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US 11,448,562 B2Granted
Mechanical component torque measurement
AssigneeInternational Electronic Machines Corp.
InventorsZahid F. Mian, Bruce McKenney, Peter Hayes, Marc Pearlman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solution for measuring torque and other parameters of a mechanical component is provided. At least two bands can be affixed to the mechanical component and at least two sensing assemblies can be operatively coupled to each band. Each sensing assembly generates signals indicative of relative movement between a respective band and the sensing assembly. A signal conditioner conditions the signals for a computing unit to determine the torque to the mechanical component. The computing unit can determine the torque from a twist of the mechanical component that can be correlated with the torque.
Claims20
A system for measuring torque of a mechanical component, comprising:
- at least two bands affixed to the mechanical component;
- at least two sensing assemblies operatively coupled to each band, each sensing assembly configured to generate signals indicative of relative movement between a respective band and the sensing assembly;
- a signal conditioner to condition the signals;
- and
- a computing unit to determine a torque applied to the mechanical component based on the conditioned signals, wherein the computing unit is configured to determine the torque by:
- determining a radial displacement of the mechanical component with the bands based on strength and phase differences of the signals obtained by the respective sensing assemblies operatively coupled to the bands;
- determining an angular offset of the bands with the rotating component due to the radial displacement;
- determining an apparent angular phase difference between the bands based on differences in the signals generated from respective sensing assemblies;
- determining the amount of twist of the mechanical component that is present while the mechanical component is experiencing torque as a function of the apparent angular phase difference, the angular offset, and a predetermined angular phase difference between the bands obtained under a known torque condition;
- and
- correlating the amount of twist with the torque applied to the mechanical component.
8 more elements
A system for measuring torque of a rotating component, comprising:
- at least two bands affixed to the rotating component with a predetermining spacing separating the bands;
- at least two sensing assemblies operatively coupled to each band, each sensing assembly configured to generate signals that are indicative of a change in magnetic flux due to relative movement between a respective band and the sensing assembly;
- a signal conditioner with a pre-processing component to condition and pre-process the signals generated by the sensing assemblies;
- a computing unit to determine the torque applied to the rotating component based on the conditioned and pre-processed signals, wherein the computing unit is configured to determine the torque by:
- determining a radial displacement of an axis of rotation of the rotating component with the bands based on a strength and phase differences of the signals obtained by the respective sensing assemblies operatively coupled to the bands;
- determining an angular offset of the bands with the axis of rotation of the rotating component due to the radial displacement;
- determining an apparent angular phase difference between the bands based on differences in the signals generated from respective sensing coils assemblies;
- determining an amount of twist as a function of the apparent angular phase difference, the angular offset, and a predetermined angular phase difference between the magnetic bands obtained under a known torque condition;
- and
- correlating the amount of twist with the torque applied to the rotating component.
7 more elements
A system for measuring torque of a rotating component, comprising:
- at least two bands affixed to the rotating component;
- at least two sensing assemblies operatively coupled to each band, each sensing assembly configured to generate signals indicative of movement of a respective band operatively coupled to the sensing assembly;
- a signal conditioner to condition the signals, wherein the signal conditioner is configured to filter the signals, and identify feature events in the filtered signals;
- and
- a computing unit configured to determine the torque applied to the rotating component by:
- identifying feature events in the filtered signals associated with each sensing assembly;
- recording a feature event timestamp in response to the identification of each feature event;
- determining a radial displacement of the rotating component with the bands based on timing differences of the feature events identified for the respective sensing assemblies operatively coupled to the bands;
- determining an angular offset of the bands with the rotating component due to the radial displacement;
- determining an apparent angular phase difference between the bands based on differences in the signals generated from respective sensing assemblies;
- determining the amount of twist as a function of the apparent angular phase difference, the angular offset, and a predetermined angular phase difference between the bands obtained under a known torque condition;
- and
- correlating the amount of twist with the torque applied to the rotating component.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.