Magnetic torque sensor packaging for automatic transmissions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9383273-B2
Application number	US-201113114366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2011
Priority date	May 24, 2011
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

Designs to package a magneto-elastic torque sensor in an automotive transmission, such as front wheel drive (FWD) automatic transmissions, for volume production applications are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transmission comprising:
an input shaft having a magnetized region;
a stator tube including an inner surface encompassing the shaft, an outer surface, and a portion of the stator tube adjacent to the magnetized region including a cavity extending between and through the surfaces of the stator tube;
a magnetic torque sensor, for detecting torque of the input shaft, positioned within the cavity between the surfaces of the stator tube adjacent to the magnetized region.

2. The transmission of claim 1 further comprising:
a sleeve extending between the inner surface of the stator tube and the input shaft for retaining the sensor in place.

3. The transmission of claim 2 wherein:
the sleeve includes at least two layers of magnetically permeable non-ferrous materials pressed together to allow the sensor to read magnetic signals through the sleeve.

4. The transmission of claim 3 wherein:
the first layer is a backing plate and the second layer includes a bushing material, wherein the first and second layers have a similar coefficient of thermal expansion.

5. The transmission of claim 1 further comprising:
a sleeve extending along the outer surface of the stator tube for retaining the sensor in place.

6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein:
the sleeve contains a magnetic shielding material.

7. The transmission of claim 5 wherein:
the sleeve includes micro-splines on an inner surface thereof and the outer surface of the stator tube includes micro-splines such that the sleeve may be micro-splined to the outer surface of the stator tube and thereby provide a torsional path through the sleeve.

8. The transmission of claim 5 wherein:
the sleeve forms a bushing surface on an outer surface thereof.

9. The transmission of claim 5 further comprising:
a stator support;
wherein the stator tube extends from a side of the stator support;
wherein the sleeve includes a sealing surface for sealing between the side of the stator support and the stator tube.

10. The transmission of claim 5 wherein:
the outer surface of the stator tube includes at least one of an axial groove and a circumferential groove;
wherein the sleeve covers the at least one of the axial groove and the circumferential groove.

11. The transmission of claim 1 further comprising:
a first sleeve extending between the inner surface of the stator tube and the input shaft for retaining the sensor in place; and
a second sleeve extending along the outer surface of the stator tube for retaining the sensor in place.

12. The transmission of claim 11 wherein:
at least one of the sleeves is press-fitted into place.

13. The transmission of claim 1 wherein:
the outer surface of the stator tube includes an axial groove and a circumferential groove;
wherein wiring of the sensor runs within the axial and circumferential grooves.

14. The transmission of claim 13 further comprising:
a stator support;
wherein the stator tube extends from a side of the stator support;
wherein the side of the stator support includes a radial groove;
wherein the wiring extends from the circumferential groove to within the radial groove and out of the stator support.

15. The transmission of claim 1 further comprising:
a stator support;
wherein the stator tube extends from a side of the stator support;
wherein the sensor is positioned circumferentially opposite from hydraulic passages of the stator support.

16. A transmission comprising:
a stator tube including an inner surface encompassing an input shaft having a magnetized region, an outer surface, and a portion of the stator tube adjacent to the magnetized region including a cavity extending between and through the surfaces of the stator tube; and
a magnetic torque sensor, for detecting torque of the input shaft, positioned within the cavity between the surfaces of the stator tube adjacent to the magnetized region.

17. The transmission of claim 16 further comprising:
a sleeve extending between the inner surface of the stator tube and the input shaft, wherein the sleeve retains the sensor within the cavity.

18. A transmission comprising:
a first stator support part including an inner surface encompassing an input shaft having a magnetized region, an outer surface, and a portion of the stator tube adjacent to the magnetized region including a cavity extending between and through the surfaces of the stator tube;
a second stator support part including an inner surface encompassing the input shaft, wherein the second stator support part is attachable to a rear side of the first stator support part; and
a magnetic torque sensor, for detecting torque of the input shaft, positioned within the cavity between the surfaces of the stator tube adjacent the magnetized region.

19. The transmission of claim 18 further comprising:
a sleeve extending between the inner surface of the first stator support part and the input shaft, wherein the sleeve retains the sensor within the cavity.

20. The transmission of claim 18 wherein:
the sensor is insertable from the rear side of the first stator support part into the cavity when the second stator support part is detached from the first stator support part.

21. The transmission of claim 18 wherein:
the sensor is attachable to the second stator support part when the second stator support part is attached to the first stator support part.

22. The transmission of claim 18 wherein:
the rear side of the first stator support part includes a circumferential groove and a radial groove;
wherein wiring for the sensor extends from the sensor to within the circumferential groove, to within the radial groove, and out of the first stator support part.

23. The transmission of claim 18 wherein:
the first stator support part includes hydraulic passages extending between the rear side and the inner surface of the first stator support part.

24. A transmission comprising:
a stator tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, the stator tube encompassing an input shaft having a magnetized region with the inner surface facing the input shaft, the stator tube further having a cut-out portion adjacent the magnetized region and extending between the outer and inner surfaces; and
a magnetic torque sensor, for detecting torque of the input shaft, positioned within the cut-out portion between the surfaces of the stator tube and affixed to the stator tube to be adjacent the magnetized region.

25. The transmission of claim 24 further comprising:
a first sleeve extending between the inner surface of the stator tube and the input shaft, wherein the first sleeve retains the sensor in place at the inner surface of the stator tube.

26. The transmission of claim 25 further comprising:
a second sleeve extending along the outer surface of the stator tube, wherein the second sleeve retains the sensor in place at the outer surface of the stator tube.

Assignees

• Kapas Nimrod
• Kucharski Joseph F
• Pietron Gregory Michael
• Fujii Yuji
• Hermann Steven Adam
• Maurer Jeffrey Edward
• Deutsch Laurence Andrew
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kapas Nimrod
• Kucharski Joseph F
• Pietron Gregory Michael
• Fujii Yuji
• Hermann Steven Adam
• Maurer Jeffrey Edward
• Deutsch Laurence Andrew

Classifications

• G01L3/102 Primary

  involving magnetostrictive means (magnetostrictive sensors H10N35/101) · CPC title