Torque determining system for driveline components in work vehicles

A method for determining torque in a work vehicle, the method comprising:

• sensing, via a strain sensor, a localized strain arising from an axial thrust load produced by an intermeshing torque transmission component supported by a shaft within a housing of the work vehicle;
• outputting a strain value indicative of the localized strain;
• receiving the strain value at a control unit;
• deriving a torque value associated with the intermeshing torque transmission component based on the received strain value;
• and
• outputting the derived torque value for utilization in a work vehicle operation.

A torque determining system for a driveline of a work vehicle, comprising:

• a driveline component including:
• a housing;
• a plurality of torque transmission components contained within the housing;
• a plurality of shafts supporting the torque transmission components for rotation about respective shaft axes, each shaft being coupled to the housing for relative rotation and configured to transfer axial thrust loads to the housing, wherein each axial thrust load is exerted at a distinct location on the housing that corresponds to a positional alignment of a respective shaft and torque transmission component, and each axial thrust load produces a strain force on the housing;
• a strain sensor mounted to the housing and configured to sense a strain produced by the plurality of shafts and torque transmission components on the housing, wherein the strain is a summation of strain force components caused by the axial thrust loads exerted at the distinct locations, the strain sensor outputting a strain value;
• and
• a control unit having processing and memory architecture configured to:
• receive the strain value from the strain sensor;
• derive a torque value associated with the plurality of torque transmission components based on the strain value;
• and
• output the derived torque value for use in the work vehicle.