Operating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11205944-B2
Application number	US-201916721536-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2019
Priority date	Aug 3, 2017
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

An operating device includes a magnetic disk capable of rotational motion around a rotation axis, a first yoke located on one side and a second yoke located on an other side across the magnetic disk, a coil disposed to overlap the magnetic disk when viewed in a direction along a direction in which the rotation axis extends, a magnetic viscous fluid filled between the magnetic disk and each of the first yoke and the second yoke, a magnetic measurement portion for measuring magnetism caused by a magnetic field using the magnetic viscous fluid, the magnetic disk, the first yoke, and the second yoke as a magnetic path, and a control unit configured to acquire a measured value from the magnetic measurement portion and control a magnetic field that is generated by the coil based on the measured value to change a viscosity of the magnetic viscous fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque generating device comprising:
a magnetic disk configured to have rotational motion around a rotation axis;
a first yoke located on one side and a second yoke located on an other side across the magnetic disk;
a coil disposed so as to overlap the magnetic disk when viewed in a direction along a direction in which the rotation axis extends, the coil generating a magnetic field;
a magnetic viscous fluid filled between the magnetic disk and each of the first yoke and the second yoke;
a magnetic measurement sensor that measures magnetism caused by a magnetic field using the magnetic viscous fluid, the magnetic disk, the first yoke, and the second yoke as a magnetic path, the magnetic measurement sensor disposed in the magnetic field generated by the coil such that magnetism caused by the magnetic field can be measured, and residual magnetism generated when a current is applied to coil can also be measured; and
a control unit configured to acquire a measured value from the magnetic measurement sensor and control a magnetic field that is generated by the coil based on the measured value to change a viscosity of the magnetic viscous fluid.

2. The torque generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic measurement sensor is disposed in the magnetic path of the first yoke or the magnetic path of the second yoke.

3. The torque generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a permanent magnet provided in the magnetic path of the first yoke or the magnetic path of the second yoke, the permanent magnet applying an initial magnetic field in the same direction as or in an opposite direction from a direction of the magnetic field generated by the coil.

4. The torque generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to control a magnetic field that is generated by the coil based on magnetism measured by the magnetic measurement portion when no current is applied to the coil.

5. The torque generating device according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to bring residual magnetism after a stop of application of current to within a predetermined range greater than zero by controlling the current being applied to the coil.

6. The torque generating device according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to calculate an initial resistance torque at the time of rotating the magnetic disk based on the magnetism measured by the magnetic measurement portion when no current is applied to the coil.

7. The torque generating device according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the magnetic field that is generated by the coil such that the initial resistance torque becomes zero.

Assignees

• Alps Alpine Co Ltd

Inventors

• Koike Asuka
• Takahashi Kazunari
• Goto Atsushi
• Kuge Yoshihiro
• Takahashi Misuzu

Classifications

• F16D37/008

  the particles being carried by a fluid, to vary viscosity when subjected to electric change, i.e. electro-rheological or smart fluids (composition of such fluids C10M171/001) · CPC title

• F16D63/00

  Brakes not otherwise provided for; Brakes combining more than one of the types of groups F16D49/00 - F16D61/00 · CPC title

• H02K49/108 Primary

  with an axial air gap · CPC title

• F16D37/02 Primary

  the particles being magnetisable · CPC title

• F16D27/01

  with permanent magnets · CPC title