Torque converter

Abstract

To provide a torque converter which is improved in communication stability.SOLUTION: A torque converter 1 is provided, which has a cylindrical rotating portion 3 and a fixed portion 2, and converts the torque acting on the rotating portion 3 into an electrical quantity. The torque converter comprises: a transmitting portion provided in the rotating portion 3 and wirelessly transmitting a detected torque value, and a receiving portion 10 provided in the fixed portion 2 and receiving the torque value from the transmitting portion of the rotating portion 3. The transmitting portion includes a transmitting antenna substrate 11 wound around the entire cylindrical outer surface of the rotating portion 3, and the transmitting antenna substrate 11 has at least two conductor layers, with connection lands provided only on the surface side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a torque transducer that measures torque and converts it into an electrical signal. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional torque transducer, which has connecting flanges at both ends and a cylindrical strain-generating part connected between the flanges, is known as a measuring device for measuring torque generated on a wheel of an automobile rotating at high speed. This torque transducer includes a rotating part that connects the object to be measured and rotates together with the object, and a fixed part that receives a torque signal from the rotating part and outputs a measured value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-020582 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] This torque signal is transmitted wirelessly from the rotating part to the fixed part. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, transmission and reception are performed between a dipole antenna attached to the flange of the fixed part as a hollow disk-shaped annular substrate and a receiving antenna provided on the fixed part. However, when the rotating part rotates at high speed, there is room for improvement in the stability of communication depending on the rotation angle.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a torque converter that improves the stability of communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The torque converter of the present invention comprises: A torque converter having a cylindrical rotating part and a fixed part, which converts torque acting on the rotating part into an electrical quantity, a transmitting unit provided in the rotating unit and configured to wirelessly transmit the detected torque value; a receiving unit provided in the fixed unit and configured to receive the torque value from the transmitting unit in the rotating unit, the transmitting unit includes a transmitting antenna substrate wound around the entire cylindrical outer surface of the rotating unit; The transmitting antenna substrate has at least two conductor layers, and connection lands are provided only on the surface layer side.

[0007] The fixed part has a hollow part, and a circuit board for detecting torque is disposed in the hollow part. The wiring cable connecting the circuit board and the transmitting antenna board is arranged along a wiring passage provided radially from the hollow portion, and the connection land of the band-shaped transmitting antenna board is provided at the longitudinal end, and the end of the transmitting antenna board is arranged near the wiring passage.

[0008] It is composed of: [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a torque converter that can stably perform communication between a rotating part and a fixed part even when the rotating part rotates at high speed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1A is a cross-sectional view of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a detailed cross-sectional view of a transmitting section. [Figure 3] 1A is a development view of a transmitting antenna substrate of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a development view of a receiving antenna substrate of the torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a torque converter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The torque transducer 1 comprises a rotating section 3 that receives torque from an object to be measured, and a fixed section 2. The rotating section 3 has a strain-generating section 3c, flange sections 3a-3b, and a strain-sensitive resistor G and a circuit board 20 inside these. The fixed section 2 has an electrical equipment box 9, and a power supply section 7, a rotational speed detection section 8, and a receiving section 10 are provided on the top surface of the electrical equipment box 9. The rotating section 3 and the fixed section 2 are configured as separate bodies, and the torque transducer 1 is used by installing both of them at a predetermined position and spaced apart, and converts the torque acting on the rotating section 3 into an electrical quantity.

[0013] The rotating part 3 has a hollow cylindrical shape and has a thin-walled portion in the axial direction. A strain-sensitive resistor G and a circuit board 20 are disposed in the hollow part of the rotating part 3. The flange part 3a is made of a highly rigid annular metal that does not easily deform. The flange part 3a has a plurality of screw holes arranged at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction, and is connected to the driving member on the driving side by bolts. The flange part 3b is also made of a highly rigid annular metal that does not easily deform. The flange part 3b has a plurality of screw holes arranged at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction, and is connected to the load member on the slave side by bolts.

[0014] Gear 4 is a spur gear provided on the flange portion 3a side. Gear 4 protrudes radially from the outer periphery of flange portion 3a and is located midway between flange portions 3a and 3b in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0015] The rotation speed detector 8 uses the gear 4 to detect the rotation speed and direction of the rotating unit 3. The rotation speed detector 8 has two magnetoresistive elements arranged at a predetermined distance from the gear 4 on the circumference close to the tip circle of the rotating gear 4, and detects the rotation speed and direction by detecting changes in magnetic force caused by the tips of the teeth of the gear 4 passing between these magnetoresistive elements. The rotation speed detector 8 is arranged with its sides and bottom covered by a shield base member 17. The shield base member 17 is made of a conductive material and has a structure on which the power supply unit 7 and receiving unit 10 are mounted, and is provided to block noise generated from the power supply unit 7.

