Hydraulic Unit Housing Mount for Precise Torque Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic units face challenges in accurately measuring torque due to the difficulty in mounting a fixed torque sensor on a moving shaft, which increases the unit's size and cost when external sensors are used.
Innovation Solution
A torque sensor is externally mounted to the housing of the hydraulic unit, physically coupled to a planar portion adjacent to the flange through which the drive shaft extends, allowing for precise torque measurement without amplification or modification of the deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fixed torque sensor is mounted on the moving shaft, then torque measurement is achieved, but the shaft becomes more complex and mounting is difficult since the shaft is a moving component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the housing as an intermediary structure to mount the torque sensor. Instead of directly mounting the sensor on the moving shaft, the sensor is mounted on the stationary housing, which serves as a stable base and eliminates the complexity of mounting on a moving component while still enabling torque measurement through the flange connection.
2Measurement precision
If an external torque sensor is mounted to measure torque, then torque measurement capability is added, but the axial length of the hydraulic unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from axial mounting (which would increase axial length) to radial mounting of the torque sensor on the housing. The sensor is positioned in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, utilizing the radial space of the housing instead, thereby avoiding extension of the axial dimension while still achieving torque measurement functionality.
3Measurement precision
If an external torque sensor is mounted to measure torque, then torque measurement is enabled, but the price and packaging size of the unit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing serves multiple functions: it acts as the structural enclosure for the hydraulic unit, provides mounting surfaces for internal components, and simultaneously serves as the mounting base for the external torque sensor. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensor mounting structures, thereby avoiding additional packaging volume while enabling torque measurement capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for a hydraulic unit. In one example, a hydraulic unit includes a torque sensor external mounted to a housing of the hydraulic unit, wherein a torque sensor mount is physically coupled to a planar portion of the housing near a flange through which a drive shaft extends.