Rotation angle and torsion angle sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9869539-B2
Application number	US-201414172386-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2014
Priority date	Feb 4, 2013
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

The rotation angle and torsion angle sensor detects both the rotational position of a shaft and a torque applied to the shaft torque. The shaft a first shaft part and a second shaft part, which are interconnected by a torsion bar. A sensor disc is coupled via a rigid circumferentially and axially flexible membrane with the first shaft part. The sensor disc is coupled to a drive wheel via a coupling device, in such a way that the sensor disc is displaced in the axial direction upon relative rotation of the two shaft parts against each other, wherein the membrane bends in the axial direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor comprising:
a first shaft part and a second shaft part connected to each other via a torsion bar, the first shaft part and the second shaft part aligned with one another along an axis, the axis defining an axial direction;
a driven wheel connected to the second shaft part, the driven wheel engaged with a first sensor wheel and a second sensor wheel, the first sensor wheel and the second sensor wheel associated with a first sensor and a second sensor for detecting the rotational position; and
a membrane circumferentially rigid and flexible in the axial direction, the membrane having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled directly or indirectly to the first shaft part and the second terminal connected with a sensor disc via a connecting device;
wherein the sensor disc is coupled to the driven wheel via coupling elements, such that a relative rotation of the first shaft part and the second shaft part against one another causes an axial displacement of the sensor disc; and
wherein a third sensor detects the axial position of the sensor disc.

2. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling elements are rod-like elements which are articulated between the wheel sensor and the drive wheel, and which are non-stretchable in their longitudinal direction.

3. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling elements are formed by a mechanical forced guide in the form of a thread or a link guide.

4. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling elements are formed by levers that are mounted to the drive wheel via a pivot hinge, and a first end of the lever is connected to the membrane via a first hinge, and a second end of the lever is connected, directly or indirectly, to the sensor disc via a second hinge.

5. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 4 , wherein the lever of each coupling element includes two orthogonally arranged legs which are rigidly connected to each other.

6. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 2 , wherein the membrane is connected to the sensor disc via a funnel-like element and a guide ring.

7. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane is connected to the driven wheel, the driven wheel rotationally engaged with a drive wheel, the drive wheel connected to the first shaft part.

8. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 7 , wherein the connection of the membrane is connected with an axially displaceable sleeve, which is in turn connected to the sensor disc and to the magnetic pin.

9. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 7 , wherein the membrane is connected with a threaded sleeve and a magnetic pin, where the threaded sleeve is connected to a threaded pin, the threaded pin firmly connected to the sensor wheel.

10. The angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor according to claim 1 ,
wherein the membrane has a circular inner ring, a concentric circular outer ring and a plurality of radial extending webs connecting the inner ring and the outer ring.

11. A rotation angle and torsion angle sensor comprising:
a first shaft part and a second shaft part, the first shaft part and the second shaft part connected to each other via a torsion bar, the first shaft part and the second shaft part aligned with one another along an axis, the axis defining an axial direction;
a driven wheel connected to the second shaft part, the drive wheel rotatably engaged with a first sensor wheel and a second sensor wheel, the first sensor wheel associated with a first sensor and the second sensor wheel associated with a second sensor for detecting rotational position;
a circumferentially rigid and axially moveable membrane, which is indirectly coupled through a driven wheel to a drive wheel, the drive wheel connected to the first shaft part;
wherein the driven wheel is displaceable in the axial direction and is coupled to the first sensor wheel, such that upon relative rotation between the first shaft part and the second shaft part, the drive wheel is displaced, whereby a magnetic pin, fixedly connected to the drive wheel, is also displaced, the axial position of the magnetic pin detected by a third sensor.

12. An angle of rotation and torsion angle sensor comprising:
a first shaft and a second shaft connected to each other via a torsion bar, the first shaft part and the second shaft part aligned with one another along an axis, the axis defining an axial direction;
a driven wheel connected to the second shaft, the driven wheel engaged with a first sensor wheel and a second sensor wheel;
a first sensor configured to detect rotational position and associated with the first sensor wheel;
a second sensor configured to detect rotational position and associated with the second sensor wheel;
a membrane circumferentially rigid and flexible in the axial direction, the membrane having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled to the first shaft and the second terminal connected to a sensor disc;
wherein the sensor disc is coupled to the driven wheel such that a relative rotation of the first shaft and the second shaft with respect to one another causes an axial displacement of the sensor disc; and
a third sensor configured to detect an axial position of the sensor disc.

13. A rotation angle and torsion angle sensor comprising:
a first shaft and a second shaft, the first shaft and the second shaft connected to each other via a torsion bar, the first shaft part and the second shaft part aligned with one another along an axis, the axis defining an axial direction;
a driven wheel connected to the second shaft, the drive wheel rotatably engaged with a first sensor wheel and a second sensor wheel, the first sensor wheel associated with a first sensor for detecting rotational position and the second sensor wheel associated with a second sensor for detecting rotational position;
a circumferentially-rigid and axially-moveable membrane indirectly coupled through a driven wheel to a drive wheel, the drive wheel connected to the first shaft;
wherein the driven wheel is displaceable in the axial direction and is coupled to the first sensor wheel, such that upon relative rotation between the first shaft and the second shaft, the drive wheel is displaced, whereby a magnetic pin, fixedly connected to the drive wheel, is also displaced; and
a third sensor configured to detect an axial position of the magnetic pin.

Assignees

• Bourns Inc

Inventors

• Klimenko Valeri

Classifications

• G01B5/24 Primary

  for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title

• G01L5/221

  to steering wheels, e.g. for power assisted steering · CPC title

• G01B7/30 Primary

  for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title

• G01L3/104

  involving permanent magnets · CPC title

• G01D5/249

  using pulse code · CPC title