Torque monitoring system and method of monitoring engine torque
First Claim
1. A torque monitoring system comprising:
- a rotatable torque transmitting device having;
a driving member;
a driven member;
a structural member operatively connected to at least one of said driving member and said driven member and at least partially forming a fluid chamber between said members;
wherein rotation of said driving member pressurizes said fluid chamber to thereby rotatably drive said driven member; and
a pressure-sensing device operatively connected with said fluid chamber for sensing a pressure level in said chamber;
wherein an amount of torque transmitted from said driving member to said driven member is directly proportional to said sensed pressure level.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An easily packaged torque monitoring system accurately captures driveline torque data for use by engine, transmission or other vehicle controllers. The torque monitoring system utilizes a structural member to hydraulically connect a driving member with a driven member. A pressure-sensing device is operatively connected with a fluid chamber in the structural member through which the driving member drives the driven member. The pressure-sensing device senses a pressure level within the chamber. The amount of torque transmitted from the driving member to the driven member is directly linearly related to the sensed pressure. In one embodiment, the pressure-sensing device is a surface acoustic wave sensor in contact with the hydraulic fluid that wirelessly relays a sensor signal (i.e., a signal with a value corresponding with sensed pressure and thus with torque) to a controller.
25 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A torque monitoring system comprising:
-
a rotatable torque transmitting device having;
a driving member;
a driven member;
a structural member operatively connected to at least one of said driving member and said driven member and at least partially forming a fluid chamber between said members;
wherein rotation of said driving member pressurizes said fluid chamber to thereby rotatably drive said driven member; and
a pressure-sensing device operatively connected with said fluid chamber for sensing a pressure level in said chamber;
wherein an amount of torque transmitted from said driving member to said driven member is directly proportional to said sensed pressure level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A torque monitoring system for a vehicle drivetrain including an engine and a transmission, comprising:
-
a first rotatable member rotatably driven by said engine;
a second rotatable member;
a structural member at least partially forming a closed fluid chamber between said first and second rotatable members;
wherein rotation of said first rotatable member pressurizes said chamber to rotatably drive said second rotatable member;
a pressure sensor mounted in contact with said fluid chamber and operative to sense a pressure level within said chamber and transmit a sensor signal correlated with said sensed pressure; and
a controller in signal communication with said pressure sensor and operable for receiving said sensor signal and varying an operating condition of the drivetrain based on said sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of monitoring engine torque comprising:
-
hydraulically connecting first and second coaxial rotatable members by providing a hydraulic chamber connected therebetween;
wherein said first rotatable member is driven by an engine and said second rotatable member is operatively connected with a transmission;
rotating said first rotatable member via engine torque to thereby rotate said second rotatable member via pressure in said hydraulic chamber resulting from rotation of said first rotatable member;
sensing a level of pressure within said chamber;
relaying a signal corresponding with said sensed level of pressure to a controller; and
adjusting an operating condition of one of said engine and said transmission based on said relayed signal. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
Specification