Angle Sensor Drive Gear Radial Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing angle sensors face measurement inaccuracies due to hysteresis errors caused by play between drive and target gears, which cannot be fully compensated without deviating the axes of rotation of target gears, leading to significant measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
The drive gear wheel is pressed into a defined radial position by a resiliently acting element within its bearing, allowing the axis of rotation to be fixed independently of its position, and a transmission element with spring-elastic properties ensures play-free contact with the shaft, compensating for deviations and maintaining accurate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resilient bearing elements are used to couple measuring gears to the drive gear, then static and dynamic deviations of the shaft axis can be compensated, but the axes of rotation of the target wheels deviate from their ideal positions causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the functions of compensating shaft deviations and maintaining target wheel positioning accuracy. The resilient bearing elements compensate for shaft axis deviations, while a separate positioning mechanism (precision bearings or locating elements) ensures target wheels maintain their ideal rotational positions relative to the sensor elements, preventing measurement errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary positioning mechanism between the resilient bearing elements and the target wheels. This intermediary structure (such as precision bearings or locating features) decouples the compensation function from the positioning function, allowing the target wheels to maintain accurate positions even while the resilient elements absorb shaft deviations.
2Measurement precision
If play between drive and target gears is reduced, then hysteresis error is reduced, but the axes of rotation of target gears must be fixed which can lead to measurement errors when they deviate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs resilient bearing elements that provide dynamic adaptation to shaft position variations while maintaining stable target wheel positions. These elements allow the system to dynamically compensate for shaft deviations without creating play between the drive gear and target gears, thus reducing hysteresis error while maintaining measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the bearing elements to optimize both play reduction and position stability. By carefully selecting the stiffness and preload of the resilient bearing elements, the system achieves minimal play between gears (reducing hysteresis) while maintaining stable rotational positions of target wheels (ensuring measurement reliability).
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly reduces hysteresis errors while maintaining precise alignment of target gears, enhancing measurement accuracy without introducing noise or axis deviation issues.
Implementation Method 1
the drive gear wheel is pressed by at least one resiliently acting element into a defined radial position within its bearing
Implementation Method 2
A transmission element, which has spring-elastic properties and is accommodated under elastic pretension between the shaft and the drive gear wheel, causes play-free contact of the drive gear wheel with the shaft in every rotational position of the shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
Angle sensor for sensing the rotary position of a rotatable shaft, comprising a driving gear that is connected to the shaft in a torque-transmitting manner, and at least one measuring gear that is directly driven by the driving gear, the driving gear and the at least one measuring gear being mounted in a sensor housing, and the angular position of the shaft being determined from the angular position of the measuring gear/s. According to the invention, said angle sensor is characterized in that at least one resilient element exerts a force onto the driving gear, thereby forcing it into a defined radial position in the bearing.