Chapter 19 : Brakes and Dynamometers l 763

19.13. Types of Dynamometers

Following are the two types of
dynamometers, used for measuring the brake
power of an engine.
1. Absorption dynamometers, and
2. Transmission dynamometers.
In the absorption dynamometers, the
entire energy or power produced by the
engine is absorbed by the friction resistances
of the brake and is transformed into heat,
during the process of measurement. But in
the transmission dynamometers, the energy
is not wasted in friction but is used for doing
work. The energy or power produced by the
engine is transmitted through the dynamom- Dynamometers measure the power of the engines.
eter to some other machines where the power
developed is suitably measured.
19.14. Classification of Absorption Dynamometers
The following two types of absorption dynamometers are important from the subject point of
view :
1. Prony brake dynamometer, and 2. Rope brake dynamometer.
These dynamometers are discussed, in detail, in the following pages.
19.15. Prony Brake Dynamometer
A simplest form of an absorption type dynamometer is a prony brake dynamometer, as shown
in Fig. 19.31. It consists of two wooden blocks placed around a pulley fixed to the shaft of an engine
whose power is required to be measured. The blocks are clamped by means of two bolts and nuts, as
shown in Fig. 19.31. A helical spring is provided between the nut and the upper block to adjust the
pressure on the pulley to control its speed. The upper block has a long lever attached to it and carries
a weight W at its outer end. A counter weight is placed at the other end of the lever which balances the
brake when unloaded. Two stops S, S are provided to limit the motion of the lever.

Fig. 19.31. Prony brake dynamometer.

When the brake is to be put in operation, the long end of the lever is loaded with suitable
weights W and the nuts are tightened until the engine shaft runs at a constant speed and the lever is in
horizontal position. Under these conditions, the moment due to the weight W must balance the mo-
ment of the frictional resistance between the blocks and the pulley.
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764 l Theory of Machines
Let W = Weight at the outer end of the lever in newtons,
L = Horizontal distance of the weight W
from the centre of the pulley in metres,
F = Frictional resistance between the blocks
and the pulley in newtons,
R = Radius of the pulley in metres, and
N = Speed of the shaft in r.p.m.
We know that the moment of the frictional re-
sistance or torque on the shaft,
T = W.L = F.R N-m
Work done in one revolution
= Torque × Angle turned in radians
= T × 2π N-m
∴ Work done per minute
= T × 2π N N-m
We know that brake power of the engine, Another dynamo
Work done per min. T × 2πN W .L × 2π N
B.P. = = = watts
60 60 60
Notes : 1. From the above expression, we see that while determining the brake power of engine with the help of
a prony brake dynamometer, it is not necessary to know the radius of the pulley, the coefficient of friction
between the wooden blocks and the pulley and the pressure exerted by tightening of the nuts.
2. When the driving torque on the shaft is not uniform, this dynamometer is subjected to severe oscil-
lations.

19.16. Rope Brake Dynamometer

It is another form of absorption type dynamometer which is most commonly used for measur-
ing the brake power of the engine. It consists of one, two or more ropes wound around the flywheel or
rim of a pulley fixed rigidly to the shaft of an engine. The upper end of the ropes is attached to a spring
balance while the lower end of the ropes is kept in position by applying a dead weight as shown in Fig.
19.32. In order to prevent the slipping of the rope over the flywheel, wooden blocks are placed at
intervals around the circumference of the flywheel.
In the operation of the brake, the engine is made to run at a constant speed. The frictional
torque, due to the rope, must be equal to the torque being transmitted by the engine.
Let W = Dead load in newtons,
S = Spring balance reading in newtons,
D = Diameter of the wheel in metres,
d = diameter of rope in metres, and
N = Speed of the engine shaft in r.p.m.
∴ Net load on the brake
= (W – S) N
We know that distance moved in one revolution
= π( D + d ) m

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 Chapter 19 : Brakes and Dynamometers l 765
∴ Work done per revolution
= (W − S ) π ( D + d ) N-m
and work done per minute
= (W − S ) π ( D + d ) N N-m

Fig. 19.32. Rope brake dynamometer.

∴ Brake power of the engine,
Work done per min (W − S ) π ( D + d ) N
B.P = = watts
60 60
If the diameter of the rope (d) is neglected, then brake
power of the engine,
(W − S ) π D N
B.P. = watts
60
Note: Since the energy produced by the engine is absorbed by the
frictional resistances of the brake and is transformed into heat,
therefore it is necessary to keep the flywheel of the engine cool with
soapy water. The flywheels have their rims made of a channel section
so as to receive a stream of water which is being whirled round by
the wheel. The water is kept continually flowing into the rim and is
drained away by a sharp edged scoop on the other side, as shown in
Fig. 19.32.

