(19)
(11)EP 1 398 607 A3

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)Date of publication A3:
23.06.2004 Bulletin 2004/26

(43)Date of publication A2:
17.03.2004 Bulletin 2004/12

(21)Application number: 03077050.7

(22)Date of filing:  01.07.2003
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC)7G01L 3/10
(84)Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK

(30)Priority: 10.09.2002 US 238673

(71)Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326-2980 (US)

(72)Inventors:
  • Bossoli, Jon W.
    Cheshire, CT 06410 (US)
  • Pszczola, Dariusz
    Southington, Connecticut 06489 (US)

(74)Representative: McGowan, Nigel George et al
Siemens Shared Services, c/o Siemens AG, Postfach 22 16 34
80506 München
80506 München (DE)

  


(54)Coupler for torque sensor


(57) A coupler acts as an interface between a torque element of a torque sensor and a shaft receiving an applied torque. A portion of the shaft is allowed to twist freely inside the element, and the coupler transfers a portion of the torsion forces in the shaft to the element. The element deforms and generates a magnetic field or other torque response corresponding to the applied torque in the shaft. The applied torque can then be determined based on a relationship between the torque in the shaft and the torque in the element. Reducing the torsion forces applied to the element allows the element to measure higher applied torques without permanently deforming.







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