Torque sensor system
AssigneeApex Brands, Inc.
InventorStephen Francis Kovacs, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotating power tool is provided. The rotating power tool may include a bevel gear set having a bevel gear and a conductive spiral disposed on the bevel gear. The conductive spiral may be configured to, in response to the bevel gear deforming due to a torque being applied to the bevel gear, change a resistance of the conductive spiral. The rotating power tool may further include an antenna electrically connected to the conductive spiral. The antenna may be configured to emit an output signal at a frequency that is based on the resistance value of the conductive spiral. The frequency of the output signal may be indicative of an amount of torque being applied to the bevel gear.
Claims16
A rotating power tool comprising:
- a motor;
- a bevel gear set comprising a bevel gear, the bevel gear set configured to be driven by the motor;
- an antenna disposed on the bevel gear;
- a conductive spiral electrically connected to the antenna, the conductive spiral being disposed on the bevel gear and the conductive spiral being configured to, in response to the bevel gear deforming due to a torque being applied to the bevel gear, change a resistance of the conductive spiral;
- a control antenna disposed at a stationary position relative to the bevel gear;
- and
- controller circuitry operably connected to the motor and the control antenna, the controller circuitry being configured to:
- control operation of the motor;
- cause the control antenna to transmit a signal to induce a current in the antenna and cause a resonant circuit formed by the antenna and the conductive spiral to resonate and emit an output signal from the antenna, the output signal having a frequency based on the resistance of the conductive spiral;
- cause the control antenna to receive the output signal;
- and
- determine a torque measurement being applied to the bevel gear based on the frequency of the output signal.
A rotating tool comprising:
- a gear;
- a conductive spiral disposed on the gear, the conductive spiral being configured to, in response to the gear deforming due to a torque being applied to the gear, change a resistance of the conductive spiral;
- and
- an antenna electrically connected to the conductive spiral, the antenna and the conductive spiral forming a resonant circuit that is configured to resonate and emit an output signal from the antenna, the output signal having a frequency that is based on the resistance value of the conductive spiral, the frequency of the output signal being indicative of an amount of torque being applied to the gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.