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US 2009/0266178 A1Published application
Optical sensor for measurement of static and dynamic torque
OwnerRobert J. Matzoll, JR., Thomas T. Stapletoninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical static and dynamic torque sensor provides a measurement of torque, torque angle, shaft speed or shaft direction by optically detecting the overlapped position of spatially arranged apertures on discs attached to input and output ends of a flexure as torque is applied to the flexure.
Claims14
A sensor apparatus for use with a torque transmitting mechanism applying torque to a driver member comprising:
- a flexure having input and output ends, the input and output ends angularly displaced with respect to each other under a torque load applied to the first end;
- first and second co-axial members, the first member fixed and rotatable with the first end of the flexure, the second member fixed to and rotatable with the second end of the flexure;
- a first disc and a second disc respectively fixed to the first and second co-axial members;
- a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced apertures in the first and second discs, the apertures and having substantially identical width and height;
- a light source fixed relative to the flexure and transmitting a light field toward the apertures in the first and second discs;
- and
- a plurality of co-linear light intensity detectors fixed relative to the first and second discs, the detectors detecting the magnitude of light passing through a plurality of overlapping apertures in the first and second discs.
4 more elements
A method for sensing torque applied to a driver member by a torque transmitting mechanism comprising the steps of:
- coupling first and second coaxial members to a flexure having input and output ends which are angularly displaced with respect to each other during a torque load applied to the first end of the flexure, the first member fixed and rotatable with the first end of the flexure, and the second member fixed to and rotatable with the second end of the flexure;
- mounting a first disc and a second disc respectively on the first and second members;
- providing a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced apertures in the first and second discs, the apertures having substantially identical width and height;
- fixing a light source relative to the flexure for transmitting a light field toward the apertures in the first and second discs;
- and
- fixing a plurality of co-linear light intensity detectors relative to the first and second discs, the detectors detecting the magnitude of light passing through a plurality of overlapping apertures in the first and second discs.
3 more elements
A sensor apparatus for use with a torque transmitting mechanism applying torque to a driver member comprising:
- means for coupling first and second coaxial members to a flexure having input and output ends which are angularly displaced with respect to each other during a torque load applied to the first end of the flexure, the first member fixed and rotatable with the first end of the flexure, and the second member fixed to and rotatable with the second end of the flexure;
- means for mounting a first disc and a second disc respectively on the first and second member;
- means for providing a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced apertures in the first and second discs, the apertures having substantially identical width and height;
- means for fixing the light source relative to the flexure for transmitting a light field toward the apertures in the first and second discs;
- and
- means for fixing a plurality of co-linear light intensity detectors relative to the first and second discs, the detectors detecting the magnitude of light passing through a plurality of overlapping apertures in the first and second discs.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.