Example 19.17. In a laboratory experiment, the

following data were recorded with rope brake:
Diameter of the flywheel 1.2 m; diameter of the rope
12.5 mm; speed of the engine 200 r.p.m.; dead load on the
brake 600 N; spring balance reading 150 N. Calculate the
brake power of the engine.
Solution. Given : D = 1.2 m ; d = 12.5 mm An engine is being readied for
= 0.0125 m ; N = 200 r.p.m ; W = 600 N ; S = 150 N testing on a dynamometer

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766 l Theory of Machines
We know that brake power of the engine,

(W − S ) π ( D + d ) N (600 − 150) π (1.2 + 0.0125)200

B.P. = = = 5715 W
60 60
= 5.715 kW Ans.
19.17. Classification of Transmission Dynamometers
The following types of transmission dynamometers are important from the subject point of
view :
1. Epicyclic-train dynamometer, 2. Belt transmission dynamometer, and 3. Torsion dyna-
mometer.
We shall now discuss these dynamometers, in detail, in the following pages.
19.18. Epicyclic-train Dynamometer

Fig. 19.33. Epicyclic train dynamometer.

An epicyclic-train dynamometer, as shown in Fig. 19.33, consists of a simple epicyclic train
of gears, i.e. a spur gear, an annular gear (a gear having internal teeth) and a pinion. The spur gear is
keyed to the engine shaft (i.e. driving shaft) and rotates in anticlockwise direction. The annular gear
is also keyed to the driving shaft and rotates in clockwise direction. The pinion or the intermediate
gear meshes with both the spur and annular gears. The pinion revolves freely on a lever which is
pivoted to the common axis of the driving and driven shafts. A weight w is placed at the smaller end
of the lever in order to keep it in position. A little consideration will show that if the friction of the pin
on which the pinion rotates is neglected, then the tangential effort P exerted by the spur gear on the
pinion and the tangential reaction of the annular gear on the pinion are equal.
Since these efforts act in the upward direction as shown, therefore total upward force on the
lever acting through the axis of the pinion is 2P. This force tends to rotate the lever about its fulcrum
and it is balanced by a dead weight W at the end of the lever. The stops S, S are provided to control the
movement of the lever.
For equilibrium of the lever, taking moments about the fulcrum F,
2P × a = W.L or P = W.L /2a
Let R = Pitch circle radius of the spur gear in metres, and
N = Speed of the engine shaft in r.p.m.
∴ Torque transmitted, T = P.R

and power transmitted T × 2 π N P.R × 2 πN

= = watts
60 60
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 Chapter 19 : Brakes and Dynamometers l 767
19.19. Belt Transmission Dynamometer-Froude or Throneycroft Transmission
Dynamometer
When the belt is transmitting power from one pulley to another, the tangential effort on the
driven pulley is equal to the difference between the tensions in the tight and slack sides of the belt. A
belt dynamometer is introduced to measure directly the difference between the tensions of the belt,
while it is running.

Fig. 19.34. Froude or Throneycroft transmission dynamometer.

A belt transmission dynamometer, as shown in Fig. 19.34, is called a Froude or Throneycroft
transmission dynamometer. It consists of a pulley A (called driving pulley) which is rigidly fixed to
the shaft of an engine whose power is required to be measured. There is another pulley B (called
driven pulley) mounted on another shaft to which the power from pulley A is transmitted. The pulleys
A and B are connected by means of a continuous belt passing round the two loose pulleys C and D
which are mounted on a T-shaped frame. The frame is pivoted at E and its movement is controlled by
two stops S,S. Since the tension in the tight side of the belt (T1) is greater than the tension in the slack
side of the belt (T2), therefore the total force acting on the pulley C (i.e. 2T1) is greater than the total
force acting on the pulley D (i.e. 2T2). It is thus obvious that the frame causes movement about E in
the anticlockwise direction. In order to balance it, a weight W is applied at a distance L from E on the
frame as shown in Fig. 19.34.
Now taking moments about the pivot E, neglecting friction,
W .L
2T1 × a = 2T2 × a + W .L or T1 − T2 =
2a
Let D = diameter of the pulley A in metres, and
N = Speed of the engine shaft in r.p.m.
∴ Work done in one revolution = (T1 − T2 ) π D N-m
and workdone per minute = (T1 − T2 ) π DN N-m

(T − T ) π DN
∴ Brake power of the engine, B.P. = 1 2 watts
60
Example 19.18. The essential features of a transmission dynamometer are shown in Fig.
19.35. A is the driving pulley which runs at 600 r.p.m. B and C are jockey pulleys mounted on a
horizontal beam pivoted at D, about which point the complete beam is balanced when at rest. E is the
driven pulley and all portions of the belt between the pulleys are vertical. A, B and C are each 300
mm diameter and the thickness and weight of the belt are neglected. The length DF is 750 mm.
Find : 1. the value of the weight W to maintain the beam in a horizontal position when
4.5 kW is being transmitted, and 2. the value of W, when the belt just begins to slip on pulley A. The
coefficient of friction being 0.2 and maximum tension in the belt 1.5 kN.