[0016] The transmitting antenna board 11 is used to wirelessly transmit a signal representing the torque value detected by the rotating part 3. The transmitting antenna board 11 is, for example, a flat printed wiring board on which conductor lines are printed, and is attached to the entire cylindrical outer surface of the flange part 3a.

[0017] The power receiving unit 5 is a coil wound around the outer periphery of the flange portion 3b, and is used to receive power from the power supply unit 7. A wire drawn from the power receiving unit 5 is led into the interior of the rotating unit 3 through a hole provided in the cylindrical surface of the flange portion 3b, and is connected to a circuit board 20 fixed inside the rotating unit 3.

[0018] The power supply unit 7 accommodates a power transmission coil for connecting with the power receiving unit 5 at a predetermined distance to form a rotary transformer in order to transmit power to the rotating unit 3 in a contactless manner.

[0019] The lid 6 is provided to protect the components arranged inside the rotating part 3 from wind force and dust generated by high-speed rotation.

[0020] The electrical component box 9 houses a board including a circuit for contactlessly transmitting power to the rotating unit 3 via the power feeder 7. It also houses boards including a circuit that receives a digital torque signal from the transmitting antenna board 11 of the rotating unit 3, demodulates it, and outputs a torque value, a circuit that detects the rotation speed and rotation direction of the rotating unit 3 from the rotation speed detector 8 and outputs the detected signal, and a power supply circuit that converts externally supplied power and supplies power to each circuit. The electrical component box 9 is also provided with external terminals 21 for supplying power to the fixed unit 2 and outputting signals such as torque and rotation speed from the fixed unit 2.

[0021] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view and a detailed view of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, with some parts omitted. Figure 2(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane A parallel to the xz plane including the central axis of the rotating unit 3 in Figure 1. Figure 2(b) is a detailed enlarged view of part B in the cross-sectional view (a).

[0022] The strain-flexing portion 3c is located between the flange portions 3a and 3b in the axial direction and is coaxial with the flange portions 3a and 3b. The strain-flexing portion 3c is hollow cylindrical, and the flange portions 3a and 3b at both ends of the strain-flexing portion 3c are formed as a single member. The diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the strain-flexing portion 3c is smaller than the diameter of the outer periphery of the flange portions 3a and 3b, and the wall thickness is also formed relatively thin. A plurality of strain-sensitive resistors G are attached to the inner peripheral surface of the strain-flexing portion 3c.

[0023] A circuit board 20 is disposed and fixed in the hollow portion of the strain-generating portion 3c. Wiring drawn from the strain-sensitive resistor G is connected to the circuit board 20. The circuit board 20 includes an amplifier circuit, an analog-to-digital conversion circuit, an arithmetic circuit, a modulation circuit, and a transmission circuit. The amplifier circuit amplifies the analog signal output from the Wheatstone bridge circuit including the strain-sensitive resistor G. The analog-to-digital conversion circuit converts this analog signal into a digital signal. The arithmetic circuit processes this digital signal to generate a torque signal representing the torque value. The modulation circuit modulates the digital torque signal to generate a modulated signal. The transmission circuit transmits the modulated signal on a carrier wave from the transmitting antenna board 11 via the receiving unit 10 of the fixed portion 2 to the receiving circuit in the electrical equipment box 9. The circuit board 20 is also connected to the wiring drawn from the power receiving unit 5, receives the transmitted power, and supplies power to the amplifier circuit, analog / digital conversion circuit, arithmetic circuit, modulation circuit, transmission circuit, and Wheatstone bridge circuit via a rectifier circuit that rectifies the power.

[0024] In FIG. 2(b), the transmitting antenna substrate 11 is attached to the entire cylindrical outer surface of the flange portion 3a via an adhesive layer 12. The transmitting antenna substrate 11 is a thin substrate, for example, approximately 0.2 to 0.4 mm thick. The adhesive layer 12 may be, but is not limited to, a double-sided adhesive tape previously attached to the transmitting antenna substrate 11. The transmitting antenna substrate 11 has a base layer 11c on both sides of which conductor layers are laminated, and a protective layer is further provided on the surface. A signal layer 11d is provided on one surface of the base layer 11c, and a resist 11e is laminated to protect this signal layer 11d. Meanwhile, a ground layer 11b is provided on the other surface of the base layer 11c, and a resist 11a is laminated to protect this ground layer 11b. The outer periphery of the transmitting antenna substrate 11 is radially tensioned by aramid fiber 13, which is a high-tensile fiber, and the transmitting antenna substrate 11 and the aramid fiber 13 are sealed and fixed together with an adhesive 14. The high-tension fiber is preferably wound multiple times in the axial direction, covering the entire outer peripheral surface of the transmitting antenna substrate 11. In this embodiment, the high-tension fiber is wound in only one layer, but this is not limiting and overlapping winding is also possible. Therefore, peeling of the transmitting antenna substrate 11 from the flange portion 3a can be prevented even during long-term high-speed rotation.

