Torque measurement sensor for measuring torque applied to a flex plate

Abstract

Torque measurement sensor for measuring a torque applied to a flex plate (1). The flex plate (1) is at least partially magnetised. At least one coil (5, 66, 7) is arranged in the vicinity of the flex plate (1). The coil (5, 6, 7) detects a change in the magnetisation of the flex plate (1). The magnetisation of the flex plate (1) is generated by means of one single magnetic band (8).

Description

[0001] Torque measurement sensor for measuring torque applied to a flex plate Technical field

[0002] The present disclosure refers to a torque measurement sensor for measuring a torque applied to a flex plate.

[0003] Background

[0004] Previous torque measurement sensors using a magneto elastic principle to measure torque require separate magnetic bands.

[0005] Detailed description

[0006] The present disclosure shows a torque measurement sensor for measuring torque applied to a flex plate.

[0007] The flex plate is at least partially magnetised.

[0008] At least one coil, preferably two or more coils, are arranged in the vicinity of the flex plate in order to detect a change in the magnetisation of the flex plate.

[0009] The magnetisation of the flex plate is generated by means of one single magnetic band.

[0010] Flex plate torque measurement sensor

[0011] To measure torque, a flex plate torque measurement sensor uses a magneto elastic principle.

[0012] The magneto elastic sensor uses a magnetic field to detect the strain of a material. In the following, it is assumed that the flex plate is made of metal.

[0013] Torque applied to the flex plate causes changes in the magnetic field of the flex plate.

[0014] In the present disclosure, the change in the magnetic field is measured by the flex plate torque measurement sensor.

[0015] The change in the magnetic field is proportional to the torque acting on the metal flex plate. The flex plate torque measurement sensor has significantly fewer components with improved performance.

[0016] The flex plate torque measurement sensor can be used in e-bikes. It goes without saying that the flex plate torque measurement sensor can also be used in robotics and the automotive industry.

[0017] The flex plate is discussed in more detail below.

[0018] Flex plate

[0019] The term flex plate refers to the ability of a disk (flex plate) to bend along its main axis. The flex plate bends around its main axis to compensate for gear changes and / or small misalignments at changing speeds. Usually, the flex plate of the flex plate torque measurement sensor is a metal disk. However, flex plates can also come in different shapes. The flex plates can be made from stamped steel. However, it goes without saying that flex plates can also be manufactured in other technical ways. The flex plate takes the place of a so called flywheel. The flex plate can be found in a conventional manual transmission setup.

[0020] The flex plate is generally much thinner and lighter than the flywheel. This is due to the required flexibility of the flex plate, but also to a smoother clutch action of a torque converter. In addition, the surface of the clutch is no longer required.

[0021] The flex plate usually handles coupling to a starter motor via gear teeth. In order to do so, the flex plate provides gear teeth along its outer circumference.

[0022] The flex plate can connect an output from an engine to the input of a torque converter in a motor vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. It goes without saying that the flex plate can also be used in other technical installations.

[0023] The flex plate torque measurement sensor may use two or more magnetic bands. The magnetic band may be a magnetized band. In the following, reference is made to a magnetic band. For the measurement of torque, the presently disclosed flex plate torque measurement sensor uses only one single magnetic band arranged on the flex plate.

[0024] In the present disclosure the single magnetic band is arranged in the centre of the flex plate.

[0025] To position the single magnetic band in the centre of the flex plate, the magnetic band is spaced from both a centre point of the flex plate and the outer circumference of the flex plate.

[0026] It goes without saying that the single magnetic band can also be arranged off-centre on the flex plate.

[0027] Magnetic band and coils

[0028] An electromagnetic coil is an electrical conductor such as a wire in the shape of a coil (preferably: spiral or helix).

[0029] Electromagnetic coils are used in electrical engineering in applications where electric currents interact with magnetic fields.

[0030] An electric current is passed through the wire of the coil to generate a magnetic field.

[0031] A flex plate torque measurement sensor can comprise at least one set of two coils.

[0032] One coil of every set of two coils can be assigned to each magnetic band. Thus, a flex plate torque measurement sensor with two magnetic bands can comprise one or more sets of two coils each.

[0033] A first coil of the set of coils can be assigned to an inner magnetic band of the flex plate. The second coil of the set of coils can be assigned to an outer magnetic band of the flex plate.

[0034] The presently disclosed flex plate torque measurement sensor however, uses only one single magnetic band arranged on the flex plate.

