SLIDING CONTACT DEVICES

Definition
Sliding contact device is a resistive type of transducer, which converts a mechanical displacement input into an electrical output either in the form of voltage or current. We know that R=Resistance

L R= A
=Resistivity of the material A= Crossectional Area

L=Length of conductor

 HereListhemechanicaldisplacement. WhenLchangesresistancechanges,whichleadstochange
involtageorcurrent(V=IR). Thesedevicesarecommonlycalledresistancepotentiometer (POT) GenerallyaPOTconsistsofaresistiveelementandaslider knownaswiper. DependinguponmotionofwiperPOTareof3types: 1.TranslationalPOT 2.RotationalPOT 3.Helipot (BothTranslational&Rotational)
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Translational/Linear POT
Guide Rod

Slider or brush

Resistance wire

- eo +

ei -

Translational/LinearPOT
The effective length of the conductor is changed by a sliding contactor or brush mechanism, that slide on some form of electrical resistance element. The effective resistance exist between either end of the wire and the wiper/brush become a measure of the mechanical displacement. Devices of this type have been used for sensing relatively large displacement.

 There is a commonly used resistance element formed by wrapping a resistance wire around a card known as mandrel. The turns are spaced to prevent to prevent shorting and wiper slides across the turns from one turns to next. The translational resistive element are straight devices and have a stroke of 2mm to 0.5m.

Translational/Linear POT

Derivationforoutputvoltage/emf
ei=Inputvoltage(V) eo=Outputvoltage(V) xt=totallengthoftranslationalPOT(m) xi=Displacementofwiperfromzeroposition(m) Rp=Totalresistanceofpotentiometer

 Theresistanceperunitlength xt Outputvoltageunderidealcondition

Rp

resistanceat the output ter minals input volt eo = age resistanceat theinput term inals R p (xi /x t ) xi = ei = ei xt Rp

Output eo ei Sensitivity = = = Input xi xt

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Rotational POT
These are circular in shape and used for measurement of angular displacement. They may have full scale angular displacement as small as 10. A full single turn POT may provide accurate measurement up to 357. Rotational POT are of two type:-

(a) Wire-wound type Rotational POT

(b) Carbon-composition film type Rotational POT

Rotational POT
In carbon-composition film type rotational POT, the film is supported by a ceramic or plastic backing. These are less expensive than wirewound type. These are of good wear characteristic and long life.

Helipot (Both Translational & Rotational)

Helipot (Both Translational & Rotational)

Hlipot have helical resistive elements are multi turn rotational devices which can be used for measurement of either translational or rotary motion. It can measure up to 3500 of rotation.

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Application
Thermistor/Variableresistor Volumechanger Fanswitch Pressuregauges Straingauges

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Potentiometer Resolution
It is the smallest increment up to which the whole resistance can be divided. In a wire wound resistance, the limiting resolution is the reciprocal of number or turns. Example Suppose number of turns of wire used is 1200 Resolution = 1/1200 = 0.09083 %.

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Potentiometer Linearity
A linear potentiometer is normally used as measurement transducer. The term linearity is used assuming that the resistance measured between one end of the element and the contactor is a direct linear function of the contactor position in relation to that end.

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Question
#1 A linear resistance potentiometer is 50 mm long and is uniformly wound with wire having a resistance of 10,000 . Under normal conditions, the slider is at the centre of the potentiometer. Find the linear displacement when the resistance of the potentiometer as measured by a whetstones bridge for two cases is (a) 3850 and (b) 7560 . Are the two displacements in same direction? If it is possible to measure a minimum value of 10 resistance with the above arrangements, find the resolution of the potentiometer in mm.
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Variable-Inductance Transducer Elements

Inductance is that property of a circuit by which a change in current in the circuit induces a voltage (emf) in both the circuit itself (self-inductance) and any nearby circuits (mutual inductance). This effect derives from two fundamental observations of physics: First, that a steady current creates a steady magnetic field (Oersteds law); second, that a time-varying magnetic field induces voltage in a nearby conductor (faradays law of induction). In the SI system the unit of inductance is Henry. The relationship between the self inductance L of an electrical circuit, voltage, and current is

