Rotary position sensor
First Claim
1. A rotary position sensor comprising:
- a housing assembly adapted for fixation to a relatively fixed portion of a host system;
a galvanomagnetic sensing element carried with said housing assembly;
a rotor assembly disposed for rotation about an axis fixed with respect to said housing assembly;
a magnet carried with said rotor assembly juxtaposed in substantially axial alignment with said galvanomagnetic sensing element for magnetic interaction therewith; and
linkage means adapted for interconnecting said rotor assembly with a relatively displaceable portion of said host system,said galvanomagnetic sensing element operative to produce an output signal indicative of the relative angular position of said housing assembly and rotor assembly,wherein said magnet is a permanent magnet, andwherein said rotor assembly comprises;
a rotor element carried by said housing assembly for rotation about said axis, said rotor element defining an inner end proximately facing said galvanomagnetic sensing element and an outer end;
a crank arm affixed to the outer end of said rotor element by fastener means formed, at least in part, of ferrous material, said crank arm adapted for pivotal connection with said linkage means, anda pocket formed in the inner end of said rotor element receiving said permanent magnet in a slip-fit relationship,whereby said permanent magnet is self-positioned by magnetic attraction to said fastener means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary position sensor measures the relative angular position (within a range of≦180°) of a housing or stator and a rotor. The housing carries a galvanomagnetic sensing element and is adapted for fixation to a relatively fixed portion of a host system. The rotor carrying a magnet is disposed for rotation about a fixed axis with respect to the stator and is interconnected to a relatively moving portion of the host system through intermediate linkage. The magnet is juxtaposed in substantially axial alignment with the galvanomagnetic sensing element for magnetic interaction therewith. The housing defines a cavity to receive potting material for encasing the galvanomagnetic sensing element and an adjacent buffer cavity interconnected by a weir, which diverts ant excess potting material into the buffer cavity.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A rotary position sensor comprising:
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a housing assembly adapted for fixation to a relatively fixed portion of a host system; a galvanomagnetic sensing element carried with said housing assembly; a rotor assembly disposed for rotation about an axis fixed with respect to said housing assembly; a magnet carried with said rotor assembly juxtaposed in substantially axial alignment with said galvanomagnetic sensing element for magnetic interaction therewith; and linkage means adapted for interconnecting said rotor assembly with a relatively displaceable portion of said host system, said galvanomagnetic sensing element operative to produce an output signal indicative of the relative angular position of said housing assembly and rotor assembly, wherein said magnet is a permanent magnet, and wherein said rotor assembly comprises; a rotor element carried by said housing assembly for rotation about said axis, said rotor element defining an inner end proximately facing said galvanomagnetic sensing element and an outer end; a crank arm affixed to the outer end of said rotor element by fastener means formed, at least in part, of ferrous material, said crank arm adapted for pivotal connection with said linkage means, and a pocket formed in the inner end of said rotor element receiving said permanent magnet in a slip-fit relationship, whereby said permanent magnet is self-positioned by magnetic attraction to said fastener means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A rotary position sensor comprising:
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a housing assembly adapted for fixation to a relatively fixed portion of a host system; a galvanomagnetic sensing element carried with said housing assembly; a rotor assembly disposed for rotation about an axis fixed with respect to said housing assembly; a magnet carried with said rotor assembly juxtaposed in substantially axial alignment with said galvanomagnetic sensing element for magnetic interaction therewith; and linkage means adapted for interconnecting said rotor assembly with a relatively displaceable portion of said host system, said galvanomagnetic sensing element operative to produce an output signal indicative of the relative angular position of said housing assembly and rotor assembly, wherein said magnet is a permanent magnet, wherein said permanent magnet comprises radially opposed north and south magnetic poles, and wherein said permanent magnet defines an inward surface facing towards said galvanomagnetic sensing element having a characteristic surface area “
Y” and
an outward surface facing away from said galvanomagnetic sensing element having a characteristic surface area “
X”
, where X approximately equals 1.5Y.
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Specification