Torque sensor having a radially elastic material section

A torque sensor, comprising:

• an annular inner flange including first force introduction points,
• an annular, radially stiff decoupling region,
• a mechanically weakened sensor portion extending between the annular inner flange and the annular, radially stiff decoupling region,
• an annular outer flange including second force introduction points,
• a radially elastic material portion extending between the annular, radially stiff decoupling region and the annular outer flange, the radially elastic material portion formed by a plurality of radially elastic bending strips distributed over a circumference of the radially elastic material portion, the radially elastic bending strips formed by a series of slots which pass through the radially elastic material portion in an axial or radial direction, the slots extending at least substantially in a circumferential direction of the radially elastic material portion, wherein a radial distance from a midpoint of the annular inner flange to each of the slots changes continuously over a profile of each slot, and
• measuring transducers carried by the mechanically weakened sensor portion and configured to generate output signals indicative of torque in the mechanically weakened sensor portion.

A torque sensor, comprising:

• an annular inner flange including first force introduction points,
• an annular, radially stiff decoupling region,
• a mechanically weakened sensor portion extending between the annular inner flange and the annular, radially stiff decoupling region,
• an annular outer flange including second force introduction points,
• a radially elastic material portion extending between the annular, radially stiff decoupling region and the annular outer flange, the radially elastic material portion formed by a plurality of radially elastic bending strips distributed over a circumference of the radially elastic material portion, the radially elastic bending strips formed by a series of slots which pass through the radially elastic material portion in an axial or radial direction, at least some of the slots overlapping in a circumferential direction of the radially elastic material portion, and
• measuring transducers carried by the mechanically weakened sensor portion and configured to generate output signals indicative of torque in the mechanically weakened sensor portion.