Angular position encoder for a rotating shaft
First Claim
1. An angular position encoder for a rotating shaft comprising:
- a materialized measure arranged around and supported on a circumference of the rotating shaft, the materialized measure including a roller chain having a plurality of roller chain elements, with a pair of free ends of the roller chain being joined together by a chain connecting link;
at least one scanning head in a form of a sensor configured to inductively sense and identify the chain connecting link and the roller chain elements during rotation of the rotating shaft, and further to identify the chain connecting link apart from the roller chain elements; and
a measurement value evaluation unit which processes recorded measurement values to give positional and/or speed data on the rotating shaft based on inductive signals generated as the roller chain elements and the chain connecting link pass adjacent the scanning head, wherein the scanning head is arranged at a distance from the materialized measure and the sensor scans a surface of the materialized measure as the rotating shaft is rotating, the surface including both the chain connecting link and the roller chain elements; and
wherein the roller chain elements have inner rollers or pins which are aligned in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, and wherein the roller chain is secured with a non-positive form-fit to the circumference of the rotating shaft such that the roller chain does not move rotationally relative to the circumference of the rotating shaft.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An angular position encoder for a rotating shaft is disclosed, in particular for application on the rotor shaft in wind turbines. A materialized measure in the form of a roller chain is arranged around the circumference of the shaft. A scanning head in the form of a sensor is arranged at a distance from the materialized measure and scans the surface of the materialized measure as the shaft is rotating. A measurement value evaluation unit processes recorded measurement values to give positional and/or speed data on the shaft. A method for determination and measurement of the rotor speed or position for a rotating shaft by means of the angular position encoder is also disclosed which includes determination and measurement of the rotor speed or position, creating or mapping at least one reference pattern or map of the chain, and a comparing the pattern and an actual measurement value.
11 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An angular position encoder for a rotating shaft comprising:
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a materialized measure arranged around and supported on a circumference of the rotating shaft, the materialized measure including a roller chain having a plurality of roller chain elements, with a pair of free ends of the roller chain being joined together by a chain connecting link; at least one scanning head in a form of a sensor configured to inductively sense and identify the chain connecting link and the roller chain elements during rotation of the rotating shaft, and further to identify the chain connecting link apart from the roller chain elements; and a measurement value evaluation unit which processes recorded measurement values to give positional and/or speed data on the rotating shaft based on inductive signals generated as the roller chain elements and the chain connecting link pass adjacent the scanning head, wherein the scanning head is arranged at a distance from the materialized measure and the sensor scans a surface of the materialized measure as the rotating shaft is rotating, the surface including both the chain connecting link and the roller chain elements; and wherein the roller chain elements have inner rollers or pins which are aligned in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, and wherein the roller chain is secured with a non-positive form-fit to the circumference of the rotating shaft such that the roller chain does not move rotationally relative to the circumference of the rotating shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An angular position encoder configured for use with a rotating shaft of a wind turbine, the angular position encoder comprising:
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a materialized measure arranged around and supported on a circumference of the rotating shaft immovably relative to the rotating shaft, the materialized measure having a plurality of links and a pair of free ends which are joined by a connecting element, the connecting element defining a synchronization point; at least one scanning head in a form of a sensor configured to inductively sense and identify the links and the connecting element during rotation of the rotating shaft, and further to use a sensed angular position of the connecting element as the synchronization point; and a measurement value evaluation unit which processes inductive signals generated by the sensor as the links and the connecting element pass adjacent the scanning head, the inductive signals generating information used to create sinusoidal waveforms from which the position and speed of the rotating shaft is determined.
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Specification