Torque converter

Abstract

To provide a torque converter that has a rotating portion and a fixed portion and can stably perform communication between the rotating portion and the fixed portion even when the rotating portion rotates at high speed.SOLUTION: A torque converter 1 has a roughly cylindrical rotating portion 3 and a fixed portion 2, the fixed portion 2 and the rotating portion 3 are arranged at a predetermined interval, and converts the torque acting on the rotating portion 3 into electric quantity. The fixed portion 2 includes a receiving portion 10 that receives a torque value detected and transmitted by the rotating portion 3, a rotational speed detecting portion 8 that detects the rotational speed of the rotating portion 3, and a power transmitting portion 7 that forms a transformer in combination with a power receiving portion 5 provided on the rotating portion 3 and supplies power to the rotating portion 3 in a contactless manner. The rotational speed detecting portion 8 is arranged between the power transmitting portion 7 and the receiving portion 10 in the axial direction of the rotating portion 3, and at least the side surface of the power transmitting portion 7 in the axial direction is surrounded by an electrically conductive member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

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 from the rotating part to the fixed part is transmitted wirelessly. Therefore, the rotating part has a built-in circuit for detecting torque and transmitting the torque signal to the fixed part. This means that the rotating part needs to be supplied with power by some means, but if a battery is built into the rotating part, it will need to be replaced or charged. Therefore, a method has been adopted in which a voltage transformer is configured between the rotating part and the fixed part to transmit power contactlessly. However, the power transmission coil of the transformer located in the fixed part becomes a source of noise, and there is room for improvement in the stable reception of the torque signal from the rotating part, which is rotating at high speed.

[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 substantially cylindrical rotating part and a fixed part, the fixed part and the rotating part being arranged at a predetermined interval, and converting torque acting on the rotating part into an electrical quantity, The fixed part is a receiving unit that receives the torque value detected and transmitted by the rotating unit; a rotation speed detection unit that detects the rotation speed of the rotating unit; a power transmitting unit that forms a transformer in combination with a power receiving unit provided on the rotating unit and supplies power to the rotating unit in a non-contact manner; the rotational speed detection unit is disposed between the power transmission unit and the power reception unit in the axial direction of the rotating unit; The power transmission section is configured such that at least the axial side surface thereof is surrounded by a conductive member.

[0007] The power transmitting unit and the power receiving unit are mounted on a conductive member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] 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]

[0009] [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 plan view of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a plan view of only a fixed portion, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view of only the fixed portion. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] 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.

[0011] The torque converter 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 transmission 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 converter 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.

[0012] The rotating part 3 is hollow and has a roughly cylindrical shape, with 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] The rotation speed detection unit 8 uses the gear 4 to detect the rotation speed and direction of the rotating unit 3. The rotation speed detection unit 8 detects the rotation speed and direction of the rotating gear 4 by arranging two detection elements 8b at a predetermined distance from the gear 4 on a circumference close to the tooth tip circle of the rotating gear 4. The detection elements 8b are, for example, magnetoresistive elements, and detect the rotation speed and direction by detecting changes in magnetic force caused by the tooth tips of the gear 4 passing between the detection elements 8b. The rotation speed detection unit 8 is arranged with its sides and bottom covered by a base member 16. The base member 16 is made of a conductive material and is structured to mount the power transmission unit 7 and receiving unit 10, and is configured to block noise generated by the power transmission unit 7.

[0015] The transmitting antenna substrate 11 is used to wirelessly transmit a signal representing the torque value measured by the rotating part 3. The transmitting antenna substrate 11 is, for example, a flat printed wiring board on which conductor lines are printed, and is attached to the entire outer cylindrical surface of the flange part 3a.

[0016] 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 transmitting 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.

[0017] The power transmitting unit 7 houses a coil 7c that is coupled to the power receiving unit 5 at a predetermined distance to form a transformer in order to transmit power to the rotating unit 3 in a contactless manner. The power transmitting unit 7 faces the power receiving unit 5 at approximately one-quarter of the circumference of the rotating unit 3. This makes it easy to align the fixed unit 2 and the rotating unit 3.

[0018] 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.

[0019] The electrical component box 9 houses a board including a circuit for contactlessly transmitting power to the rotating unit 3 via the power transmission unit 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 detection unit 8 and outputs the detected signal, and a power supply circuit that converts power supplied from an external source 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.

[0020] FIG. 2(a) is a plan view of a torque converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2(b) is a plan view of a fixing part of the torque converter, and FIG. 2(c) is a perspective view of the fixing part of the torque converter with part thereof omitted.

[0021] 2(a), the power transmitting unit 7, rotation speed detecting unit 8, and receiving unit 10 are arranged in this order in the minus x direction on the top surface of the electrical equipment box 9. The power transmitting unit 7 is provided with a power transmitting unit cover 7d, and the receiving unit 10 is provided with a receiving unit cover 10a.

