Torque monitoring apparatus
AssigneeLuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
InventorsOswald Friedman, Armin Veil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydromechanical torque sensor having several plenum chambers can be utilized to transmit torque between the driving and driven parts in the power train of a motor vehicle as well as to make necessary adjustments in a hydraulically adjustable transmission. To this end, the plenum chambers of the torque sensor can be connected to or sealed from each other. The torque sensor and the transmission can receive fluid from discrete sources or from a single source by way of suitable valves.
Claims27
A fluid-operated torque sensor for use between a rotary torque transmitting driving member and a rotary torque receiving driven member and arranged to transmit at least a portion of torque from said driving member to said driven member as well as to receive a pressurized fluid from a source, comprising a first plenum chamber for pressurized fluid, a throttle valve including at least two relatively movable valving elements arranged to select the pressure of fluid in said first plenum chamber to thus determine the magnitude of torque transmittable between said driving and driven members, and at least one second plenum chamber connectable with and sealable from said first plenum chamber in dependency upon variations of at least one operational parameter.
A power train comprising a prime mover having a rotary torque transmitting driving member, a rotary torque receiving driven member;
- an infinitely variable ratio transmission disposed between said members and including a first adjustable sheave arranged to be driven by said driving member, a second adjustable sheave arranged to drive said driven member, an endless flexible element trained over said sheaves, and regulatable fluid-operated means for adjusting at least one of said sheaves to thus vary the intensity of engagement with said flexible element;
- and a fluid-operated torque sensor between one of said members and the respective sheave and arranged to transmit at least a portion of torque from said driving member to said driven member as well as to receive a pressurized fluid from a source, comprising a first plenum chamber for pressurized fluid, a throttle valve including at least two relatively movable valving elements arranged to select the pressure of fluid in said first plenum chamber to thus determine the magnitude of torque transmittable by the torque sensor, at least one second plenum chamber connectable with and sealable from said first plenum chamber in dependency upon variations of at least one operational parameter, means for applying to said adjusting means a fluid pressure which is a function of said selected fluid pressure, and means for connecting said first and second plenum chambers with and for sealing said first and second plenum chambers from each other as a function of variations of the ratio of said transmission.
A power train comprising a prime mover having a rotary torque transmitting driving member;
- a rotary torque receiving driven member;
- an infinitely variable ratio torque transmitting transmission disposed between said members and including a first adjustable sheave arranged to be driven by said driving member, a second adjustable sheave arranged to transmit torque to said driven member, an endless flexible element trained over said sheaves, and regulatable fluid-operated means for adjusting at least one of said sheaves to thus vary the intensity of engagement with said flexible element;
- and at least one hydromechanical torque sensor in a flow of torque between one of said members and one of said sheaves and arranged to transmit at least a portion of torque from said driving member to said driven member, to vary the torque transmitting capacity of said transmission by regulating the pressure of fluid in said adjusting means, to receive a pressurized fluid from a source and to modulate the pressure of fluid supplied by said source at least as a function of torque to be transmitted by the torque sensor, comprising at least two plenum chambers for reception of pressurized fluid, said plenum chambers being connected in parallel and being defined by coaxial and relatively movable components and said torque sensor further comprising means for connecting said chambers with and for sealing said chambers from each other in dependency upon variations of the ratio of said transmission.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.