operations and gives
precision measurement .

MECHANICAL TACHOMETER
1.Revolution Counters.
2.Centrifugal Force Tachometer.

Mechanical tachometers utilize the fact that the centrifugal

force on a rotating mass depends on the speed of rotation
and can be used to stretch or compress a mechanical spring.

LIMITATIONS

1) Mechanical tachometers imposes load on rotating shaft which

they are connected therefore they absorb the power. Not
applicable for shafts involving small power .

2) More maintenance require.

3) Faulty parts doesnt give accurate reading.
4) It is normally use an arrangement where in a counter is used for
counting the numbers of revolution and a stop what is used for
measurement of time.

1.REVOLUTION COUNTER

Revolution counter is used to measure an average of

rational speed instead of instantaneous rotational speed.

It consists of a worm gear that is usually attached to a

spindle. It has two dials, an inner one and an outer one.

The inner dials represent one revolution of the outer dials

and the outer dials represent on revolution of the spindle.

The tachometer has a stopwatch attached to the

revolution counter and is used to indicated time.

2.CENTRIFUGAL FORCE TACHOMETER

A sliding collar is mounted on a
shaft. The coupling has hinged
arms carrying mass that spread
apart when the shaft rotates,
moving the sliding coupling along
the shaft against a
counterbalancing spring.

ELECTRICAL TACHOMETER

The eddy-current or drag type is widely used in automobile

speedometers; a magnet rotated with the shaft being measured
produces eddy currents that are proportional to angular speed.

EDDY CURRENT TACHOMETER

(1) permanent magnet, (2) rotor, (3) shaft with pointer, (4)
spring

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF
TACHOMETER

It is used in measuring the speed of marine diesel

engines on board ships and to know direction in
which the ship is rotating .

Automobiles, airplanes, trucks, trains , light rail

vehicles and tractors.

Practical applications of this device include its uses

in the medical field where a haematachometer is
placed in an artery or vein to estimate rate of
blood flow .The rate of flow is determined from the
speed at which the turbine spins and readings that
we see are used to diagnose various circulatory
problems like clogged arteries.

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