Rotational component torque measurement and monitoring system
First Claim
1. A system for measuring torque on a rotating component, the method comprising:
- At least two signal-producing components which are magnet rings comprising at least one North and one South magnetic pole along the circumference of said magnet ring applied to the rotating component with some separating distance between the magnet rings and affixed in a manner which prevents the magnet rings from moving with respect to each other due to the movement of the rotating component;
A means for obtaining a signal from the magnetic field emanating from the magnet rings, said means affixed to a non-rotating structure partially or wholly surrounding the rotating component;
A means for determining torque from the signals obtained from the magnet rings, comprising hardware or software means of comparing the waveforms created by the magnet rings'"'"' movement and thereby determining a twist in the rotating component based on the comparison of the waveforms.
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Abstract
A system and method for measuring torque on a rotating component, comprising of signal-producing components which are applied to the rotating component, and a means for obtaining the signals produced by said signal producing components, in which at least two signal producing components are applied to the rotating component with some linear separation between the two signal producing components and their corresponding devices for obtaining signals produced, such that torque applied to the rotating component will cause a change in phase between the signals received from each of the signal-producing components and thus permit the measurement of torque based on this change in phase; one embodiment of this invention comprising two magnetic rings, one at either end of a driveshaft, with sensor coils placed near to each magnetic ring such that an alternating electrical current is produced, the comparative phase between these currents permitting measurement of torque on the driveshaft.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for measuring torque on a rotating component, the method comprising:
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At least two signal-producing components which are magnet rings comprising at least one North and one South magnetic pole along the circumference of said magnet ring applied to the rotating component with some separating distance between the magnet rings and affixed in a manner which prevents the magnet rings from moving with respect to each other due to the movement of the rotating component; A means for obtaining a signal from the magnetic field emanating from the magnet rings, said means affixed to a non-rotating structure partially or wholly surrounding the rotating component; A means for determining torque from the signals obtained from the magnet rings, comprising hardware or software means of comparing the waveforms created by the magnet rings'"'"' movement and thereby determining a twist in the rotating component based on the comparison of the waveforms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of determining torque comprising:
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Removably or permanently applying at least two magnet rings to an existing rotating component, said magnet rings separated by some distance and said magnet rings being permanent magnets of at least one North and one South magnetic pole about the ring'"'"'s circumference; Removably or permanently installing sensing coils corresponding to each installed magnet ring on a non-rotating structure such that the sensing coils are at an appropriate distance from the magnet rings; Obtaining a waveform generated by a magnet ring on a rotating component rotating past sensing coils Obtaining at least one other such waveform generated by another magnet ring on the same rotating component, said other ring separated from the first by some linear distance along the rotating component Comparing the relative phases of these two (or more) waveforms to determine the twist of the rotating component relative to a known non-torque relative phase difference Calculating the torque based on a known relationship between torque and twist of the rotating component.
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18. A method of determining torque comprising:
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Removably or permanently applying at least two sensing coils to an existing rotating component, said sensing coils separated by some distance; Removably or permanently installing magnet rings corresponding to each installed magnet ring on a non-rotating structure such that the magnet rings are at an appropriate distance from the sensing coils, and said magnet rings being permanent magnets of at least one North and one South magnetic pole about the ring'"'"'s circumference; Obtaining a waveform generated by sensing coils on a rotating component rotating past a fixed magnet ring Obtaining at least one other such waveform generated by another set of sensing coils on the same rotating component paired with another fixed magnet ring, said other ring and coil pair or pairs separated from the first by some linear distance along the rotating component Comparing the relative phases of these two (or more) waveforms to determine the twist of the rotating component relative to a known non-torque relative phase difference Calculating the torque based on a known relationship between torque and twist of the rotating component.
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Specification