Measuring torsional distortion with an easily applied clip device (saw)

• US 7,222,541 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transense Technologies Plc
• Original Assignee: Transense Technologies Plc
• Inventors: Lee, Mark, Lohr, Raymond David, Vile, David Daniel George
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US10/528,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 738/623.32, 738/47, 738/623.34
• US Class Current: 73/847
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/10 involving electric or magnetic means for indicating

Abstract

A device for measuring torsional distortion of a body comprises first and second clip portions each having a central part and two legs depending from the central part, each leg having adjacent the free end thereof a groove or projection for engaging a respective projection or groove (14) provided in the body (16) to mount the clip portion the body rotationally fastened therewith. A bridge interconnects the clip portion. The bridge is less stiff than the clip portions whereby relative rotational displacement of the clip portions caused by torsional distortion of the body will cause proportional deflection of the bridge. Means, for example a SAW device (15), are provided for measuring the deflection of the bridge to provide an indication of the torsional distortion which produces the deflection of the bridge. Also (20) for the interior all of a hollow body.

Claims

1. A device for measuring torsional distortion of a body comprising:

first and second clip portions, each clip portion having a central part and two legs depending from the central part, each leg having adjacent a free end thereof at least one of a groove or a projection for engaging at least one of a respective projection or groove provided on or in the body to mount the clip portion on the body rotationally fast therewith;

a bridge interconnecting the first and second clip portions, the bridge being less stiff than the clip portions whereby relative rotational displacement of the clip portions caused by torsional distortion of the body will cause proportional deflection of the bridge; and

a measuring means for measuring the deflection of the bridge.

2. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means includes means for sensing tensile and compressive direct strain components of a maximum shear strain, which acts at the center of the bridge at ±

45°

to a longitudinal axis.

3. The measuring device according to claim 2 wherein the means for measuring deflection is a SAW device.

4. The measuring device according to claim 1 wherein the means for measuring deflection of the bridge is mounted on the bridge.

5. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the clip portions and the bridge are an integral structure.

6. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the projections are ridges which are generally V-shaped in transverse cross-section and have substantially flat sides connected to each other by a curved ridge.

7. The measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the grooves are generally V-shaped in transverse cross-section and have generally flat sides.

8. The measuring device according to claim 7, wherein an included angle of the ridges is less than an included angle of the grooves, and the grooves and ridges are shaped so that each ridge engages each groove along two lines of contacts spaced from a base of the groove.

9. The measuring device according to claim 8, wherein the included angle of the ridges is substantially 60°

and the included angle of the grooves is substantially 90°

.

10. The measuring device according to claim 1, in which the clip portions are resiliently deformable to allow the clip portions to be snapped into engagement with the grooves.

11. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the projections are on the legs and faced inwardly so that the clip portions may be mounted on grooves provided on the external surface of a shaft.

12. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the projections are on the legs and face outwardly so that the clip portions may engage grooves provided in the interior wall of a hollow body.

13. The measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the clip portions and the bridge comprise an integral metal structure.