Device having a measuring apparatus for measuring forces and/or loads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816880-B2
Application number	US-201214365354-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2012
Priority date	Dec 22, 2011
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A component of a machine. The component has a measuring fixture for measuring forces and at least one metallic, magnetic portion. The measuring fixture includes at least one field-generating member for producing an electromagnetic alternating field and at least one detection member for detecting changes of the magnetic field produced. The field-generating member and the detection members are arranged on the metallic, magnetic portion and are designed to interact with the metallic, magnetic portion in such manner that by way of the measuring fixture, as a function of measurement signals from the detection member, forces acting on and/or deformations of the component can be detected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A chassis component ( 1 ) of a machine, wherein the chassis component has a curved outer surface, the chassis component comprising:
at least one metallic, magnetic portion of the chassis component ( 1 b ), and
a measuring fixture ( 1 a ) for measuring forces, and the measuring fixture ( 1 a ) comprising a pair of partially annular shaped field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ), each having a first end and a second end for producing an electromagnetic alternating field and a pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) for detecting changes of the magnetic field produced,
the first end of each of the pair of partially annular shaped field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) being spaced apart from the curved outer surface of the chassis component by a first gap and the second end of each of the pair of partially annular shaped field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) being spaced apart from the curved outer surface of the chassis component by a second gap, and each of the pair of partially annular shaped field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ), the first gap, the second gap, and a portion of the curved surface of the chassis component defining an internal space and a respective one of the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) being completely located in the respective internal space,
the pair of field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the respective pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) being arranged adjacent to, but not in direct contact with, the curved surface of the metallic, magnetic portion of the chassis component ( 1 b ) and designed to interact with the metallic, magnetic portion of the chassis component ( 1 b ) in such a manner that by way of the measuring fixture ( 1 a ), as a function of measurement signals from the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ), at least one of a force acting on and deformation of the chassis component ( 1 ) is detectable.

2. The chassis component according to claim 1 , wherein the machine is a wind power generator, and the chassis component is either a shaft or a rotor blade of the wind power generator that at least one of moves and is loaded during operation.

3. The chassis component ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the machine is in a vehicle and the chassis component ( 1 ) is in the form of one of the following components:
a damper element, a piston rod of a damper element;
a control arm;
a connecting strut ( 1 c );
a hinged support;
a stabilizer;
a steering element, a steering rod, a steering column and a track rod.

4. The chassis component ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the pair of field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) is in the form of coils.

5. The chassis component ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the pair of field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) are arranged in fixed positions in a housing ( 2 ), the housing ( 2 ) is arranged in a fixed position on the chassis component ( 1 ), and the pair of field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) are immobilized within the housing ( 2 ) by a hardened cast mass ( 2 c ).

6. The chassis component ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the chassis component ( 1 ) has a fixing structure ( 6 c ) for the housing ( 2 ), the fixing structure ( 6 c ) is formed integrally with the chassis component ( 1 ) in the form of an aperture in the chassis component ( 1 ), and the fixing structure ( 6 c ) is formed by local deformation of the chassis component ( 1 ).

7. The chassis component ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the chassis component ( 1 ) has at least one weld seam ( 1 f ) and at least one of the pair of field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) is arranged on the chassis component ( 1 ) and is spaced from the weld seam ( 1 f ) by a distance of between approximately 30 mm and approximately 40 mm.

8. The chassis component ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) and the pair of field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) are substantially arranged in a plane and a neutral fiber (NF) of the chassis component ( 1 ) lies in the same plane.

9. The chassis component ( 1 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the plane is at least approximately perpendicular to a main bending direction of the vehicle component.

10. The chassis component ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring fixture ( 1 a ) comprises the pair of field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) and an arrangement of the pair of field-generators ( 3 a, b ) and the pair of detectors ( 5 a, b ), relative to one another, on opposite sides of the chassis component ( 1 ) is the same.

11. A chassis component ( 1 ) of a machine, wherein the chassis component has a curved outer surface, the chassis component comprising:
at least one metallic, magnetic portion of the chassis component ( 1 b ), and
a measuring fixture ( 1 a ) for measuring forces, and the measuring fixture ( 1 a ) comprising at least one partially annular shaped field-generator ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) having a first end and a second end for producing an electromagnetic alternating field and at least one detector ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) for detecting changes of the magnetic field produced,
the first end of the at least one partially annular shaped field-generator ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) being spaced apart from the curved outer surface of the chassis component by a first gap and the second end of the at least one partially annular shaped field-generator ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) being spaced apart from the curved outer surface of the chassis component by a second gap,
the at least one partially annular shaped field-generator ( 3 ; 3 a, b ), the first gap, the second gap, and a portion of the curved surface of the chassis component defining an internal space and the at least one detector ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) being located completely within the internal space,
the at least one partially annular shaped field-generator ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the at least one detector ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) being arranged adjacent to, but not in direct tact with, the curved surface of the metallic, magnetic portion of the chassis component ( 1 b ) and designed to interact with the metallic, magnetic portion of the chassis component ( 1 b ) in such a manner that by way of the measuring fixture ( 1 a ), as a function of measurement signals from the at least one detector ( 5 ; 5 a, b ), at least one of a force acting on and deformation of the chassis component ( 1 ) is detectable,
wherein the at least one partially annular shaped field-generator ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) comprises a pair of partially annular shaped field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the at least one detector ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) comprises a pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ), the chassis component ( 1 ) has at least one weld seam ( 1 f ) and at least one of the pair of at least one partially annular shaped field-generators ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) and the pair of detectors ( 5 ; 5 a, b ) is arranged on the chassis component ( 1 ) and is spaced from the weld seam ( 1 f ) by a distance of between approximately 30 mm and approximately 40 mm.

12. A chassis component ( 1 ) of a machine, the chassis component comprising:
at least one metallic, magnetic portion of the chassis component ( 1 b ), wherein the chassis component has a curved outer surface, and
a measuring fixture ( 1 a ) for measuring forces, and the measuring fixture ( 1 a ) comprising at least one partially annular shaped field-generator ( 3 ; 3 a, b ) having a first end and a second end for producing an electromagnetic alternating

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Hofmann Peter
• Nachbar Frank
• Haevescher Rainer

Classifications

• B60G2206/11

  the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link · CPC title

• B60G2400/94

  Deformation of a vehicle part · CPC title

• F03D17/00

  Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics (testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30) · CPC title

• B60G2204/1162

  directly mounted on the suspension arm · CPC title

• B60G17/019

  characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof {(B60G17/01941 takes precedence)} · CPC title