Engine torque sensing arrangement
First Claim
1. A torque sensing arrangement for an engine transmission connection including an engine crankshaft and a torque converter housing, said torque sensing arrangement comprising:
- a driving hub connected to said engine crankshaft to be rotated thereby;
a flex plate fixed to said driving hub;
a circumferential series of stop elements fixed to said torque converter housing and passing through respective arcuate slots in said flex plate, limiting relative rotation between said torque converter housing and said flex plate to a predetermined extent;
a series of radially extending blade springs fixedly anchored at their inner ends to a respective one of a series of slots in said driving hub;
a circumferential series of pairs of spaced elements fixed to a driving disc connected to said torque converter housing, each of said blade springs having a radially outward free end passing between pairs of said spaced elements to be captured therebetween; and
sensor means for detecting the extent of relative angular movement between said flex plate and said torque converter housing and generating signals corresponding thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Four different torque sensing arrangements are described: one for an engine driving a torque converter housing (2) for an automatic transmission, two are for engines with two piece flywheels (31, 35 and 80, 86) and one for a three piece coupler (61, 64, 67), where sets of cantilever blade type springs (18, 48, 74, and 118) are arranged to allow a limited extent of rotation of driving and driven members proportioned to the torque being transmitted from the engine to the transmission and vice versa. The relative movement between the member is detected by electronic sensing devices (22, 23; 52, 53; 78; and 132, 134) generating signals transmitted to an on board microprocessor (25 and 55) or other electronic unit.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A torque sensing arrangement for an engine transmission connection including an engine crankshaft and a torque converter housing, said torque sensing arrangement comprising:
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a driving hub connected to said engine crankshaft to be rotated thereby; a flex plate fixed to said driving hub; a circumferential series of stop elements fixed to said torque converter housing and passing through respective arcuate slots in said flex plate, limiting relative rotation between said torque converter housing and said flex plate to a predetermined extent; a series of radially extending blade springs fixedly anchored at their inner ends to a respective one of a series of slots in said driving hub; a circumferential series of pairs of spaced elements fixed to a driving disc connected to said torque converter housing, each of said blade springs having a radially outward free end passing between pairs of said spaced elements to be captured therebetween; and sensor means for detecting the extent of relative angular movement between said flex plate and said torque converter housing and generating signals corresponding thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A torque sensing arrangement for an engine crankshaft transmission connection, said arrangement including:
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a two member flywheel, comprised of a first member fixed to said crankshaft; and
a second member having a series of rollers rotationally supporting said second member on said first member;a hub portion on said first member formed with a series of slots; a series of radially extending blade springs each having an inner end fixedly anchored in one of said hub slots; a series of circumferentially spaced pairs of spring engaging elements receiving therebetween a free end of a blade spring, said blade springs engaged thereby in a circumferential direction but not restrained in a radial direction, to create a spring resistance to relative rotation between said first and second flywheel members; a series of arcuate slots in said first member; a series of axially extending stop elements fixed to said second member and projecting through a respective one of said arcuate slots to allow limited relative rotation between said first and second members; and
,sensor means sensing the extent of relative angular displacement between said first and second members and generating electronic signals corresponding thereto. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A torque sensing arrangement for generating electronic signals corresponding to the level of torque transmitted between a pair of rotary members and, a third rotary member said arrangement comprising:
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a series of radial pockets formed about a perimeter portion of one of said pair of rotary members; the third said rotary member having a series of circumferential spaced pairs of spring engagement elements extending axially and aligned with either side of an associate pocket but radially spaced from said associated pocket; a series of blade springs each having an inner end fixedly anchored in one of said pockets and an outer end freely received between a pair of said spring engagement elements but establishing a rotary driving connection therebetween; stop means allowing limited relative rotation between said pair of rotary members and said third member against resistance created by said blade springs; and
,sensor means for detecting the extent of relative rotation between said pair and said third members and generating corresponding electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A torque sensing arrangement for an engine crankshaft-transmission connection, said arrangement including:
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a two member flywheel, comprised of a first drive member adapted to be fixed to an engine crankshaft; a second driven member adapted to be engageable with a transmission clutch, said first member having a hub outer perimeter surface; a series of support rollers, each rotationally supported on a pin projecting axially from said second driven member over said first member outer perimeter and rolling on said first drive member hub surface; said hub perimeter surface on said first member formed with a series of slots intermediate said rollers; a series of radially extending blade spring each having an inner end fixedly anchored in one of said hub slots; a series of circumferentially spaced pairs of spring engaging elements receiving therebetween a free end of a blade spring, said blade springs engaged thereby in a circumferential direction but not restrained in a radial direction, to create a spring resistance to relative rotation between said first and second flywheel members; sensor means sensing the extent of relative angular displacement between said first and second members and generating electronic signals corresponding thereto. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification