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AssigneeTransense Technologies PLC
InventorsRAYMOND DAVID LOHR, Mark Lee, Arthur John Leigh, David Daniel George Vile, Paul Joseph Howse
Estimating the term…
A method is provided for measuring torque in a shaft of a drive line including a disc coupling component such as a flexplate 1 or a flanged coupling 13, as well as a drive coupling system for carrying out the method. The disc coupling component 1, 13 is connected between a drive input 4 and a drive output so that all torque transmitted between the input and output passes through said component. The disc coupling component 1, 13 has a radially extending portion, which may include a plurality of spokes 7, to which is attached a SAW based strain sensor which communicates with a stationary coupler 3 fastened to an engine block 5 for wireless transmission of data from the sensor, the strain sensor measuring the strain in the disc coupling component 1, 13 from which the torque carried in the input shaft 4 may be calculated.
A method of measuring torque in a shaft of a drive line including a disc coupling component, the method comprising measuring the shear strain field on an axial surface of the disc coupling component and calculating the torque in the shaft using said strain measurements.
A torque measurement system to measure torque in a shaft of an engine drive train having a flexplate coupled to an engine crankshaft which extends through an engine block, comprising:
A drive coupling system comprising at least one shaft drivingly coupled to a flexible disc coupling component for transmitting drive from the shaft, the disc coupling component having a plurality of circumferentially distributed axial through-apertures formed therein so as to define, between each pair of adjacent apertures, a radially extending web, a plurality of circumferentially distributed axial fastening holes extending through the disc coupling component for drivingly attaching it to an output member, and a strain sensor for measuring the shear strain field on said disc coupling component, wherein said strain sensor is mounted in a countersunk recess formed in an axial surface of one of the webs such that the sensor lies at least proximate to the local neutral axis of the disc coupling component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.