Magnetic Torque Metering Shaft Teeth With Dual-Material Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines face limitations in material selection for shafts due to torque measurement requirements, restricting the reduction of weight or size while maintaining structural performance.
Innovation Solution
A shaft assembly for turbine engines that incorporates a coupling shaft with teeth made of different materials, including a second material with higher magnetic flux for torque sensors, allowing for structural performance without being limited by traditional torque measurement constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional torque sensors are used to measure torque from a shaft, then torque measurement is achieved, but the material selection for the shaft is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is designed with different materials at different locations: the main shaft body uses one material while the teeth portions use a different material with higher magnetic flux properties. This local differentiation allows the shaft to meet torque measurement requirements at the teeth locations while maintaining structural integrity throughout, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and material selection versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft employs composite construction by integrating multiple materials - a base shaft material and a separate tooth material with superior magnetic flux characteristics. This composite approach enables the shaft to simultaneously achieve accurate torque measurement through the magnetic flux-rich teeth and maintain overall structural performance, thus overcoming the material selection limitations imposed by traditional torque sensor requirements
2Measurement precision
If materials with higher magnetic flux are used for torque sensors, then torque measurement capability is improved, but weight and size reduction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
High magnetic flux material is applied only to the teeth portions of the shaft where torque measurement interaction occurs, rather than the entire shaft. This localized application provides sufficient magnetic flux for accurate torque sensing while minimizing the overall weight increase that would result from using high magnetic flux material throughout the entire shaft structure
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is segmented into functionally distinct regions: the main shaft body optimized for structural strength and weight considerations, and the teeth portions optimized for magnetic flux properties to enable torque measurement. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently, achieving torque measurement capability without unnecessarily increasing overall shaft weight
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 approach enables the use of materials with higher magnetic flux for torque sensors, overcoming material limitations and enhancing structural performance while maintaining or reducing weight and size.
Implementation Method 1
the second material defines a magnetic flux greater than the first material
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a shaft assembly (95) for a turbine engine (10), the shaft assembly (95) defining an axial direction and a radial direction, wherein the turbine engine (10) includes a fan or propeller assembly (14) and an engine core (20) and further wherein the fan or propeller assembly (14) includes a gearbox (45). The shaft (assembly 95) includes a coupling shaft (100) defining a plurality of coupling shaft teeth (105) extended in the axial direction, wherein each coupling shaft tooth (105) is in circumferential arrangement along the coupling shaft (100). The coupling shaft (100) includes a first material (103) and the plurality of coupling shaft teeth (105) include a second material (104) different from the first material (103).