Rotary position sensor isolator

A rotary positioning system comprising:

• a first member having a torque coupling surface;
• a second member, wherein the first member is rotatable relative to the second member about an axis in response to torque transmitted across a torque coupling surface;
• a rotary position sensor comprising:
• a torque receiving component;
• and
• at least one sensing element to sense movement of the torque receiving component;
• and
• an isolator comprising:
• a mount fixed against rotation about the axis;
• a linkage to be coupled to the torque receiving component of the rotary sensor, the linkage having a second torque coupling surface separable from the first torque coupling surface by a play gap, wherein during rotation of the first member about the axis, the first torque coupling surface is to contact the second torque coupling surface to transmit torque to the linkage;
• a torsion spring is captured between the mount and the linkage independent of the torque receiving component to resiliently bias the second torque coupling surface about the axis through the play gap and into torque transmitting engagement with the first torque coupling surface.

A rotary position sensing method comprising:

• rotating a first member relative to a second member;
• transmitting torque from the rotating first member to a linkage through interaction of a first torque coupling surface of the first rotating member to a second torque coupling surface of the linkage, wherein the first torque coupling surface and the second torque coupling surface are separable by a play gap;
• transmitting torque of the linkage to a torque receiving component of a rotary sensor;
• sensing movement of the torque receiving component to indicate rotation of the first member relative to the second member;
• and
• resiliently biasing the second torque coupling surface of the linkage about the axis against the first torque coupling surface with a torsion spring independent of the torque receiving component of the rotary sensor.