Some Interesting Uses For An Accelerometer

By Author: Thelma Micco
Total Articles: 7
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With heavier equipment in use and faster trucks and other vehicles, safety has become more of a concern than ever. Instruments that can measure vibrations from various sources and devices that alert to slope changes on roads are very important safety tools that can be used in numerous ways.

Accelerometers

These are small, round devices that are used in cases where there is a need for the measuring and detection of vibrations, the measuring of normal acceleration and the measuring of acceleration when gravity is a factor.

Vehicle vibration is an important use of accelerometers. Often a vehicle will vibrate due to a system or part failure, but the vibration can’t be felt by people in the car. By accurately measuring vibration, serious problems can be detected and fixed.

These instruments can also measure vibrations in buildings and machines, alerting engineers and safety inspectors to potential problems. Additionally they are used to measure seismic activity and dynamic speed and distance, whether or not gravity is involved.

They’re ...
... small lightweight units that are sealed hermetically to prevent damage during use. Strong and solid, they’re designed to withstand temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius and as high as 125 degrees Celsius.

Most manufacturers of accelerometers supply them in packages of single, dual and tri axial. To support applications for testing and control, they include various frequencies and G ranges.

Tilt switch

These safety instruments are designed to alert truckers to changes in slopes on the roads on which they drive. Sometimes called inclinometers or slope indicators, the device creates an artificial horizon and is able to measure a vehicle’s tilt in relation to the created horizon.

A tilt switch will give a warning – either audibly or visually – to an operator when a steep slope is approaching. The instruments can be programmed to turn equipment off during a rollover, making it an ideal safety device for off-road construction.

Higher end models provide operators with continuous slope angle information with visual readouts. Their advanced technology is kept safe through a design process that protects sensitive parts in extreme high or low air temperatures.

Anyone who has ever seen a big truck roll over will appreciate the value of tilt switch technology. And no one appreciates it more than the vehicle operators who are kept safer by it.

In summary, the two instruments we talked about here provide extra measures of safety in many industries and in a variety of applications. They are able to protect the safety and in some cases save the lives of many people.

Thelma Micco is a freelance writer interested in Rieker Inc., a Chester Heights, Pa., maker of accelerometers and a unique tilt switch line, as well as a number of other related products. You can learn more about clinometer by visiting their website at RiekerInc.com.