Vibrations will often violently load Bourdon tube pressure gauges. They cause pointer flutter and also, in case of sustained loading, damage to the measuring system, even to the point of total failure. The very best protection against these effects is supplied by measuring instruments with case filling.
The principle is simple: The pressure gauge case is filled with a liquid, usually glycerine or silicone oil. Regarding vibrations, the case filling optimally dampens the vibrations of the Bourdon tube, transmission mechanism and movement. It therefore prevents pointer flutter, and thus the displayed measured value remains clearly readable. At the same time, the measuring system is protected against premature wear, since the fill fluid acts as a lubricant for the moving components. This considerably extends the service life of the pressure gauge.
Figure 1: View of the inside of a pressure gauge with a dampened movement. The circle marks the seat of the pot with the silicone oil that accommodates the pointer pinion.
Highly viscous silicone oil
As an alternative to a musical instrument with case filling, a pressure gauge with silicone-dampened movement is frequently chosen. In this design, the pointer pinion moves in a pot of highly viscous silicone oil. Because of this, the pointer also operates largely free from vibration. However, this effect, which is essential for immobilising the pointer, slows down other moving components of the movement. The effect is really a significantly higher wear of the parts than with a pressure gauge with fill fluid.
WIKA confirmed this information some time ago within an internal laboratory test with different pressure gauge versions. Unfilled pressure gauges, pressure gauges with dampened movement and pressure gauges with case filling were put through an endurance test under practical conditions that have been harsher than those of the EN 837-1 pressure gauge standard. The investigation produced the following results:
Pressure gauge version (type of dampening)
Zero point offset after 50 hrs / 200 hrs
Condition of the instruments after 200 hours
Unfilled / without dampening
2,3% / 3.0%
Conditionally functional
Dampened movement
2,3% / 66%
No longer functional
Liquid-filled
0,6% / 0,8%
Fully functional
Fast wear
In the test, the unfilled variant turned out to be relatively resistant. However, given the inevitable pointer flutter, this type of pressure gauge isn’t recommended for applications with vibrations. This verdict also applies to the version with dampened movement, particularly in applications with stronger and sustained vibrations. The pointer stability is, in cases like this, countered by a rapid wear of another moving parts. This version was, already, no more functional well before the finish of the test.
Figure 2: Cracks in the Bourdon tube or perhaps a worn-out link are examples of typical vibration damage in the mechanisms of pressure gauges. Mainstream is avoided by case filling.
The pressure gauge with case filling was the only real variant which remained fully operational. Because of the fill fluid, the chance of leakage is often used being an argument against this type of instrument. Defying with filling are therefore designed and handled to reduce the risk of leakage as a result of vibration to a minimum.
Note
To find out more on our selection of pressure gauges, visit the WIKA website.
See also our article
Filling liquids in pressure gauges: Usage and advantages