Torque Sensor Bending-Strip Structure for Radial Force Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing torque sensors are susceptible to measurement errors due to radially directed forces, particularly from manufacturing tolerances, leading to crosstalk among measuring transducers, and have an increased axial dimension due to a thin-walled radially elastic material portion.
Innovation Solution
The torque sensor employs a radially elastic material portion composed of multiple bending strips distributed over the circumference, connected via an annular, radially stiff decoupling region, allowing for compact design and effective decoupling of radially acting forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a thin-walled radially elastic material portion is used to achieve high decoupling from radially directed forces, then measurement precision is improved, but the axial dimension of the torque sensor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radially elastic material portion is segmented into multiple radially elastic bending strips arranged distributed over the circumference. This segmentation allows the material portion to achieve the required radial elasticity for decoupling while reducing the axial dimension compared to a solid thin-walled structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the torque sensor are given different mechanical properties: the radially elastic bending strips provide radial compliance while the annular decoupling region provides radial stiffness. This local differentiation of mechanical properties enables precise torque measurement without requiring increased axial dimension.
2Reliability
If multiple radially elastic bending strips are arranged distributed over the circumference to achieve uniform decoupling, then decoupling performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radially elastic material portion is divided into multiple identical or similar bending strips that are distributed uniformly over the circumference. This segmentation approach achieves uniform decoupling performance while allowing for standardized manufacturing of each strip, thereby controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The number of bending strips can be adjusted as a design parameter to achieve the desired decoupling performance. By optimizing this parameter, uniform decoupling is achieved without unnecessarily increasing device complexity, as the strips are identical and can be manufactured using the same process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the radially elastic material portion is made radially stiff to prevent deformation, then structural stability is improved, but sensitivity to radially directed forces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radially elastic material portion is segmented into multiple bending strips that are flexible in the radial direction, allowing them to deform and absorb radially directed forces without transmitting them to the sensor portion, thus maintaining measurement precision while providing structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular decoupling region acts as an intermediary between the radially elastic material portion and the sensor portion. It is designed to be radially stiff to prevent deformation that would affect measurement, while allowing the radially elastic material portion to deform freely to absorb radial forces.
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
The solution provides insensitivity to mechanical interference while maintaining a compact structure, ensuring precise torque measurement by isolating the measuring transducers from radially directed forces and allowing for uniform decoupling of such forces.
Implementation Method 1
the radially elastic material portion is formed by a plurality of radially elastic bending strips
Implementation Method 2
the radially elastic material portion is connected to the mechanically weakened sensor portion via an annular, radially stiff decoupling region
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a torque sensor (10) with a main body (12) that extends in an axial and circumferential direction, and which extends in a radial direction of the main body from an annular inner flange (18) with first force introduction points (16) via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (20), which is provided with measuring sensors that generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (32) with second force introduction points (34), wherein the second force introduction points (34) are connected to the sensor portion (20) via a radially elastic material portion (28). The radially elastic material portion (28) is formed by multiple radially elastic bending strips 31), which are arranged in a distributed manner around a circumference of the main body (12), and is connected to the mechanically weakened sensor portion (20) via an annular, radially stiff decoupling region (27).