DISPLACEMENT SENSOR FOR A ROD

• US 20090102462A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norgren GmbH (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: Norgren GmbH (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Siebert, Jorg, Thode, Oliver, Rust, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.200
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/2861 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/147 influenced by the movement of a third element, the position of Hall device and the source of magnetic field being fixed in respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8225 Position or extent of motion indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

A displacement sensor (100) is provided according to the invention. The displacement sensor (100) includes a rod (103) including a graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) and a magnetic sensor (110) located in close proximity to the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105). The magnetic sensor (110) generates a positional signal that is related to the position of the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) in relation to the magnetic sensor (110).

Claims

1. A displacement sensor (100), comprising:

a rod (103) including a graduated magnetically anomalous region (105); and

a magnetic sensor (110) located in close proximity to the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105), wherein the magnetic sensor (110) generates a positional signal that is related to the position of the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) in relation to the magnetic sensor (110).

2. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 1, with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) being at least partially within the rod (103).

3. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 1, with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) being substantially fully within the rod (103).

4. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 1, with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) being substantially axially centered in the rod (103).

5. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 1, with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) comprising a graduated magnetically responsive insert (105).

6. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 1, with the rod (103) including a hollow portion (102) and with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) comprising a graduated magnetically responsive insert (105) residing in the hollow portion (102).

7. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 1, with the rod (103) being substantially magnetic and with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) comprising a graduated bore portion (105).

8. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 1, with the rod (103) being substantially magnetic and with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) being formed from the rod (103).

9. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 1, with the magnetic sensor (110) comprising:

a coupling member (111) comprising two legs (112) and a top end (120);

two magnets (114) affixed to bottom leg ends of the two legs (112) of the coupling member (111); and

a Hall Effect sensor (116) affixed to the top end (120) of the coupling member (111), wherein the Hall Effect sensor (116) is in magnetic communication with the two magnets (114).

10. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 9, with the coupling member (111) comprising two top ends (120) and two leg portions (112) receiving two corresponding magnets (114), with the Hall Effect sensor (116) being affixed between the two top ends (120), and wherein the two magnets (114) are substantially arranged along an arc corresponding to a rod surface.

11. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 9, with the two magnets (114) comprising two substantially opposite magnets.

12. A displacement sensor (100), comprising:

a rod (103) including a graduated magnetically anomalous region (105); and

a magnetic sensor (110) located in close proximity to the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105), with the magnetic sensor (110) comprising;

a coupling member (111) comprising two legs (112) and a top end (120);

two magnets (114) affixed to bottom leg ends of the two legs (112) of the coupling member (111); and

a Hall Effect sensor (116) affixed to the top end (120) of the coupling member (111), wherein the Hall Effect sensor (116) is in magnetic communication with the two magnets (114);

wherein the magnetic sensor (110) generates a positional signal that is related to the position of the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) in relation to the magnetic sensor (110).

13. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) being at least partially within the rod (103).

14. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) being substantially fully within the rod (103).

15. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) being substantially axially centered in the rod (103).

16. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) comprising a graduated magnetically responsive insert (105).

17. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, with the rod (103) including a hollow portion (102) and with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) comprising a graduated magnetically responsive insert (105) residing in the hollow portion (102).

18. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, with the rod (103) being substantially magnetic and with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) comprising a graduated bore portion (105).

19. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, with the rod (103) being substantially magnetic and with the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) being formed from the rod (103).

20. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, wherein the two magnets (114) are substantially arranged along an arc corresponding to a rod surface.

21. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 12, with the two magnets (114) comprising two substantially opposite magnets.

22. A displacement sensor (100), comprising:

a rod (103) including a graduated magnetically anomalous insert (105); and

a magnetic sensor (110) located in close proximity to the graduated magnetically anomalous insert (105), wherein the magnetic sensor (110) generates a positional signal that is related to the position of the graduated magnetically anomalous insert (105) in relation to the magnetic sensor (110).

23. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 22, with the graduated magnetically anomalous insert (105) being at least partially within the rod (103).

24. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 22, with the graduated magnetically anomalous insert (105) being substantially fully within the rod (103).

25. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 22, with the graduated magnetically anomalous insert (105) being substantially axially centered in the rod (103).

26. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 22, with the rod (103) including a hollow portion (102) and with the graduated magnetically responsive insert (105) residing in the hollow portion (102).

27. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 22, with the magnetic sensor (110) comprising:

a coupling member (111) comprising two legs (112) and a top end (120);

two magnets (114) affixed to bottom leg ends of the two legs (112) of the coupling member (111); and

a Hall Effect sensor (116) affixed to the top end (120) of the coupling member (111), wherein the Hall Effect sensor (116) is in magnetic communication with the two magnets (114).

28. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 27, wherein the two magnets (114) are substantially arranged along an arc corresponding to a rod surface.

29. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 27, with the two magnets (114) comprising two substantially opposite magnets.

30. A displacement sensor (100), comprising:

a substantially magnetic rod (103) including a graduated bore portion (105); and

a magnetic sensor (110) located in close proximity to the graduated bore portion (105), wherein the magnetic sensor (110) generates a positional signal that is related to the position of the graduated bore portion (105) in relation to the magnetic sensor (110).

31. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 30, with the magnetic sensor (110) comprising:

a coupling member (111) comprising two legs (112) and a top end (120);

two magnets (114) affixed to bottom leg ends of the two legs (112) of the coupling member (111); and

a Hall Effect sensor (116) affixed to the top end (120) of the coupling member (111), wherein the Hall Effect sensor (116) is in magnetic communication with the two magnets (114).

32. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 30, wherein the two magnets (114) are substantially arranged along an arc corresponding to a rod surface.

33. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 31, with the two magnets (114) comprising two substantially opposite magnets.

34. A displacement sensor (100), comprising:

a substantially magnetic rod (103) including a graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) formed from the rod (103); and

a magnetic sensor (110) located in close proximity to the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105), wherein the magnetic sensor (110) generates a positional signal that is related to the position of the graduated magnetically anomalous region (105) in relation to the magnetic sensor (110).

35. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 34, with the magnetic sensor (110) comprising:

a coupling member (111) comprising two legs (112) and a top end (120);

two magnets (114) affixed to bottom leg ends of the two legs (112) of the coupling member (111); and

a Hall Effect sensor (116) affixed to the top end (120) of the coupling member (111), wherein the Hall Effect sensor (116) is in magnetic communication with the two magnets (114).

36. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 34, wherein the two magnets (114) are substantially arranged along an arc corresponding to a rod surface.

37. The displacement sensor (100) of claim 35, with the two magnets (114) comprising two substantially opposite magnets.