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768 l Theory of Machines

Fig. 19.35. All dimensions in mm.

Solution. Given : NA = 600 r.p.m. : DA = DB = DC = 300 mm = 0.3 m

1. Value of the weight W to maintain the beam in a horizontal position
Given : Power transmitted (P) = 4.5 kW = 4500 W
Let T1 = Tension in the tight side of the belt on pulley A, and
T2 = Tension in the slack side of the belt on pulley A.
∴ Force acting upwards on the pulley C = 2T1
and force acting upwards on the pulley B = 2T2
Now taking moments about the pivot D,
W × 750 = 2T1 × 300 – 2T2 × 300 = 600 (T1 – T2)
∴ T1 – T2 = W × 750 / 600 = 1.25 W N
We know that the power transmitted (P),
(T − T ) π DA N A 1.25 W × π × 0.3 × 600
4500 = 1 2 = = 11.78 W
60 60
∴ W = 4500 / 11.78 = 382 N Ans.
2. Value of W, when the belt just begins to slip on A
Given : µ = 0.2 ; T1 = 1.5 kN = 1500 N
We know that
T 
2.3log  1  = µ.θ = 0.2 × π = 0.6284 . . . (∵ θ = 180° = π rad)
 T2 
 T  0.6284 T1
log  1  = = 0.2732 or = 1.876 . . . (Taking antilog of 0.2732)
 T2  2.3 T2

∴ T2 = T1 / 1.876 = 1500 / 1.876 = 800 N

Now taking moments about the pivot D,
W × 750 = 2T1 × 300 – 2T2 × 300 = 2 × 1500 × 300 – 2 × 800 × 300
= 420 × 103
W = 420 × 103/ 750 = 560 N Ans.
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 Chapter 19 : Brakes and Dynamometers l 769
19.20. Torsion Dynamometer
A torsion dynamometer is used for measuring large powers particularly the power transmit-
ted along the propeller shaft of a turbine or motor vessel. A little consideration will show that when
the power is being transmitted, then the driving end of the shaft twists through a small angle relative
to the driven end of the shaft. The amount of twist depends upon many factors such as torque acting
on the shaft (T), length of the shaft (l), diameter of the shaft (D) and modulus of rigidity (C) of the
material of the shaft. We know that the torsion equation is
T C.θ
=
J l
where θ = Angle of twist in radians, and
J = Polar moment of inertia of the shaft.
For a solid shaft of diameter D, the polar moment of inertia
π
J = × D4
32
and for a hollow shaft of external diameter D and internal diameter d, the polar moment of inertia,
π
J= ( D4 − d 4 )
32
From the above torsion equation,
C .J
T= × θ = k .θ
l
where k = C.J/l is a constant for a particular shaft. Thus, the torque acting on the shaft is proportional
to the angle of twist. This means that if the angle of twist is measured by some means, then the torque
and hence the power transmitted may be determined.
We know that the power transmitted
T × 2π N
P= watts, where N is the speed in r.p.m.
60
A number of dynamometers are used to measure the angle of twist, one of which is discussed
in Art. 19.21. Since the angle of twist is measured for a small length of the shaft, therefore some
magnifying device must be introduced in the dynamometer for accurate measurement.
Example 19.19. A torsion dynamometer is fitted to a propeller shaft of a marine engine. It is
found that the shaft twists 2° in a length of 20 metres at 120 r.p.m. If the shaft is hollow with 400 mm
external diameter and 300 mm internal diameter, find the power of the engine. Take modulus of
rigidity for the shaft material as 80 GPa.
Solution. Given : θ = 2° = 2 × π /180 = 0.035 rad ; l = 20 m ; N = 120 r.p.m. ; D = 400 mm
= 0.4 m ; d = 300 mm = 0.3 m ; C = 80 GPa = 80 × 109 N/m2
We know that polar moment of inertia of the shaft,
π π 
J= ( D4 − d 4 ) = (0.4) 4 − (0.3) 4  = 0.0017m 4
32 32  
and torque applied to the shaft,
C. J 80 ×109 × 0.0017
T= ×θ = × 0.035 = 238 × 103 N-m
l 20
We know that power of the engine,
T × 2π N 238 ×103 × 2π×120
P= = = 2990 × 103 W = 2990 kW Ans.
60 60

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