By Converting Transmitted Torque Into Axial Force Patents (Class 73/862.195)
  • Patent number: 9945468
    Abstract: A harmonic drive includes: an input shaft connected to a first element that is one of a wave generator, a flex spline, or a circular spline; a drive housing connected to the input shaft via a bearing; a load cell that is installed in any one of the drive housing, the input shaft, or the wave generator and measures an axial load that occurs and is translated from the wave generator to the input shaft or the drive housing via the input shaft; and a processor that reversely calculates output torque, which is output from a second element that is one of the two elements other than the first element, from the axial load measured by the load cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jun Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 9744636
    Abstract: A rotation table that includes therein a rotation axis, a work placement table connected to one end of the rotation axis, a clamping device configured to hold the work placement table at a stop position, and a switching valve configured to switch the clamping device. The rotation table includes a member, to connect the clamping device and the switching valve to each other, having a pressure fluid supply flow passageway formed therein, so that the clamping device and a flow passageway of the switching valve communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Tezuka
  • Patent number: 9651439
    Abstract: An axial force testing device includes a spindle and a frame. Multiple mediate members are mounted to the spindle which is rotatable relative to the frame by the mediate members. A first fixing member is connected to a first end of a scale which shows the axial force. A first contact member contacts the first fixing member and is mounted to the spindle. A second fixing member is connected to a second end of the scale. A second contact member contacts the second fixing member and is mounted to the spindle. The second contact member has a first contact portion which contacts the mediate members. A locking member is locked to the spindle and presses the first contact member, the first fixing member, the scale, the second fixing member, the second contact member and the mediate members. The axial force applied to the mediate members is displayed on the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: YINSH PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Chung Wu, Yu-Chieh Wu
  • Patent number: 8984965
    Abstract: A rotational torsion tester, comprising: a first drive shaft; a second drive shaft; a load applying unit that applies a torsional load to a workpiece; at least one bearing unit including a first bearing unit that supports the load applying unit to be rotatable about a rotation axis; a rotation drive unit having a first electric motor that drives the second drive shaft and the load applying unit to rotate in phase; and a torque sensor that detects the torsional load, wherein the load applying unit comprises: a second electric motor that drives the first drive shaft; the torque sensor is attached to a part at which the first drive shaft is inserted into the shaft part; the torque sensor is disposed between a pair of first bearings; and the torque sensor includes a strain gauge adhered to a narrowed part to detect the torsional load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kokusai Keisokuki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sigeru Matsumoto, Hiroshi Miyashita, Kazuhiro Murauchi, Masanobu Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20140165743
    Abstract: A torque sensor includes an output shaft, and a stator holder into which the output shaft is inserted and coupled. A second coupling piece is connected to the stator holder and configured to come in contact with an outer surface of the output shaft. A through-hole is formed in the second coupling piece in a circumferential direction, and a second hog ring is disposed in the through-hole to contract the second coupling piece in a central direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sungmin KIM
  • Publication number: 20110259125
    Abstract: A device for axial load measurement on a mechanical control device having a rotating shaft may be used to derive a torque measurement. A mechanical control device may comprise a valve actuator for fluid flow control devices. The load measurement device may include a beam operatively connected to a rotatable shaft and configured to deform under axial displacement of the shaft. A sensor may be coupled with the at least one beam and configured to produce an output signal related to the axial displacement of the shaft. The beam may be retained between two bearings on the rotatable shaft at a first end, and fixed to a housing of the mechanical control device at a second end. The first end of the beam may displace axially with the rotatable shaft. The beam may comprise a discrete segment of a uniform width and thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: FLOWSERVE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Byron A. Fleury, Daniel J. Morris, William C. Hooss
  • Patent number: 7677374
    Abstract: A method of determining the coupling moment in a friction coupling with an electro-mechanical actuator which comprises a supporting element axially supported in a housing and a displaceable setting element axially supported on said supporting element, wherein the supporting element is axially supported in the housing via an undisplaceably enclosed hydraulic medium and that the pressure in the hydraulic medium is measured and used by lookup tables of values for the actuator and for the friction coupling for the purpose of calculating the coupling moment in a central ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Artur Grunwald, Theodor Gassmann
  • Publication number: 20100005897
    Abstract: A device for axial load measurement on a mechanical control device (10) having rotating shaft (30) maybe used to derive a torque measurement. A mechanical control device (10) may comprise a valve actuator for fluid flow control devices. The load measurement device may include a beam (65a) operatively connected to a rotatable shaft and configured to deform under axial displacement of the shaft. A sensor (80) maybe coupled with the at least one beam (65a) and configured to produce an output signal related to the axial displacement of the shaft. The beam may be retained between two bearings (74) of the rotatable shaft at a first end, and fixed to the housing (120) of the mechanical control device at a second end. The first end of the beam (65a) may displace axially with the rotatable shaft. The beam (65a) may comprise a discrete segment of a uniform width and thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Byron A. Fleury, Daniel J. Morris, William C. Hooss
