Hydraulic Load Cell Principle

Principle of Hydraulic Load cell

When a force is applied on a liquid medium contained in a confined space, the pressure of the liquid increases. This increase in pressure of the liquid is proportional to the applied force. Hence a measure of the increase in pressure of the liquid becomes a measure of the applied force when calibrated.

Hydraulic Load Cell

The main parts of a hydraulic load cell are as follows

• A dirphragm
• A piston with a loading platform (as shown in figure) placed on top of the diaphragm.
• A liquid medium which is under a pre-loaded pressure is on the other side of the diaphragm.
• A pressure gauge (bourdon tube type) connected to the liquid medium.

Operation of Hydraulic Load Cell

• The force to be measured is applied to the piston.
• The appilied force moves the piston downwards and deflects the diaphragm and this deflection of the diaphragm increases the pressure in the liquid medium (oil).
• This increase in pressure of the liquid medium is proportional to the applied force. The increase in pressure is measured by the pressure gauge which is connected to the liquid medium.
• The pressure is calibrated in force units and hence the indication in the pressure gauge becomes a measure of the force applied on the piston.

Note about Hydraulic Load cell:

• As the hydraulic load cell is sensitive to pressure changes, the load cell should be adjusted to zero setting before using it to measure force.
• This hydraulic load cell have an accuracy of the order of 0.1 percent of its scale and can measure loads upto upto 2.5*10^5 Kgf
• The resolution is about 0.02 percent.