Linear and rotary magnetic sensor

• US 20010038281A1
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Russell, Lawrence J., Togneri, Mauro G., Nyce, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,600,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.13
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/70 dependent on the ratio established
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/485 using magnetostrictive devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2003 Electrical actuator

Abstract

A magnetic-based sensor is disclosed which can detect a linear and rotary position of a shaft whose movement is to be measured. Such sensor can operate to yield linear displacement as well as rotation. A position magnet is mounted on the shaft for measuring linear motion. A spirally wound magnet is mounted on the shaft to detect rotational motion. Both of such motions are detected by a single magnetic-based sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor for detecting linear and rotary motion of a workpiece, comprising:

a first magnet mounted on the workpiece;

a magnet based sensor for detecting motion responsive to said first magnet, at least a portion of said magnet based sensor mounted substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the workpiece; and

said first magnet being spirally mounted on at least a portion of the workpiece and juxtaposed to at least a portion of said magnet based sensor responsive to said first magnet.

2. The sensor of

claim 1

, wherein there is a second magnet mounted on the workpiece, said magnet based sensor detecting linear motion responsive to said second magnet;

said second magnet being mounted on at least a portion of the workpiece and juxtaposed to at least a portion of said magnet-based sensor responsive to said second magnet.

3. The sensor of

claim 2

, wherein said magnet based sensor is mounted substantially parallel to at least a portion of the workpiece where said first magnet and such second magnet are mounted.

4. The sensor of

claim 3

, wherein said magnet based sensor is juxtaposed to at least the portion of the workpiece to which it is substantially parallel.

5. The sensor of

claim 4

, wherein said magnet based sensor is a magnetostrictive sensor.

6. The sensor of

claim 5

, wherein said magnetostrictive sensor includes a waveguide and a mode converter, at least the portion of the workpiece on which said first magnet is mounted being juxtaposed to at least a portion of said waveguide.

7. The sensor of

claim 6

, wherein said second magnet is a position magnet for detecting linear motion.

8. The sensor of

claim 7

, wherein said second magnet is substantially doughnut-shaped.

9. The sensor of

claim 8

, wherein at least the portion of the workpiece on which said second magnet is mounted is juxtaposed to at least a portion of said waveguide.

15. The sensor of

claim 1

, wherein there is a second magnet mounted on the workpiece, said magnet based means for detecting linear motion responsive to said second magnet;

said second magnet being mounted on at least a portion of the workpiece and juxtaposed to at least a portion of said magnet-based means responsive to said second magnet.

16. The sensor of

claim 2

, wherein said magnet based means is mounted substantially parallel to at least a portion of the workpiece where said first magnet and such second magnet are mounted.

17. The sensor of

claim 3

, wherein said magnet based means is juxtaposed to at least the portion of the workpiece to which it is substantially parallel.

18. The sensor of

claim 4

, wherein said magnet based means is a magnetostrictive sensor.

10. A gear system sensor to detect gear position, the gear system including a rotary and linear motor connected to, and linear displacing and rotating, a shifter shaft, comprising:

a first magnet mounted on the shifter shaft;

a magnet based sensor for detecting motion through the use of said first magnet on the shifter shaft, at least a portion of said magnet based sensor mounted juxtaposed to the shifter shaft on which said first magnet is mounted; and

said first magnet being spirally mounted on at least a portion of the portion of the shifter shaft juxtaposed to said magnet based sensor.

11. The sensor of

claim 10

, wherein there is further included a second magnet, said magnet based sensor detecting linear motion through the use of said second magnet;

said second magnet being mounted on at least a portion of the shifter shaft and juxtaposed to at least a portion of said magnet based sensor responsive to said second magnet.

12. The system of

claim 11

, wherein said sensor is a magnetostrictive sensor having a waveguide and a mode converter, the portion of the shifter shaft having said first magnet mounted thereon being juxtaposed to at least a portion of said waveguide.

13. The system of

claim 12

, wherein the portion of the shifter shaft having said first magnet mounted thereon also has said second magnet mounted thereon.

14. A sensor for detecting linear and rotary motion of a workpiece, comprising:

a first magnet mounted on the workpiece;

magnet based means for detecting motion responsive to said first magnet, at least a portion of said magnet based magnet based means mounted substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the workpiece; and

said first magnet being spirally mounted on at least a portion of the workpiece and juxtaposed to at least a portion of said magnet based means responsive to said first magnet.