[0035] According to the present disclosure, the outer band of the flex plate and the coils associated to the outer band are removed. Each set of coils comprise at least two coils. It goes without saying, that the set of coils can also comprise more than two coils. Each coil of the set of coils is assigned to the single magnetic band. Preferably, but not exclusively, the single magnetic band is positioned in the centre of the flex plate.

[0036] Detailed embodiments

[0037] The single magnetic band is arranged in the centre of the flex plate. The flex plate has a circumferential toothing on its outer circumference.

[0038] Advantages

[0039] The flex plate torque measurement sensor with a single magnetic band has a reduced complexity.

[0040] The size of the flex plate torque measurement sensor is significantly smaller.

[0041] In addition, the flex plate torque measurement sensor has significantly fewer components with improved performance.

[0042] Other flex plate inductors can also be used.

[0043] The package size of the flex plate torque measurement sensor is reduced. The package size refers to the flex plate torque measurement sensor and a so called target unit.

[0044] The production of the flex plate torque measurement sensor requires less effort and / or less process.

[0045] The flex plate torque measurement sensor according to the present disclosure achieves improved compassing.

[0046] The influence of an external field can be significantly reduced.

[0047] A differential mode of the flex plate torque measurement sensor can be maintained.

[0048] Coils can be connected in different ways within the flex plate torque measurement sensor.

[0049] There is no more limitation of space needed between the single magnetic band and any surrounding components. Drawings

[0050] Further examples and advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below by means of the following figures. The figures show:

[0051] Fig. 1 a flex plate with an inner magnetic band, an outer magnetic band and several sets of coils, according to the state of the art,

[0052] Fig. 2 a flex plate with a single magnetic band and several sets of coils comprising only one coil each,

[0053] Fig. 3 a flex plate with toothing according to the state of the art showing an inner magnetic band and an outer magnetic band,

[0054] Fig. 4 a flex plate with toothing, showing a single magnetic band.

[0055] In Fig. 1, the flex plate 1 comprises an inner magnetic band 2 and an outer magnetic band 3.

[0056] In the example of Fig. 1, representing the state of the art, six sets 4 of coils 5 and 6 are shown.

[0057] Coils 5 are assigned to the inner magnetic band 2. While coils 6 are assigned to the outer magnetic band 3.

[0058] The sets 4 of coils 5 and 6 are aligned radially relative to the inner magnetic band 2 and the outer magnetic band 3.

[0059] Fig. 2 corresponds to Fig. 1 with the difference that the outer coils 6 are symbolically crossed out.

[0060] In Fig. 2, only one centre magnetic band 8 is shown. Each set of coils 4 comprises only centre coils 7 associated to the centre magnetic band 8, respectively.

[0061] Fig. 3 shows a flex plate 1 according to the state of the art having an inner magnetic band 2 and an outer magnetic band 3.

[0062] The flex plate 1 shown in Fig. 3 has a circumferential toothing 9 on its outer circumference 10.

[0063] The inner magnetic band 2 and the outer magnetic band 3 run parallel to each other on the flex plate 1. Fig. 4 shows the presently disclosed flex plate 1 with a circumferential toothing 9 on its outer circumference 10.

[0064] In the Fig. 4 the flex plate 1 comprises the centre magnetic band 8. List of references

[0065] 1 Flex plate

[0066] 2 Inner magnetic band 3 Outer magnetic band 4 Set of coils

[0067] 5 Inner coil

[0068] 6 Outer coil

[0069] 7 Centre coil

[0070] 8 Centre magnetic band 9 Toothing

[0071] 10 Outer circumference

Claims

Claims1. Torque measurement sensor for measuring a torque applied to a flex plate (1),- wherein the flex plate (1 ) is at least partially magnetised and - at least one coil (5, 6, 7 ) is arranged in the vicinity of the flex plate ( 1),- wherein the coil (5, 6, 7 ) detects a change in the magnetisation of the flex plate (1),characterized in thatthe magnetisation of the flex plate ( 1) is generated by means of one single magnetic band ( 8 ).

2. Torque measurement sensor according to claim 1 characterized in that the single magnetic band (8 ) is arranged in the centre of the flex plate (1 ).

3. Torque measurement sensor according to claim 1 characterized in that the flex plate ( 1) has a circumferential toothing ( 9) on its outer circumference ( 10).

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