  • Publication number: 20080276728
    Abstract: A device (1) for measuring reaction moments and forces on a lever (2) with at least one receptacle (9) for the lever (2) and with at least one carrier (42), wherein the receptacle (9) is fixed on the carrier (42) in opposite measurement directions deflectable relative to the carrier (42), and the device (1) is further provided with at least one fixed, supported sensor (50) for measuring deflections of the lever (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Nikolaj Bechtold, Christian Schaufler, Horst Strobel
  • Patent number: 7140994
    Abstract: A planetary gearbox with transmitted torque sensor comprises a gear housing, first and second coupling members, sensing assembly, and planetary gears. The coupling members have axial faces disposed in a spaced apart, opposing relationship. Formed therein are a plurality of conical seats arranged in opposing pairs, each pair receiving a ball therebetween. The sensing assembly is positioned between the housing and at least one of the coupling members, urging the members toward one another and detecting relative axial movement. The planetary gears transmit torque from the second coupling member to a second gearbox shaft. The balls roll partway up the conical seats when transmitting torque between the coupling members, thereby causing the members to move axially away from one another a distance proportional to the torque transmitted. The distance is detected by the sensing assembly to indicate the torque transmitted by the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Paccar Inc
    Inventor: James W. Mundis
  • Patent number: 6820504
    Abstract: A rotation sensor functioning as both a rotation-angle sensor and a torque sensor is provided which, when applied to a steering sensor for an automobile, for example, permits reduction in the number of components and thus in the weight of the automobile and contributes to conservation of global environment. The rotation sensor has slip rings covered with conductive synthetic resin having small coefficient of friction, allowing the contact pressure of brushes disposed in sliding contact with the slip rings to be kept low and the life duration of the slip rings to be prolonged. Further, no metal powder is produced when the brushes slide on the respective slip rings, and it is therefore possible to prevent the formation of unwanted insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Kyutaro Abe, Masahiro Hasegawa, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki
  • Publication number: 20040083822
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus is provided, which includes a steering torque sensor for detecting steering torque exerted on a steering system, a motor for exerting assist steering torque on the steering system, a motor current sensor for detecting drive current of the motor, a target current setting section for determining target current to be supplied for the motor based on the steering torque, a feedback control section for executing feedback control based on a deviation between the target current and the drive current of motor and a feedforward control section for executing feedforward control based on the target current. The apparatus has a feature that gain of the feedforward control is adapted to be greater as the speed of a vehicle increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6595072
    Abstract: A sensor of the pedaling force of a power-assisting bike includes a transmission system provided with at least one pair of screw gears. One of the screw gears is activated by the pedaling force to rotate at an original location and the other driven by a screw gear engaging with to rotate and shift along a shaft, with a resilience member fitted at an end side. An annular magnet is fitted around the end of the shaft of the resilience member and the screw gear, capable to shift together with said screw gear. A Hall sensor is provided on a fixed side of the annular magnet. Thus, the lateral force produced by the screw gears can detect an axially shifting distance of the screw gear and give out a voltage signal to control a motor to output motive power for the bike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Gordon Liao
  • Publication number: 20030074985
    Abstract: A sensor of the pedaling force of a power-assisting bike includes a transmission system provided with at least one pair of screw gears. One of the screw gears is activated by the pedaling force to rotate at an original location and the other driven by a screw gear engaging with to rotate and shift along a shaft, with a resilience member fitted at an end side. An annular magnet is fitted around the end of the shaft of the resilience member and the screw gear, capable to shift together with said screw gear. A Hall sensor is provided on a fixed side of the annular magnet. Thus, the lateral force produced by the screw gears can detect an axially shifting distance of the screw gear and give out a voltage signal to control a motor to output motive power for the bike.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Gordon Liao
  • Patent number: 6356847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the torque exerted on a body of revolution 2 capable of being driven rotatably about an axis of rotation 1. The device possesses a first and a second measurement generator 3 and 4 which are arranged on the body of revolution 2 at an axial distance from one another and which consist of rings 7 and 8 radially surrounding the body of revolution 2 and composed of fields having an alternately different signal behavior. At the same time, the number of fields of the two rings 7 and 8 is identical. The first measurement generator 3 is assigned a first measurement transducer 9 and the second measurement generator 4 is assigned a second measurement transducer 10, the measurement transducers both supplying output signals, from which first and second square-wave signals 11 and 12 are formed, the torque being determined from the distances between edges of the first and second square-wave signals over one complete revolution of the body of revolution 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Siegfried Gerlitzki