What Are Air-Ring Gauges and What Types Are Available?

When conducting system checks in aircraft, there are countless components to investigate and many more tools to use for the process. Many of these systems are pneumatic, meaning they rely on pressurized air to perform functions like pressurization, cooling, sensing, and more. When working with these systems, it is important to monitor the air to ensure it is operating at an ideal pressure range. This demand can be met with air-ring gauges. Air-ring gauges, also referred to simply as ring gauges, are parts used to measure the air pressure within a cylindrical object by fitting around the exterior circumference of the cylinder, or workpiece. They are made of thermally stable metals like steel, and they function to measure the diameter of the object around which they fit. Air-ring gauges provide the ability to measure air pressure through this function, and we will further discuss the types available, as well as their applications, in the blog below.

First, it is important to understand that air ring gauges are used in general for comparative gauging. This is a technique used to determine the degree of change between two values. In the situation of air pressure, ring gauges tell the difference between air pressure at one end of the workpiece versus another. When measuring air pressure, the workpiece being checked is often a cylindrical hollow tube which narrows at one end to pressurize the air that travels through it. By comparing the sizes of the two holes, one can use the subsequent measurements to calculate the pressure of the air within the system. There are various gauges available on the market, all of which serve slightly different purposes while functioning to monitor pressure.

There are three main types of ring gauges available, those of which comprise the go ring gauge, the no go ring gauge, and the master or setting ring gauge. Both go ring gauges and no go ring gauges are precision tools used for production comparative gauging based on a fixed limit; however, the dimensions of a go ring gauge are based on the minimum inside diameter of the cylinder, while the dimensions of a no go ring gauge are based on the maximum outside diameter of the cylinder. More simply put, go ring gauges check the smaller diameter of a workpiece, while no go ring gauges check the larger diameter of the same workpiece. The measurements allow for the user’s further calculations of pressure changes across the system.

While go and no go air ring gauges are fixed in their ability to measure a specific width or diameter, master and setting ring gauges are adjustable. These types of air ring gauges include gauge blocks, master or setting discs, and setting rings. Gauge blocks are complex measurement tools that have an appearance similar to that of a typewriter, with multiple metal protrusions of varying sizes used for gauging and calibrating. Master discs are adjustable so they can be used by measuring various diameters. These types of master gauges are used to calibrate or set micro meters, optical comparators, or other gauging systems.

An important note when purchasing air ring gauges is that they are sold by accuracy grades. This means that higher grade air ring gauges have lower allowable variance from the nominal diameter. Furthermore, the diameter tolerance varies within each grade based on the nominal diameter. Accuracy is reported as a percentage and has a ± value, meaning it straddles the accurate reading in both positive and negative directions. For example, a gauge that has a scale of 0-300 psi with an accuracy of ±1% would mean that the gauge is accurate to within ± (plus or minus) 3 psi. Depending on the application, each type of ring gauge has unique benefits, so it is wise to assess your needs prior to purchase.

When you are in the market for reliable go, no go, and master air ring gauges, Aircraft Parts Supplier is your parts procurement partner. Owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we are a leading online purchasing platform for all kinds of aircraft parts, including air ring gauges and more. Quality is the cornerstone of our operations, so we proudly conduct business with  AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B accreditation, alongside a Strict NO CHINA sourcing policy. We subject countless items to rigorous quality assurance testing and inspection and ship all items with their manufacturer trace documentation as applicable, so customers rely on us time and time again to provide only top-quality products and services. Furthermore, we source all items from an Approved Vendor List (AVL) of trusted manufacturers around the world to maintain the premium quality of our inventory.

We invite you to browse our ever expanding database of over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find parts until you find an item you wish to procure. Then, take advantage of our Instant Quote service by submitting a Request for Quote form. As our team of market experts works around-the-clock to assist our customers, we guarantee a response within 15 minutes or less; we only ask that you offer as much information as possible in your form including target prices, shipping deadlines, and desired quantities. This allows our team to craft a personalized quote to fit your specific circumstances. We are equipped to offer competitive pricing and rapid lead-times, so get started with us today to find out why customers rely on us to handle the sourcing, shipping, and logistics of their purchases.For further inquiries, reach out via phone or email at any time; we are available 24/7x365!

1. alena joseph
2. Posted on June 30, 2022
aviation

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