Mechanical component having a force sensor

• US 10,252,595 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2015
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Haskamp, Klaus, Klank, Michael, Stratmann, Julian, Vortmeyer, Jens, Hartmann, Andreas, Schwinge, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max H
• Application Number:
  US15/527,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20180251001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 73774
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01941 characterised by the use of piezoelectric elements, e.g. sensors or actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1162 directly mounted on the suspension arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/005 Ball joints B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0604 Construction of the male part
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0619 the female part comprising a blind socket receiving the male part
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2233/00 Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/00 Other accessories, e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0004 Force transducers adapted for mounting in a bore of the force receiving structure G01L5/0009 takes precedence

Abstract

A mechanical component for a vehicle, having a measurement region with a surface, and at least one force sensor associated with the measurement region for detecting a force to which the component is exposed. The component (3) has, disposed in the measurement region, a hollow body (3b) with a cavity (4) in which the at least one force sensor (7) can be positioned.

Claims

1. A mechanical component for a vehicle, the mechanical component comprising:

first and second axial shaft regions, the first shaft region having a hollow body that has a cylindrical inner surface that defines a cavity, and the hollow body having an axial end that forms an axial end of the first shaft region,

the first shaft region having a measurement region that extends axially, partially along the hollow body of the first shaft region,

at least one force sensor being supported within the cavity by the inner surface of the hollow body such that the at least one force sensor is disposed within the measurement region for detecting a force to which the mechanical component is exposed, and the axial end of the hollow body contacting an axial end surface of the second shaft region such that the at least one force sensor is axially enclosed within the cavity.

2. The mechanical component according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical component is formed as a pendulum support of a chassis.

3. The mechanical component according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical component is formed as either a ball joint or a ball stud which is connected, in an articulated manner, to a pendulum support.

4. The mechanical component according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical component is formed as a trailer coupling with a coupling hook.

5. The mechanical component according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body is formed as either a hollow cylinder or a hollow ball with the inner surface.

6. The mechanical component according to claim 1, wherein the axial end of the hollow body has at least one interface with the axial end surface of the second axial shaft region, and the axial end surface of the second shaft region sealing the at least one force sensor within the cavity.

7. The mechanical component according to claim 6, wherein the axial end of the hollow body is connected to the axial end surface of the second axial shaft region by a bond which seals the at least one force sensor within the cavity.

8. The mechanical component according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a closed cross section which is disposed in a flux of force of the force.

9. The mechanical component according to claim 5, wherein the at least one force sensor measuring deformations of the inner surface of the hollow body which result from bending stress in the first shaft region.

10. The mechanical component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one force sensor is formed either as a strain gauge or a sensor element made of carbon nanotubes.

11. A mechanical component for a vehicle, the mechanical component being one of a rod support, a pendulum support, a control arm and a ball joint, and the mechanical component defining an axis and comprising:

first and second axial shaft regions, the first shaft region having an axial first end and an axially opposite remote end, a cavity extends from the first end of the first shaft region partially through the first shaft region, and the cavity forming a hollow body having a cylindrical inner surface,

the first shaft region having a measurement region,

at least one force sensor being supported on the inner surface of the hollow body and axially arranged within the measurement region for detecting a force to which the mechanical component is exposed, and

the second shaft region being a solid shaft having an axial end that is fixed to the first end of the first shaft region such that the at least one force sensor is enclosed within the cavity in the first shaft region.

12. The mechanical component according to claim 11, wherein the first and the second shaft regions being coaxially aligned, and the axial end of the second shaft region being welded to the first end of the first shaft region such that an end surface of the axial end of the second shaft region doses the cavity and seals the at least one force sensor within the cavity.

13. The mechanical component according to claim 11, wherein the remote end of the first shaft region comprises a ball head of a ball joint, the at least one force sensor measuring supporting forces that are applied on the mechanical component by way of the ball head.

14. The mechanical component according to claim 11, wherein the first shaft region and the second shaft region being formed independent of each other, and the axial end of the second shaft region being fixed to the first end of the first shaft region such that the cavity is radially delimited by the inner surface of the hollow body and the cavity is axially delimited by the axial end of the second shaft region and a radially aligned surface arranged in the first shaft region at an axial end of the measurement region.