[0025] FIG. 3(a) is a development view of the transmitting antenna substrate 11 of the torque converter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3(b) is a development view of the receiving antenna substrate 15. As shown in FIG.

[0026] The transmitting antenna substrate 11 has a strip-like shape with notches 11j at both longitudinal ends. Connection lands 11f and 11g are provided near these ends of the transmitting antenna substrate 11. The connection land 11f is provided with a relatively large area at the end of the signal layer 11d, and a portion of the resist 11e is removed to expose the conductive foil. In this embodiment, two signal patterns are provided on the signal layer 11d, but at least one is sufficient. Meanwhile, the connection land 11g is provided for connection to the ground layer 11b, and is provided on the same layer as the signal layer 11d via a through-hole 11h, spaced apart from the signal pattern. The ground layer 11b is provided over almost the entire surface of the transmitting antenna substrate 11.

[0027] The receiving antenna substrate 15 is also a strip-shaped printed wiring board with a two-layer conductor structure. Connection lands 15f are provided near its ends. The connection lands 15f are provided with a relatively large area at the ends of the signal layer 15d, and, like the transmitting antenna substrate 11, a portion of the resist has been removed to expose the conductor foil. The ground layer 15b is provided over almost the entire surface of the receiving antenna substrate 15, and although a connection land (not shown) is provided near the back surface of the connection lands 15f.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a torque converter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the wiring from the transmitting antenna substrate 11 to the circuit board 20 will be described. The transmitting antenna substrate 11 is attached to the cylindrical surface of the flange portion 3a along the entire circumference so that the notches 11j provided at the circumferential end portions thereof align with the wiring passages 16 in the flange portion 3a. The wiring from the circuit board 20 passes through the wiring passages 16 and is drawn out of the hollow portion of the rotating portion 3. The wiring is then connected to the connection lands 11f, 11g of the transmitting antenna substrate 11 by soldering or the like. The wiring passages 16 are formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the wiring cable. After this wiring connection is completed, the outer peripheral surface of the transmitting antenna substrate 11 is radially tensioned by aramid fiber 13, and the transmitting antenna substrate 11 and the aramid fiber 13 are then sealed and fixed together with an adhesive 14.

[0029] Although there is no signal line pattern near the end of the transmitting antenna board 11, there is no effect of signal interruption because signal radiation occurs through the relatively large connection land 11f and the wiring cable passing through the wiring passage 16. Furthermore, soldering of the wiring cable to the connection lands 11f, 11g of the transmitting antenna board 11 can be easily performed by accessing them radially from the outside of the rotating part 3, since both connection lands are visible on the surface of the transmitting antenna board 11.

[0030] The present invention has been described above based on a preferred embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0031] As an example of the use of the present invention, it can be applied to a device for measuring torque generated in the wheels of an automobile rotating at high speed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1: Torque transducer 2:Fixed part 3: Rotating part 3a, 3b: Flange section 3c: Strain part 4: Gears 5: Power receiving unit 6: Lid 7: Power supply unit 8: Rotation speed detection section 9: Electrical equipment box 10: Receiving unit 11: Transmitting antenna board 11a: Resist 11b: Ground layer 11c: Base material layer 11d: Signal layer 11e: Resist 11f: Connection Land 11g: Connection land 11h: Through hole 11j: Notch 12: Adhesive layer 13: Aramid fiber 14: Adhesive 15: Receiving antenna board 15b: Ground layer 15d: Signal layer 15f: Connection land 16:Wiring passage 17: Shield base material 20: Circuit board 21: External terminal G: Strain sensitive resistor

Claims

1. A torque converter having a cylindrical rotating part and a fixed part, which converts torque acting on the rotating part into an electrical quantity, a transmitting unit provided on the rotating unit and configured to wirelessly transmit the detected torque value; a receiving unit provided in the fixed unit and configured to receive the torque value from the transmitting unit of the rotating unit, the transmitting unit includes a transmitting antenna substrate wound around the entire cylindrical outer surface of the rotating unit, The torque transducer has the transmitting antenna substrate having at least two conductor layers, and the connection lands are provided only on the surface layer side.

2. the fixed portion has a hollow portion, and a circuit board for detecting torque is disposed in the hollow portion; 2. The torque transducer according to claim 1, wherein a wiring cable connecting the circuit board and the transmitting antenna board is arranged along a wiring passage provided radially from the hollow portion, the connection lands of the belt-shaped transmitting antenna board are provided at longitudinal ends, and the end of the transmitting antenna board is arranged near the wiring passage.

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