Abstract: To be able to detect a displacement amount of a moving object by a resolution of from micrometer to nanometer by a simple structure.

Abstract: In a reciprocating engine, power strokes of pistons apply torque to a crankshaft causing it to twist proportionally. Datum time moments are established by triggers rotating with, at one end of, the crank shaft and a sensor sensing passing of the triggers. At an opposed end, ring gear teeth trigger a sensor. At no load, zero twist occurs and arrival time moments of the triggers in relation to the datum time moments are predictable. Under load, twisting in the crank shaft causes the arrival time moments to be delayed, the time lag being proportional to the twist, bearing in mind the effect of rotational speed. With information about physical twist-torque characteristics of the crankshaft, torque values are calculated from the measured twist values, and are used in engine management. The invention can be applied to any shaft, for example also a main shaft of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A device measures the operating angle of a universal joint in a drive train system without any physical contact with the components of the drive train system. The drive train system can include first and second shafts that are connected together by the universal joint. The device includes a first sensor for generating a first signal that is representative of the angular orientation of the first shaft relative to the horizontal and a second sensor for generating a second signal that is representative of the angular orientation of the second shaft relative to the horizontal. Each of the first and second sensors can include a pair of non-contact sensors, such as a pair of laser distance sensors, that are mounted on a base. A controller is responsive to the first and second signals for determining the operating angle of the universal joint.

Abstract: A composite structure contains crystalline and/or polycrystalline triboluminescent elements distributed therein externally and/or internally, totally and/or regionally. The structure is instrumented with at least one optical fiber which is coupled therewith penetratingly and/or superficially/tangentially. Each optical fiber is exteriorly light transparent/translucent along at least a longitudinal portion thereof which is situate in the vicinity of at least one triboluminescent element. Concomitant with the occurrence of damage in and/or on the structure is the occurrence of mechanical action with respect to at least one triboluminescent element, a consequence of which is the occurrence of triboluminescence which, to at least some degree, passes radially into at least one optical fiber so as to reach the optical fiber's transmissive axial core and thereby be transmitted to remotely located photosensitive equipment. The triboluminescent elements can exist wholely and/or partly in various capacities, e.g.

Abstract: A system for measuring torque comprises a pair of drive shafts connected by a torsion bar, a wheel affixed to each of the drive shafts and having at least one slot cut through it, a light source positioned on the side of one of the wheels opposite the other, and a light detection device on the opposite side of the other wheel positioned to detect light from the light source which passes through the slots in both wheels. The slots are positioned in the wheels such that the light that can pass from the light source, through both wheels, and to the detector changes as the angular position of the wheels changes relative. The light detection device observes the changes in this pattern of light to produce a signal indicative of the torque on the drive shaft that is producing the observed angular displacement of the wheels.

Abstract: There are provided a stable and highly sensitive nanometric mechanical oscillator having a considerably high detection resolution that enables detection of variation in force or mass on the nanometer order, as well as a method of fabricating the same, and a measurement apparatus using the same. A nanometric mechanical oscillator (10) includes a base (11), a tetrahedral oscillator mass (13); and an elastic neck portion (12) for connecting the base (11) and the tetrahedral oscillator mass (13). The oscillator (10) assumes a mushroom-like shape and has a nanometric size. The oscillator mass (13) assumes a tetrahedral shape and is suitable to be used as a probe of a scanning forth microscope in which the oscillator mass (13) serving as a probe is caused to approach to an arbitrary sample surface in order to observe the surface state.

Abstract: A device for measuring an angle and/or the torque acting on a rotatable body is proposed according to the invention, whereby the rotational angle is detected by means of magnetic or optical sensors. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, two devices (7, 8) are proposed, each of which comprises two optically readable code tracks. The two code tracks (1a, 1b or 2a, 2b) on one device (7 or 8) are similar in design and are offset in relation to each other, so that associated sensors (4) output a digital signal. The rotational angle is calculated based on the lag between the two digital signals. In a further embodiment it is provided that a torsion element (5) having a known torsional stiffness is situated between the two devices (7, 8). Torque transferred by the rotatable body (3) can also be calculated therefore from the angular difference of the two devices 7, 8. The device is used preferably in the steering axle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A compressor includes a front housing, a cylinder block, a cylinder head, a torque transmission mechanism, a reciprocating mechanism, and torque determination means. The torque transmission mechanism includes a pulley, a plate-shaped elastic member, a hub, a drive shaft, and a rotor. The torque determination means includes a first marker affixed to the pulley, a second marker affixed to the hub a first sensor affixed to the front housing which generates a first timing signal when the first marker is positioned within substantially the same vertical plane as the first sensor, and a second sensor affixed to the front housing which generates a second timing signal when the second marker is positioned within substantially the same vertical plane as the second sensor. Moreover, there is a time differential between the generation of the first and second timing signals corresponding to the angular offsets, and the torque of the compressor is determinable from the time differential.

Abstract: An optical torque sensor comprises a radiation source emitting radiation of at least one wavelength. At least one sensor senses the emitted radiation and generates at least one intensity signal indicative of the intensity of the emitted radiation. At least one signal conditioner is receptive of the emitted radiation and is positioned on a shaft between the radiation source and the at least one sensor thereby conditioning the emitted radiation. A circuit is receptive of the at least one intensity signal and determines the torque acting upon the shaft and compensates for the attenuation of the emitted radiation. A method of compensating for signal attenuation in the sensor comprises generating radiation of at least one wavelength, conditioning the radiation and sensing the radiation. Responsive to the sensed radiation, at least one intensity signal indicative of the intensity of the radiation is generated.

Abstract: A torque sensor has a housing which has a light source and a measuring shaft which has a signal generator arrangement belonging to a rotation angle sensing device with a processing The rotation angle sensing device is arranged to rotate relative to the housing, together with the measuring shaft, and the processing device has an opto-electric power supply device.

Abstract: A system for measuring torque comprises a pair of drive shafts connected by a torsion bar, a wheel affixed to each of the drive shafts and having at least one slot cut through it, a light source positioned on the side of one of the wheels opposite the other, and a light detection device on the opposite side of the other wheel positioned to detect light from the light source which passes through the slots in both wheels. The slots are positioned in the wheels such that the light that can pass from the light source, through both wheels, and to the detector changes as the angular position of the wheels changes relative. The light detection device observes the changes in this pattern of light to produce a signal indicative of the torque on the drive shaft that is producing the observed angular displacement of the wheels.

Abstract: Torque measurement is required in motors, in particular. It is already known to generate response signals in an axially offset manner at least at two points on a torque shaft by irradiating light onto the rotating torque shaft. An azimuthal offset of those signals produced by the torque over and above a rotary movement must be determined for evaluation purposes. An apparatus according to the invention for torque measurement on rotating torque shafts uses a continuous light beam to generate signals. A torsion-induced deflection of the light beam is geometrically amplified before an evaluation and an azimuthal offset is determined accurately therefrom as a time signal. The apparatus includes a device for generating optical response signals from at least two axially offset reflector systems at the torque shaft of the machine, which have individual concave mirrors in each case.