[0022] 2(b), two detection elements 8b are arranged in the rotation speed detection unit 8. The detection elements 8b are arranged on the top surface of the electrical component box 9. The sides and bottom of the detection elements 8b are covered by a base member 16. The base member 16 is made of a material such as a conductive metal, a resin containing a conductive filler, or a resin whose surface is plated with a conductive metal.

[0023] In Figure 2(c), the power transmission unit cover 7d and the receiving unit cover 10a are omitted. Coil 7c and coil holder 7b are arranged inside power transmission unit cover 7d. Coil 7c has an oval shape bent into an arc and is arranged surrounding coil holder 7b. A metal shield plate 7a made of conductive material and having an L-shape in a plan view is provided on the outer surface of power transmission unit 7. Note that shield plate 7a has protrusions and is mechanically and electrically connected and fixed to base member 16 with screws (see Figure 1).

[0024] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the torque converter 1 of this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in Fig. 2(b). Note that some members are omitted in Fig. 3.

[0025] The explanation will begin with the rotating part 3. The strain-flexing part 3c is located between the flange parts 3a and 3b in the axial direction, and is coaxial with the flange parts 3a and 3b. The strain-flexing part 3c is hollow cylindrical, and the flange parts 3a and 3b at both ends of the strain-flexing part 3c are formed as a single member. The diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the strain-flexing part 3c is smaller than the diameter of the outer periphery of the flange parts 3a and 3b, and the wall thickness is also formed to be relatively small. A plurality of strain-sensitive resistors G are attached to the inner peripheral surface of the strain-flexing part 3c.

[0026] 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.

[0027] Next, a description will be given of the fixed unit 2. On the top surface of the electrical component box 9, a power transmitting unit 7, a rotation speed detecting unit 8, and a receiving unit 10 are arranged in this order in the minus x direction.

[0028] In the power transmitting unit 7, a coil 7c is housed in a coil holder 7b. The coil holder 7b and the coil 7c are covered by a power transmitting unit cover 7d. A shield plate 7a covers the coil holder 7b in the x direction. The shield plate 7a is screwed to the base member 16 and electrically connected. The power transmitting unit 7 faces the power receiving unit 5, which is fixed to the flange portion 3b, across the power transmitting unit cover 7d, forming a transformer, or so-called a voltage transformer, which transmits power used in the circuit board 20 in a contactless manner.

[0029] Meanwhile, in the receiving unit 10, a receiving antenna board 15 is housed and fixed in a groove in the receiving unit cover 10a. The receiving antenna board 15 is connected to a receiving circuit board in the electrical component box 9 by a cable or the like. That is, the receiving antenna board 15 faces the transmitting antenna board 11, which is fixed to the flange portion 3a, across the receiving unit cover 10a, and receives the torque value transmitted from the circuit board 20 via the transmitting antenna board 11. The receiving antenna board 15 faces approximately one-quarter of the circumferential length of the rotating unit 3. This makes it easy to align the fixed unit 2 and the rotating unit 3.

[0030] According to the present invention, the side and bottom surfaces of the power transmitting unit, which is a noise source, are partially enclosed with a shielding member to reduce noise propagation to the rotation speed detection unit and torque signal receiving unit, thereby enabling stable communication between the rotating and fixed units. Furthermore, by providing receiving antenna board 15 that receives torque signals from transmitting antenna board 11 located nearby and sandwiching the rotation speed detection unit from the power transmitting unit, which is a noise source, a configuration is achieved that enables stable detection of torque signals.

[0031] 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]

[0032] 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]

[0033] 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 transmission section 7a: Shield plate 7b: Coil holder 7c: Coil 7d: Power transmission unit cover 8: Rotation speed detection section 8b: Detecting element 9: Electrical equipment box 10: Receiving unit 10a: Receiver cover 11: Transmitting antenna board 15: Receiving antenna board 16: Base material 20: Circuit board 21: External terminal G: Strain sensitive resistor

Claims

1. A torque converter having a substantially cylindrical rotating part and a fixed part, the fixed part and the rotating part being arranged at a predetermined interval, and converting torque acting on the rotating part into an electrical quantity, The fixing portion is a receiving unit that receives the torque value detected and transmitted by the rotating unit; a rotation speed detection unit that detects the rotation speed of the rotating unit; a power transmitting unit that forms a transformer in combination with a power receiving unit provided on the rotating unit and supplies power to the rotating unit in a non-contact manner; the rotational speed detection unit is disposed between the power transmission unit and the power reception unit in the axial direction of the rotating unit, A torque converter in which at least the axial side surface of the power transmission unit is surrounded by a conductive member.

2. 2. The torque converter according to claim 1, wherein the power transmitting unit and the power receiving unit are mounted on the conductive member.

Images