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 Variable-Inductance transducers are based on the principle of voltage output of an inductor or a coil due to change in its inductance in response to change in a measurand, which may be displacement, velocity or acceleration etc. Variable-Inductance transducers are broadly classified in to three categories: A. Variable self inductance (i) Single coil (ii) Two coils (or single coil with center tap) B. Variable mutual inductance (i) Two coils (ii) Three coils (using series opposition) C. Variable reluctance (i) Moving iron (ii) Moving coil (iii) Moving magnet
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 Inductive reactance, which quantifies inductive effect may be expressed by, XL = 2fL -------(2)
.

where

XL = Inductive reactance () f = Frequency of applied voltage (Hz) L = Inductance (H) Inductance depends upon number of turns of the coil, coil size and permeability of flux path. For a cylindrical air-core coil, inductance L = (d2.n2) / (18.d + 40.a) -----------(3) where d = diameter of coil, a = coil length, n= no. of turns

 When the flux path includes both magnetic material (usually iron) and air gap(s), then inductance L = (1.26 n2 x 10-8) / [(hi / ai) + (ha / aa)] -------(4) where hi = Length of iron circuit ha = Length of air gaps ai =c.s. area of iron aa = c.s. area of air gap = Permeability of magnetic material at maximum flux density If permeability of magnetic material is very high, then only air gaps are to be considered. So, above equation reduces to L = 1.26 n2 (aa / ha) x 10-8 --------------(5) Total impedance of a coil may be expressed by, Z = (XL2 + R2), where R = dc resistance Quality of a coil, Q = XL / R -----------(6)

Variable self inductance transducers

A single coil variable self inductance type transducer is shown in Fig-1, where the mechanical input changes the quantity of the flux path generated by the coil, thereby changing its inductance. The change in inductance is then measured by a suitable circuit, indicating the input value. The path of flux may be changed by changing air gap or amount or type of core material.
Fig-1 Single coil self inductance arrangement

Variable self inductance transducers

Fig-2 Two coil induction ratio transducer

A two coil self inductance type transducer element is shown in Fig-2. Movement of the core or armature alter the relative inductance of two coils. This transducer elements are incorporated with inductive bridge circuits, in which the variation of inductance ratio between the two coils provides the output.

Two coil variable mutual inductance transducers

Fig-3 Mutual inductance Transducer

Fig-3 shows a two coil variable mutual inductance transducer. Coil A is energizing coil and B is the pick up coil. If the armature moves, there by altering the air gap, the coupling of two coils changes and output of coil B is changed and this change may be used as a measure of armature movement.

Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)

Fig-4 Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)

It is an example of three coil variable mutual inductance transducer, which provides an ac voltage output proportional to displacement of the core passing through the windings. It consists a primary winding (P) and two secondary windings (S1 and S2), placed on either side of the primary, mounted on same movable magnetic core.

The two secondaries S1 and S2 have equal number of turns and connected in series, so that the e.m.f.s (E1 and E2) induced in them are 1800 out of phase, hence by cancelling each others effect. The primary is energized by suitable A.C. source. When the core is at the centre (reference position), E1 and E2 are equal and opposite, hence by cancelling each others effect and net output voltage V0 is zero. When the core moves towards S2, E2 increases and E1 decreases, thus net voltage available is (E2 - E1) and is in phase with E2. Similarly, if the core moves towards S1, E1 increases and E2 decreases, thus net voltage available is (E1 E2) and is in phase with E1. So, it is found that the magnitude of V0 is a function of distance moved by the core and its polarity indicates to which direction it is moved.

#2 Question The output of a LVDT is connected to a 4 V voltmeter through an amplifier whose amplification factor is 500. An output 1.8 mv appears across the terminals of LVDT when the core moves through a distance of 0.6 mm. If the millivoltmeter scale has 100 divisions and the scale can be read to of a division, calculate (i) Sensitivity of LVDT (ii) Resolution of the instrument

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Variable Reluctance Transducer

Fig-5 Simple variable reluctance transducer The term variable reluctance implies some form of inductance device incorporating a permanent magnet. Generally these devices are employed to dynamic application, either periodic or transient.

It involves relative motion between two elements due to which magnetic flux lines are cut by turns of the coil. The simplest form of a variable reluctance transducer is shown in Fig-5 , where a coil is wound on a permanent magnet core. Relative motion is provided by form shape shown in figure. Variation of quantity of magnetic field causes a change in flux. As the flux field expands or collapses, a voltage is induced in the coil, according to Faradays law, i.e. V = -n (d/dt) Where V = Induced voltage (V) n = No. of turns in coil = Magnetic flux through coil (Wb)