# US 12,111,217 B2 · Strain sensor fixing device and torque sensor using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,217 B2 - Document ID: US12111217B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/681,084 - Filed: 2022-02-25 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-09 - Assignees: Nidec Copal Electronics Corporation - Applicants: Nidec Copal Electronics Corporation - Inventors: Kazuhiro Takada; Takatoshi Inoguchi; Takayuki Endo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111217B2 ## CPC - G01L 1/2206: {Special supports with preselected places to mount the resistance strain gauges; Mounting of supports} - G01L 1/2231: {the supports being disc- or ring-shaped, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction} - G01L 3/108: {involving resistance strain gauges} - G01L 3/1457: {involving resistance strain gauges} - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) ## Abstract A fixing member includes a first side, second side parallel to the first side, and face provided between the first side and second side and including an opening. The face is provided at a position separate from a line connecting between the first side and second side, first side is brought into line contact or point contact with the first structure, and second side is brought into line contact with an end part of a strain body constituting a strain sensor, the end part being provided on the first structure. A screw is inserted into the opening and is screwed into the first structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A strain sensor fixing device comprising: a fixing member which includes a first side, a second side parallel to the first side, and a face provided between the first side and the second side and including an opening, and in which the face is provided at a position separate from a line extending between distal ends of the first side and the second side, the first side is brought into contact with a first structure, and the second side is brought into line contact with an end part of a strain body constituting a strain sensor, the end part being provided on the first structure; and a screw to be inserted into the opening and to be screwed into the first structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the first side is brought into line contact or point contact with a first structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the fixing member includes a flat face provided between the first side and the second side and including the opening, a first protrusion provided along the first side, and a second protrusion provided along the second side and protruded in a direction identical to the first protrusion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the fixing member includes a curved face provided between the first side and the second side and including the opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the fixing member includes two parallel curved faces and the opening therein, and at least a portion of one of the curved faces is provided between the first side and the second side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the fixing member includes a third side and a fourth side each connecting between the first side and the second side, and the face is separate from a line extending between distal ends of the third side and the fourth side. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the screw is inserted into the opening from one side of the fixing member on the opposite side of the first structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein a length of the second side of the fixing member is greater than a width of the strain body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the length of the second side of the fixing member is equal to the width of the strain body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the first side includes a first protrusion at a part thereof, and the first protrusion comes into point contact with the first structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The strain sensor fixing device of claim 1, wherein the first side of the fixing member is straight and comes into line contact or point contact with a protrusion provided on the first structure. ### Claim 12 A torque sensor characterized by comprising: a first structure; a second structure; a plurality of third structures connecting between the first structure and the second structure; strain bodies each of which is provided between the first structure and the second structure and constitutes a strain sensor; first fixing devices each of which is provided on the first structure and fixes a first end of the strain body to the first structure; and second fixing devices each of which is provided on the second structure and fixes a second end of the strain body to the second structure, wherein each of the first fixing device and the second fixing device includes a fixing member which includes a first side, a second side parallel to the first side, and a face provided between the first side and the second side and including an opening, and in which the face is provided at a position separate from a line extending between distal ends of the first side and the second side, the first side is brought into contact with the first structure, and the second side is brought into line contact with an end part of the strain body constituting the strain sensor, the end part being provided on the first structure, and a screw to be inserted into the opening and to be screwed into the first structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The torque sensor of claim 12, wherein the fixing member includes a flat face provided between the first side and the second side and including the opening, a first protrusion provided along the first side, and a second protrusion provided along the second side and protruded in a direction identical to the first protrusion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The torque sensor of claim 12, wherein the fixing member includes a curved face provided between the first side and the second side and including the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The torque sensor of claim 12, wherein the fixing member includes a third side and a fourth side each connecting between the first side and the second side, and the face is separate from a line extending between distal ends of the third side and the fourth side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The torque sensor of claim 12, wherein the screw is inserted into the opening from one side of the fixing member on the opposite side of the first structure or the second structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The torque sensor of claim 12, wherein a length of the second side of the fixing member is greater than a width of the strain body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The torque sensor of claim 12, wherein the length of the second side of the fixing member is equal to the width of the strain body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The torque sensor of claim 12, wherein the first side includes a first protrusion at a part thereof, and the first protrusion comes into point contact with the first structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The torque sensor of claim 12, wherein the first side of the fixing member is straight and comes into line contact or point contact with a protrusion provided on the first structure.