The mechanical elements that are used to convert the applied force into a displacement are called :
Force summing devices
The standard name for the first mechanical stage of a pressure or force transducer is a force summing device — option 1.
Why "summing". The element does not merely respond to a force; it collects the pressure acting over its whole area and converts the total into a single displacement. A diaphragm of area A exposed to a pressure P experiences a resultant
\(F=PA\)
which is the sum of the distributed load over the surface — hence the name. The displacement then follows from the element's stiffness:
\(x=\dfrac{F}{k}\)
| Force summing element | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Diaphragm, flat or corrugated | Pressure transducers |
| Bellows | Low pressures, large travel |
| Bourdon tube | Mechanical pressure gauges |
| Capsule | Aneroid barometers, altimeters |
| Proving ring, load cell body | Force and weight measurement |
Where it sits in the measurement chain. A pressure transducer works in two stages, and the summing device is the first:
\(\text{Pressure}\ \rightarrow\ \boxed{\text{force summing element}}\ \rightarrow\ \text{displacement}\ \rightarrow\ \boxed{\text{secondary transducer}}\ \rightarrow\ \text{electrical output}\)
The secondary stage may be a strain gauge bonded to the diaphragm, an LVDT coupled to a bellows, a capacitive plate, or a piezoelectric crystal. The division is useful because the two stages can be designed independently — the summing element for range and overload protection, the secondary for sensitivity and signal conditioning.
Why the other names do not exist as categories. "Force multiplying" describes a lever or a hydraulic press, which changes the magnitude of a force rather than converting it to a measurable displacement. "Force integrating" would imply accumulating force over time, which is impulse, not displacement. "Force removing" has no meaning in instrumentation at all — the three are constructed distractors.
The design trade-off is worth stating: a thin, compliant diaphragm gives large displacement and high sensitivity but a low natural frequency and poor overload capacity, while a stiff one gives the opposite. Choosing the stiffness therefore fixes both the sensitivity and the frequency response of the finished instrument.
Hence, these elements are force summing devices.
Similar Questions
Which of the following statements are correct ?
A. Hygrometer measures the value of humidity directly
B. Hygrometer measures the value of humidity indirectly
C. Wien's bridge is used to measure the frequency of the signal
D. Wien's bridge is used to measure the amplitude of the signal
E. Bimetallic strip is a thermal expansion detector.
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
Which of the following statements are correct
A. Megnetostrictive transducer operation depends on the change of permeability of magnetic material is when strained.
B. Potentiometer is an active transducer.
C. Turbine flow meters are volumetric flow meters
D. Any metal can be thermistor.
E. Thermocouples are used in high accuracy measurements.
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
Match List I with List II
LIST I LIST II A. Stroboscope I. Changes its electrical resistance with temperature B. Bolometer II. Generate thermoelectric emf C. Thermocouple III. Changes pressure to displacement D. Diaphragm IV. For measurement of rotary motion Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Match the following lists :
List – I List – II a. Electromechanical Device i. Seismic Device b. Optical Device ii. Piezo-electric c. Gyroscopic device iii. Interferometers d. Absolute motion device iv. Aerospace vehicle Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
Consider the following transducers or transducer systems :
(a) Float elements
(b) Seismic system
(c) Gyroscope
Arrange the above transducers/systems in decreasing order of the availability of possible number of output signals.
Consider the following statements associated with electrical and electronic transducers
A. Little power is consumed by transducer
B. Mass intertia effects are not minimized
C. The response time is small
D. Transmission and processing the signal for the purpose of measurement are easier.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Match List I with List II
LIST I LIST II A. Relative error I. The ability of tde device to give identical O/P when repeated measurements are made witd tde same I/P signal B. Precision II. The ratio of difference between measured value and tde true value to tde true value of tde measurand C. Caliberation III. The smallest increment in measure tdat can be detected witd certainity by tde instrument D. Resolution IV. The process of making adjustments or tde scale so tdat tde instrument reading conform to an accepted standard. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
The fundamental law that is used in temperature measurement is known as
Assertion (A) : Normally, some standard signal conditioner and display devices are used with a transducer, unless they are custom-built to suit the requirements of the transducers.
Reason (R) : A transducer is a device which receives energy in one form and transfer it to a convenient form.
Select your answer using the codes given below :
Which of the following transducers are not linear ?
i. thermistor
ii. thermocouple
iii. IC sensor
Important Questions from Basics of Transducers
Which of the following can act as an inverse transducer?
For transducers, following statements are given:
(A) An optical interferometer is useful for measuring extremely small motions
(B) The damping ratio of a seismic instrument should be low for good dynamic performance
(C) A rate gyro is a relative motion measuring device
(D) A pneumatic motion transducer is non-linear over a wide range of motion
(E) A piezoelectric accelerometer can only be used for static motion measurement
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Choose the INCORRECT statement with respect to the use of electrical transducers.
Consider the following transducers:
1. LVDT
2. Piezoelectric
3. Thermocouple
4. Photovoltaic cell
5. Strain gauge
Which of these are active transducers?
Under which condition, Transducers must operate?
