Apparatus for mounting a rotary position sensor

• US 6,029,529 A
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Recker, Roger L., Schmillen, Edward E.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US09/209,553
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 73/866.1, 324/207.25, 324/723, 74/63, 74/DIG. 7, 338/98, 338/184, 338/199
• US Class Current: 73/866.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting a rotary position sensor to a linkage pin housing and a linkage pin. The linkage pin is rotatably positioned within the linkage pin housing. The apparatus includes a sensor housing adapted to mount to the linkage pin housing, and a linkage pin adapter located within the sensor housing and having a first end adapted to mount to the linkage pin. The linkage pin adapter is adapted to rotate within the sensor housing as a function of a rotation of the linkage pin. The apparatus also includes a first coupling member connected to a second end of the linkage pin adapter. The first coupling member is flexible and has a general cup shape extending away from the linkage pin adapter. In addition, the apparatus includes a second coupling member connected to the first coupling member. The second coupling member is adapted to drivably rotate the rotary position sensor in response to the rotation of the linkage pin.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting a rotary position sensor to a linkage pin housing and a linkage pin, the linkage pin being rotatably positioned within the linkage pin housing, comprising:

a sensor housing adapted to mount to the linkage pin housing;

a linkage pin adapter located along a longitudinal axis within the sensor housing and having a first end adapted to mount to the linkage pin, the linkage pin adapter being adapted to rotate within the sensor housing as a function of a rotation of the linkage pin;

a first coupling member connected to a second end of the linkage pin adapter along the longitudinal axis, the first coupling member being flexible and having a general cup shape extending away from the linkage pin adapter; and

a second coupling member connected to the first coupling member, the second coupling member being adapted to drivably rotate the rotary position sensor in response to the rotation of the linkage pin.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rotary position sensor includes:

a first portion attached to the second coupling member; and

a second portion attached to the sensor housing, the first portion located within the second portion and being rotatably movable with respect to the second portion as a function of a rotation of the linkage pin.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, wherein rotation of the first portion of the rotary position sensor with respect to the second portion is adapted to sense a value of an angle of rotation of the linkage pin with respect to the linkage pin housing.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, further including an adapter plate adapted to connect the second coupling member to the first portion of the rotary position sensor.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor housing includes a plurality of o-rings adapted to seal an internal portion of the sensor housing from the external environment.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the inner portion of the sensor housing contains the linkage pin adapter, the first coupling member, the second coupling member, and the rotary position sensor.

7. An apparatus, a set forth in claim 1, further including a circular floating seal disk located within the sensor housing and around the perimeter of the linkage pin adapter, the floating seal disk being adapted to allow the linkage pin adapter to move in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis in response to radial motion of the linkage pin.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the flexible first coupling member is adapted to flex in response to radial movements of the linkage pin adapter and responsively prevent the radial movements from being transferred to the rotary position sensor, the first coupling member also being adapted to prevent axial movements of the linkage pin from being transferred to the rotary position sensor.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, further including a circular bearing located within the sensor housing and around the perimeter of the second coupling member, the bearing being adapted to prevent radial and axial movement of the second coupling member and the rotary position sensor.

10. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further including a plurality of rubber isolation mounts located within the sensor housing at locations of attachment of the second coupling member to the rotary position sensor and of the rotary position sensor to the sensor housing.

11. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the isolation mounts are adapted to isolate the rotary position sensor from shocks and vibrations.

12. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the isolation mounts are sealed from the external environment.

13. A rotary position sensor assembly for sensing a rotation of a linkage pin with respect to a linkage pin housing, comprising:

an outer portion including a sensor housing adapted to mount to the linkage pin housing; and

an inner portion contained within the outer portion along a longitudinal axis, the inner portion being sealed within the outer portion and being adapted to mount to the linkage pin such that a rotation of the linkage pin causes a corresponding rotation of the inner portion, the inner portion including;

a linkage pin adapter having a first end adapted to mount to the linkage pin;

a first coupling member connected to a second end of the linkage pin adapter along the longitudinal axis, the first coupling member being flexible and having a general cup shape extending away from the linkage pin adapter;

a second coupling member connected to the first coupling member; and

a rotary position sensor connected to the second coupling member, the rotary position sensor being rotatably driven by the second coupling member in response to the rotation of the linkage pin.

14. A sensor assembly, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the rotary position sensor includes:

a first portion located in the inner portion of the sensor assembly and attached to the second coupling member; and

a second portion located in the outer portion of the sensor assembly and attached to the sensor housing, the first portion located within the second portion and being rotatably movable with respect to the second portion as a function of a rotation of the linkage pin.

15. A sensor assembly, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first portion of the rotary position sensor with respect to the second portion is adapted to sense a value of an angle of rotation of the linkage pin with respect to the linkage pin housing.

16. A sensor assembly, as set forth in claim 15, wherein the inner portion of the sensor assembly further includes an adapter plate adapted to connect the second coupling member to the first portion of the rotary position sensor.

17. A sensor assembly, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the outer portion of the sensor assembly further includes a plurality of o-rings adapted to seal the inner portion of the sensor assembly from the external environment.

18. A sensor assembly, as set forth in claim 13, further including a circular floating seal disk located around the perimeter of the linkage pin adapter and between the inner portion and the outer portion of the sensor assembly, the floating seal disk being adapted to allow the linkage pin adapter to move in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis in response to radial motion of the linkage pin.

19. A sensor assembly, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the flexible first coupling member is adapted to flex in response to radial movements of the linkage pin adapter and responsively prevent the radial movements from being transferred to the rotary position sensor, the first coupling member also being adapted to prevent axial movements of the linkage pin from being transferred to the rotary position sensor.

20. A sensor assembly, as set forth in claim 19, further including a circular bearing located around the perimeter of the second coupling member between the inner portion and the outer portion of the sensor assembly, the bearing being adapted to prevent radial and axial movement of the second coupling member and the rotary position sensor.

21. A sensor assembly, as set forth in claim 13, further including a plurality of rubber isolation mounts at locations of attachment of the second coupling member to the rotary position sensor and of the rotary position sensor to the outer portion of the sensor assembly, the isolation mounts being adapted to isolate the rotary position sensor from shocks and vibrations.

22. An apparatus for mounting a rotary position sensor to a linkage pin housing and a linkage pin, the linkage pin being rotatably positioned within the linkage pin housing, comprising:

a sensor housing adapted to mount to the linkage pin housing;

a linkage pin adapter located along a longitudinal axis within the sensor housing and having a first end adapted to mount to the linkage pin, the linkage pin adapter being adapted to rotate within the sensor housing as a function of a rotation of the linkage pin;

a first coupling member connected to a second end of the linkage pin adapter at a center portion along the longitudinal axis, the first coupling member being flexible and having a general cup shape extending away from the linkage pin adapter;

a second coupling member connected to the first coupling member;

an adapter plate connecting the second coupling member to the rotary position sensor;

a circular floating seal disk located around the perimeter of the linkage pin adapter;

a circular bearing located around the perimeter of the second coupling member; and

a plurality of rubber isolation mounts at locations of attachment of the second coupling member to the rotary position sensor and of the rotary position sensor to the sensor housing;

wherein the flexible first coupling member, the floating seal disk, the bearing, and the isolation mounts are adapted to prevent shocks, vibrations, and radial and axial movements of the linkage pin from being transferred to the rotary position sensor.