Deformation—measuring torque meter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10557767-B2
Application number	US-201615568264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 27, 2015
Publication date	Feb 11, 2020
Grant date	Feb 11, 2020

Abstract

A torque meter includes a casing and a part is configured to move in the casing in translation in a longitudinal direction under the effect of an axial thrust representative of the torque to be measured. The torque meter further includes a bearing surface connected to the casing via at least one of the ends thereof. The bearing surface extends at least partially in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. One longitudinal end of the movable part is configured to be brought into contact with the bearing surface so that a longitudinal displacement of the movable part leads to a deformation of the bearing surface. The torque meter also has a device configured to measure the deformation of the bearing surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque meter comprising a casing and a part, called a movable part, mounted to move in translation in the casing in a longitudinal direction under the effect of an axial thrust representative of a torque to be measured, wherein the torque meter further comprises:
a bearing surface connected to the casing via at least one end of the bearing surface, extending at least partially in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, one longitudinal end of said movable part, called a contact end, being configured to be brought into contact with said bearing surface so that a longitudinal displacement of the movable part leads to a deformation of the bearing surface; and
a device configured to measure the deformation of the bearing surface, wherein the device comprises at least one strain gauge, positioned on the bearing surface, configured to measure a value representative of the deformation of the bearing surface, and being positioned off-center from a longitudinal axis of the movable part.

2. The torque meter according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a proximity sensor connected to the casing and oriented towards the bearing surface the device being configured to measure the displacement of the bearing surface in the longitudinal direction.

3. The torque meter according to claim 2 , wherein the proximity sensor is an inductive proximity sensor.

4. The torque meter according to claim 3 , wherein the proximity sensor is an Eddy-current inductive sensor.

5. The torque meter according to claim 1 , wherein the contact end and the bearing surface are fixedly connected to each other by a fastener.

6. The torque meter according to claim 5 , wherein the fastener is made from metal.

7. The torque meter according to claim 6 , wherein the fastener is made from Invar.

8. The torque meter according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing surface is connected to the casing via a support made from a material that does not become deformed as a result of temperature variations.

9. The torque meter according claim 1 , wherein the bearing surface is made from a material, the Young's modulus of which does not vary as a function of the temperature.

10. The torque meter according to claim 9 , wherein the bearing surface is made from Elinvar.

11. The torque meter according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature-measuring means.

12. A turboshaft engine comprising a transmission element and a torque meter according to claim 1 , wherein the torque meter is mechanically connected to the transmission element to measure the torque applied to the transmission element.

13. The torque meter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one strain gauge is connected to a Wheatstone bridge.

14. The torque meter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one strain gauge is juxtaposed on the bearing surface.

Assignees

• Safran Helicopter Engines

Inventors

• Fulleringer Benjamin
• Bueno Armand
• Cazaux Yannick

Classifications

• G01L3/1457 Primary

  involving resistance strain gauges · CPC title

• G01L3/1428 Primary

  using electrical transducers · CPC title

• F02K9/96

  characterised by specially adapted arrangements for testing or measuring · CPC title