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What are Load Cells?
Home » Industrial Equipment » Electronic Components » What are Load Cells?Just what are load cells? A load cell is actually known as a transducer. A transducer converts one form of energy into another form. The most common type of load cell is the strain gage load cell. Load cells come in different designs. These designs are determined by the type of output signal that needs to be generated. Load cells can also be determined by the way they detect weight. This weight may occur from bending, shearing, compression, tension, and more. The different types of output signals generated may be in the following forms: pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric.
• Hydraulic load cells: These are known as force-balance devices. They measure weight where a change in pressure of the internal filling fluid occurs. The way this system works is this: In a rolling diaphragm hydraulic load cell, a force is applied to a piston that compresses a filling fluid, which is confined in an elastomeric diaphragm chamber. As this force increases the pressure of the fluid rises. This pressure can be applied to a local situation or used in conjunction with a large process. Most hydraulic load cell applications may include weighing such as a tank, bin, or hopper.
• Pneumatic load cells: These load cells also operate on the force-balance principle as hydraulic load cells. These devices are a little different in that they use multiple dampener chambers instead of elastomeric diaphragm chambers. Pneumatic load cells are sometimes used to measure small weights that depend heavily on cleanliness and safety. Industries use this type of load cell because it is not susceptible to temperature changes and will not explode. This type of device also does not contain fluid.
• Strain-gage load cells: These load cells convert the load acting on them into electrical signals. These are called strain-gage load cells because the gauges that are bonded on the beam are deformed when weight is applied. The way it works is when weight is applied; the strain forces a change in the electrical resistance of the gauges, according to the load or strain that is applied.
Other types of load cells include compression load cells, compression/tension load cells, s-beam load cells, bending beam load cells, platform and single point load cells, canister load cells, and low profile load cells.
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