With the current focus on environmental conservatism, it is important for us to do all that we can to conserve. You may not realize how important appropriately inflated tires may be in that goal; the inflation pressure of your tires significantly effects how much fuel it will take to Continue reading
Next to cell phones and remote controls, pressure gages are some of the most common doodads we use in this world. Unlike cell phones and remotes controls, though, it is not merely a matter of paying your phone bill or putting in new batteries that promises definitive steadfastness and Continue reading
Pressure Gauges images courtesy of Ashcroft Inc.
While visiting a friend in Seattle this past fall, I went camping in the beautiful Cascades of Washington. Because it was decided on a whim, we did not have the needed outdoor gear on hand, and so the trunk of our car carried with us a rather hodgepodge collection of equipment we managed to borrow from friends, including a beat up tent that was missing an unfortunate number of stakes. This, of course, was not realized until we were setting up in our little corner of the middle of nowhere at Continue reading
Oil Pressure Gauge images courtesy of Dwyer Instruments, Inc.
For the Average Joe or Jane, such as myself, oil pressure gauges are things dads spend a lot of time checking and rechecking on their cars and yelling at you about if you happen to not do the same yourself. As a procrastinating and forgetful daughter, Continue reading
High Pressure Gauges images courtesy of Ametek U.S. Gauge.
A growing point of political contention these days is hydraulic fracturing, or what is commonly referred as “hydrofracking” or simply “fracking”. The purpose of hydraulic fracturing is to access and obtain natural gasses beneath the earth’s crust via a horizontal drilling mechanism that fractures through the layers of rock. While this can be potentially harmful to the environment, particularly regarding the subsequent level of contamination in the surrounding water supply, fracking not only provides possible alternatives to oil, but also creates Continue reading
I recently read an article in the New York Times discussing blood pressure testing and what doctors currently understand about high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. This caught my attention particularly because Continue reading
I was both fascinated and terrified by submarines as a child. The idea of this large and monstrous creature looming beneath the depths of the dark and enigmatic sea incited strong images and feelings in me and Continue reading
In 1808, a baby boy named Eugene Bourdon was born in Paris, France and grew up to make it on the prestigious list of notable inventors. Beginning his career as a watchmaker, he eventually moved on up the ladder as an engineer, ultimately hitting the nail on the head with his invention of Continue reading
Being a well-fed, middle-class American, the bounty of home-cooking I had the pleasure of ingesting these past few merry months has caused the waist of my pants to sit uncomfortably tight against my stuffed belly. Some of this food was prepared in Continue reading
Owning and operating a vehicle begs a lot of maintenance, particularly when it comes to gauging the various pressures involved. Back in the day, up until around the 80’s in most places, gas station attendants would do it all for you in one, easy stop—in some cases for free, no less. If your tires were low on air, for instance, they would fill them right up while you sat comfortably in your car seat listening to the radio or doing the Sunday crossword. Slip the guy a tip through the window, and off you went, all spruced up and ready to go, without ever having to get out of the car.
Tires are one common example of why air pressure gauges are relevant in today’s society. Inaccurate pressure can cause inferior mileage, uneven tire wear and potential tire blow-outs—which can, of course, lead to serious accidents and injuries. To prevent these occurrences from happening it is very important to maintain proper tire pressure. Tires that do not carry enough air cannot maintain its shape and becomes flat when in contact with the road. This not only leads to potential tire failure, but also reduced tread life, as the low inflation causes the tire to bend more as it rolls. Alternately, an over-inflated tire is stiff and inflexible and the amount of surface area that is in contact with the road is significantly reduced, which could allow more damage to be inflicted when running over potholes or other obstacles on the road. Sometimes, though, high air pressure is preferred in tires, such as in car racing events, as it provides superior steering response. Providing such precise pressure cannot be identified through visual inspection and requires a quality air pressure gauge.
Air pressure gauges are tools used to measure the pressure of a gas within a confined space. Air pressure is also referred to as fluid pressure, as fluid is technically defined as a liquid or gas. Fluid and air pressure gauges measure the amount of concentration of molecules in terms of the forces that those molecules exert against the walls of their enclosure, such as a car tire.
Unfortunately, times have changed; gone are the days when nice, friendly men would do all the work for you for free. Now, when maintaining the various minor aspects of your vehicle, such as tire pressure, one must go through the oh-so-terrible inconvenience themselves. Aw shucks.